VERY CHEAP asian Porsche imported engine parts, or just undercutting a middleman?

[preston_brown]

Hi everyone,

Tonight browsing eBay I noticed a new seller who has a lot of cheap Porsche-related motor stuff. I'm sure it is all made in China, but the real question is whether it is new reproduction/knock offs, or the same stuff already available but cutting out the middleman. Witness:

Porsche engine stand adapter for $190 shipped, compare to $280 or so retail elsewhere:

[link removed]

G50 clutch disc for $96 shipped, compare to $300 or so elsewhere:

[link removed]

Porsche 356 Flywheel for $166 shipped, compare to 580 or so elsewhere:

[link removed]

These represent *massive* savings. They should not be difficult items to produce, so if they aren't total junk, pricing on some commonly needed items may be in for a change. The real thing now needed is someone to test and evaluate the goods.

-- Preston

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally posted by preston_brown
The real thing now needed is someone to test and evaluate the goods.

After you...I insist.

[mjshira]

I would be careful. Try buying one item if you want, see what you get. I am sure you probably thought of this already. I generally only buy from people with very strong feedback whom I know or know of. Good luck.

[EarlyPorsche]

Most parts from that region have been aweful for me.

[Zeke]

Is this thread in the best interest in deference to our host?

[EarlyPorsche]

This thread will help consumers realize how poor non-japanese parts are. This in turn should make it a non issue as to whether consumers buy a pelican porsche part or an imitation. In short it should help.

[khamul02]

Just for testing purposes Buy the engine stand adapter visualy compare it to one purchased stateside. Then, I don't know, load test it er something.

[preston_brown]

I buy all my parts from Pelican, but I'm curious about the economics at work here. And I bet quite a few of the parts that Pelican sells are now made in China. Not everything imported from there is of poor quality.

For instance, the P&Cs that most everyone uses as replacements for 356 motors are made in China, and while they are not LN Engineering quality level, they work quite well. Some tools made in China are quite nice too; lots is junk.

It depends on where and how they are produced, of course.

-- Preston

[911pcars]

Are JE pistons made in China? What makes you think these parts are made in China. What makes you think all Porsche parts are made in Germany? No affiliation with anyone in this post.

Sherwood

[MRM]

Most Bosch and Porsche parts stopped being made in Germany years ago when the exchange rates changed. The reason so much was made in Germany back then, and why so much is now made in Asia, is because of the exchange rate advantage. Already China isn't the low labor cost country in the region. There are a dozen countries that China is losing manufacturing jobs to on price alone. When the Yuan/Dollar exhchange rate gets back in whack we'll start thinking about "made in China" the way we think of "made in Germany" now.

[Jeff Alton]

There is some well respected Porsche high performance parts being made in China. These parts in particular seem to get a lot of praise on Pelican and Rennlist, maybe the customers don't know they are made in China?? I laugh when some assume that all chinese stuff must be crap. Is some of it crap? You bet, but maybe, just maybe good stuff can be made there. Lots of crap being made in good old North America too!

By the way, I have no affiliation with the parts in the above links and have never used them, and probaly never will.....

Cheers

[Dantilla]

I am truely a cheapeskate, but I am very value conscience. One thing I will not skimp on is a clutch or piston & cylinder set for a 911, because of the labor involved to change them. I just assume do the job right, and do it only once.

When I buy from Pelican, I know the quality and service I can expect.

[alf]

Originally posted by Jeff Alton
... I laugh when some assume that all chinese stuff must be crap. Is some of it crap? You bet, but maybe, just maybe good stuff can be made there. Lots of crap being made in good old North America too!

Cheers

+1 'Everything' from Japan used to be crap too not that long ago.

[unclebilly]

A business partner of mine is also an importer. He co-owns a factory in China. His take on this issue is that Chinese quality is only as good as the importer specifies on in most cases can be better than the quality of products elsewhere. The key is that the low labour rates allow for 100% inspection of all goods rather than random inspection as is practiced in modern countries.

[wowzer911]

I wish I could have found a (new) engine stand adapter that cheap when I was in the market. I mean really, some of the prices for Porsche tools and parts are so ridiculous. I think all of us have felt "raped" at some point or another.
Would I buy something like a Chinese made engine adapter to save $100? You bet I would.

[yelcab1]

90% of all computers are DESIGNED and 100% MANUFACTURED in PRC. They are not all crap !

[mb911]

I have cylinders that were made there(QSC) and so does my dad on his 356 both work well..

[preston_brown]

OK, since I started this, might as well be a guinea pig. Why not.

I ordered the engine stand adapter. I'll compare it in quality to some that my local shop has, and report back. That is, if it arrives...

-- Preston

[khamul02]

Cool, As soon as you report I think those of us who need one will purchase as well.

[911pcars]

If an overseas company adheres to ISO standards, the resultant products should meet min. quality standards. Describing all foreign-made products as substandard is both ethnocentric and ignorant to the world economy. More info here:

http://www.iso.org/iso/en/aboutiso/introduction/index.html

BTW, much of our technology is manufactured ... overseas.

Sherwood