Date:         Thu, 14 May 2015 16:04:49 -0400
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Ignition/starter switch failures
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2015051414472933@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

> They could be selling you production over-runs, or items that failed QA to
meet VW
> spec, or regular production at full spec intended to be sold aftermarket,
or regular
> production at reduced spec intended to be sold aftermarket.  Or any
mixture of the
> above.  Only they know which.

Although it's theoretically possible for items with the logo removed to be
built to a lower spec than VW specifies, I have never found a case of this
based on comparing return/defect rates on identical parts with and without
the logo.  Removing the logo is an extremely common practice when OE parts
are sold outside of the VW dealer network, for legal/contractual rather than
quality reasons. At some point (theoretically once VW stops ordering the
part themselves) the OE supplier is permitted to sell the part under their
own name to their own customers. But VW will not allow them to use their
trademarked logo when doing so, so they remove it (often right from the
molds themselves if their contract with VW for that part number is over).
Many of these OE suppliers are well regarded under their own names (i.e.
Sachs, Bosch, Continental, etc.) and have their own brand reputation to
protect. Therefore they do not sell B-stock or reduced-spec product under
their own names, with or without a VW logo.

Speaking of these ignition switches, we currently have the OEM German ones
on sale for $14.95:

http://www.busdepot.com/171905865

> Regardless of the source and quality of the ignition switch, IMHO, the
starter and
> headlight currents should not go thru it.  It is important to upgrade by
installing relays.

We sell an inexpensive and easy to install relay kit for redirecting the
starter current directly from the battery, using the ignition switch only as
a trigger (which is what VW should have done in the first place):

http://www.busdepot.com/WR1

Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot, Inc.
www.busdepot.com