Fake DENSO spark plugs from e-bay

[fuegos]

I should expect counterfeit product for this price but it was worth giving it a try. Beware of the seller, after submitting photo evidence, he was still insisting that the plugs are genuine - stay away from this person. Had to pick up genuine plugs from local dealership and do a comparison.

Electrode in eBay plugs differs significantly from the genuine product.

Genuine - welded iridium electrode, fakes have whole electrode made out of the same material.

 

Fake

 

Genuine

 

Fake

 

Genuine on the left

 

 

Genuine at the bottom

 

 

Genuine on the right - notice that genuine plug has welded piece of the iridium or platinum to negative electrode, fakes don't.

 

 

 

 

 

[rayaans]

Interesting stuff but yes, if its too good to be true, it usually is

If you want spark plugs from eBay - buy from the Green Spark Plug Co or recognised seller.

 

[Jules PF]

Or Opie Oils.

[Rebecca]

Not surprised to be honest. eBay is full of fake goods.

If I wanted spark plugs or any other spares I would order from Lexus Birmingham. At least you know your getting the real deal.

[fuegos]

Normally I take everything from a dealer to be sure parts are genuine. Just checked opie and these plugs are £7.75! It is less than what I pay with trade discount!

Checked with dealer today and front lower arms are £230 each and upper one is over £400. They must be smoking crack! lol

Could you please advise where I could possibly buy genuine or decent aftermarket suspension parts? Any recommended brands? All I need are bushes and ball joints, also RCA. Cheers.

 

[rayaans]

9 hours ago, fuegos said:

Normally I take everything from a dealer to be sure parts are genuine. Just checked opie and these plugs are £7.75! It is less than what I pay with trade discount!

Checked with dealer today and front lower arms are £230 each and upper one is over £400. They must be smoking crack! lol

Could you please advise where I could possibly buy genuine or decent aftermarket suspension parts? Any recommended brands? All I need are bushes and ball joints, also RCA. Cheers.

 

Go to a Toyota dealer - more than likely to be cheaper and be able to get the parts for you no problem.

Powerflex bushes are the real deal - could go for them

[fuegos]

4 hours ago, rayaans said:

Go to a Toyota dealer - more than likely to be cheaper and be able to get the parts for you no problem.

Powerflex bushes are the real deal - could go for them

It is actually Toyota dealer that supplies parts for me and their suspension prices are insane... I need an alternative. 

Some sort of black poly bushes are already on the car and they are worn as hell. I would like to restore factory driving comfort. Is this possible with poly?

[rayaans]

18 minutes ago, fuegos said:

It is actually Toyota dealer that supplies parts for me and their suspension prices are insane... I need an alternative. 

Some sort of black poly bushes are already on the car and they are worn as hell. I would like to restore factory driving comfort. Is this possible with poly?

With powerflex bushes - you generally keep the existing arms and just pull the old ones out although its a bit of a faff so places just like to replace the whole thing.

Look at Meyle or Lemforder - they seem to be the better ones out there. 

Aristo make the OEM ones for GS430 so you could look at these. Plenty on eBay as well just be careful who you buy from

[fuegos]

1 hour ago, rayaans said:

With powerflex bushes - you generally keep the existing arms and just pull the old ones out although its a bit of a faff so places just like to replace the whole thing.

Looked at Powerflex website but they offer bushes only for NX 2014 onwards. Garage is quite well equipped and I have got hydraulic press so fitting new bushes is not a problem - that is actually preferred over replacement of complete assembly. 

1 hour ago, rayaans said:

Aristo make the OEM ones for GS430 so you could look at these. Plenty on ebay as well just be careful who you buy from

Are you sure Aristo is a brand for suspension components? I thought that Aristo is an equivalent Toyota model to Lexus GS....

[rayaans]

10 minutes ago, fuegos said:

Looked at Powerflex website but they offer bushes only for NX 2014 onwards. Garage is quite well equipped and I have got hydraulic press so fitting new bushes is not a problem - that is actually preferred over replacement of complete assembly. 

Are you sure Aristo is a brand for suspension components? I thought that Aristo is an equivalent Toyota model to Lexus GS....

Nah I got it wrong - you're right Aristo is the equivalent so if you find parts for that then you should be OK.

Shame powerflex dont make the bushes

Superpro do though apparently.

[Jules PF]

If you want to retain the original feel, I wouldn't recommend powerflex or similar polyurethane bushes, I have done in the past and have found them too harsh.  

 

[true blue]

Good posting  with all the relevant information; as suggested ,use official outlets ,there have been cases of people fitting these plugs ,Denso and NGK  in the MX 5 owners club ( other car ) where the electrode has become detached and caused a lot of engine damage

Dave

[rayaans]

An update regarding this - 

My son's MK5 Golf was in for service today at the local indy. I know him since he was working as an apprentice at another garage back in 2001! 

Anyway, as I bought the car for him last year and was supposedly serviced by the independent dealer, I thought we'd give it a year and get a full service done.

Had the oil changed to Quantum Longlife, air filter, oil filter and fuel filter. brake discs and pads around back were corroding so had them replaced too - all OEM. 

He checked the spark plugs and changed them to OEM as well as someone had put in some fakes which had almost self combusted! 

[999101999]

Great post this, whilst not relevant to my Lexus it did make me think again and Not buy from eBay and get pugs for my wifes car from the Green Spark Plug Co and they are only a few pence more expensive that some other supplies that may be questionable!  cheers all 

[Steve]

On 5/15/2018 at 11:22 AM, 999101999 said:

Great post this, whilst not relevant to my Lexus it did make me think again and Not buy from Ebay and get pugs for my wifes car from the Green Spark Plug Co and they are only a few pence more expensive that some other supplies that may be questionable!  cheers all 

Green Spark Plug Co are good. used them before