Copies V Genuine

Dave M

Dave M

Admin Team
United-Kingdom
I've recently bought both copied and genuine items for comparison purley out of interest and for personal fitment . The first is the four gang electric window switch. The one on the right is genuine Audi priced at around £50 and the one on the left is a copy costing £10. Apart from the part number label there isn't much of a difference to the feel of the buttons.
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The second item is the 17" wheel centre cap. The one on the left is the copy. The copied one has a much narrower and flimsy retaining ring and the tabs are not as strong as the genuine ones. You get what you pay for with these.
 

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On the window switches, is it my eyes or the black surround of the copy, but are the copy switches a blacker black?

Andy
 
Advice:
- use original temp sensors. The non-OEM ones do not last.
- the FSI does not use a standard Thermostat - that's why it's expensive. A non-OEM 'stat on a 1.4 shouldn't be an issue.
- use OEM - but strengthened - top mount bearings for front shocks. Non OEM have a tendency to die after a year or so, causing a pain of a replacement process.
- OEM Droplinks are pants. Meyle HD are the only ones I know of that last well.
- the OEMs for suspension parts are generally TRW, Lemförder, Febi or Bilstein.

Questions were raised as to the OEM status of towbars. Al-ko is the OEM, but the GDW bar is essentially a copy, as it needs to be.

When I think of some more stuff, I'll add it in.

- Bret
 
Special edition said:
The second item is the 17" wheel centre cap. The one on the left is the copy. The copied one has a much narrower and flimsy retaining ring and the tabs are not as strong as the genuine ones. You get what you pay for with these.
Click to expand...

I just swapped the rings over to the copies, they have never been a problem and fitted ok.
Will add though some of the copies ive seen are a lot better than others.
 
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