I’ll be amazed if you get 2 years out of the fine China ones without clunking or other issues

 

"Made in China, Stays in China", far as I'm concerned. I have not had a problem with Arnotts, and all of mine have had the protective boots and sleeves. I've never seen before what your photo is showing; that does look odd.

 

Yes, this China mind set of mine needed to be changed.

With all major motor manufacturers now in Chinese "joint ventures", there is no way (in my mind) the quality would be allowed to drop by the western motor manufacturers.
And there is no getting away from the fact China is a genuine force to be reckoned with. Just browsing this you realise the motoring world in about to undergo some serious changes!
So it was with this in mind that I went Chinese.

• In 2017, Renault-Nissan and Dongfeng.
• In 2019, Mercedes-Benz announced the establishment of a joint venture with Chinese automaker Geely.[107] Geely acquired 50% of Smart.
• In July 2019, Renault a subsidiary of Jiangling Motors Corporation.
• In 2020, BMW and Great Wall Motor a joint venture Spotlight Automotive to produce Mini EVs.
• In 2020, Toyota announced its joint venture with Chinese manufacturer BYD. The joint venture was set to assist technical know-how for Toyota's EV development and supply the battery, electric motor and electronic control unit for Toyota's EV. Toyota bZ3, the first electric sedan of Toyota, was built under the assistance of BYD.
• In July 2023, Audi and SAIC announced their partnership in developing EVs. The EV platform from SAIC's EV brand, IM Motors will be introduced into Audi's electric models.
• In July 2023, Volkswagen Group announced its investment of $700 million in XPeng. VW will collaborate with XPeng to develop two VW brand electric models for the mid-size segment in the Chinese market in 2026.
• In August 2023, Geely and Renault a joint venture called Horse Powertrain with each entity holding 50% stake to manufacture internal combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid powertrains for Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi vehicles. The joint venture went operational in May 2024.
• In September 2023, Ford and Changan announced to establish a new joint venture Changan Ford NEV, to produce and distribute Ford vehicles based on Changan's EV technology. Changan holds 70% stake in the JV while Ford holds 30%.
• In October 2023, Stellantis announced its investment to Leapmotor acquiring 20% of Leapmotor for the support of technology to produce EVs.
• In April 2024, Toyota introduced the bZ3X which was jointly developed with GAC Group and GAC Toyota.
• In June 2024, Jaguar Land Rover and Chery signed a letter of intent to create an EV brand called Freelander that will be based on an EV platform from Exeed.

@cowboyt; me thinks you need to pop on some shades walking around your garage & house .... 😎 I guess 85% of everything comes from China ..... from textiles to appliances.😖

 

It’s premature to think that what you bought is good, so spare us the crowing.

You haven’t even installed them yet.

 

@Astro14

"You haven’t even installed them yet."
How do you know? I didn't see you lurking about my garage ...

My word, how presumptuous of you!
The cocky attitude!
The assumptions made!
The arrogance!
Bombastic attitude too!
(Seem you rather "touchy" on "Made in USA" vs "Made in China" when the picture clearly speaks for itself...)

You seriously need a change of attitude .... for you own benefit & well being. (It'll do you a world of good!)

 

Grow up. I said nothing of the kind. You are praising the quality of something you have not yet tried.

That’s foolish.

You have no results. No experience. The only thing you have done is unbox them.

You’re the one making all the assumptions here. About how great these parts are, based on looks, when you have not installed them. Appearances can be decieving, or have you not yet learned that?

You’ve proven nothing, other than your own infatuation with how they look.

Run them a couple of years - let us know how they perform. How they last.

When you have data, and not emotion, I will listen.

 

Ebay parts are for cars to be sold. With the money you save on labor, get the right part and do it once.

 

"get the right part and do it once."

😔😔 ... that is EXACTLY what I did first time round: from an American company called .... Arnott.

I suggest you follow (& open) this link - take the time to browse their website, don't chirp "chirps" without knowledge.
Does this honestly appear to be some backyard "mickey mouse" organisation?

Air Spring, Air Suspension Shock, Air Struts - Yiconton

Over the last 20 years yitao has developed into a leading international designer and manufacturer of air spring and air suspension products.

www.ytairspring.com

(Btw, what I purchased is not a break-down of 2nd hand car parts...)

 

"get the right part and do it once."

😔😔 ... that is EXACTLY what I did first time round: from an American company called .... Arnott.

I suggest you follow (& open) this link - take the time to browse their website, don't chirp "chirps" without knowledge.
Does this honestly appear to be some backyard "mickey mouse" organisation?

Air Spring, Air Suspension Shock, Air Struts - Yiconton

Over the last 20 years yitao has developed into a leading international designer and manufacturer of air spring and air suspension products.

www.ytairspring.com

(Btw, what I purchased is not a break-down of 2nd hand car parts...)

