Originally Posted By: Phishin
Places like Rockauto.com also carries a lot of OEM parts....and do a little research, because of TON of parts are made and supplied by the same manufacturer and just put in different boxes.
I mean, how many factories do we need making EGR valves for a 2006 Honda Civic? A lot of parts do come from China and are JUNK, no doubt. But Rockauto lists direct OEM replacement parts on their website and this helps to indicated that it is HIGHLY possible that this part is simply the exact same as one you'd get from the dealer, just but in a different box.
The "OEM" designation just means that the brand made at least one part for Honda, not that the type of part you are buying was ever made for Honda. There have been a zillion suppliers for Honda over the years, so it's very likely that a part from an "OEM supplier" was never made for the factory or dealers.
In fact there are almost no assurances at all when you buy auto parts. Even Bosch sells oxygen sensors that were made by non-Bosch factories in China, in regular Bosch boxes at full Bosch prices.