New or Used Hotend?

[jollyblu22]

Hello everyone,
today for the first time, I replaced the hotend on my P1S and I installed a hardened steel hotend that I purchased on the official Bambulab Europa website.
I was surprised to see that the first time I brought the nozzle temperature to 220°C, some molten filament already came out, without me having loaded my filament…
Is all this normal? My thought is that my hotend had already been used…
Maybe they are tested in the factory before being sold?

[Olias]

@jollyblu22

Maybe they are tested in the factory before being sold?

While that’s a possible theory—and one you’d expect from a company genuinely committed to quality control—it doesn’t square with Bambu’s track record of cutting corners. A more likely explanation is that the part was either a return or pulled from a refurb unit.

But I guess the bigger question is: if it works, do you care? Well, you might—especially if it was used with abrasive filament and has unseen wear. That’s where it gets murky.

The real problem is the hassle of dealing with Bambu’s return process. If you haven’t experienced it yet, brace yourself. First, you have to prove you’re even a customer. Then you’re asked to open a support ticket, upload your logs, and wait. Eventually, you may be asked to write a note—yes, an actual sticky note with specific text they give you—and place it next to the part in question and send them a photo, like you’re proving a hostage is alive.

Absurd? Completely. But that’s the Bambu way: meticulous when it comes to gatekeeping support, indifferent when it comes to customer satisfaction.

[blchandl2]

I replaced my stainless hotend a few months ago with a hardened steel version bought from Bambu USA website. Mine also had some filament ooze out when first brought to temperature. Maybe they are paying more attention to quality control?

[jollyblu22]

@Olias

While that’s a possible theory—and one you’d expect from a company genuinely committed to quality control—it doesn’t square with Bambu’s track record of cutting corners. A more likely explanation is that the part was either a return or pulled from a refurb unit.

But I guess the bigger question is: if it works, do you care? Well, you might—especially if it was used with abrasive filament and has unseen wear. That’s where it gets murky.

The real problem is the hassle of dealing with Bambu’s return process. If you haven’t experienced it yet, brace yourself. First, you have to prove you’re even a customer. Then you’re asked to open a support ticket, upload your logs, and wait. Eventually, you may be asked to write a note—yes, an actual sticky note with specific text they give you—and place it next to the part in question and send them a photo, like you’re proving a hostage is alive.

Absurd? Completely. But that’s the Bambu way: meticulous when it comes to gatekeeping support, indifferent when it comes to customer satisfaction.

Thanks for the precise and detailed answer and sorry for my delay.
I have two complete hotends with hardened steel nozzle that I purchased (always from the Bambulab Europa website) a few months apart.
Aesthetically they are perfect, looking closely it doesn’t seem like they’ve already been used… but I can’t be 100% sure
I installed one yesterday and after your answer I also checked the other one.
I didn’t install the second hotend on the P1s but trying to pass the cleaning needle provided, the nozzle seems to be clogged and therefore I can think that almost certainly the second hotend already has material inside…
Does it work? Yes.
Do I want to return it? I would say no.
One, because I can’t be sure that it has already been used.
Two, because I didn’t think the procedure was so complicated…
At least let’s hope it can last like the previous one that I used for more than 1100 hours…

[jollyblu22]

@blchandl2

I replaced my stainless hotend a few months ago with a hardened steel version bought from Bambu USA website. Mine also had some filament ooze out when first brought to temperature. Maybe they are paying more attention to quality control?

Thanks for your feedback,
it seems like everything is working fine ?
how many hours of work have you already done with this hotend?

Thanks

[Olias]

@jollyblu22

At least let’s hope it can last like the previous one that I used for more than 1100 hours…

I’d say your risk is very low that the product wouldn’t have a full lifespan, even if it were a customer return or part from a refurb. Bambu states that one should use the hardened steel nozzle for abrasive filaments, but based on the very few complaints about worn nozzles, I would consider that risk an outlier concern.

[jollyblu22]

@Olias

I’d say your risk is very low that the product wouldn’t have a full lifespan, even if it were a customer return or part from a refurb. Bambu states that one should use the hardened steel nozzle for abrasive filaments, but based on the very few complaints about worn nozzles, I would consider that risk an outlier concern.

Thanks for helping me understand the situation

[blchandl2]

Everything is working fine. I have printed PLA, PETG, ASA, and TPU with it. I have probably used it 300 hours so far.

[jollyblu22]

Let’s hope it continues like this then…
I normally only print PLA and PETG
Thanks for the reply