Thnx for the explanation. It is just a business model. Lemforder and TRW are brands from ZF group. ZF manufactures suspension parts for several carbrands like Mercedes. They offer those carbrands a certain high quality level and repacks the parts like it came from the carbrand itself. The ZF aftermarket parts are branded Lemforder and TRW and are manufactored in low wage countries. Those parts are cheaper, less quality and logically wear out faster.
It's funny you mention TRW. In the M14 rifle collector community, TRW M14 parts are highly sought after. Of the 4 companies that supplied M14's to the US military, it's generally understood that TRW were of the finest quality. At the time (late 1950's) TRW was producing jet engine parts alongside rifle parts, using much of the same technology.
I agree with most of Pierre's comments. Unfortunately every time I've tried to use MB origiinal parts, dealer quote comes more than double than any OEM alternatives. If you running a shop you don't wnat to have the trouble to warranty an aftermarket part, but as a DIY perhaps you can gamble hiping you can still decent quality. At least I find FCP Euro honest and they list country of origin for the parts they sell, and they provide lifetime warranty.
Buy OEM MB parts online. Of course dealer will be expensive. I recently tried to order a w126 rear subframe bracket from a dealer and was quoted $129. I found a PAIR online for $47!!! OEM MB!
Nice video Pierre! I’m doing the ball joints on my w210 this weekend. I only realized recently that I could still get parts from Mercedes. I paid $26 for Lemforder ball joints from FCP and they are $45 at the dealer. For the $40 I saved (both sides) it’s not really worth it if these start squeaking in two years. I debated returning the Lemforder ball joints but the car is on jack stands in my garage and I’ve already removed one side.
Over here in the UK, I've daily driven a W201 for 1.5yrs and find some parts are no longer available at the TPS Mercedes dealer parts department.. one of the guys even recommended topping up NLA blue coolant with the red, which seems a somewhat radical view. I have to conclude that one of the main reasons to switch my daily is Mercedes.
Pierre, thank you for all this good information but live in Australia and cant seem to find original parts here anywhere, where can I go to find them please, your reply on this would be much appreciated
You're right as usual mr. Hedary, unfortunately as the time progresses Mercedes is using what appears to be their new favorite word "NLA" .for example for my beloved W201 tie rod is NLA, fuel tank NLA, fuel hoses NLA,........so as much as pains me at least I get to keep driving my Baby Benz by using crappy Lemforder, TRW, Febi, Meyle.....
I agree about Lemforder and TRW... they used to be second ONLY to the Genuine MB counterpart. They aren't what they used to be anymore though.... For instance, front Lower ball joints for my W163 ML55 AMG... they are clunking after about a year of daily driving (not a huge amount). The Genuine part is pretty much the only way to go anymore.
@@raymondwalsh7520 Right, in some cases anyway. The thing though, is that even if you buy the "OEM" part... that does NOT necessarily mean you're getting the EXACT same part that was specified by Mercedes Benz, that you would get inside a Genuine Mercedes-Benz box...
I have a 1998 R129 & 1995 W124 Wagon. I keep them in absolute tip-top shape. I will never buy some dreadfully boring new car. Now I just Need a w114/115 diesel.
I decided to place Lemforder control arms in stead of OEM at prior Benz. No issues after 80k miles. In my current Benz I have a squeek in front control arm after 46.000 miles which are OEM. And If it is only a 10 $ or €10 in price difference then OEM without a doubt. If I know it is better? But even than, OEM is almost double price compaired to Lemforder and what if OEM is no better?.
