Warning - Counterfeit A7 & A6 tail lights being peddled on ebay, Aliexpress & Alibaba

[The Great A4]

I recently purchased some post-facelift tail lamps with dynamic/sweeping indicators on ebay for my 2013 A7 and have had a terrible experience . The seller "fredles-e-shop", in Malaysia advertised them as OEM-spec and DOT/SAE certified, and able to work on 2011-2015 A7 S7 and RS7. I emailed him to be certain they would work on my 2013 A7 and he said "It will work immediately once you connected the harness we provided. No coding is required,thanks."

When the lamps arrived I knew something was amiss since the packaging was cheap, and not OEM Audi or OLSA. Upon inspection I noticed the hardware looked cheap, and the finish was not up to Audi standards. After comparing the lamps to pictures of OEM lamps on ebay it validated my concerns and I reached out to the seller. I complained that the lamps were counterfeit and that I wanted my $950 back plus shipping, but he wouldn't budge. When I complained to ebay that the lamps are counterfeit they asked me to prove it by having it inspected by a third party. I took the lamps to my local Audi but since they didn't have any lamps in stock to compare to, they couldn't help, so now I don't know what to do.

So please be aware that there are manufacturers now making extremely good fakes of Audi taillights and they are being sold as OEM on ebay by "fredles-e-shop". The lamps I purchased have all the markings, and are even stamped just like the OEM, but you can tell that the quality is just not there. It looks like the seller has a shop in Malaysia where they do all sorts of mods to high-end cars, and when I look at their other products I can see that some (like the A6/S6 lamps ) are also fakes.

I am attaching some pictures for everyone to see a comparison I made.

Anyone have advice?

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[ericw.]

File a PayPal claim. PayPal has strict policy against counterfeit products.

I'm curious though, did they work as described? Did you attempt to install? How did they look after installation?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[TheMysticWizard]

Man, that's too bad. Can you open a claim with PayPal? (assuming you paid with PayPal)

Did you purchase them through a credit/debit with PayPal? Maybe you can open a claim with your card for not receiving what you paid for...

Otherwise, don't really have any ideas. Sucks.

[bpd]

Yep, if you used Paypal, make the claim. The pics you provided looks like stock Audi, but it was taken apart for modification?? Could also be a knockoff. Definitely sucks.

[The Great A4]

I hooked them up temporarily to see how they work, and it is all goofed up. I even reversed the wiring to make sure I didn't get it wrong, but that made i worse. The turn signal indicators on the inside lamps never illuminate, and the brake lights flash whenever the amber indicator is supposed to flash. I imagine this requires some coding. Unfortunately the fit and finish of the lamps means that it does not line up perfectly with the lines of the car, and one of the mounting pins on an outside lamp just fell out, so I gave up installing this junk.

Here are some videos I made to show the seller how they don't work...

Wiring Correct with left flasher turned on.
Dynamic flasher only works on outside lamp, and brake light on both lamps flash


Wiring Correct with right flasher turned on.
Dynamic flasher only works on outside lamp, and brake light on both lamps flash


Wiring Correct with hazard flasher turned on.
Dynamic flasher only works on outside lamps, and brake light on all four lamps flash

[A6sport]

I always try to stay with OE/OEM manufacturers

[2wookies]

So this is my $.02 on eBay and alibaba things. When the seller says OEM spec that doesn't mean they'll fit like OEM, its similar to factory. If you thought you were getting actual OEM quality for less than $1k for Audi taillights that should have been an immediate red flag. I think you got exactly what you paid for and this is where the company will win this fight, its an aftermarket item not an Audi item. Not trying to be a jerk but this is how these overseas companies stay in business...and it sucks when you get had.

[morski]

Just open an ebay case that they are faulty and arrange a return. Forget the counterfeit thing for now.

[bonafyd]

So this is my $.02 on eBay and alibaba things. When the seller says OEM spec that doesn't mean they'll fit like OEM, its similar to factory. If you thought you were getting actual OEM quality for less than $1k for Audi taillights that should have been an immediate red flag. I think you got exactly what you paid for and this is where the company will win this fight, its an aftermarket item not an Audi item. Not trying to be a jerk but this is how these overseas companies stay in business...and it sucks when you get had.

Yeah OP it sucks but the guy said “OE spec” and not “OEM” so it can get dicey, like others have said file a claim with PayPal and see what happens.. if you filed a claim with eBay first then PayPal won’t do anything until the eBay claim has been resolved and then the timeframe to file the claim on PayPal may expire leaving you s.o.l either way I hope it works out for you.. keep us updated.

[sibi@agautohaus]

Like what everyone recommended, opening a PayPal case would be ideal for this situation.

It can definitely be tricky differentiating what’s the real deal sometimes.

