JHZR2
Staff member
I needed a new 6pk2120 serpentine belt for my 91 350SD. I had bought two from Autohaus AZ. One MB part and one Continental Contitech. Turns out autohaus had the wrong part number for the OE MB belt, which references over to a 6pk2100 (which is used on the 5 cyl diesel, vs my 6cyl diesel - seems silly).
Of course I only had the MB belt with me, and the local autozone was closer than going home. Thinking that it was the same belt, I went to get one. I figured since I have two of the same car, I could use two and have a spare.
The Mexican made Continental OE is vastly different than the MB Continental (made in Romania), or the Continental Contitech belt. The ribbed rubber looks and feels different, and the top is finished completely differently.
While Im sure that the Autozone one would work for 60k miles, I returned it. I never installed it. Part of this was due to my tensioner woes, but in the end I can get the German made prt that looks like the MB part for half the price of the Autozone part.
No real excuse why Autozone couldn’t have gotten the proper Contitech version. If the online places can sell the German part for $24, no reason why AZ can’t get that and sell it for $41 and make a profit.
MB part on left, German Contitech in middle, Autozone Mexican Continental OE on right.
Note the crosshatch on the left German contitech vs the smooth right Autozone belt.
Here’s the MB Continmental belt, made in Romania, vs the Contitech made in Germany:
Here are the two Continental branded belt ribbed sides. The Mexican one in the foreground was darker black, The German one more of a brown tone in the background. The rib shape is slightly different. I have read before that this is a difference in euro made vs domestic belts. Particularly v-belts.
Of course I only had the MB belt with me, and the local autozone was closer than going home. Thinking that it was the same belt, I went to get one. I figured since I have two of the same car, I could use two and have a spare.
The Mexican made Continental OE is vastly different than the MB Continental (made in Romania), or the Continental Contitech belt. The ribbed rubber looks and feels different, and the top is finished completely differently.
While Im sure that the Autozone one would work for 60k miles, I returned it. I never installed it. Part of this was due to my tensioner woes, but in the end I can get the German made prt that looks like the MB part for half the price of the Autozone part.
No real excuse why Autozone couldn’t have gotten the proper Contitech version. If the online places can sell the German part for $24, no reason why AZ can’t get that and sell it for $41 and make a profit.
MB part on left, German Contitech in middle, Autozone Mexican Continental OE on right.
Note the crosshatch on the left German contitech vs the smooth right Autozone belt.
Here’s the MB Continmental belt, made in Romania, vs the Contitech made in Germany:
Here are the two Continental branded belt ribbed sides. The Mexican one in the foreground was darker black, The German one more of a brown tone in the background. The rib shape is slightly different. I have read before that this is a difference in euro made vs domestic belts. Particularly v-belts.
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