Behr/ Hella sourcing from China

Sun Nov 24, 2019 1:48 pm

Yes I'm afraid to say it's official. Behr/Hella are sourcing there parts from China now.

I ordered up a new coolant radiator for my E30 316i from mister auto and went for the Behr/Hella option.

I'm not surprised, but at the same time I'm disappointed that such a well known German brand is now building and sourcing components from China.

I'll think twice now about ordering Behr/Bella parts and whilst the radiator doesn't leak (yet) and seems to be doing it's job fine, I'm a bit gutted that they couldnt even keep to at least manufacturing parts in Europe.

This was supposedly from their "premium" line of products and I feel it's becoming increasingly difficult to source quality components for our cars these days.

Proof in the pudding as they say:

[attachment=0]IMG_20191116_165602160.jpg[/attachment]

Sun Nov 24, 2019 5:34 pm

As long as quality control is in place and rigorously enforced, there's no problem with Chinese made parts. Problems arise when the European specifier isn't too fussy about quality.

Sun Nov 24, 2019 9:54 pm

Maybe the sticker was made in China.......

Mon Nov 25, 2019 8:42 am

I've posted this previously but I bouught a pair of door frame seals from the main dealer and they were marked made in China, still bloody dear

Mon Nov 25, 2019 9:43 am

Bonymaenjack wrote: ↑
Mon Nov 25, 2019 8:42 am
I've posted this previously but I bouught a pair of door frame seals from the main dealer and they were marked made in China, still bloody dear

Only out of interest, and following on from what Brianmoooore mentioned....
Did they fit well? Was the seal a good quality?

OP is the radiator of good quality?

Mon Nov 25, 2019 12:34 pm

Foe wrote: ↑
Mon Nov 25, 2019 9:43 am

Bonymaenjack wrote: ↑
Mon Nov 25, 2019 8:42 am
I've posted this previously but I bouught a pair of door frame seals from the main dealer and they were marked made in China, still bloody dear
Only out of interest, and following on from what Brianmoooore mentioned....
Did they fit well? Was the seal a good quality?

OP is the radiator of good quality?

Hi yes in fairness they are ,nice and tight shaped correctly and seem to be doing the job with very little if any wind noise even at 110

Mon Nov 25, 2019 7:59 pm

Be careful with those radiators, they make some that are a round tube core sealed to the sides with O rings, ive had about 4 over the last couple of years branded Hella/Behr and also Nissens, they are the same rads, all have had to go back as they haven't lasted past the first warm up

Mon Nov 25, 2019 8:17 pm

Well it doesn't appear to be leaking (yet) but as you mentioned Dan, the do seem to be some sort of round tube core that I've never seen before....

My main gripe is that the thread on the expansion tank is crap and my OEM cap really doesn't fit well. It has to be wound up so tight if not it leaks..

Mon Nov 25, 2019 8:22 pm

Bonymaenjack wrote: ↑
Mon Nov 25, 2019 8:42 am
I've posted this previously but I bouught a pair of door frame seals from the main dealer and they were marked made in China, still bloody dear

Well I for one would not be happy with that at all. You pay a premium for main dealer parts and they source from China? Taking the p*ss surely?
I was contemplating ordering a boot lid seal from main stealers but if it's made in china, I'm not so keen

Mon Nov 25, 2019 9:25 pm

boiliebasher wrote: ↑
Mon Nov 25, 2019 8:22 pm

Bonymaenjack wrote: ↑
Mon Nov 25, 2019 8:42 am
I've posted this previously but I bouught a pair of door frame seals from the main dealer and they were marked made in China, still bloody dear
Well I for one would not be happy with that at all. You pay a premium for main dealer parts and they source from China? Taking the p*ss surely?
I was contemplating ordering a boot lid seal from main stealers but if it's made in china, I'm not so keen

Agree, which is why I was asking how these bits made in China fitted. I still have bits to buy and if paying dealer prices, you expect quality.
I might ask before each order, where the part was manufactured!

Mon Nov 25, 2019 11:22 pm

Like it or not, China is where most of everything manufactured is going to come from for the foreseeable future. All the power tools I use in the course of my business were made in Germany or Austria, until a few years ago. Now, all the replacements are marked ROC, but the quality still seems to be there.
My son in law's family business manufactures industrial machines in the UK, but all the electronics, control systems, motors, etc. come straight from China.
The Chinese are masters at building exactly what the customer specifies.