However If you’re still interested in getting those taillights, I can hook you up with an actual OEM set

[The Great A4]

Thanks for the infos... I guess I should have been more careful . I guess the old adage rings true..."let the buyer beware" and also "if it seems too good to be true"... However I am glad to know I can file with Paypal after my ebay case ends; I will be going that route.

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[bpd]

They do not work right, so you have a case with Ebay. I think they will tell you to work it out with the seller first. Once the seller tells you to pound sand, then you have a good complaint. Its all by ebay messaging so its all documented.

[elptxjc]

That Chinese crap site Alibaba I wouldn't even look at. But same thing with eBay overseas sellers. At least if it's within the (or they claim to be within the) US, you have more recourse, especially if the package comes from overseas. But in general, if you can't afford OEM for an upgrade, it's better to leave it alone IMO. I tried to buy a gizmo to reset service on a Porsche on Alibaba, and even though the stupid seller never even sent the thing, AND acknowledged not sending it, told me to dispute it. It took months to get my c/c refunded. Ebay would have never done that, but learned my lesson with that crap site. Good luck.

[Fake S7]

Thanks for the infos... I guess I should have been more careful . I guess the old adage rings true..."let the buyer beware" and also "if it seems too good to be true"... However I am glad to know I can file with Paypal after my ebay case ends; I will be going that route.

Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Tapatalk

The lights will work perfectly if u rewire the side marker to inner signal( because US A7 uses the inner signal wire for side marker), also u can rewire the fog light to inner signal, will be easier but lose fog lights. And u need to coding the lights to make every function correctly. It's been 1 year, hope this still help.

Sent from my MI 8 using Audizine mobile app

[gersonz90]

Like what everyone recommended, opening a PayPal case would be ideal for this situation.

It can definitely be tricky differentiating what’s the real deal sometimes.

However If you’re still interested in getting those taillights, I can hook you up with an actual OEM set

how much? i tried to Pm you but ur inbox is full

[Kczach]

That Chinese crap site Alibaba I wouldn't even look at. But same thing with eBay overseas sellers. At least if it's within the (or they claim to be within the) US, you have more recourse, especially if the package comes from overseas. But in general, if you can't afford OEM for an upgrade, it's better to leave it alone IMO. I tried to buy a gizmo to reset service on a Porsche on Alibaba, and even though the stupid seller never even sent the thing, AND acknowledged not sending it, told me to dispute it. It took months to get my c/c refunded. Ebay would have never done that, but learned my lesson with that crap site. Good luck.

I agree about overseas sellers. I purchased some european dimming heated convex mirrors from someone in Romania. They were cheap and I see why. The tabs for the plugs for the dimming element were broken and the heating element didn't work. Got the dimming to work but have no heat for the mirrors which is worthless here in MN. Looks like they didn't spend much time taking them off the car. Maybe they didn't have much time to take them off the car as they were afraid the owner would see them!
It's tempting to buy cheap stuff on the web but there is a reason it's cheap.

[AudiBeardGang]

Old post but just wanted to update recently bought some from ebay the quality is okay but you can tell their not authentic audi tail lights I got mines to work by rewiring the pins. And you do lose fog lights but gain full dynamic sweeping lights once the wiring is set up correctly on the small tail lamps of the trunk.

[5000S]

I would just set up a return, that should be possible. Just put your original ones back in, and be done with it.

[bknewtype]

Loving my fakes


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[AudiBeardGang]

Their okay no need for a return I got them installed and they function like the oem lights after rewiring the pins. on a rating of 1-10, I would give them a 8. I like them but the only fault I can see from them is when bolting the tail lights back on there are two torx screws after bolting them to the bumper panel the tail light sticks out a bit against the rear bumper its not noticeable from far away but if you were to walk up to the car to touch the trunk you could see them sticking out just a bit.

[MikeB12D]

Their okay no need for a return I got them installed and they function like the oem lights after rewiring the pins. on a rating of 1-10, I would give them a 8. I like them but the only fault I can see from them is when bolting the tail lights back on there are two torx screws after bolting them to the bumper panel the tail light sticks out a bit against the rear bumper its not noticeable from far away but if you were to walk up to the car to touch the trunk you could see them sticking out just a bit.

How did you rewire the pins?

[MikeB12D]

Their okay no need for a return I got them installed and they function like the oem lights after rewiring the pins. on a rating of 1-10, I would give them a 8. I like them but the only fault I can see from them is when bolting the tail lights back on there are two torx screws after bolting them to the bumper panel the tail light sticks out a bit against the rear bumper its not noticeable from far away but if you were to walk up to the car to touch the trunk you could see them sticking out just a bit.

Please help, how did you rewire the pins? I am trying to make mine work.
Thanks

[Yeoman]

Please don't buy cheap rip off chinese garbage on alibaba.. you always get what you pay for