When do you go OEM vs aftermarket? After following this forum, there seems to be some consensus that OEM is the way to go on suspension parts (e.g., ball joints), thermostats, and PCV valves. It also seems that aftermarket brake parts, oil filters, fluids, etc. are acceptable. So what are some other parts where OEM is the way to go and where are aftermarket replacements a safe choice? Chime in everyone!
OEM vs. aftermarket
- Thread starter greasegunn
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Only aftermarket things that I'll buy are wiper blades, filters, certain hoses and oil. After trying to install 2 Chinese aftermarket AC hoses and failing because they don't have the correct bends, I'll gladly pay extra for OEM. My time is worth more than dealing with ill fitting aftermarket crap.
Timing belt, water pump, drive belt service, seems OEM the way to go. However, if one does some research might be able to find out who makes the OEM part(s), use that manufacturer brand part and save a ton of money. Aisin timing belt kit for Honda such an example. GemStater posted an excellent thread on it HERE.
Same for other parts. I once purchased an OEM Denso brand air fuel ratio sensor (similar to O2 sensor) for Tacoma from Amazon, $88. Local stealer wanted ~$200, same part in Toyota box.
Pads, rotors, common filters, fluids, generally speaking if spec'd for vehicle, aftermarket has worked for me.
Same for other parts. I once purchased an OEM Denso brand air fuel ratio sensor (similar to O2 sensor) for Tacoma from Amazon, $88. Local stealer wanted ~$200, same part in Toyota box.
Pads, rotors, common filters, fluids, generally speaking if spec'd for vehicle, aftermarket has worked for me.
I'm pretty much in agreement with you.
One thing though... if your car has HID's, avoid paying the dealer at all costs. You can get a PAIR of authentic name brand Osram or Philips bulbs for the same price the stealership will charge for just one. And HID's really do need to be replaced in pairs, otherwise you'll have one whiter/bluer light and one more yellow.
One thing though... if your car has HID's, avoid paying the dealer at all costs. You can get a PAIR of authentic name brand Osram or Philips bulbs for the same price the stealership will charge for just one. And HID's really do need to be replaced in pairs, otherwise you'll have one whiter/bluer light and one more yellow.
OE or OES on everything unless it is a performance part.
Unless there is an aftermarket part that addresses a known issue or the aftermarket part is exactly the same as OEM (IE, it has the Volvo script ground off or the Mercedes emblem marked out with a sharpie) Bulbs, Batteries, Tires, Fluids and Filters is about all I will buy aftermarket anymore.
Most of the aftermarket stuff is junk from my experiance.
Most of the aftermarket stuff is junk from my experiance.
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I've had better luck with aftermarket parts lasting longer, and costing less then oem parts. One example, my coil pak went at '77k on my ford explorer. Replaced with auto parts offering and it still going at 205k miles. Same results with brakes, rotors, starter, and struts, wheel bearing ect. To my thinking oem parts are designed and made for a given price point, not for superior longevity.,,
I got stranded on the side of the road by an aftermarket $11 coil pack vs the $45 OE one.
Now I carry a 10mm socket wrench, spare $11 coil pack, and bluetooth OBD dongle.
Lets not forget, the OE coil packs going bad started this ball rolling. It's copper windings and potting compound, how bad can they muck it up?
I pretty much buy aftermarket or used OE, and even the weird brands they offer on Ebay. Only notable recent exception was getting a Denso TPMS sensor for my prius because it was not universally programmable like the generic ones. I have no programming tool, but do have techstream to make my car accept the printed serial number from the sensor.
Now I carry a 10mm socket wrench, spare $11 coil pack, and bluetooth OBD dongle.
Lets not forget, the OE coil packs going bad started this ball rolling. It's copper windings and potting compound, how bad can they muck it up?
I pretty much buy aftermarket or used OE, and even the weird brands they offer on Ebay. Only notable recent exception was getting a Denso TPMS sensor for my prius because it was not universally programmable like the generic ones. I have no programming tool, but do have techstream to make my car accept the printed serial number from the sensor.
Originally Posted by BigCahuna
To my thinking oem parts are designed and made for a given price point, not for superior longevity.
That swings the opposite way sometimes.
I've noticed that for what I tend to drive (German stuff, performance cars) the OE is superior and the aftermarket is made to address price concerns.
To my thinking oem parts are designed and made for a given price point, not for superior longevity.
That swings the opposite way sometimes.
I've noticed that for what I tend to drive (German stuff, performance cars) the OE is superior and the aftermarket is made to address price concerns.
OE aftermarket is my path. VDO, Contintental, Mahle, Behr etc. Most times the aftermarket parts we get are OEM with the emblem ground or stickered off. Did a thermostat yesterday on an 07 ML350 that had a perfect CNC circle exactly where the MB star was on the one that came off. One quick buzz with the bit and cost went from 127 and tomorrow for delivery at the dealer to 85 and a few hours wait. Had the factory 271 part number still on there as well. Thermostat was a Mahle.
JHZR2
Staff member
It all depends upon the cost, time and complexity of doing it again.
No one size fits all rule on this...
But some things are no brainers to save money on. Others are absolutely only OE. SOmetimes aftermarket actually has an improvement...
No one size fits all rule on this...
But some things are no brainers to save money on. Others are absolutely only OE. SOmetimes aftermarket actually has an improvement...
Originally Posted by BigCahuna
To my thinking oem parts are designed and made for a given price point, not for superior longevity.,,
Absolutely! OEM are the best value-performance that the manufacturer found, it has to please a great variety of people. There is no doubt that one can find better equipment for a specific purpose in the aftermarket as long as it is manufactured properly and by a reputable company. The problem is ascertaining the last two. Generally I go with OEM as I know that the part will be at least acceptable.
