BilStein Shocks !!!

[polar964]

If any of you folks are thinking of purchasing Bilstein Shocks, i would NOT buy from Pelican Parts. I took delivery last week. Having concerns about colour difference of the front shocks, I investigated further and it appears that the shocks have been manufactured in different years !!![]
The manufactued age difference is between November 2005 and April 2007. I have taken independant advice from a suspension and geometry specialist who advise that the shocks be damp rate tested on a dyno to establish a match.
Not only are they different years but three of the set are old stock ![]
Pelican will not exchange the shocks with out me incurring shipping charges and they could not then guarantee a replacement matching set!! bizzar, as this is how they apparently arrive from their supplier ..... what sort of company is this!! Obviously they do not understand the fundimentals of match components!

The latest communication from Pelican was:
"If it does prove to not be compatable we would need a copy of the test saying that and then we could forward it to the supplier and work with you about getting it exchanged at thier cost."

My response was "I have placed my order with Pelican Parts, not your supplier. The responsibility is with Pelican Parts as this is with whom I have made my purchase and with whom payment for the Bilstein's shocks was made. If Pelican Parts is 100% confident with the products they have supplied, which, incidentally is what you want me to be, then Pelican parts should agree to a full an total refund if the test results prove that the Bilsteins are incompatible"

The saga continues ....

 

[mike220]

Sorry to hear all the trouble you're having Paul - I've been watching your thread on Rennlist. Been in your predicament with other goods and can confirm it's no fun at all. Hope you get sorted OK mate.

Mike (hoping to be slate grey 964 C4 owner in about 7 days time [])

 

[ubertub]

They really should refund the cost of test, too. and compensate you for the stress, impotence and marriage break-up this has caused. I am being silly I know, but there really should be some sort of compensation for the hassle when a sub-standard product is supplied. I symathise entirely. Is there some sort of vicarious liabilty on a supplier of other manufacturer's products. Might be worth looking into consumer rights. I had a similar thing when a plasma I had specified for a client screen failed after one week - the supplier told me to contact the manufacturer! They had got their cash and had washed their hands of it. Hateful people.
I wonder if there has been a breach of contract as you obviously want a set of shocks... not odds and sods. have a look at the Office of Fair Trading. Good luck

http://www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/resource_base/consumer-regulations/traders/343/1/

 

[911addict]

If you paid by ccard, tell the card company, they will take it up for you.

 

[polar964]

Thanks for the replies folks.
911addict .... The credit, i know []. I initially tried to make payment with the credit card, but Pelican said as it was my first purchase i had to make payment by wire transaction, so the funds went straight out of my current account, of which i had to pay £20 for the privelage[]. What i should have done was make a small purchase first then make the big one on the CC. Hindsight hey ....[].... They don't read my emails properly either, i've had to phone them twice, i think they are just takin the p*ss.

Thanks for your concern mike220

ubertub..... I am stressed .... Mrs P keeps telling me i'm up like a bottle of pop!! not sure how i stand regarding consumer rights having purchsed from the US?

 

[metric_thumbs]

Slider - would you like to try that last sentence again?

 

[smallspeed]

ORIGINAL: metric_thumbs

Slider - would you like to try that last sentence again?

ha!..

might be worth contacting bilstein; they are based in leicester and seem really helpful. They are not setup to deal directly with customers but they do help out loads. Despite not being able to help on a number of issues Ive had they have always said "pop down and see us.." and sorted me out..

if you are worried about seals and things (esp if its one old one, three new ones) i would speak to them about a re-build; i think i was quoted about £30 a corner including a good clean up, re-cutting of threads and new platform rings.. it was about £50 including new bushes from memory

Obviously you wont need all of that on new parts, but if they can re-build the old one(s) with new seals and re-fill for £25 or something, its proabably well worth it for your peace of mind and zero stress.. I know you will still have the feeling that pelican parts f'ed you over, but get them back by not giving them any more business []

Slider is kind of right about billies too; I have them on my car (with H&R springs) and they are quite harsh at first, however I think a-roads, motorways, tracks and decent surfaced sections of b-roads they are awesome!.. you will love them once they are fitted

ben

ps.. if you struggle to get hold of bilstein let me know; I have their details somewhere

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Bilstein UK are at:

3, Swannington Rd,
Cottage Lane Industrial Estate,
Broughton Astley,
Leicester, Leicestershire
LE9 6TU

Tel: 01455 283407

Paul, I feel really bad about all the problems - particularly since you went to Pelican at least partly on my recommendation. As you know, I bought mine only a few weeks before and didn't have the slightest trouble - and paid by credit card. I DID have to fax my passport details and the face of the credit card but otherwise there was no problem at all - and everything turned up as expected.

I'm sure Ben's suggestion about talking to Bilstein UK might prove the better solution. If they can at least give you some assurances it might make you feel better and it may not cost anything like the return carriage to Pelican. If everything turns out to be compatible I'm sure you could live with the colour difference.

I hope it gets sorted to your satisfaction anyway.

Regards

Dave

 

[turbo jonny]

I bought my bilsteins from carnewal at a good price , but when they arrived the rears were wrong part numbers. I had to send them back and wait for a replacement set from bilstein. All took over a month and i missed a track day i had booked! No compensation given even tho i asked nicely , and then not so nicely. Lesson , not always better to buy from abroad , and always check part numbers before starting the job !

