Thread: Suspension lifetime

Originally Posted by PeterJ

Quite confusing that there are so many variations of supplier, BWI is claimed to be the OEM supplier but then so does (has) Delphi.

BWI bought Delphi in 2010 - so both claims are correct.

Important to note that not all claimed OEM supplied parts come marked with the manufacturer. One of the complaints I have read from parts that claim to be OEM by UK based suppliers is the parts often arrive in plain boxes with no markings or labels on the parts.

So they can be OEM but not from the same factory that supplied JLR or not to the same specs. With a lot of manufacturing now in China (and BWI is Chinese so this is not necessarily a bad thing) there are a lot of alternatives out there now.

By all accounts, Advanced Factors supply Struts which are marked as being genuine BWI parts.

Originally Posted by Discodicky

You know, we learn something new every day.
For the past 50 odd years I've always been under the impression that "OEM" and "Genuine" means the same.
Can someone please explain what is the difference these days between "original equipment manufacturer" and "genuine" ?
Perhaps the meanings have been "adjusted" over the years?

Oh, and who is BWI please?

Genuine comes in a box with Land Rover stickers. Obviously LR don’t make brake pads, oil filters and certain suspension components etc.

OEM is usually the manufacturer of that part that LR puts its sticker on. Some are quite obvious like Bosch and Mahle etc.

After that it gets very blurry with knock off parts and inferior copies ranging from good to bad usually from that certain country. Think Britpart as a supplier of an enormous range of remanufactured parts but not the original OEM provider to LR.

Dunlop compressor are sold as “Hitachi style” is another way of telling a porky to look out for.

The original struts are made by Delphi you can see the sticker on them looking above your tyre.

Beijing West Industries (BWI) now own Delphi just like Rolls Royce now owns MTU Diesel engines for example.

About Us – BWI Group

OEM does NOT mean that it is the supplier of the part for LR. OEM is a super loose term attributed to any manufacturer that produces parts for a manufacturer. Just because the part is labeled OEM, does not mean that supplier has ever supplied to Land Rover or that they were the original part supplier. You really have no idea what you’re getting when you buy OEM. It may do, but many suppliers use the term super loosely. Buyer beware.

I bought shocks off LR Direct and they were OEM. All identifying marks were ground off - stickers removed etc. I really have no idea who produced them.

Originally Posted by DiscoJeffster

OEM does NOT mean that it is the supplier of the part for LR. OEM is a super loose term attributed to any manufacturer that produces parts for a manufacturer. Just because the part is labeled OEM, does not mean that supplier has ever supplied to Land Rover or that they were the original part supplier. You really have no idea what you’re getting when you buy OEM. It may do, but many suppliers use the term super loosely. Buyer beware.

I bought shocks off LR Direct and they were OEM. All identifying marks were ground off - stickers removed etc. I really have no idea who produced them.

Yes, OEM should mean OEM but in reality is a cat and mouse game that people like us try and work out who the real supplier was and share information exactly like this.

As per above. I understand it to loosely mean that the part meets or exceeds the specifications that the oem designed it for. Genuine is the oem part in a stickered box, however the assurance is that this part is as intended for the application. Usually off the same production line, but with a higher price tag because the manufacturer and the supplier and the vehicle company have to get paid.

Back to the struts: genuine: 1550 a corner, oem at between 250-350 a corner.

Island 4x4 confirmed pricing and parts fitment for BWI/Delphi units for the D4. They are about $400 cheaper than AF at the end of the day including GST.

For the strut air line ..... I know there’s a new brass nut and olive supplied with new strut and old nut gets removed from line. Videos indicate you simply push the airline into the brass nut on install. But surely you have to then tighten the brass nut to seal against line? Or is it like a John Guest style fitting that only requires pushing home?

Scott

I've been getting a intermittent fault on the suspension for a couple of weeks, started to look into it yesterday. Pretty much concluded it was a height sensor on the drivers front RHS. Then boom, air started gushing out from the bottom of the air strut. I'm supposed to be going camping on Friday the 18th with the wife and dogs.
Not sure how thats going to happen now, It's a 2005 Disco 3 so I suppose it's about time they got replaced. I'm new to Perth and don't have a regular mechanic or know about the parts available in Perth. Any advice on getting a quick job or sourcing parts in Perth would be awesome. I figure I'll do all struts and height sensors, do you think anyone local might have some stock?

Much appreciated

Originally Posted by LRD414

For the strut air line ..... I know there’s a new brass nut and olive supplied with new strut and old nut gets removed from line. Videos indicate you simply push the airline into the brass nut on install. But surely you have to then tighten the brass nut to seal against line? Or is it like a John Guest style fitting that only requires pushing home?

Scott

No. You just push it in so that it goes in all the way up to the “lump” in the hose.