> I recently received a small parts order from a popular
> vendor. On one side of the casting appeared the
> logo of FAG, a respected OEM supplier for Volkswagen.
> On the other side of the casting however, had once
> resided the familiar VW and Audi logos, but both of
> which have obviously been removed from the cylinder by
> use of a grinding machine.
>
> My question, quite simply, is why? >
> Is this a New-Old-Stock part from VW?
> Is it a part which for some reason met FAG's quality
> standards but not VW's?
>
> Would appreciate if any listmembers or vendors could
> provide enlightenment.

In many cases, an original-equipment supplier to VW (such as FAG) is
contractually permitted to sell the same part they make for VW to other
customers as well - but only if the VW logo is removed. Therefore, you
will commonly see parts from these manufacturers that are identical to
the one sold by VW, but with the VW logo somehow eliminated from the
part. In other cases, the logo may still exist, depending on the
agreement between VW and that particular manufacturer at that particular
time.  You will see this a lot on parts sold by The Bus Depot.  Wherever
possible, I try to locate such direct sources that bypass the VW markup
(preferably OEM suppliers such as FAG wherever possible). In some cases
the cost savings from doing so can be as high as 90%!

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  www.busdepot.com
  (215)  234-VWVW

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