Car manufacturers often charge steep prices for their original spare parts. The cheap alternative from the accessories does not have to be worse.
When replacing wear parts, the question arises: Expensive original or the cheap alternative from the accessories trade? A test by the ADAC of various brake pads and discs for the VW Golf VII shows: Spare parts from well-known manufacturers can be a high-quality and, above all, significantly cheaper alternative to the original equipment manufacturer.
Original spare parts - there's a good reason!
The traffic club has tested six suitable brake discs and pads for the Golf 7, which are offered at prices between 100 and 432 euros. The focus of the investigation was on safety and wear and tear. The ATE ceramic brakes were awarded top marks for wear and tear as the test winner with a grade of 1,7. At 250 euros, it is significantly cheaper than the original equipment manufacturer from VW, which costs 432 euros. The original brakes impressed with the second-best braking performance, but poor marks for wear led to an overall score of 2,3. The Brembo product, which costs 291 euros and is characterized by the best braking performance by far, but also by far the highest level of wear and tear, also got it. The brakes “Zimmermann CoatZ” (2,5 euros) and “Bosch Hochgekohlt” (239 euros) were each given a more balanced 117. The cheapest product in the “Ridex Low Budget” test environment, at 100 euros, only received a “sufficient” rating for braking performance, and thus an overall rating of 3,5.
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