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[feeutfo]

After certain threads of late it seems we need some guidance on what parts work on the omega. These can be pattern OR genuine vx. It matters not!

 BUT what is vital to this, it seems to me, is that the parts you recommend here are PROVEN, as best we possibly can, to be good value with a long service life over the full life of the part. In short, it must be fit for purpose. Posts such as "I fitted a £1 Chinese copy cam censor 3 days ago and it works fine" do NOT belong here. However if a part is proven to last similar or longer than a genuine item, but is cheaper for instance, then this is exactly what we want to know. Also, if the genuine part is the only part available and fit for purpose, we need to know that too.

You get the idea...but please be honest and objective in your recommendations. Remember, others will read this and want to make an informed purchase on what you say. Hopefully.

[TheBoy]

I'll start with a few, all IMHO of course.

Exhausts - Eternal
Cam Cover Gaskets for V6 - GM (on quality)
Steering idler - Lemforder
Oil - GM 10W40 semi (on cost)
Oil Filter - GM (on cost)
Air Filter - GM (on quality)
Plugs - GM (on cost)

[05omegav6]

Value is a fine line ie £8 drop links last 30-40k,  GM ones last 100k but cost£25 iirc

If you do your own repairs buy pattern ones to save cash or GM ones to save time (not doing a job three times more often). If you pay someone to do the work then GM will save alot of money in labour charges

Cheaper parts really need to last to justify the savings...

[feeutfo]

Polly bushes 
http://www.powerflex.co.uk/products/Omega+B+1994-2003-2658/1.html
Rear subframe(donut) bushes, Febi(cheapest) or Lemforder on cost

Wheel barings FAG (oe supplier) on cost
Wishbones Lemforder.... And most chassis stuff included here http://www.allgermanparts.co.uk/ourshop/cat_277900-Steering-and-suspension-components.html

Shocks, vx. (mv6 lowered sports chassis, self levelling rear for Elite. Only available from Vx.)

Springs, self levelling and standard, http://www.kyb-europe.com/ on cost. Or Boge from allgerman above. On cost and availability.
mv6 lowered sports chassis, Vx on availability.(expensive)

Sport suspension. Aftermarket in order of firmness.
Irmscher (rare, no longer in production)
Stienmetz
Iebach
Bilstein. B4 shocks. .....all on quality.

[feeutfo]

Drop links.
Vx £35 a side(for example)
Lemforder (oe supplier, so same as vx) £16 odd a side.
Merle heavy duty. £15 a side. Recomended on 4 year warranty IMO. From allgermanparts.

[feeutfo]

Value is a fine line ie £8 drop links last 30-40k,  GM ones last 100k but cost£25 iirc

If you do your own repairs buy pattern ones to save cash or GM ones to save time (not doing a job three times more often). If you pay someone to do the work then GM will save alot of money in labour charges

Cheaper parts really need to last to justify the savings...

I guess if you know the part, it's cost, and life, if the info is included in the post, people can make on informed view, accordingly...?

[feeutfo]

A quick word on wishbones complete.
These are an item of some controversy on here, I suppose.
Views vary on the best options. These are...
Vx. £235 a side.
Lemforder oe supplier. eg, £130 a pair delivered from allgermanparts. Recomended on balance IMO.
eBay specials. Various, £50 a pair.

Vx are obviously very expensive. But some here hold the view that they are the best quality.

Others, myself included, feel that Lemforder as an oe supplier give best balance of cost and quality.
However there have been complaints of early failures after two years on items supplied by euro car parts and Autovaux and allgermanparts iirc.

Then there are those that have had good results from un branded £50 a pair specials.
But equally, I think it's fair to say there have been more members who have had bad results with these. Failures within weeks or months have been very common.

The problem with the £50 jobs is there are so many suppliers, but none are prepared to put their name on them. So filtering out the useable ones from the crap and downright dangerous is almost impossible.

(however in all cases, these MUST have the bolts corectly torqued with wheels loaded/car on the floor/suspension at the correct ride height etc, or they will fail early no matter whats fitted)

Polly bushes are only available for the front bush and can be fitted with wishbones on the car if the original rubber bush fails. So unless you have a press available with drifts and expertise to fit your own rearward bushes, the quality of the rearward bush becomes all important when buying wishbones. IMO. IME it's generally this rearward bush that seems to fail early on the cheaper items.

[plym ian]

also depends on how often you use the car say some one who does 200 miles+ a week are going to have thing not last as long as say 50miles a week. I only say this cause I hardly use my car

[05omegav6]

also depends on how often you use the car say some one who does 1200 miles+ a week are going to have thing not last as long as say 50miles a week. I only say this cause I hardly use my car

Corrected that for you valid point though, a part that lasts six months for me could easily do six years for you

[feeutfo]

Brakes.
Front disc/pad set. Vx via trade club.(On value. Under £100 iirc)
Front pads. Vx via trade club. (On value. £14 ish)
Oe pads. Vx via trade club. (On quality, Very expensive though)

[dbug]

I'll start with a few, all IMHO of course.

Exhausts - Eternal
Cam Cover Gaskets for V6 - GM (on quality)
Steering idler - Lemforder
Oil - GM 10W40 semi (on cost)
Oil Filter - GM (on cost)
Air Filter - GM (on quality)
Plugs - GM (on cost)

As above plus

Water pump - GM now very expensive - had no issues with QH pattern (~£25-£30)

TB - Whats happened to my post re Mr Yin and his cam cover gaskets?  PM?

[Marks DTM Calib]

Rear wishbone bush can be fitted with a reasonable vice easily (in fact thats how I did AA's....I also removed the old ones that way but you could easily cut them out!)

[05omegav6]

Rear wishbone bush can be fitted with a reasonable vice easily (in fact thats how I did AA's....I also removed the old ones that way but you could easily cut them out!)

Guess what todays job is...

[feeutfo]

Drilled mine out once with a drill big enough to reach/clip the outside edge of the bush but not touch the wishbone. Remainder of bush just fell out. Drilling with a small drill first was problematic though, due to the bulb shape cast(?) into the centre spacer. No line of sight so they just snapped. A more " 'av it" approach was taken after that. 

 

[05omegav6]

Blow torch. Job jobbed

Firstline and Delphi should be at the top of the 'DON'T EVER BUY. BECAUSE THEY'RE POO.' category