Fake IHI VFxx turbos?
 

I just saw a thread up on REXNET. Whats up with some of these IHI turbos on ebay? I know a lot of turbos get copied by manufacturers in China, but have they moved onto IHI VF Turbos? The allegedly fake IHI VF turbos have a very rough finish on the compressor housing, whereas the OEM units have a much smoother shiner finish. And they don't have that lump with the flat plate underneath the compressor outlet. Does this indicate that they are fakes? I don't know for sure. Does anyone have any extra insight to this? And has anyone here bought one of these copies with the rough finish on the compressor housing? How is it going?

Pics:

Ebay Fake (Apparently and Unconfirmed):
[img]http://i3.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/a8/a6/df35_1.JPG[/img]
[img]http://i14.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/a8/a6/e3d2_1.JPG[/img]

OEM VF34 (also sold on Ebay):
[img]http://www.incaroption.com.au/Subaru/IHI_VF34F.jpg[/img]


Here are the ebay links...

Apparently Fake: [url]http://cgi.ebay.com.au/IHI-VF34-Ball-Bearing-Turbo-Turbocharger-SUABRU-%20Impreza_W0QQitemZ320138241804QQihZ011QQcategoryZ43120QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

OEM: [url]http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/IHI-VF34-TURBO-Ball-Bearing-Worldwide-Free-%20Shipping_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33742QQihZ017QQitemZ270096438224QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V[/url]

Your thoughts?

very interesting.. my VF34 looks like the bottom one (OEM)
Definatley gotta be careful these days, more research needed

They look very similar very hard to tell the difference between the OEM and the ebay fake

The giveaway is that the OEM has the Turbo type, RHF, and serial printed on a polished flat surface on the compressor housing, where as the fake has it just it engraved.

Also the position of the engraving. :mad:

J

also the squared off edge on the bottom of the 2nd pic

If you're buying new just get it from a big name company that other people have used before, like Gruppe-s

That "fake" one doesn't look to bad? What would be the downsides? Poor machining of the housings and bad bearings? Bad Blades?

This is a response from the seller when inquired about the authenticity of the turbo.

[QUOTE]What i offer is brand new VF34 made from new IHI Mould.
I think the "real OEM VF34" your mechanic thought is old version with light cover.

IHI supplys new cover after July 2006.

Don't worry about it. Just install it or take it to IHI dealer to check if it is brand new.
I never sell fake turbo.

If you have any question,don't be hesitate to tell me.

Best Regard,

Ichiro Tanaka[/QUOTE]

yeah the fake looks much better made. Smoother surfaces on the outside at least.

wouldnt be the first time a chinese fake was better than the original. :)