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Mark Hinchliffe·
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··5 Comments·2 min read

Riders warned after fake parts haul

Riders warned after fake parts haul

Half a million fake and counterfeit vehicle parts seized in a raid in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last week may have been destined for Australia.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and Nationwide Research Group have consequently warned motorists to be on the lookout for fake parts.

It follows an FCAI warning in 2014 about fake motorcycle accessories, consumables and rider gear available over the internet.

Basically, if the price is too good to believe, it’s probably a fake.

READ COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS WARNING

 Fake parts could cause your motorcycle damage, make it unsafe and, in a crash, may void your warranty and/or insurance.

FCAI boss Tony Weber says the UAE seizure indicates the scale of the multi-billion-dollar international counterfeit parts industry.

Investigators say they impounded half a million parts in 21 truckloads valued at $5.4m.

Part of the fake parts haul
Part of the fake parts haul

Among the parts were filters, spark plugs and brake components that “could be motorcycle purposed”.

An FCAI spokesman says BMW parts were mentioned by the investigators, “so it is plausible that BMW motorcycle parts are in the mix”.

Craig Douglas, director of Nationwide Research Group which has been investigating counterfeit parts, says the parts are usually imported into Australia from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other parts of the UAE.

“Dubai dealers have been contacting Australian automotive retailers offering to sell them genuine parts at less than local prices, and our experience has shown that in most cases those parts are, in fact, counterfeit,” he says.

“Our investigations have revealed that some of these parts are fake. This recent seizure of fake parts suggests the problem is on the rise and Australian consumers should be vigilant.”

Tony says counterfeiters are “more sophisticated than ever”.

“These inferior copies are so close in appearance to the originals that even professionals can have difficulty telling them apart until they test their actual performance.

“The only way for consumers to ensure they are getting genuine OEM parts is to purchase spare parts and accessories from the authorised genuine part dealers and dealerships.

“Manufacturers test and back the parts they sell.”

Genuine is best

The FCAI promotes genuine parts through their Genuine Is Best program.

They urge all motorists to use genuine parts in regular maintenance and repairs.

They also warn about buying over the internet.

The program says the only way a motorist can guarantee supply of genuine parts is by buying them through the vehicle maker’s authorised supply chain.

“Use anything else and you may be taking a risk.” their website warns.

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5 Comments

  1. There is a difference between fake parts an counterfeit parts.
    Counterfeit parts may be every bit as good as genuine but with a name brand logo stamped on them often they come from the same factory that makes the supposed genuine parts using the same materials and meeting the same or nearly the same quality control. Fake parts are usually easy to tell are fake as they fail before you even touch them they smell (I mean it literally) wrong they feel wrong and they often weigh wrong.
    A counterfeiter with any sense will produce a quality part because counterfeiters have been executed when deaths occur due to their poor quality parts causing fatal accidents. There was a problem with fake helicopter rotor assembleys and bolts that caused some deaths most if not all the people involved are either in prison or were executed. It really doesn’t cost a counterfeiter any extra to produce a quality part but making a crappy part will cost them repeat business
    And possibly their life. A lot of counterfeiters have actually gone legit when their quality proved equal to name brands and people started placing orders for their products without the fake logos. But there are still some idiots who will put used motor oil in a fake kids drink and other equally stupid things thinking they’d make it big without getting lynched.

  2. So if I understand the artical, these dubious parts were intended to be sold to a dealership, and not to the general public? If so we are kind of helpless if these parts are installed by a dealer.

  3. I can buy GENUINE Yamaha parts through an online store in USA, shipped from Yamaha Europe and landed at my door for 2/3 on the price asked by my local dealer who has sh*thouse service anyway, usually doesn’t have the part in stock and I have to wait 2 weeks anyway.

  4. I was contacted via my Oz helmet regulation web site by an Indian Distributor offering “over stocked” open face helmets, the details were passed on to the Australian Motorcycle Council

    There is a lot of “cloning” of parts going on. Hexcode the manufacturer of the BMW diagnostics GS911 has been fighting cloners for years and Shindengen the manufacturer of Voltage Regulators and other electronics for Japanese and European motorcycle manufacturers has a warning on their web site now

  5. It’s the manufactures and distributors who are at fault, if they were not so greedy with the unrealistic to obscene prices they charge us for genuine spare parts. Then, there would not be a problem with “fake and counterfeit” parts as there would be no market for them.

    It would be a win all round, the manufactures would see a rise in the genuine parts sold and increase their profit, We, who are the end user would have safe reliable parts and all road users would be safer on the roads.

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