Ron,
  Someone at Foriegn Auto Parts once told me that when Bosch runs out of
good cores to rebuild, that they will stick a new component in the Reman box
to fill the order.  Do you know if it's true?  I do know that they
definitely have some of the highest quality new or reman parts available for
our VW's.

Mike B.
----- Original Message -----
From: "The Bus Depot" <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 5:41 PM
Subject: Re: starters-used vs. cheap rebuilt vs. Bosch rebuilt

>> I am trying to choose between a used starter for about $55, a
>> cheap AutoZone starter for $90 and free shipping or a Bosch
>> one for $115 (3/4 hp normally for 1.9 engine) or $130 (1 hp
>> normally for 2.1 engine)  The Autozone one has lifetime warranty,
>> the Bosch one year, but that includes towing and two years
>> roadside assistance. (I don't know why they would give you roadside
>> assistance for longer than the warranty, but whatever.)
>>
>> It's tempting to get the cheapest rebuilt. I don't think I
>> want to take a chance on a used. Has anyoe had any experience
>> with the AutoZone Duralast 16722?
>
>
>
> While I can't speak about this starter in particular, I can speak of
> discount auto store rebuilt electrics in general.  I have had more than
> one
> customer who has ended up buying one of our starters or alternators after
> having had to take advantage of the "lifetime warranty" for the third or
> fourth time in a couple of years.  They finally got fed up with constantly
> breaking down and having to remove their starter or alternator, warranty
> or
> not.  The discount auto parts chains buy rebuilt electrics by the
> truckload
> from the lowest bidder. Quality takes a back seat to price.  In the
> extreme,
> some may have had little done beyond a good cleaning if the used core they
> put on the bench to rebuild tested fine as it sat.  It is cheaper for them
> to cut corners and then exchange some of them when needed, than to pay
> more
> for better QC and a more thorough job in the first place - hence the
> "lifetime warranty."  You must consider that if the van breaks down in the
> middle of nowhere, your "lifetime warranty" is only honored at that chain.
> If you're stranded on the side of the road after hours, or are fifty miles
> from the nearest branch, what good will it do you?
>
> Bosch's "free towing" is a smart marketing ploy. The catch is that the tow
> is only paid for if the covered part is factory defective (and if you
> replace it at your expense, if it's been over a year).  If you get your
> van
> towed for a faulty starter and the real problem ends up being a weak
> battery, corroded connection, ignition switch, etc., they don't reimburse
> for the tow and their authorized service center gets to bill you for the
> repair.  Since Bosch electrics rarely fail within a couple of years,
> they're
> banking that you're likely to have a different problem - one they can
> charge
> you for, as well as the tow - rather than a defective starter.  I suspect
> that it's a good gamble on their part.
>
> That said, there are good quality rebuilders out there besides Bosch. One
> of
> the companies I use, for example, is a small business that has specialized
> in Bosch electrics for over 20 years. His out-of-the-box defect rate is
> just
> a smidgeon higher than Bosch (but still negligable, at under 1 percent),
> and
> the subsequent reliability rate is roughly comparable to Bosch's, but the
> price is much lower. (I also sell the Bosch rebuilds, of course.)  So
> there
> are middle-ground options between a Bosch and the cheapest rebuild you can
> find. There may also be a local rebuilder in your area who can rebuild
> your
> unit one-off at a low price and knows what he's doing.  It may pay to ask
> your local mechanic if he knows of anyone nearby who's reputable.
>
> - Ron Salmon
>  The Bus Depot, Inc.
>  www.busdepot.com
>  (215)  234-VWVW
>
> _____________________________________________
> Toll-Free for Orders by PART # :  1-866-BUS-DEPOT
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]
>> On Behalf Of Edward Duntz
>> Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 4:42 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: starters-used vs. cheap rebuilt vs. Bosch rebuilt
>>
>> I need to replace the starter in my '87 with stock 2.1
>> engine. It used to need an occasional tap if it wouldn't
>> start, but now I have had to hit it with a hammer while a
>> kind passerby turns the key. This has happened twice, both
>> times in the rain and snow.
>>
>> Already having put several thousand dollars into various
>> mechanical systems in the last few years, and still having
>> undiagnosed running/FI problems, I don't want to spend more
>> than I need to on a starter. So now my question.
>>
>
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Ed
>> _________________________________________________________________
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>