Behr thermostat says Made in Germany on box but . . .

[f1reverb]

when you open the box it has a Vernet thermostat marked Made in France. I just got in an argument with my local independent parts house when I went to pick-up a 71 degree Behr thermostat I ordered yesterday. When I ordered I had the choice of a French thermo, which I rejected, a Wahler or a Behr. I choose the Behr but it was a Vernet in the box. I said that it's illegal to have the origin of the product on the box only to find it's different inside. They had a 75 degree Wahler sitting there and it says Wahler Made in Germany on the box and on the thermo. They said that Wahler doesn't make a 71 degree unit (which is BS I'm sure). I said that a Behr marked Made in Germany on the box should have Behr Made in Germany on the thermo. I'm going to call Behr America tomorrow and ask them about this. You try and keep the independents in business, but I'll get my thermo from the dealer as it's only eight bucks more. What brand of thermo does BavAuto sell for their 20 bucks? This place it was 35 and the dealer wants 43. Is Behr made in Germany or what?

[cj]

I just finished installing/tuning and driving my new 2.2 Metric Mech. motor with all new cooling system. It goes like a bat outta hell! The only problem was the German water pump that I bought new leaks at the freeze plug. Sucks! Now I have to put another water pump in.

Cris

[2761377]

the last time i bought a 71 degree t-stat, at irvine bmw, it was french.

hth

robert

[f1reverb]

Vernet. Notice how the Behr cost more.

Behr and Vernet thermostats

Someone is playing games here.

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a German thermostat and then substituted a cheaper French unit. I'm going to talk to BMW too.

[esty]

a German thermostat and then substituted a cheaper French unit. I'm going to talk to BMW too.

why's the french one cheaper and what makes beher better...?

i don't know but would like to know...i just bought one last week and beher seem'd way overpriced....

[bimmerboy]

doesnt that say something?

[WVGranat]

What difference does it make really. Vernet is OEM for Volvo and others, and it is French not Chinese or Korean crap. If you look around at BEHR-Thermot-tronik it clearly says that they are " a global supplier of thermostatic control devices." Notice supplier, not manufacturer...so in reality they are probably the same part anyway.

Besides it's a thermostat, really advanced piece of hardware there...you should worry about other things…like the quality of rubber parts or castings.

[GregR]

I have one of both and they seem nearly identical, maybe you pay more for the Behr name? Plus I guess there is the stigma that the French don't make the best engineers....but I'd be surprised to hear that one consistantly outlasts the other though.

[f1reverb]

that when you order a German thermostat, you expect to get one. When the box says Behr Made in Germany, you expect that inside the box will be a thermostat marked Behr made in Germany. The Vernet is not Behr and not marked Made in Germany. The Vernet might be just as good but it cost 20 to 25 bucks and is sold as a Vernet Made in France. Especially at the dealer I would expect an OEM Behr or Wahler, not a Vernet for their prices. I prefer the German fuel-pumps over the Italian ones too.

One other point. When you keep you '02 for life (or 16 years now for this one) you only have yourself to blame for using inferior parts. After 30+ years of '02s, I've come to trust Behr thermostats as reliable ones as far as thermostats go. I test 'em all with a pan on the stove and a thermometer to see if they open at the right temp. Most Behrs have passed the test, while cheapies haven't.

[Guest Anonymous]

Yes, personally I'd be pissed if the box said Behr, and inside there was a Vernet...thats just "ghetto"

[GregR]

Yes, personally I'd be pissed if the box said Behr, and inside there was a Vernet...thats just "ghetto"

Edit: Ok that was a strange doppleganger post..

[cj]

I have a tendency to agree 100% with esty's statement. Wether it's my 2002 or my e28 m5, I almost always treat them with o.e. parts purchased from BMW. My recent problem with the water pump I'll attribute to just a fluke. I am fortunate in having family at the dealer level so I am able to buy parts at a good rate. I have also noticed that when I buy parts from Rob@2002haus, they are o.e. BMW with the roundel. This is why I buy from him almost exclusivly when I buy from someone that supports the '02 community.

Cris

[dubois]

and sounds like you don't like the french either! LOL

[f1reverb]

soft spot for their cars and car magazines, just not their aftermarket parts for R4s. Esty, why do you get good oil filters like the ones the dealer sells instead of WalMart or PepBoyz filters? Why do you get good oil instead of PepBoyz oil? I myself believe both are higher quality. Behr is the OEM for radiators for our '02s (maybe that's a negative but I've never had a problem with the original radiators myself) and the thermostat. Vernet isn't OEM as far as I know, and I don't know what sort of quality their parts are as I can't find any Peugeots or Renaults that actually run around here. Your thermo is very important to the health of your engine.