US Benz INFERIOR quality to EU Benz???
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
90 300E, 03 E55 Black designo, 06 IWC CLS55
US Benz INFERIOR quality to EU Benz???
Hi there everyone,
Im a little curious about something. I travel a lot to the US and I live in the UK at the moment. I always buy genuine Bosch parts from the US if I see a good deal.
For instance ignition plug wires that are Genuine Bosch only cost me 58 pounds as opposed to 130 pounds from the dealer here in London.
But....on the box it says for USA and Asia cars only...
What is that? The leads are perfect and they come with a lifetime warranty and once again they are genuine Bosch.
Is is a money thing or is it a quality thing?
It cant be a climate issue as US has freezing, mild and hot climates...
So what is it? They saying European Mercedes are of a higher quality?
Im sure some Merc tech will know the reason and i'd just like to know?
Nice one
SAM
Im a little curious about something. I travel a lot to the US and I live in the UK at the moment. I always buy genuine Bosch parts from the US if I see a good deal.
For instance ignition plug wires that are Genuine Bosch only cost me 58 pounds as opposed to 130 pounds from the dealer here in London.
But....on the box it says for USA and Asia cars only...
What is that? The leads are perfect and they come with a lifetime warranty and once again they are genuine Bosch.
Is is a money thing or is it a quality thing?
It cant be a climate issue as US has freezing, mild and hot climates...
So what is it? They saying European Mercedes are of a higher quality?
Im sure some Merc tech will know the reason and i'd just like to know?
Nice one
SAM
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
90 300E, 03 E55 Black designo, 06 IWC CLS55
by the way on a slightly relevant note,
I have noticed that on my friends W210 E320 in California, the door lock pins on the inside if the door are not the same as the ones you would find in European models. The pins on my friend's W210 are from the W123 and not even the W124! I noticed that a lot of the early W210 all have these W123 door pins in CA and NY and FL (these are the only states I frequent).
So this is a point that may be related, or not...
Again nice one...
SAM
I have noticed that on my friends W210 E320 in California, the door lock pins on the inside if the door are not the same as the ones you would find in European models. The pins on my friend's W210 are from the W123 and not even the W124! I noticed that a lot of the early W210 all have these W123 door pins in CA and NY and FL (these are the only states I frequent).
So this is a point that may be related, or not...
Again nice one...
SAM
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Alabama, US
1970 300SEL 6.3 , and a couple younger MB's.
by the way on a slightly relevant note,
I have noticed that on my friends W210 E320 in California, the door lock pins on the inside if the door are not the same as the ones you would find in European models. The pins on my friend's W210 are from the W123 and not even the W124! I noticed that a lot of the early W210 all have these W123 door pins in CA and NY and FL (these are the only states I frequent).
I have noticed that on my friends W210 E320 in California, the door lock pins on the inside if the door are not the same as the ones you would find in European models. The pins on my friend's W210 are from the W123 and not even the W124! I noticed that a lot of the early W210 all have these W123 door pins in CA and NY and FL (these are the only states I frequent).
Some lawyer claimed that emergency people could not open the door if the rimless Euro parts were installed.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
90 300E, 03 E55 Black designo, 06 IWC CLS55
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
90 300E, 03 E55 Black designo, 06 IWC CLS55
So its a competition thing...You cant sell our products to the EU because we're selling it to you at a much cheaper price, which would undermine our sales effort in the EU.
Makes plenty sense and I studied this in Law school under EC Law and Law of Trademarks.
Thanks for bringing that to my attention!
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Alabama, US
1970 300SEL 6.3 , and a couple younger MB's.
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 5
From: New Jersey
E550 4MATIC
It's kind of like when US Students buy the international edition of textbooks that say on them "not for sale in the US" because in the US they rape us for books. It's a profit thing.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
90 300E, 03 E55 Black designo, 06 IWC CLS55
That makes sense and I have seen that on books as a matter of fact! Exactly the same book yet it states not for sale outside of US and Canada. Thats excellent news as all the Bosch items I buy from the US are always of the highest quality just like the Mercedes dealer items.
By the way my friend has a 2000 model year E320 W210 with the same door pins from the W123! So it appears they either forgot to update or the law wasnt changed yet even by 2000....
