> It is also wise to note that "German" parts now means the same as
> formerly "West German" or "East German" parts.
>
> Well West German parts may have had a good reputation, but anything
> coming out of East Germany was pure junk. Who knows where "German" parts
> now come from?
>

While you are theoretically correct, I don't know of any East German made
Vanagon parts on the market right now.  Most are coming from companies that
have had established West German factories long before the union. However,
as we witness the continuing development of a global market, it is now quite
common for a "German" manufacturer to make their parts outside of Germany
entirely.  For example, I have seen FAG bearings made in Japan and Brazil,
and ATE brake drums are now made in Italy.  Even "dealer" parts purchased
from the VW dealer are now often in fact coming from VW of Mexico or VW of
Brazil.  The good news is, so far I have found little or no quality
difference between the German and other products sold by the better brands
such as ATE and FAG.  It seems that these well-reknowned companies'
attention to quality extends to the products they make (or have made)
elsewhere as well as those they make in Germany, which is perhaps one
benefit of dealing with a well-established brand that has a reputation to
uphold.  But it does mean that I am being more careful to use the term
"original equipment supplier" rather than "German supplier", since the
German company's box may not always contain German parts.  As time goes on,
identifying actual country of origin may get even more difficult, as "Made
in EEC" (European Economic Community) or "May Contain Parts from One or More
of the Following Countries" are sometimes being used on some boxes instead
of actual country of origin.

- Ron Salmon
 The Bus Depot
 http://www.busdepot.com