This really just isn't true. I can say for calibration, which is the bulk APR's business we are on the same level as the OEM
(So you have worked side by side with Technicians and engineers of VW to make sure your parts don't have reliability issues?). We have files that will give the location to anything and everything in the ECU
(A file doesn't mean anything as to the location of something, you need to UNDERSTAND how it works, go find the TDI forums and ask any DSG shifted TDI who Tried your tune then went Malone or UNI). The same files that the OEM has. We have our own files that will do the same thing, we developed a tuning suite on our own and a data-logger that reads outputs straight out of RAM. Any engine that is being worked on, we've had it out in pieces and have seen the official OEM blue prints for these products. I'm 100% sure, when it comes to the tools/equipment to calibrate a car, we're in a league of our own in the aftermarket
(so you put yourselves above Hennessy and Edelbrock? . Since that is the case why does it matter if we are in the US and developing this stuff for a German car?
It doesn't matter where you are at, it matters who you work with, if the car is GERMAN then you should be working with the Engineers to manufacture the stuff properly, you don't see Edelbrock developing stuff for GM without consulting them, or Hennessy when they made the Hennessy CTS V Wagon...
We have a calibrator here that did work for the OEM but what ended up being important is his experience outside of the OEM. When looking to hire calibrators, get this.. OEM guys aren't the top choice. They normally lack ingenuity and work at a slower-pace
Work at a slower pace doesn't mean crappy work, it means they are being careful at what they put out, and double, even triple checking their math.. The OEM guys, even the ones from Germany are trained and think differently. They aren't reverse engineering anything, it's entirely different. When we develop a product, we have the accredited engineers to start from the ground up. We have the tools like SLA, 3D scanning, CFD and other appropriate Engineering software that the OEM uses. Our flow bench, you can find this same equipment at any Tier 1 OEM.
Fancy Terms there guy, but still, just designing something from the ground up to replace something that took YEARS to develop, doesn't mean it is good for the car... I think if you really want to make a difference and get all the HATE off the forums (I see a lot on 3 different sites I'm on), you will step back and ask yourself, "why are so many people, diesel and gas, having reliability issues with the Entire Car after our stuff is installed?" I think you will find that your part is Engineered well, but doesn't work as the Original Engineers planned it to. You don't see people slapping on Blowers or Turbos from any old company to a Vette or Viper, or to their NSX or GTR, do you? Nope, they go for the company that worked with the Manufacturing team to make sure their AFTERMARKET product is OEM approved and will not hurt reliability
Country of Origin, I don't think makes a difference. I've seen things come out of China that were quality, I've seen things come from America that were absolute junk and vice versa. The only thing that needs to be considered is the company itself, the staff of said company and the resources of said company to perform proper R&D.
Exactly what I said, if you don't have OEM Approved Aftermarket parts, then why buy from you if the person is wanting Reliability of their ENTIRE Ride?
For example, APR's products are by and large manufactured in the USA. This isn't because everything made in the USA is automatically superior, it's because communication is much easier and it's much easier to physically see where things are made
You're entitled to your opinion, I think many would disagree with it though.
Yes, and I will still speak up about a company that isn't OEM approved, or used by the OEM race teams... If it was OEM approved, then we wouldn't have people coming on here asking why their GTI, TDI, R, or 2.5L isn't working right after 10k miles of use...