"Beware of cheap Chinese parts." Discuss.

[jltibbs]

So, I changed to oil in my neighbors 08 Pathfinder last week, and could only bust out into laughter when I got the oil filter off. I have heard the line from many members on here about steering clear of "cheap Chinese parts". Nissan is using them . . .





Discuss

[AZ89two4Tsx]

So what.

Not EVERYTHING in China is junk. They do have to meet some kinds of standards believe it or not.

I bet you're not going to be laughing when China starts making cars, and in a few (probably more) years, you'll actually consider or even buy one.

Isn't Hyundai a good example?

[Infinitiguy19]

I have a feeling this topic will end up in the political section.

I have heard the line from many members on here about steering clear of "cheap Chinese parts".

But your thinking of Berner AKA Unknown007, he said that.

And yea it sucks, I use Mobile M1 oil filters or other premium ones. Nissan oil filters have gone the way of f***ed up FRAM.

[Black on Gold]

So what.

Not EVERYTHING in China is junk. They do have to meet some kinds of standards believe it or not.

I bet you're not going to be laughing when China starts making cars, and in a few (probably more) years, you'll actually consider or even buy one.

Isn't Hyundai a good example?

Good point.The same could go for alot of countries.

[jltibbs]

I just think it's interesting that so many people preach "OEM OEM", when it's apparent that some OEM parts are made by the cheapest bidder. As far as me looking to own a Chinese or Korean made vehicle in the future, that would be a negative. From my few years of experience with Nissan/Infiniti (only 5 years to be exact), I will more than likely stick with the 90's models. Preferably models prior to 96 due to emissions. I also try to stay away from '3N1' (Mexico assembled cars) when possible. Sadly, though, my Sentra was made in Smyrna, TN (where I'm from). After owning a Japan assembled Maxima (95), 240SX (96), and Q45 (94), I can definitely tell a difference in the production and QA of the Sentra.

Unknown is not the only member to say this. Working in aftermarket parts, I see the quality differences from many countries. Regardless of any companies standards, when the materials used are cheap and they use cheap labor to assemble, you get very low quality parts. There's no way around that simple fact.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

FRAM MAKES GOOD FILTERS...Their common base filters just suck...

[Urabus GodofTraction]

Wal-Mart filters: Made in the USA.

[zerepdivad]

Doesn't matter to me.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Major corporations usually have pretty stringent quality standards, regardless of where the product is built.

Lots of stuff is made in china because of the less strict emissions/disposal standards, as well as cheaper raw materials and cheaper labor. Instead of developing a highly complex automated system, they just replace it with manual labor (on the cheap). Lots of times, this is just fine. Most automated systems perform pretty simple tasks anyway. Some things just plain old need to be automated though... which doesn't change just because its in China.

That being said... in the past they definitely didn't perfect the art of building cheap stuff... but they are getting better at it now. A lot of you guys don't really know, but Japan used to have the same stigma as China does now (I think it was even referenced in Back To the Future part I...)

[MinisterofDOOM]

I think the big difference between today and years past is that in the past chinese parts were knockoffs, where today a lot of parts are originally manufactured there. Even a lot of big-name brand parts are made in china anymore.

[Jesda]

Most products from China are still terrible. Nissan OEM filters are junk.

[MinisterofDOOM]

That's why I run Supertech.

And I'm certainly not looking forward to Chinese automakers attempting to enter the US market. Their cars have repeatedly proven poorly built and unsafe. I'm also not particularly fond of giving money to carmakers who have illegally copied designs of legitimate automakers for profit.

[ADDirishboy]

^

Agree with all of that MoD.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Most products from China are still terrible.

Yeah, I meant to include that in my last post. They have come a long way though. Some have actually degraded (think about the cheap XY turbos or whatever... held together with freaking glue... WTF!)

[Jesda]

That's why I run Supertech.

Indeed. When I'm traveling and need an oil change at a Wal-Mart, I make sure to tell the guy to not put a Fram in and use ST instead. He [whomever the oil guy is] often wonders why I'd pick a Wal-Mart filter over a "brand name" like Fram for the same price.

[Watermelonwarrior]

We manufacture some of our products from china. Good quality can be had. Most people go to china wanting the cheapest thing and not caring about quality. My dad spends 8 months out of the year in china watching over the manufacturers making sure everything is done correctly and up to the right standards.

[numbnuts240]

when the company i work for was doing work at the casino, we found that it was more profitable to purchase the stone through a dealer in italy, have it quarried in afghanistan (there wasn't another option), have it sent to china for fabrication, then sent here. all that probably would have doubled in price had we gone through an american dealer and an american stone fabricator. everything came meeting the requirements of the architect as well as the owner. the only problem we had was a natural color variation that the architect failed to anticipate.

