We are all looking for a bargain. Automotive replacement parts are no exception. Auto parts warehouses are appealing for the auto parts bargain hunter. A web search of the term produces thousands of pages of results. But for the novice do-it-yourself car mechanic, and at times, the professional, weeding through the long list of available options in search of a quality replacement part can be a headache. If all car parts are the same, why such a disparity in the price?
Original Equipment Manufacturer Parts
More commonly called O-E-M, Original Equipment Manufacturer parts are replacement components produced by the same companies who manufacturer the originals for the auto makers. Brands such as AC Delco and Motorcraft are OEM parts specifically engineered and designed for the specific vehicles they are intended for. Such are the parts the dealership uses to repair and service customer vehicles.
These same parts are available through reputable parts stores and their online commerce sites.
The dealership’s price may be slightly higher than the price offered at a leading parts store. The advantage of buying the replacement from the parts store is for the at-home mechanic--saving a few dollars on parts and labor. If the dealership is performing the service, there is assurance in knowing the original parts are going into the car, and a trained technician is performing the work.
Quality Aftermarket Auto Parts
Premium automotive part manufacturers spend a considerable amount of time and money in the development of car part replacements. Often, the same part manufacturers who produce performance racing and off-road parts build replacement-in-kind parts for public re-sale. These manufacturers proudly brand their parts and provide the specifications for same.
“An aftermarket part is any part for a vehicle that is not sourced from the car's maker”, according to Edmonds.com.
Some examples of high-end aftermarket parts fitting this category are MSD ignitions, Flowmaster and Magnaflow exhausts, Hawk performance brakes, and many others. While often not originally installed on a particular manufacturers car, few will question their proven quality and performance.
Discount Auto Parts
There are many manufacturers of aftermarket parts who sell replacement components that are equal to, if not better than, the car’s original part. And often, these high-quality parts are available for less money than the original part provided at the dealership. But this is the exception, not the rule.
Due to the increased cost of original and quality replacement auto parts, counterfeit and knock-off replacements continuously flood the market. Internet commerce and the world-wide-web have brought an explosion of low-price, deep-discount, parts to the consumer.
Not only do many discount parts come at a deeply reduced price, there is quite a significant reduction in quality and durability. Little regulation exists to control the manufacture and distribution of sub-standard auto parts. While the initial price of such parts may be low, the long-term cost can be much greater.
Safety Critical Parts
Sometimes there is no room for compromise. The same components that undergo rigorous testing by the automotive manufacturers are the same parts that should be replaced with the highest quality components as recommended by the car maker.
Parts such as brakes, steering components, fuel tanks, bumpers, windshields, seat belts and airbags, are all just a few of the examples for which a discounted part may jeopardize the safety of the car’s occupants.
A discount parts label is not an automatic dis-qualifier when it comes to automotive repair parts. There are numerous options to choose from when it comes to replacements. Many are good, quality, parts; others…not so much. Be a smart consumer and do not base a decision on price alone. An auto parts warehouse can be an excellent source for quality and price. Tom Torbjornsen of Americas Car Show said it best, “Not all parts are created equal. You get what you pay for … period”.
Damon Hildebrand - A part-time freelance writer, Damon is a certified maintenance reliability professional and industrial lubrication specialists. A licensed ...
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