When servicing or repairing a car, customers may be presented with options for their parts: would they prefer OEM or aftermarket supplier? The term OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. This means that the parts are made by either the same company that makes the vehicle or their preferred supplier. Meanwhile, aftermarket parts are produced by a third party and are often reverse engineered when creating the part.
An OEM part will have been specified and designed by the vehicle manufacturer. This means, that the research and development was carried out at that point. OEM parts will have cost the company a good amount of money to develop and source. Meanwhile, the aftermarket parts are modelled after these OEM parts. A company will have access to the original part and reverse engineer it, thus creating a part with the same specifications, however without having to go through a lengthy development phase.
As the OEM parts are supplied by the vehicle’s manufacturer, they oftentimes have a longer warranty period. Aftermarket parts can be significantly cheaper but may not have the same guarantees or warranty. Also, as OEM parts are supplied by the car brand, they are guaranteed to fit (perfectly). Due to the fact that the original parts are produced with tolerances, the aftermarket parts modelled after them could end up being outside the tolerances stipulated by the vehicle manufacturer, thus not having such a perfect fit.
When discussing either option for your vehicle, German Motors will point out that the price of the part is only one of several decision-making criteria. In some cases, the aftermarket part can even enhance the performance of your vehicle and thus be more expensive.
The decision for either option should be based on how the owner views the aspect of the car’s resale value for instance. Some buyers of second hand cars would insist on OEM parts being used for all services and repairs, whereas other may prefer that parts have been replaced more frequently as aftermarket parts would allow for that due to lower cost. A number of components may be safety related, and owners may not want to compromise on that by opting for aftermarket parts. However, as aftermarket parts are also subject to rigorous testing and approval processes, these may also be acquired from aftermarket suppliers.
Availability of parts may become a deciding factor. If OEM parts are not readily available, one can opt for aftermarket parts to allow for shortened down time. When considering aftermarket parts in such a situation, one will most likely have to weigh up waiting for one OEM to be able to supply versus several aftermarket brands offering the same part.
To use OEM parts or aftermarket suppliers? The answer is not always easy. When discussing the service and maintenance of your car, German Motors will be able to consult with you on what is the best option for you.
