OEReplacement News

If the difference between OE and OE Replacement parts is subtle, the difference between OE and aftermarket parts is anything but.

That’s not to say there aren’t good aftermarket parts, and good aftermarket parts makers. After all, all performance parts are by definition aftermarket parts, even if they come from Subaru STi, Ford Racing or MOPAR Performance. They may be made by the manufacturer, but they didn’t come on a new car.

The consumer is on their own in the aftermarket arena. Many brands do offer warranties and take the time to research and test their products, but none of them has the resources of the OE manufacturer, whose parts have gone though the entire product development cycle of a new car. No offshore manufacturer is spending millions of dollars and thousands of hours testing their products, and we’ve seen the effects of that in Chinese tire recalls, and many other less spectacular failures of accessories and components.

Upgrades are one area where a consumer is likely to find a safe benefit from aftermarket parts. If a car didn’t come with HID headlights, for example, upgrading to a bright white or blue halogen aftermarket bulb, or even an HID conversion kit, can be a real improvement. Likewise, installing premium flat wiper blades is an easy way to improve visibility; after all, if it doesn’t work out, you don’t exactly have to take the car into the shop to put the old blades back on.

But when it comes to major items like water pumps, clutch kits or transmission, a cheap replacement could be a huge mistake. These are auto accessories that are vital for the operation of the car. If you know what you’re doing, you might want to install a performance aftermarket part, with the understanding that there’s almost always a trade-off in longevity or comfort. Using OE parts from OE Replacement whenever your car or truck needs new parts will give it a new-car feel literally forever.

Filed under: OEReplacement News by Josh Razgunas On: April 9th, 2010