I've tried to buy as many parts from mercedes to restore my w140 s500 but my goodness just control arms and suspension links are so expensive . and a lot of the stuff i need not available anymore . le sigh
Caríssimo mestre da mecânica mercedes. Aí no primeiro mundo você está confortável. Entendo profundamente seu sentimento. Aqui Brazil só existe peças ruins . Fiz parte de um grupo whatsap mercedes. Tive que sair de tanta raiva que passei. Muito tubo plastico ruim. Recomendei varias vezes ir em tornearia e fabricar canos dagua em aluminio ou inox. Ficava menos da metade do valor da peça chinesa de plastico. Aqui no Brasil temos o hábito de recondicionar peças eletricas e suspensão . Algumas empresas sérias recondiciona peças que ficam com muito mais qualidade que peças novas paralelas. Ja fiz o recondicionamento o suporte do rolamento central do cardan da w116 300sd . ficou ótimo. Muitas vezes tive que recorrer em peças idênticas de outros veiculos . exemplo terminal de direção . Usei do vw fusca . é idêntico. Reparos de pinça de freio usei do MB caminhão 709. Válvula termostática do caminhão com motor OM352 . Flexíveis de freio do vw fusca. Cilindro mestre de freio do vw santana. Alternador do caminhao Mercedes 1113 om 352 E assim vai por aí. Se tivermos que adiquirir peças genuinas de portugal ou alemanha ou usa o custo multiplica por 5. Além da espera e alfandega poder demorar 6 meses.
TRW is making crap nowadays. Same as many former great brands for brake pads for instance (akebono, for instance) now it’s quality is very questionable. The internet is loaded with cheap stuff and we are bombarded by that. It is difficult to buy good stuff nowadays.
Come to Bangkok and buy genuine Mercedes from main dealers, they priced their older parts as if the customers are idiots with money. W126 upper control arm is $2950 each. I agree TRW and Lemforder now are shite. Corteco is another rubbish trademark.
❤ the update - Good stuff - 👍🏾
Good info Pierre. Will start buying more Merc replacement parts in the future.
Fantastic information Pierre!
🤓
Good information, thank you Pierre.
Very nourishing video, thank you Pierre. Who sells Original MB parts online?
The only way to force Mercedes to keep producing parts for classics is to buy oem
That wouldn't force them to do anything.
Yes, but if they want $2000 for a
new 107 cv-axle I don’t think they want to sell 😅
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Excellent video!
Thnx for the explanation. It is just a business model.
Lemforder and TRW are brands from ZF group. ZF manufactures suspension parts for several carbrands like Mercedes.
They offer those carbrands a certain high quality level and repacks the parts like it came from the carbrand itself.
The ZF aftermarket parts are branded Lemforder and TRW and are manufactored in low wage countries.
Those parts are cheaper, less quality and logically wear out faster.
"Guys that want to keep these cars and don't want to drive an eqs or a Hyundai iconic". Couldn't have said it better myself. Cheers
It's funny you mention TRW. In the M14 rifle collector community, TRW M14 parts are highly sought after. Of the 4 companies that supplied M14's to the US military, it's generally understood that TRW were of the finest quality. At the time (late 1950's) TRW was producing jet engine parts alongside rifle parts, using much of the same technology.
I agree with most of Pierre's comments. Unfortunately every time I've tried to use MB origiinal parts, dealer quote comes more than double than any OEM alternatives.
If you running a shop you don't wnat to have the trouble to warranty an aftermarket part, but as a DIY perhaps you can gamble hiping you can still decent quality.
At least I find FCP Euro honest and they list country of origin for the parts they sell, and they provide lifetime warranty.
Buy OEM MB parts online. Of course dealer will be expensive. I recently tried to order a w126 rear subframe bracket from a dealer and was quoted $129. I found a PAIR online for $47!!! OEM MB!
Nice video Pierre! I’m doing the ball joints on my w210 this weekend.
I only realized recently that I could still get parts from Mercedes. I paid $26 for Lemforder ball joints from FCP and they are $45 at the dealer. For the $40 I saved (both sides) it’s not really worth it if these start squeaking in two years.
I debated returning the Lemforder ball joints but the car is on jack stands in my garage and I’ve already removed one side.
Over here in the UK, I've daily driven a W201 for 1.5yrs and find some parts are no longer available at the TPS Mercedes dealer parts department.. one of the guys even recommended topping up NLA blue coolant with the red, which seems a somewhat radical view.
I have to conclude that one of the main reasons to switch my daily is Mercedes.
Pierre, thank you for all this good information but live in Australia and cant seem to find original parts here anywhere, where can I go to find them please, your reply on this would be much appreciated
Subscribe to that. Whenever an OEM MB part is available I always would go that way!
