[mightbaal]

First off I understand fully these are made in China but with all the claims of these much more expensive *upgrades* from companies such as Vargas MMP... people saying they are using Chinese turbos anyways and obviously marketing up the price I was wondering on shit who cares giving these sounding promising upgrades. Please look at the item description forged billet 16T TD04L turbos balanced. I am no expert but for the price these seem like a freaking good shot at nothing....


https://m.aliexpress.com/item/328564...st.32856448488

[KClemente]

My brother and I used many generic turbos on our past builds. Always get them balanced before you run them though. I may give these a shot later on.

[jeddo45]

Originally Posted by mightbaal

First off I understand fully these are made in China but with all the claims of these much more expensive *upgrades* from companies such as Vargas MMP... people saying they are using Chinese turbos anyways and obviously marketing up the price I was wondering on shit who cares giving these sounding promising upgrades. Please look at the item description forged billet 16T TD04L turbos balanced. I am no expert but for the price these seem like a freaking good shot at nothing....


https://m.aliexpress.com/item/328564...st.32856448488

With these it's just flat out hit and miss. When you have a company sourcing their turbos (or any part for that fact) from overseas, your main benefit is you get some kind of quality control/ warranty that's way easier to deal with that dealing with the manufacturer directly.

If the company has issues with the product, they change suppliers. So it's not that these turbos suck because they are coming from far away, it's just you have no idea whether they are going to be good or not.

And don't be fooled either. Some of these manufacturers flat out lie about how they build their products. Some are actually honest and give you what they are advertising.

When dealing with AliExpress, you just got to do your due research ahead of time. I find that if that manufacturer is selling a bunch of different products and turbos ( for examples sake) they aren't going to be as good as a manufacturer that deals with building turbos only.

Research as best as you can then pull the trigger.

[Emilime75]

The main point of concern with these Ali/eBay parts is warranty and support after the sale...even if they did fit/work as described for a while. What do you do if you run into fitment issues? What if the welds crack 2 months after install? Seals go? It implodes???

I get the attraction of lower priced parts, and not every higher priced option is better...but...

[srey]

Originally Posted by KClemente

My brother and I used many generic turbos on our past builds. Always get them balanced before you run them though. I may give these a shot later on.

So do you just ship them off to a turbo shop to get them balanced? Are places that can do that plentiful, or pretty scarce around the country?

[mightbaal]

These say...

Component Balanced, Dynamic Balanced Than VSR Balanced

[Emilime75]

Are you in the market for new turbos? Buy them and tell us how they work out.

[mightbaal]

Originally Posted by Emilime75

Are you in the market for new turbos? Buy them and tell us how they work out.

Not at this time but currently on stockers running 22 psi 77k hard miles on them waiting for them to go boom so I have an excuse but they seem to be holding up pretty darn good so far. Only 22-24 psi the past year before that 19 psi. Once they pop ima get in contact with this company and use a credit card that way I am protected from any type of fraud. Sucks I have stock location silicone inlets atm 1.75" I would think these would be 2 inch?

[AtlantaDan]

Once they've been installed and run - your credit card will not protect you. Fraud protection only kicks-in if they sell you something either not as described, or they just take your money and run without sending you anything. If something goes wrong, the manufacturer could (will) put the blame on you, the installer, the tune, etc. The warranty on most Chinese aftermarket parts is a crapshoot at best. An outright smokescreen of lies at the worst. If they pop and send shrapnel throughout your engine, the absolute BEST you can hope for is replacement turbos. Everything else that was damaged? That's all you, brother.

[Kaz26]

Some of these Chinese turbos are actually well built, but you will want to get them balances, just to be sure. Take them to a turbo shop once you get them and definately post your reviews here. I’m at 128k on my stock turbos and would love to find a sub $1,000 option. As far as seals and such, just look them over and replace the little parts if they look like they won’t hold up. Even if you put $200 into them to get them balanced with new seals and such, it will be far less than other available options. Plus you can sell your stock turbos for $200 or so.

[mightbaal]

Originally Posted by AtlantaDan

Once they've been installed and run - your credit card will not protect you. Fraud protection only kicks-in if they sell you something either not as described, or they just take your money and run without sending you anything. If something goes wrong, the manufacturer could (will) put the blame on you, the installer, the tune, etc. The warranty on most Chinese aftermarket parts is a crapshoot at best. An outright smokescreen of lies at the worst. If they pop and send shrapnel throughout your engine, the absolute BEST you can hope for is replacement turbos. Everything else that was damaged? That's all you, brother.