[marlin29311]

That's why I run Supertech.

And I'm certainly not looking forward to Chinese automakers attempting to enter the US market. Their cars have repeatedly proven poorly built and unsafe. I'm also not particularly fond of giving money to carmakers who have illegally copied designs of legitimate automakers for profit.

Cough....cough....hyundai....cough....cough

[HashiriyaS14]

Some great stuff is made in China.

Modern thinkpad laptops are all made by Lenovo, and they make great product.

[marlin29311]

and they make great product.

They make great engrish too.

[ScrapMetal]

There's a major lawsuit going on right now in South Florida regarding Chinese made drywall. The Chinese drywall is emits sulfur into the air and when combined with our humid moist air it creates sulfuric acid.

http://southflorida.bizjournal....html

When it comes to small things, I don't mind Chinese made products. I don't think I trust them just yet with an automobile, maybe in another 10 years.

[D1SR240]

Today you really have to take the "made in X" statement with a grain of salt, especially with products that are made in Asia. Asia has over 166 bilateral free-trade agreements (FTAs). That makes trade between Asian countries a lot easier than it was in the past. This means that parts made in one Asian country could be made from raw materials imported from another country, then re-exported to a third country for final assembly. This introduces complicated regulations about where the product originates. So while it may say "made in China" it's pretty difficult to trace exactly how much of the materials came from China and how much work was done in China.

A lot of Apple products, like the iPhone, are assembled in China. Does that mean they're "made in China"? Does that mean they're Chinese products? In today's global market it's pretty hard to label one product to a specific country.

[Jesda]

A lot of Apple products, like the iPhone, are assembled in China. Does that mean they're "made in China"? Does that mean they're Chinese products? In today's global market it's pretty hard to label one product to a specific country.

China must have some kind of magic queer sauce that they dip iPhones in.

[layedoutb2k]

At my work, we have tried to get casted components for our product made in china. We were doing that to try to keep costs down on some of our cheaper priced products. That led to a year wasted, hundreds of hours of testing and redesigning. Not one part that we got from over there stayed together and wouldnt break. We tried a manufacture in the US after that and never had one problem with the same parts. Especially after all of that, if I'm buying a product and have a choice, I try to stay away from many countries products.

[lino]

Nissan has been getting there filters from China for a while. There are some counterfeit filters on the market that look identical to the oem. I'm not positive, but I think the fakes say made in Taiwan instead of made in China. Two Nissan dealers that I know where buying the fake ones and had engine failures on vehicles that were still under warranty due to the valve letting go. Nissan head office looked into the claims and identified the fake filters as the culprit and those dealers where put on probation and are in jeopardy of losing their licenses if caught again.

[sorrowfulkiller]

hyundai isn't chinese!

that being said...

I run purolator premium plus oil filters, and I change my own oil... every time. I don't trust *most* dealerships or any jiffy lube or wal mart or sears auto to do any oil changes on my car.

[jltibbs]

hyundai isn't chinese!

that being said...

I run purolator premium plus oil filters, and I change my own oil... every time. I don't trust *most* dealerships or any jiffy lube or wal mart or sears auto to do any oil changes on my car.

When I got my Q, it had a "Nissan" filter on it. The oil was very dark and looked really nasty. 3 oil changes over the next three months, with Purolator Pure One and conventional Castrol GTX, the oil is still a little golden when I change the oil now.

At my work, we have tried to get casted components for our product made in china. We were doing that to try to keep costs down on some of our cheaper priced products. That led to a year wasted, hundreds of hours of testing and redesigning. Not one part that we got from over there stayed together and wouldnt break. We tried a manufacture in the US after that and never had one problem with the same parts. Especially after all of that, if I'm buying a product and have a choice, I try to stay away from many countries products.

Have seen it a few times with parts we sell in the aftermarket.

Everyone has great points, that's why it's open discussion! Keep them coming.

[Urabus GodofTraction]

Major corporations usually have pretty stringent quality standards, regardless of where the product is built.

Lots of stuff is made in china because of the less strict emissions/disposal standards, as well as cheaper raw materials and cheaper labor. Instead of developing a highly complex automated system, they just replace it with manual labor (on the cheap). Lots of times, this is just fine. Most automated systems perform pretty simple tasks anyway. Some things just plain old need to be automated though... which doesn't change just because its in China.

That being said... in the past they definitely didn't perfect the art of building cheap stuff... but they are getting better at it now. A lot of you guys don't really know, but Japan used to have the same stigma as China does now (I think it was even referenced in Back To the Future part I...)

There's something to be said about the cultural differences between the Chinese and Japanese.