I that case IDGAF.

 

IDGAF

"Swearing is a crutch for conversational cripples."

 

'12 years on the arnotts'... But as / more important.. how many miles & in what driving conditions? . I read in W220 ee. (IIRC) that air struts are deemed a 'consumable' item (like brakes etc) & are recommended to be changed at approx 100k miles.

 

From my log book;
19/3/2012 Shock Absorbers - Front & Rear : Arnotts USA @ 124,356 km
Current - 179,888 km
± 54,000 km on the Arnotts.

We do not "salt/ grit" our roads and I do not travel dirt / gravel roads.
(Yes, potholes we do have, plenty of them ... 😂 ... but I avoid such roads.)

PS; 12 years @ 4,500 km per year only because I do most my traveling on my BMW k1600 m'cycle.

 

My experience: Front chinese airshocks have held up fine and are quiet, rear ones have been a nightmare with rattling/clunking, I lost count of how many rears I replaced. I finally went with rear reman arnott, and it had a worse clunk than the chinese ones, lol. I had THAT one replaced with another reman arnott, and finally it has been perfect. No clunk.

 

"Grow up. I said nothing of the kind."
You SAID and the ARROGANCE is clearly there for all to read!

Maybe you would be so kind to explain to us forum members, how it is that I posted a pic (first post) of the new shocks ALONGSIDE the old removed shock while you persistently & adamantly state;
"The only thing you have done is unbox them."
I beg your pardon!
Absolutely shocking - this coming from an "adult", who does not know me, has never been invited to my house, make such a 'factual' remark?
Please state to all forum members (moreso myself) EXACTLY how & why, on what grounds you "factually" state the above as fact. Prove the caliber of the man you are...

Is it because you have not seen me posting the fitment on TikTok, Instagram that you state this as "fact"?

For your info, they were already installed, fitted & tested when I posted the very first post of mine.

"Run them a couple of years - let us know how they perform. How they last."
Yes, I shall definitely do so - and I'm confident they will outlast the "Made in America" Arnotts!
:watch this space:

(PS: And then some Americans wonder why the western world has such a dim view of the American; Their utter arrogance, brashness & vulgarity on full display here!
Sadly, Astro14 is your answer...)

Over & out - you are not a reasonable, level headed person I wish to continue this conversation with.

 

OE Struts - 2003 to 2012 Nine years.
Arnott rebuilt Struts 2012 to 2024 Twelve years
"The rear right Arnott shock recently started losing pressure - which I did not expect so soon after the Arnott fitments..."

A rebuilt Arnott AS-2194 bought in 2012 came with a lifetime warranty. AFAIK, Arnott still honors that warranty.

 

@wallyp,

Yes, thank you for the 'lifetime warranty' statement.

I wasn't going to state that, as I wasn't 100% sure on the "lifetime warranty" to put that in writing as fact. My memory has faded, but I do seem to recall that when I purchased them, it was "lifetime" - but of course, whose 'lifetime' - yours, mine or the component when it finally breaks? 😄 (Sir, that 'was' the lifetime!")

I see Arnott now only offer a 2 year warranty .... same as these Chinese ones, btw.
(Seems it is a really dirty word to mention here ; Chinese!)

The issue of the non-return from South Africa is the shipping cost is far more than the replacement.

As for the mileage;
OEM struts = ±62,000 miles
Arnotts= ±33,000 miles

 

Am i reading this correctly that you "only" got 12 years out of a set of air shocks/struts?

 

Correct yes, 12 years ... but consider the car stood most of the 12 years.
Afterall, what is 33,000 over a 12 year span ~ ± 3,000 mile per year.
Tar roads, never loaded to "max" passengers & baggage, etc, stressing the bellows.

 

@jotburke just feed back to the forum please when you have some mileage or time on the parts.

That's it, it's all that's needed.

Can we stop being annoyed now please?

 

What?
@jotburke only......🤔
I request you address this with @Astro14, the person who initially disparages me.
I do not tolerate his false accusations - when I'm expected to just accept it.
I've had my day....
End of matter.
Regards.

 

Things "wear out" on a vehicle - but "wear out" is not necessarily what really happens.

Some things fail because of mileage - for example, brake pads. They don't get old and brittle, they just wear out from use.
Some things fail because of age - for example, some rubber or plastic parts just get old and brittle.
Some things fail because of environmental factors - for example, the plastic or rubber around the windows. In a Chicago garage, they will last a lot longer than they will in a street parking spot in Las Vegas.
Some things fail because of a combination of factors. On a vehicle that is driven often and far, tires wear out according to mileage. On a rarely-driven vehicle in a hot, harsh environment, tires will fail because of age.

The rubber and fabric rolling diaphragms in an Airmatic strut fail because of both mileage and age. Mileage flexes the rubber, age hardens it, and both factors cause failures.

In any case, twelve years ain't bad...