Ouch.

Why fakes? There's huge money in these things overseas. Nearly 50% of our fraudulent orders from overseas are for MSD 6AL's, guys with stolen card numbers trying to order 20 at a time....

huh.... why are they in such demand overseas?

No. Pressures and volumes are not up to spec and internal parts on the fakes have melted because of ethanol.

I think the assumption is that they are being made in China. The fake packaging and the pump were marked Made in Germany while true Bosch 044s are apparently made in the Czech Republic.

Easy answer to the above = money. Prolly every fake piece of ***** part comes from China - I see it all the time. If you guys remember - several yrs ago I purchased a Sachs Power clutch assy on Ebay because it was @$200 cheaper than anyone else. What a nightmare.

I questioned the seller before commiting, had all the right answers. Received the box and all looked exactly as it should including the contents. Once installed however - you could not depress the clutch pedal, this was with a newly rebuilt pedal assy, cable, all related components. Had to r&r the engine.trans .......AGAIN. Once out I put a 6' cheater pipe on the clutch lever and only then got it to move and release.

Now I do this stuff almost every day for my living. I take it apart, completely and surgically examine all the parts. I see nothing out of order. I re-assemble and back to the same problem. My diag is the spring pressure on the cover is way wrong out of spec for this to happen.

Call to Sachs North America eventually reveals that the serial number stamping is NOT anything that EVER came out of their facilty. IE counterfit.

So now guess what I have to do?? Pony up for another unit from an authorized dealer. End of (sad) story.

No idea, but they are almost exclusively originating from Indonesia and Singapore when our fraud service tracks them back. We integrated all our customers to this reverse lookup API and have all but eliminated this stuff...

Good thing is most of these criminals are stupid. :-)

+1

And why are you buying crap on Ebay. You're here! Support the company that pays for this board!

Now where are my free parts? SmileWavy

If you funded paypal with a credit card, you have recourse with your credit card company. I've done it.

I'm surprised the MSD was so non-plussed to your complaint. I'd call the corporate office and ask for their legal department -- not to complain but to give them evidence of their good name being ripped off.

That being said, there is something I remember my Dad telling me about "You get what you pay for". If you are going to shop for obvious low-ball pricing (which implies that you're trying to pull one over what you assume to be an ignorant seller), you're most likely going to get ripped off eventually. There is something to be said for only buying from known, qualified sellers.

On another note.....why would you buy an MSD as opposed to a Bosch for a Porsche? No upgrade as far as I know.....but WTF, I play with vinyl.....

Permatune, Petronix, anything from Patrick MS, Road and Rape, Sierra Madre, and any other rip off artists....

It's raining and I'm bored......

+1

Also beware of fake Behr oil coolers.

Funny. You asume allot with that comment.

I have purchased almost an automobile from Pelican as have many memers here. Forgive me for seeing a good deal and getting ripped off. The eBay seller has written and offered me a full refund upon return. We will see what happens. I'm not hoding my breath.

At least now when someone else searches on the BBS for fake MSD units it will come up.

Was it a lesson yes of course. Will I stop shopping for Porsche parts on eBay.... Probably not, I'll just inspect them in far far greater detail when I receive them and file a PayPal complaint within a week not 16 months if they are fake.

Just joined after finding this:

What a huge coincidence i must say :). I purchased an MSD 6AL in July 2010 from xs-power in the UK (notice the - rather than an _ ), again of EBay, and for around £100 less than normal. They'd sold quiet a few too before i got mine (and a fair few after by all accounts)


I didn't get round to fitting it till a few mths ago for one reason or another, and was having issues with the car being a bit lazy so to speak. Took to local engine builders, and got them to take it for a test.

It would get to 4k RPM and hit a rev-limiter effect, would struggle past 4K RPMs. Took car back, and whilst their the owner mentioned did i have a 6AL fitted, and what was serial number.

Well yep, you guessed - the infamous 682013 was in my car. Tested car with a 6A, no issues. So purchased a new Digital 6AL from engine bloke - all well again.

Contacted xs-power, who had, coincidentally, changed owners or something sometime in August 2010, and had no idea were they had got the MSD stuff from.

Bunch of thieving sods

Ah well, you live and learn.

rgds
Gary

I wanted to post a quick update that the eBay seller who sold me the Fake MSD units just gave me a full refund. This is over 1 year from the date of purchase. He explained he didn't know the units were fake and apologized. :)

At least there is some good news to this story. ;)

Yes, a happy ending...sounds like the seller was conned as well.