Parts brands - OE Volvo, trusted aftermarket, and bad

[chrafael]

Just replaced my distributor cap (Carquest blue box ECC51-1914 1/08/13) with this one from Rock Auto. Got the new one, opened the box and found a cap marked Bosch. Is this a real Bosch or a Sears Bosch? Does Bosch make different quality lines?
Also changed the plugs (Denso 1K16), to Autolite AP3923 from the same time period. Plug wires were also SMP, looked like and ohmed out like new so I reused them.

[850oldschool]

Holy crap! That old cap is about to crack apart into pieces!

Intermotor/SMP seems pretty legit. That looks like the real McCoy.

[454cid]

Just replaced my distributor cap (Carquest blue box ECC51-1914 1/08/13) with this one from Rock Auto. Got the new one, opened the box and found a cap marked Bosch. Is this a real Bosch or a Sears Bosch?

I know what Sears is, and I know what Bosch is, but what's "Sears Bosch".... do you mean something made by Bosch's power tool division that might be carried by Sears? I think it's all Bosch, just different divisions of the same company.

It looks like you got a Bosch made cap sold by another company. What brand was it marketed as? (Nevermind, I see the box picture now.) I bought two different caps, one a Standard T-series, and a German company I can't recall the name of. They were identical Italian made caps, but the German company cap had the "Made in Italy" scratched out.

I've seen the prices of Bosch marketed caps.... no way I'm paying that for a standard distributor cap.

[abscate]

If you price anchor yourself on low quality repro parts, the pain of ownership will be like a colonoscopy with barbed wire.

[Oly850]

Comments on the brands you inquired about:

Febi Bilstein - Febi & Bilstein used to be two separate companies, but are now one, been in business for 70 years, I trust them for shocks, suspension parts, axles, etc.

Hutchinson ?
Lemforder ?

Meyle - these guys make some of everything, engine mounts, brake components, drive axles, all sorts of everything, really good quality in my view.

Nissens - Danish company, makes almost entirely radiators and heater cores but also turbo waste gates and such: I’ve used their radiators several times with good results.

Rein - German for ‘pure’ - formed hoses and radiators, I think they OEM for BMW, Volvo & Mercedes. Top notch stuff in my view.

Specifically for gaskets, o rings, seals -

Corteco - ?
CRP - ?

Elring - best Volvo rebuild gaskets, o-rings sets I’ve seen.

Victor Reinz Now part of DANA (differential guys) German subsidiary - everything for the cylinder head, gaskets, bolts, sealants, all super high quality.

TF

[454cid]

If you price anchor yourself on low quality repro parts, the pain of ownership will be like a colonoscopy with barbed wire.

I didn't buy low quality parts, that I can see. Volvo and their suppliers are not the only companies that can make a good part. There's nothing special about the 850 cap that I can see, and access is easy.

It's not like I bought something churned out in China and sold under a name no one has ever heard of before.

[abscate]

The correct Bosch cap runs $80-90. If it’s less than it’s a factory reject, Reboxed mistake (win!) , or counterfeit (eBay)

[chrafael]

"Is that a real poncho or a Sears poncho?", From Frank Zappa Camarillo Brillo. The new cap does have all brass terminals . I did wonder about the coarse machining on the bottom edge. Time will tell. The old cap was run to failure..Random stumble under pressure, finally no run at all.

[850oldschool]

I guess I missed the memo on ebay counterfeits. Everything I've bought has been first quality and performed as expected. The best buys are when people are cleaning out their garages and selling NOS genuine Volvo parts in tattered blue packaging.

[454cid]

I guess I missed the memo on ebay counterfeits. Everything I've bought has been first quality and performed as expected. The best buys are when people are cleaning out their garages and selling NOS genuine Volvo parts in tattered blue packaging.

I got a package deal on spark plug wires, and cooling system parts for my truck, like that. The guy had gotten the parts for his Suburban, but then sold the Suburban. The wires cost more than the whole package.

I've also gotten stuff from what I believe to be surplus from dealers..... dealers that sell on ebay. or re-sellers with closed dealer stock. That's mostly GM, but I did get a brand new in the Volvo bag coolant reservoir about two months ago. I got it for not much more than a Chinese replacement.

I will often search by part number, as sellers that have surplus often don't know exactly what it goes to, so the number comes in handy.