Skipton01
Admin Team
I've seen TPS referred to in this thread a bit recently and I also have a trade account with them, so can I first and foremost say, TPS are actually a part of the VW group, so brands such as Audi (and their franchised dealer network) are obliged to get their parts from TPS.
Now onto quality:
I carried out a service on Tank last week and wanted to get the parts from TPS as usual. However, they didn't stock the A2 air filter - they could get it next day, but I wanted to get the service out of the way while the weather was good. So, I looked up whether Eurocarparts had stock and they did. It was a touch more costly than the TPS one, but was still a Mann filter, who make parts for VW, so I was not concerned about quality.
As I paid for the rest of the parts, I mentioned that I'd sourced one from ECP and he sucked his teeth like you wouldn't believe - "They're a dirty word to us and their parts are crap quality". Ok I said, I'll have a quid with you that the oil filter I've just bought is either a Mann part or a Frem one. And it's a good job he didn't take the bet as it was a Fram!!
So, all these parts we fit to our cars are not actually made by VW (or Audi), but by 3rd part manufacturers who then supply them to VW. Massive companies like VW can obviously dictate price too - just like the big supermarkets do to their suppliers. So in a way, and to back up Birchall's point above, quite often you will get a better part from a 3rd party, as they don't have to build down to a cost as dictated by the might of the VW group. Selling direct means they can make a part to usual standards and still make a profit.
In this case, a pipe is a pipe and it's only due to the heat of the engine that over time, the plastic will crack. Is there some way to offset this effect at the installation point? Foil wrap for example, or heat shield wrap, as used on motorcycle exhaust pipes? Just a thought.
Now onto quality:
I carried out a service on Tank last week and wanted to get the parts from TPS as usual. However, they didn't stock the A2 air filter - they could get it next day, but I wanted to get the service out of the way while the weather was good. So, I looked up whether Eurocarparts had stock and they did. It was a touch more costly than the TPS one, but was still a Mann filter, who make parts for VW, so I was not concerned about quality.
As I paid for the rest of the parts, I mentioned that I'd sourced one from ECP and he sucked his teeth like you wouldn't believe - "They're a dirty word to us and their parts are crap quality". Ok I said, I'll have a quid with you that the oil filter I've just bought is either a Mann part or a Frem one. And it's a good job he didn't take the bet as it was a Fram!!
So, all these parts we fit to our cars are not actually made by VW (or Audi), but by 3rd part manufacturers who then supply them to VW. Massive companies like VW can obviously dictate price too - just like the big supermarkets do to their suppliers. So in a way, and to back up Birchall's point above, quite often you will get a better part from a 3rd party, as they don't have to build down to a cost as dictated by the might of the VW group. Selling direct means they can make a part to usual standards and still make a profit.
In this case, a pipe is a pipe and it's only due to the heat of the engine that over time, the plastic will crack. Is there some way to offset this effect at the installation point? Foil wrap for example, or heat shield wrap, as used on motorcycle exhaust pipes? Just a thought.