Having been the sold several fake HKS SSQVs recently (and getting my money back, thankfully), I decided to look for a definitive guide on spotting a fake before purchase (preferable) or after when it's in your hand (easier to prove). The original pdf is in my signature, but I thought I'd post the pics here and expand upon the pdf where I could by adding a description to each of the photos.

This applies mainly to the silver SSQV3 variant, but barring the paint finish, this is all relevant to the black ones too.

The more obvious things first:











And now the less obvious things:























I hope someone finds this guide useful. Say if you do and keep the thread bumped so people can see it.

Oh, one more thing; if you don't like BOVs and think I'm a homo 'cos I do, I don't care. Keep it to yourself

 

Very good mate, this needs to be made a sticky!

You couldn't do one for spotting a fake super power flow filter could you, I'm sure mines a fake!

Dave

 

But what's the point? The standard cheap recirculating valve is better in all ways for the car and is there, costing nowt?

That? Just a silly, noise-making bit of bling.

 

The point was not to have a conversation about the merits of BOVs, just to help people avoiding spending money on fake ones.

 

Great write up. Should deffo be a sticky.

There are many fake HKS products out there, I got stung by a fake air filter. There are also alot of fake turbo timers on eBay at the minute.

 

i was a bit worried about the black ssqvIII i bought off scoobynet from a well known user that has sold lots of them

but by the looks of this guide its 100% genuine

 

Great tutorial

 

Then you're very lucky. Every black one I've seen recently has been a fake

 

You certainly have an eye for detail. Well done.

 

Should deffo be a sticky this one.
Fake HKS dump valves FFS what's the world coming to. Glad you posted this thread its the dump valve I'm wanting to get.
Thank-you

 

I wish I could take credit for it. Someone else put the pdf file together, I've just made it into a thread with captions included on the photos.

 

Yeah, Course it is.

Is this is how can he sell them for £90 when they retail for around £260?

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/48..._SQV_BLOW.html

As they say, there's one born every minute.

 

Thanks for that , after looking at your guide I believe mine to now be a fake, goddammit!!!!

however it was new and cheap so its not the end of the world. In real world terms what do you think is the difference for me running 300bhp on a automatic?

You definately have an eye for detail, well done.

 

Excellent thread. Agree this should be a sticky.

I didn't know they were that similar

 

nice helpfull reply NOT!

are you saying this guide is not right because the item i received ticks all the boxes on the genuine pics

as for one born every minute yep out your mums blow hole

kind regards

 

Great thread, Lots of fake dump valves being sold on ebay and from certain members here. How can anyone expect to get a genuine hks ssqv at a cost of £90

 

was not expecting it to be real when i bought it but if this guide is anything to go by it ticks all the right boxes ?

so are we saying this guide is useless ?

and all the people saying great guide are wrong too ?

answers on a postcard please

 

The cheap ssqv cant be genuine at that price. Scoobyworld, scoobyparts, etc sell genuine ones that's what they retail for.

http://www.scoobyworld.co.uk/catalog...oducts_id=1237

http://www.scoobyparts.com/acatalog/...OFF_VALVE.html

A friend of mine bought a hks ssqv from a member on here who sells them as genuine hks

I told him it was fake he wouldn't believe me. I drove his car the ssqv was quieter than the real one and it wouldn't vent at times when coming off high boost. He bought a genuine one and it worked perfectly.

I compared it to a genuine one and it was fake everything inc box totally different to real one

I don't believe any hks dump valve is genuine at that price too cheap.

 

wonder what the one I had was, it had:-

the real box (appears)
the holographic logo and clear other logos
didnt have the t-pieces
the circlip wasnt particularly chamfered
had the universal adapter
the unit itself was in a bubble wrap bag

its like a combo of real and fake

 

If the circlip that came with the SSQV isn't chamfered or stainless, it's probably a fake, but HKS could've changed it.

The photos are intended as a guide. It may be that the fake manufacturers are getting better and not all the things in my post above will apply. I think I've given enough info for people to be better prepared to spot a fake though.

 

OK mate, I take that one back, but seriously, the only 100% sure way of buying a genuine item is to get it from an HKS authorised dealer.

The guide posted is useful, but the factories in China churning out this crap are producing better copies all the time.

The thing that really annoys me is when the people flogging them on here try to pass them off as the real thing, If they stated that they were replicas that's different.
Another question that maybe a mod can answer - Why are they being allowed to do this?

 

ok m8

good shout i do have a genuine MK1 bov fitted that i have had the body powder coated black but thought i would take the punt on one of these
i will change them over at the weekend and report back with my findings on how it peforms

dave

 

Good question Norm! If I was going to buy a DV (and I'm not) I would just steer clear of any HKS SSQVs, it seems that 90% are knock off.

Oh and great post OP!

 

Another thing well worth a thread about is Rays Wheel Nuts which were being sold on here as genuine but were proved to be copies and yet the seller still claimed they were genuine.

A set of wheel nuts failing has far worse potential outcomes than a dump valve failing.

Sorry for the diversion but I think the two issues may be linked by a common factor.

 

Yes, I think so...

Only has 3 or 4 sets and then mysteriously 'acquires' some more.

 

Do what I do, go on here -> http://www.dhgate.com/ and do a search for the item you suspect is a fake. If its sold on here, it'll be sold in the UK as 'the real mcCoy'!

 

I bought an SSQV off someone on here recently who claimed they were genuine. This is what prompted me to look into fakes and how prevalent they were and writing the guide on here.

When I got it, I was immediately suspicious as the two halves of the body didn't even line up properly (about 0.5mm out). I dug a little deeper and realised that this 'HKS' SSQV was exhibiting a few of the things in the pics I've provided. Not all though.

I suppose the point is, read my guide, make up your own mind. If you're happy with what you've bought (as you probably paid way below the odds for it), then you're on a winner.

One word of advice though; change the spring if you have a fake. They're pathetic and don't allow the BOV to seal properly. You'll end up with tickover problems.

 

Nice work!

 

sorry wasnt meant to sound like I was disputing what you were saying, I was just trying to say how confused I was/am (was sold to me as a genuine on here). And your guide will definately help identify the real ones from the fake ones

 

I fell for one of these fakes on ebay BUT the holographic logo and HKS badges are very very good! the only difference i noticed was the nut length and adapter was included

Im was running it as a recirc for my front mount and noticed that i got a lot of compresser surge when using it compared to none when i use the std re-circ with fmic so suspect the HKS is opening to slow!!!
I have now binned it and using the std recirc with adapter.