Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2003 12:13:47 -0500
Reply-To: The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject: Ignition Wire Sets
In-Reply-To: <000b01c3c7e6$b8daac10$8aa30818@jim>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> I'm on my 3rd set of Bosch wires in 4 months.
> The only thing about the Bosch wires is the name. The wire
> itself is not special and the resistor ends must be factory
> seconds as are most aftermarket brands. Probably 1 out of 4
> sets of aftermarket wires I have installed have come back
> within a year, usually due to an open or shorted resister
> end. I now go back to the dealer.
In all fairness I can't say I've had a lot of Bosch sets come back, but
it is true that they are not the same as the dealer sets. As Dennis
Haynes has alluded to, the ends are different (although I have no
information that would lead me to believe that they are factory
seconds). Also, most of the Bosch sets I've seen are now made in
Mexico.
However, we have several non-Bosch Original Equipment alternatives, many
for as much as 40% BELOW the price of Bosch. For anyone who is looking
for the best quality and a good price, and does not insist on the Bosch
name, these are the ones I recommend. I don't believe you'll find them
anywhere else, as we have to specially order them in large quantity.
For '85-up....
Our 09272oe ($39.95) is made by the supplier to Volkswagen/North
America (and are actually Canadian made). This is the same wire set they
sell to VW, but for 40% cheaper than the Bosch set (and a heck of a lot
cheaper than the VW dealer price!). I highly recommend these wires -
excellent quality at a great price..
Our 09272 ($59.95) is either Bosch or Beru. Personally my preference
between these two is Beru Beru, like Bosch, is an OEM supplier to VW in
Germany, but the Beru wires have nicer ends and are still German made
rather than Mexican. I'm a big fan of Beru and try to get their
ignition parts whenever I can, as they're really nice quality and German
made (even though they don't have the brand name recognition in the U.S.
that Bosch has), but Beru is not always easy to get in the U.S. I
generally stock Beru's version of this wire set rather than Bosch, but
if we dropship an order directly from a supplier (or if someone
specifically requests it) we may send Bosch. If you would prefer Beru
only, specify something like "Beru Only, Not Bosch" when ordering. There
is a "comments" section on the web checkout page where you can enter
this. If ordering by phone, you can have the operator enter this info
manually (or to play it safe follow up with an email).
For Pre-1985...
Our 09171oe (for aircooled; $19.95) and 09180oe (for '83-84 1.9L
watercooled; $39.95) are made by a European OEM supplier to Volkwagen.
These come off of the same production line as the ones they sell to VW
for sale through many of their European dealers. I am not at liberty to
mention the actual manufacturer's name, but it is a name you'd recognize
that has long been associated with VW (it is not Bosch). Our 09171
(aircooled, $24.95) and 09180 ('83-84 1.9L, $59.95) are Bosch.
Finally, we have an aftermarket alternative for the aircooled Vanagons
(021998031A, $12.95). This is Mexican made, like the Bosch, but is
actually made (for the Vanagon) by Ford's OEM supplier. Probably
comparable to the Bosch (not better), but cheap.
You can pull up any of these online by typing the part number (above)
into the "search by part number" box on the left menu bar of the
website. Or use the "quick order by part number" page to add it to your
cart quickly.
- Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot, Inc.
www.busdepot.com
(215) 234-VWVW
_____________________________________________
Toll-Free for Orders by PART # : 1-866-BUS-DEPOT