You're right as usual mr. Hedary, unfortunately as the time progresses Mercedes is using what appears to be their new favorite word "NLA" .for example for my beloved W201 tie rod is NLA, fuel tank NLA, fuel hoses NLA,........so as much as pains me at least I get to keep driving my Baby Benz by using crappy Lemforder, TRW, Febi, Meyle.....
Same here.. my late grandad's W201.. I'm glad I don't need a new radiator, as even AutoDoc didn't have any last time I checked.
I agree about Lemforder and TRW... they used to be second ONLY to the Genuine MB counterpart. They aren't what they used to be anymore though.... For instance, front Lower ball joints for my W163 ML55 AMG... they are clunking after about a year of daily driving (not a huge amount). The Genuine part is pretty much the only way to go anymore.
Lemforder is the OEM original part for Merc, Audi and BMW
@@raymondwalsh7520 Right, in some cases anyway. The thing though, is that even if you buy the "OEM" part... that does NOT necessarily mean you're getting the EXACT same part that was specified by Mercedes Benz, that you would get inside a Genuine Mercedes-Benz box...
I have a 1998 R129 & 1995 W124 Wagon. I keep them in absolute tip-top shape. I will never buy some dreadfully boring new car. Now I just Need a w114/115 diesel.
Buy cheap, buy twice. You’re 100% right.
I decided to place Lemforder control arms in stead of OEM at prior Benz. No issues after 80k miles.
In my current Benz I have a squeek in front control arm after 46.000 miles which are OEM.
And If it is only a 10 $ or €10 in price difference then OEM without a doubt. If I know it is better?
But even than, OEM is almost double price compaired to Lemforder and what if OEM is no better?.
Many MB parts are quite reasonably priced
These German brands have realised making crap parts at cheap prices is more profitable than selling good quality at a premium.
Would you say ACDELCO parts are better than TRW? I see that a trunk lift , for example, is just a few bucks more for ACDELCO.
I've tried to buy as many parts from mercedes to restore my w140 s500 but my goodness just control arms and suspension links are so expensive . and a lot of the stuff i need not available anymore . le sigh
There is a misconception that parts from dealer parts counter is very expensive. They really are Not, especially the Starparts filters and such.
Caríssimo mestre da mecânica mercedes. Aí no primeiro mundo você está confortável. Entendo profundamente seu sentimento. Aqui Brazil só existe peças ruins . Fiz parte de um grupo whatsap mercedes. Tive que sair de tanta raiva que passei. Muito tubo plastico ruim. Recomendei varias vezes ir em tornearia e fabricar canos dagua em aluminio ou inox. Ficava menos da metade do valor da peça chinesa de plastico. Aqui no Brasil temos o hábito de recondicionar peças eletricas e suspensão . Algumas empresas sérias recondiciona peças que ficam com muito mais qualidade que peças novas paralelas. Ja fiz o recondicionamento o suporte do rolamento central do cardan da w116 300sd . ficou ótimo. Muitas vezes tive que recorrer em peças idênticas de outros veiculos . exemplo terminal de direção . Usei do vw fusca . é idêntico. Reparos de pinça de freio usei do MB caminhão 709. Válvula termostática do caminhão com motor OM352 . Flexíveis de freio do vw fusca. Cilindro mestre de freio do vw santana. Alternador do caminhao Mercedes 1113 om 352 E assim vai por aí. Se tivermos que adiquirir peças genuinas de portugal ou alemanha ou usa o custo multiplica por 5. Além da espera e alfandega poder demorar 6 meses.
PIERRE!! Someone needs to be "spell checking" your latest merchandise... "Classic Relieable Automoblies" is NOT cute!
TRW is making crap nowadays. Same as many former great brands for brake pads for instance (akebono, for instance) now it’s quality is very questionable. The internet is loaded with cheap stuff and we are bombarded by that. It is difficult to buy good stuff nowadays.
Come to Bangkok and buy genuine Mercedes from main dealers, they priced their older parts as if the customers are idiots with money. W126 upper control arm is $2950 each. I agree TRW and Lemforder now are shite. Corteco is another rubbish trademark.
China will build to the quality specified.