Aftermarket Parts Advantages And Disadvantages

There are generally two kinds of car parts you can buy, OEM and aftermarket parts. OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer, and these are the ones that are supplied and recommended by your car manufacturer. In other words, OEM parts are the same as those you get when purchasing a new car. The other option is to buy aftermarket parts. Any vehicle part that is not directly sourced from the car manufacturer is considered an aftermarket part. Most direct replacement parts, although aftermarket, will not void your vehicle’s warranty. Both OEM and aftermarket parts have their pros and cons, and your final choice between the two can hinge on a variety of different factors.

Pros of aftermarket parts

Cost

The most obvious advantage of aftermarket parts is that their price tag is usually lower than that of the corresponding OEM part. The price difference can depend on many variables, and can vary widely depending on the brand. It is important to have an idea of how much a part should cost on average, as parts whose prices seem too low to be true can often indicate poor quality.

Quality

The quality of aftermarket parts can in some cases even exceed that of OEM parts. Some of the better aftermarket manufacturers iron out imperfections in parts when reverse engineering them to provide better performance. For example, aftermarket manufacturers can produce brake pads that have superior performance, as they do not have to worry about stringent restrictions car manufacturers face,