To my thinking oem parts are designed and made for a given price point, not for superior longevity.,,
Absolutely! OEM are the best value-performance that the manufacturer found, it has to please a great variety of people. There is no doubt that one can find better equipment for a specific purpose in the aftermarket as long as it is manufactured properly and by a reputable company. The problem is ascertaining the last two. Generally I go with OEM as I know that the part will be at least acceptable.
I believe you have a better chance of success with OEM.
My experience:
Plug Wires OEM 100,000 miles / After Market 38,000
Tie Rod Ends OEM 100,000 miles / After Market 15,000
U Joints OEM 39,000 / After Market 110,000+
If it's an easy part to replace, I would consider After Market.
If more time is involved, I would stack the deck in my favor and use OEM
My experience:
Plug Wires OEM 100,000 miles / After Market 38,000
Tie Rod Ends OEM 100,000 miles / After Market 15,000
U Joints OEM 39,000 / After Market 110,000+
If it's an easy part to replace, I would consider After Market.
If more time is involved, I would stack the deck in my favor and use OEM
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Originally Posted by JHZR2
It all depends upon the cost, time and complexity of doing it again.
No one size fits all rule on this...
But some things are no brainers to save money on. Others are absolutely only OE. SOmetimes aftermarket actually has an improvement...
+1.
Some of the stuff you can try both. I tend to go OEM on brake pads but you know what? odds are I'll go through a few sets over the lifetime of the car, and it's not that expensive if I don't like the results. But then again... pads are easy to change. Unlike a heater core in some vehicles! And sometimes you try aftermarket, and after replacing it twice, you try OEM since you have nothing to lose it seems.
It all depends upon the cost, time and complexity of doing it again.
No one size fits all rule on this...
But some things are no brainers to save money on. Others are absolutely only OE. SOmetimes aftermarket actually has an improvement...
+1.
Some of the stuff you can try both. I tend to go OEM on brake pads but you know what? odds are I'll go through a few sets over the lifetime of the car, and it's not that expensive if I don't like the results. But then again... pads are easy to change. Unlike a heater core in some vehicles! And sometimes you try aftermarket, and after replacing it twice, you try OEM since you have nothing to lose it seems.
Wear items that you replace at regular intervals are usually OK to buy aftermarket (oil/filters, tires, brake pads, etc). High performance parts are also a place where aftermarket can be better than OEM.
OE tires are usually garbage, designed to be cheap and meet CAFE targets. Aftermarket tires are almost always better
Aftermarket mufflers and exhaust is good if you can get something made of 304. Ebay has lots of cheap 304 exhaust systems.
Things that are hard to replace I like OE better.
OE tires are usually garbage, designed to be cheap and meet CAFE targets. Aftermarket tires are almost always better
Aftermarket mufflers and exhaust is good if you can get something made of 304. Ebay has lots of cheap 304 exhaust systems.
Things that are hard to replace I like OE better.
Originally Posted by Audios
OE aftermarket is my path. VDO, Contintental, Mahle, Behr etc. Most times the aftermarket parts we get are OEM with the emblem ground or stickered off. Did a thermostat yesterday on an 07 ML350 that had a perfect CNC circle exactly where the MB star was on the one that came off. One quick buzz with the bit and cost went from 127 and tomorrow for delivery at the dealer to 85 and a few hours wait. Had the factory 271 part number still on there as well. Thermostat was a Mahle.
This.
OE parts, but usually not from OEM. I see no reason to pay for the OEM to rebrand the same item that I can typically buy for much less from the OE manufacturer.
I just replaced the idler pulley on my '07 SL550. The part I ordered was an INA Bearing part. When I compared it to the OEM part that came off the car, they were identical. The INA idler pulley cost me $23. Same item from Mercedes was $78. Similar experience with a camshaft position sensor. I ordered it from Bosch instead of Mercedes for a significant savings. When comparing the OEM part to the Bosch part, the only difference was the Bosch part did not have the Mercedes tri-star stamped on it.
There are some exceptions to this. I get excellent performance out of Subaru OEM wiper blades, so I stay with them instead of aftermarket. And I can get the blades from Subaru for less than I can buy the Denso OE wipers off of Amazon.
OE aftermarket is my path. VDO, Contintental, Mahle, Behr etc. Most times the aftermarket parts we get are OEM with the emblem ground or stickered off. Did a thermostat yesterday on an 07 ML350 that had a perfect CNC circle exactly where the MB star was on the one that came off. One quick buzz with the bit and cost went from 127 and tomorrow for delivery at the dealer to 85 and a few hours wait. Had the factory 271 part number still on there as well. Thermostat was a Mahle.
This.
OE parts, but usually not from OEM. I see no reason to pay for the OEM to rebrand the same item that I can typically buy for much less from the OE manufacturer.
I just replaced the idler pulley on my '07 SL550. The part I ordered was an INA Bearing part. When I compared it to the OEM part that came off the car, they were identical. The INA idler pulley cost me $23. Same item from Mercedes was $78. Similar experience with a camshaft position sensor. I ordered it from Bosch instead of Mercedes for a significant savings. When comparing the OEM part to the Bosch part, the only difference was the Bosch part did not have the Mercedes tri-star stamped on it.
There are some exceptions to this. I get excellent performance out of Subaru OEM wiper blades, so I stay with them instead of aftermarket. And I can get the blades from Subaru for less than I can buy the Denso OE wipers off of Amazon.
Repair parts that require time to do, I go OEM. They just last longer. Brake pads, rotors etc I use aftermarket, they are simple enough to swap out if any issues.
Ouch. It wasn't that long ago that one could trust names like MOOG, TRW, Timken, Standard Blue Streak, Gates, etc.. Heavy sigh.
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