Oem Vs. Aftermarket Parts: What Edmonton Residents Should Know

By Author: Ellsworth Mciltrot
Total Articles: 6
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Every driver would have to go through car repairs at one point—it’s like a baptism of fire. It gauges whether you know enough about your car to successfully go through the entire car repair process without making a major mistake. This entire thing can be very stressful—mainly because you have no car to drive—so here’s something to speed things along.

One of the biggest questions you’d have to face when getting your car repaired, especially after a major accident, is this: aftermarket or OEM parts? Usually, a mechanic here in Edmonton or your insurance company might give you advice, but you can never be too sure whether they’re being objective or are providing inaccurate information. Here’s the skinny on this debate for your perusal:

OEM parts

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts are those that are made by companies that manufactured the exact parts that were used by your car in the first place. Manufacturers like Hyundai, for example, don’t make their own parts. They outsource that process to other companies and just install the finished parts on their cars before rolling them off ...
... the assembly line.

The good thing about OEM parts is that you don’t have to comparison shop. There is just one type, and you can be sure that they’ll function as well as the ones you had in your car. However, they can be quite expensive compared to aftermarket parts, mainly because you’re also paying for the brand.

Aftermarket parts

Aftermarket parts—those that don’t come from OEMs or car manufacturers—come in two types: direct replacements or those used for car customization. When you’re having your car repaired, then you’d typically be looking at direct replacements. Studies suggest that most of Edmonton’s mechanics use aftermarket parts, so bear that in mind when looking for people to service your car in Edmonton.

Aftermarket parts are much like anything else you can buy—you can comparison shop, prices and quality varies, and there are a lot of options to choose from. Aftermarket parts are also typically cheaper than their OEM counterparts. However, the sheer amount of options might be overwhelming when looking for parts for your car Edmonton service centers are repairing, and some of them don’t come with warranties or any assurances whatsoever.

The bottom line is this: if this is your first time to buy parts for cars Edmonton dealers sell, go for OEM parts so you can be sure of their reliability. If you have a lot of experience in the aftermarket parts market, then you’d know which ones to buy, resulting in substantial savings. For more information, check out edmunds.com/car-care/aftermarket-versus-manufacturer-car-parts.html.