Just wondering who uses genuine vag parts, and who trusts 3rd party parts? Am faced with possibly a new clutch and/or flywheel soon so would like opinions :(

I think the oem clutch kit is something like £149 isnt it?

I'd use OEM or equivalent, rather than actual genuine (i.e: from a dealer, in a VAG labelled box)- so that's Sachs for a clutch, though LUK are also a sometimes OEM supplier for VAG, I think.

Personally after working in a motor factors for many a years i wouldnt hesitate to use 3rd party parts or spurious parts as they are referred too. I would however, tend to stick to a well known name for parts. I.e Ferrodo for pads, Sachs or Luk for clutches etc. I even buy my service stuff from there (Maybe because i get it way cheap)

On the otherhand some of the parts you see coming out motor factors are ****!!!!!. I wouldnt put these anywhere near my car.

For stuff thats not available ats a trip to the dealers.

I generally find that genuine VAG parts are only marginally (if at all) more expensive than 3rd party equivalents and always feel a little more comfortable going genuine anyway

I generally find that genuine VAG parts are only marginally (if at all) more expensive than 3rd party equivalents and always feel a little more comfortable going genuine anyway

Your probably right buddy. I just go straight to the factors becuase its easier then going to the dealers. I used to work in a Mercedes garage and it was amazing what some parts delinquents would ask a chassis number for!

I get all my bits from TPS, through my work. Usually works out a few quid more than 3rd party bits...

All genuine bits for me, but kinda makes sense as I work at a main dealer.

I always use genuine VAG parts mainly because you know they will be right and also my mate who works on my car works for Audi so gets me discount on the parts.

It depends for me. I'll use what's avaliable at the time, i.e. if a motor factor has the part off the shelf then I'll use it instead of waiting 3 days for the dealers.

I can't afford to buy genuine all the time so just buy the parts from 3rd party sources, but like to stick to the well known names as apposed to nobby no name parts

We use a lot of genuine parts at work. One big advantage is the two year warranty on them and where we have had a faulty part we have also got some money back for having to do the job a second time. The only problem we did have was for a gearbox for a Bora, our usual VW dealer wanted to charge us £35 to check the installation as they said that the warranty would be void without it. Needless to say they lost that sale to the VW dealer 20 miles down the road and we told them why.

Some pattern parts are just not worth the hassle, especially Fabia catalytic convertors, the cheap ones don't fit correctly and are too small to do the job.

To a parts person until you specify the VIN you are always talking about a range of cars and not a specific car, also their software will show all the parts for all markets. There can be as many as 80 different part numbers for a door mirror on some vehicles.

I use genuine parts for the important bits (Cambelt oil filter).

Air filters and pollen filters are genuine at the moment as I get a good price, but I've used big name parts on other cars (MANN, FRAM, Ferodo, Sachs etc)

sticking with vag on cambelt kits and water pump etc, but after using aftermarket stuff all day long at work, ferodo, mintex, fram, mahle, coopers etc are all just as good as oe and in some cases are oe!!!

chris

OEM parts where it makes sense, and non-OEM where it does not

If the OEM parts are good value, good performance, and do the job right, then why not use them. Similarly the 312 mm brake upgrade uses VAG parts, not from the same vehicle but still.

For aftermarket items I do tend to go for more proven stuff from the likes of Koni, Eibach, Forge, not generic no-brand items even though you may get good stuff there too if you know what to look for.