When you take a look through our website here at Service4Service or speak to any of our advisors, you may hear or see the term ‘OEM parts’ when talking about our car repairs. We are passionate about providing the best service possible to our clients and that includes treating their vehicles with the quality of care they deserve and OEM parts play a huge role in that service. But what are they, and why do we use them?
What are OEM parts?
OEM – or Original Equipment Manufacturer – parts, are exactly what the name suggests. These parts are produced by the original equipment manufacturer, ensuring that the parts being used are the best fit and quality for the vehicle we are working on. They are usually produced by the company that would supply the original car manufacturer if they are not made by the manufacturer themselves and will typically come branded with the manufacturer’s logo on the part or, if not possible on the part, on the packaging. They are usually identical to the parts already in your vehicle and offer the same performance.
OEM vs Genuine vs Aftermarket
When talking about vehicle parts, there are three key types you might see – Genuine, OEM and Aftermarket. Genuine parts are the ones you might see with the car maker’s brand on them, but aren’t always accessible to every driver. Either through price or availability, genuine parts often aren’t feasible for every car. Original Equipment Manufacturer parts, however, are more cost effective and are usually only a single step away from the car maker themselves. They are typically made by the manufacturer that provides the car maker with their parts and are therefore the same, or very similar in quality and design.
Aftermarket parts aren’t made by the original manufacturer and instead often made by a third party. They are usually similar enough to OEM parts, but can’t always be trusted for quality or performance when compared to OEM alternatives. The sheer number of different parts available makes it impossible to hone down the best without being overwhelmed, which is where OEM can often offer a better and more efficient option.
The Pros And Cons
While OEM are always our parts of choice, there are pros and cons as with any vehicle part. However, we acknowledge these minor downfalls and have worked hard to produce a service that doesn’t let those hiccups affect the quality of work or the service we provide our clients. These include:
- Price – Although more cost effective than some genuine parts, OEM parts can be pricey compared to aftermarket alternatives. We have worked hard to find the best OEM suppliers and parts to ensure that the costs are a fair value for the service and reliability that they offer.
- Availability – OEM parts aren’t always accessible to the general public and can be difficult to get hold of. We have suppliers for all of our garages in the UK and ensure that we have a fair stock of key parts when needed. In some cases, parts may need to be ordered in, but we will always remain transparent with you in these cases.
The pros, however, certainly outweigh the few inconveniences. Some of these pros are the reason we choose OEM parts, and include:
- Quality – The quality of OEM parts is something we have been more than pleased with since starting up our business. These parts offer trusted quality used by the vehicle manufacturers themselves and give us the confidence to offer a 12 month warranty on all of the repairs that we conduct using these parts.
- Variety – The variety of OEM parts might not be as vast as aftermarket alternatives, but this can actually work in your favour. Rather then being overwhelmed with a significant number of third-party companies all offering the same part at various prices and qualities, having a handful of OEM parts to choose from can help ensure that the parts are good quality, worth their value and trusted.
For more information about the parts we use when conducting our car repairs or how we can help you with your vehicle, our team are on hand to help. Simply get in touch with us here at Service4Service, today.