I used to be a reseller on eBay got a shipment of mods for ecigs that many were reported going defective within a few weeks by customers I simply called the Credit Card told them and they made me send what I had left back and I got my money back.... they protect more than you think...

[mightbaal]

https://www.creditcards.com/credit-c...n-benefits.php


One good but little-known reason to wield your credit card when making purchases is to take advantage of purchase protection.

Putting a purchase on the right piece of plastic may help you have it replaced if what you buy is damaged or stolen, get a refund for an unsatisfactory product or service, or even extend the manufacturer’s warranty without paying a dime for the added protection.

[AtlantaDan]

I get that - but you're missing my point:

If the wheel explodes and sends blades throughout your engine, the best you can hope for from the seller is replacement turbos. In the grand scheme of things, the cost of turbos pales in comparison to a new engine. The phrase 'penny wise, pound foolish' applies here.

[TemjinX2]

its can give it a shot but if it breaks and you have to pay to install and uninstall...you just lose all your cost savings.

its.basically a gamble

[boneheaddoctor]

I'm with AtlantaDan on this. Based on Turbo experts I know on another site who have modified many turbos and compared to CKO (Chinese knock offs) You aren't getting what you pay for. The maps aren't the same as the real one they are a knock off of, so its a gamble in more ways that one. Even more with Twins because they are unlikely to match each other as you want, they are unlikely to be on the map you want, and as noted..when they fail and grenade, the engine is likely to ingest some of that and get damaged...and you will never flush out a FMIC sufficiently after that happens so costs add up quickly. And that assumes any of them actually last as long as a name brand, and nothing i have come across yet has shown they actually do in any case.

But its a risk you take....just know what can go wrong before you go into it.

[mightbaal]

In case anyone is wondering someone did buy these and are doing all the claimed measurements and testing these turbos I talked to the guy on ebay that sells these sub $1000 turbos shipped and they claim a 1 year warranty...

https://bmw.***********.com/threads/...de.3282/page-3


Edit wont let me post the page but its in the BMW spool street N54 fourm listed close to the top

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by mightbaal

First off I understand fully these are made in China but with all the claims of these much more expensive *upgrades* from companies such as Vargas MMP... people saying they are using Chinese turbos anyways and obviously marketing up the price I was wondering on shit who cares giving these sounding promising upgrades. Please look at the item description forged billet 16T TD04L turbos balanced. I am no expert but for the price these seem like a freaking good shot at nothing....


https://m.aliexpress.com/item/328564...st.32856448488

Wouldn't touch them with a 10' pole

[RomKaN54]

got my of ebay from Dynamic Autowerks, but i have a feeling its same china product....3000miles so far no issues. currently MHD stage 2 18-20psi 91 oct afraid if i turn up boost this guys will blow.

http://stores.ebay.com/coldairinduct...sub=2222989016

[mightbaal]

Could be the same ones

[halik008]

Originally Posted by mightbaal

First off I understand fully these are made in China but with all the claims of these much more expensive *upgrades* from companies such as Vargas MMP... people saying they are using Chinese turbos anyways and obviously marketing up the price I was wondering on shit who cares giving these sounding promising upgrades. Please look at the item description forged billet 16T TD04L turbos balanced. I am no expert but for the price these seem like a freaking good shot at nothing....


https://m.aliexpress.com/item/328564...st.32856448488

Penny wise, pound foolish. I work for BorgWarner in advanced engineering and can tell you while the Chinese can make very good facsimiles of just about everything, they know nothing about material science or advanced material processing.

[srey]

Originally Posted by RomKaN54

got my of ebay from Dynamic Autowerks, but i have a feeling its same china product....3000miles so far no issues. currently MHD stage 2 18-20psi 91 oct afraid if i turn up boost this guys will blow.

http://stores.ebay.com/coldairinduct...sub=2222989016

This quote in their listing is funny:

"Please Don't be fooled by sellers selling Chinese Turbos. Beware that what they're selling is Nothing Remotely Close To What We're Selling. "

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bmw-335i-33...AAAOSwUn9Z92wG

[cgbimmer]

Originally Posted by RomKaN54

got my of ebay from Dynamic Autowerks, but i have a feeling its same china product....3000miles so far no issues. currently MHD stage 2 18-20psi 91 oct afraid if i turn up boost this guys will blow.

http://stores.ebay.com/coldairinduct...sub=2222989016

I saw these and was wondering how they are working out for you?
they say upgraded waste gate flappers also.