They are a great improvement , especially after a full geometry set - up.

 

[polar964]

Thanks for the replies. Dave like i said over the phone its no problem. Your recommendation was on your experience, which was excellent.

Slider....... it's not about being anal,[] it's about receiving what i ordered. The fact that Bilsteins are currently manufacturing these components, means i would expect the latest shocks, hence all silver manufactured post 2007. Not receive a range, 2005, 2006 and 2007.... since when have they been pick 'n' mix. May be i should have gone to 'woolies'.... If there was an option to order old stock it should be specified. If you want to buy them from me and put them on your car make me an offer?? cus they are not going on my car, whether i'm anal or not []

Ben ...... phoned Bilstein UK today as iit happens, like you said very helpful. The guy i spoke to said he wouldn't put them on his car either with out having them damp rate tested.

 

[George Elliott]

Hi Paul,
I would make you a realistic offer and take them if they are the following Part Numbers:
F4-VE3-5277-H0 Front
F4-VE3-5278-H0 Front
F4-B46-1547-H0 Rear x2
My e-mail is george.elliott951@btopenworld.com
I had a load of hassle with PP too - which surprised me as the Web Site is brilliant.
let me know

George

 

[Alexander_Drobik]

I would email wayne demsey. This is not what Pelican makes its name on. You could try wayne@pelicanparts.com.

 

[polar964]

Hi Alexander,
Thanks i will do that .....
Have you had dealings with wanye? what position does he hold with PP?
It would help alot if i could deal with the main man and get a positive decision, instead of the run around.

George i have sent you an email

 

[Alexander_Drobik]

Paul - I have not dealt with him directly but on/off I would be hopeful he would help - he is one of the two co-founders, their ceo, and a well respected author of how to fix Porsches. He is known on the porsche cars US circuit etc. Worth a try!

 

[polar964]

Hi Slider .... you are right [] what the heck, but it doesn't make me a bad person, it's a condition i was born with .... beleive me if i could take medication for it i would matey [].
Totally agree about the quality and don't doubt them, if they had sent me all 2005 that would have been great. If they can get the order right a few weeks previous for DW then they should have done so for me, i might be anal but i'm not a soft touch.[]
With the alignment and geometry set by the right guy! beleive me the ride will be the dogs watsits []
Thanks for posting []
Cheers for that update Alexander

 

[nathan 1981 930 G50]

This sucks, I wouldn't be happy either. Let us know what Wayne says please.

 

[polar964]

Of course,......... I'll keep you posted ...... I've sent an email to Wayne Demsey, prompted also in reply to an automated email i had receive from PP requesting some feed back !!!!!
I kept my reply constructive and informative.[] Generally you end up getting some sense when you go staright to the top. Watch this space !!

 

[polar964]

Update folks ......
Received a long reply back from WD to which i replied as follows:
Hi Wayne,Thanks for the quick and detailed reply. I take on board your comments and have know doubt that the Bilsteins are a quality product. I am a design engineer and fully appreciate the changes that companies make in order to improve their manufacturing processes whist reducing their effects on the environment. I still find it difficult to understand how a company like Bilstein manufacturing top quality components can dispatch world wide a mixture of different year manufactured shocks. May be this is to simple a thought, but surely as they come off the production line one after the other, they are stocked for despatch in date order and therefore supplies receive the latest production line components. It just seems bizarre that you can purchase one shock manufactured in 2005 and one in 2007. If the ones I had received were all 2005 and the same colour I would have been none the wiser and they would most probably be on the car right now. What's more a UK guy bought from you in October last year the identical parts, all his shocks were silver coated, implying they were manufactured post 2007. It would no doubt help you the supplier and myself the customer if Bilstein issued some kind of certificate confirming compatibility of their components especially non year matched mechanical components, which would eliminate any concerns that I and maybe others would have. WD's reply was ...I'm not sure what certificate I can supply, but I will do this. I will have my supplier forward this to their contact at Bilstein for a reply. I think a reply via email from a Bilstein employee is probably the best thing I can do? I will keep you posted. Bilstein America's reply was ...The Porsche shocks are all built in Germany. They did have to meet new EPA requirements and were forced to change the plating process resulting in a slightly
different color. This is no way effects the shocks performance or
longevity. The other comment on "shelf life" is very interesting. This
is the first time I have this come up in over 5 years. Our shocks have
no shelf life. They still have inventory in Germany that is several
years old. There is nothing to go bad in the shock from sitting on the
shelf. We will never get sets of shocks with similar date codes as they
are not run in sets (Front & Rear) or (Left and Right). Germany might
built a left front, and the right front a year later.

I hope this helps you out.

Dan Moser

Sales Supervisor / Western Region
ThyssenKrupp BILSTEIN of America, Inc.

 

[mike220]

So what's the score Paul, are you gonna fit them ?

Mike

 

[smallspeed]

i still think if this is a problem for you the cheapest and least painful way (although you will have to bite your tongue and try to ignore the feeling you have been done) is to contact Bilstein UK and see if they will give them a thorough check and service for you.. this might cost you 100 quid, but I bet shipping to the US would set you back 40-50 and you would be without them for another 2months; bilstein uk would probably turn them around inside a week and atleast you could be confident in what you have