By the way my friend has a 2000 model year E320 W210 with the same door pins from the W123! So it appears they either forgot to update or the law wasnt changed yet even by 2000....
Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 117
Likes: 1
300CE 24V Sportline 1991
MB parts from the USA
Hello All,
I have bought a few parts from the USA and, yes, the recent exchange rate has been very favourable to the Euro-world.
To date, I have had 2 shipments to me (in France) from the USA and the issue of tax has never arisen. I await the most recent and most expensive (450 $US) shipment and wonder whether this one will "slip in undetected".
Anyone have any comments on this?
Another point, of course, is that if the parts are made in Europe, shipped to the USA and then we buy them and have them shipped back, the exchange rate issue must be nullified. And then there's the "carbon footprint?"....
Bonne chance from la Belle France.
RayH
I have bought a few parts from the USA and, yes, the recent exchange rate has been very favourable to the Euro-world.
To date, I have had 2 shipments to me (in France) from the USA and the issue of tax has never arisen. I await the most recent and most expensive (450 $US) shipment and wonder whether this one will "slip in undetected".
Anyone have any comments on this?
Another point, of course, is that if the parts are made in Europe, shipped to the USA and then we buy them and have them shipped back, the exchange rate issue must be nullified. And then there's the "carbon footprint?"....
Bonne chance from la Belle France.
RayH
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
90 300E, 03 E55 Black designo, 06 IWC CLS55
I notice that the box where it says GIFT is always ticked on the customs form.
US taxes already paid so why on earth should we pay EU tax for a single personal item? Of course if one were a trader it would be understandable to pay the import duty...
US taxes already paid so why on earth should we pay EU tax for a single personal item? Of course if one were a trader it would be understandable to pay the import duty...
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
124128
The Taxaction Deamons
Ray,
'are you referring to the Francois Tax-men
or some form of "After-Tax" (Value Added to the Anglo-Saxon participants)
tacked on by U.S. authorities as the shipment sails across the Atlantic?
Hint: U.S. authorities cannot conceive of an after tax.
They have no way to tax a citizen of the French Republic for internet purchase.
Example: I buy something , over the internet ,from "Boaters World", based in
North Carolina, (One, of my legal addresses is in Georgia) ...There's no tax!
Unless Douanes has some way to track your purchase...
(Thanks , Again for the Haitian re-inforcements in 1779)
'are you referring to the Francois Tax-men
or some form of "After-Tax" (Value Added to the Anglo-Saxon participants)
tacked on by U.S. authorities as the shipment sails across the Atlantic?
Hint: U.S. authorities cannot conceive of an after tax.
They have no way to tax a citizen of the French Republic for internet purchase.
Example: I buy something , over the internet ,from "Boaters World", based in
North Carolina, (One, of my legal addresses is in Georgia) ...There's no tax!
Unless Douanes has some way to track your purchase...
(Thanks , Again for the Haitian re-inforcements in 1779)
Last edited by compress ignite; Dec 1, 2007 at 12:53 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 619
Likes: 5
I just bought a set of tie rod ends for a W210 E320 made by a company in NY called Karlyn Ind Inc. and they are the most poorly engineered and manufactured automotive parts I have ever seen. Just aweful. Makes the Chinese "stuff" look good. 
Wow, did I just say that?
So, Made in the USA doesn't guarantee quality...not by a long shot. Those days are over.
Nowadays, you pays your money and you takes your chances.
Of course, that's only my opinion.
Oh...and their motto..."The Art of German Engineering, Made in the USA" is an insult to every German engineer, past and present....even the ones who designed that horrible W210. But that's another story.
Wow, did I just say that? So, Made in the USA doesn't guarantee quality...not by a long shot. Those days are over.
Nowadays, you pays your money and you takes your chances.
Of course, that's only my opinion.
Oh...and their motto..."The Art of German Engineering, Made in the USA" is an insult to every German engineer, past and present....even the ones who designed that horrible W210. But that's another story.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
124128
Deutchland
Americans cannot make anything but sub-standard after-market parts for
American vehicles.(or sub-standard OE parts for American vehicles)
'No way I'd ever put an American engineered/designed/manufactured part on
my Mercedes!
American vehicles.(or sub-standard OE parts for American vehicles)
'No way I'd ever put an American engineered/designed/manufactured part on
my Mercedes!
