motomerc

Received a damaged Bilstein rear Airmatic strut from FCP Euro.

As can be seen in the photos the rubber stopper at the bottom of the dust boot and metal crimp have come loose. Not sure if the attached video can be seen but the bottom shaft (blue rectangle) is able to spin freely along its axis within the top half (red rectangle).

Unfortunately, return and replacement would be an expensive proposition due to international shipping, duties and taxes. I have already paid 1200 USD + 100 USD shipping + 50% (650 USD) in duties and taxes, can't afford to spend more if I can help it.

The box shows durability date as "Nov 2017" My current strut lasted for 11 years (2011 manufactured car, single owner) so I am hoping 2017 stock should not be an issue.

Is the strut still good enough for use? ​​​​​​

C2 Turbo

FCP euro is a pretty well respected and enthusiast oriented company and would take care of your concern. Have you contacted them yet? How did you pay?

motomerc

I have written to their support, waiting to hear from them. Life would have been easier if international shipping and duties were not involved. I paid by credit card, excluding the duties.

I can understand the damage but selling an item that is clearly beyond its sell-by-date (Nov-2017) by nearly 5 years doesn't sound right to me. I have the other strut on order as well, told them to cancel it. Will post an update once I hear from their support staff.

EasyPhil

Can you not just push that rubber piece back in?

vettebk

Sorry you had a problem with FCP. Based on my experience with them, they will take care of you. I know it isn't in the same price league, but I ordered 24 Iridium spark plugs and when the order arrived I had 23. One short. I called them and explained it and they sent out another plug FedEx. Another time I ordered a transmission service kit and my Indy said it wasn't really needed. FCP took it back with no questions asked and full refund.

Please contact them and see if you can't work something out. Sorry you had this hassle.

klingsor

I never dealt with them but their reputation is outstanding. I wouldn't post my concern here before I hear from them if I were you. I'm pretty certain they will sort out this issue for you to your satisfaction given their reputation.

Edit: Spelling.

Arrie

For me this looks the rubber “grommet” and protective boot have just moved off place. I would just move them back and use a dap of glue to keep the boot on the rubber. I think the strut is fine to use. It is probably shipping damage.

What comes to the date on the box I would look for a date on the strut itself. I have hard time to believe this strut was made five years ago…

C2 Turbo

You can also call Bilstein and give them the serial number and ask them about the manufacturing date and if it was safe to use a strut even if it was made in 2017? On a side note, I have always heard you change shocks/struts in pairs and not singles to Matich their dampening effect or something like that?

Senecat

Why does that area of the strut look dirty? FCP will take care of you for sure.

motomerc

Thank you all for your replies, appreciate it. Here is an update:

FCP customer support as expected is being very helpful and willing to offer full refund including the cost of shipping and duties. I need to figure out the logistics to ship it back, there will be a lot of time lost but it appears that FCP will ensure I won't lose any money in this transaction.

The strut is definitely very old and damaged with faded rubber parts, even the manufacturer's box was in a damaged and torn condition. It is quite possible that this strut had gone through some customer returns in the past - it's not just an old stock but something that has seen a fair bit of wear and tear due to shipping & handling. Someone at FCP didn't pause to think before packing the item for shipping. Probably unfair to expect the staff to understand airmatic struts are different from conventional ones.

I ordered both L and R struts separately even though it costs more for shipping in order to expedite the customs clearance (smaller and cheaper packages go through express clearance). I am yet to receive the R strut, keeping my fingers crossed.

P.S: Don't want to bore you with details but customs clearance is a nightmare in India - shipments could get stuck for weeks apart from costing nearly 50% duty on invoice value + fright. My disappointment may seem unreasonable to domestic customers where returning the product for refund is a trivial task. Overall I'm happy with the helpful attitude of FCP customer support as they are being sensitive to the problems faced by international customers.

Senecat

Couldn't find a strut in a country with 1.4 Billion people?

Minh

I believed that strut still in prety good condition, it stocked for 5 years then it just lost air pressure to hold a rubber. Just install it on the car, move rubber grommet and protective boot then you will be happy.