You bought a Mercedes-Benz because in life, for you, it’s the best or nothing. So when it comes to maintaining your Mercedes-Benz, you shouldn’t settle for aftermarket knock-off parts.
Most mechanics will tell you that they prefer to use OEM vs aftermarket parts and only resort to aftermarket parts if their customers insist on saving money. Let’s take a closer look at why Mercedes-Benz OEM vs. aftermarket parts are the way to go.
What Are OEM Parts?
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. In the automobile industry, an OEM Mercedes-Benz part is the same part, manufactured by the same company to the exact specifications as the day the part was initially installed in your vehicle. OEM parts use all the same materials and engineering as the original parts.
Using an OEM part, you can be confident you’ll have a precise replacement part for your car. It will fit properly, work the same, and comes with a factory warranty. You can count on performance and quality construction with OEM parts.
What Is an Aftermarket Part?
An aftermarket part is classified as any replacement part made by a company other than the original manufacturer. There is a robust market for aftermarket parts that replace everything from body panels, mechanical parts, interior furnishings, exterior trim, and even high-performance accessories.
OEM vs Aftermarket Parts
So what is the difference? On the surface, you might not notice any difference with the possible exception of a branded label. Aftermarket parts often look identical to their OEM counterpart, which is where the problem begins.
Most people will see the similarity and assume they are the same in every way. Unfortunately, this usually isn’t the case. OEM manufacturers are held to strict quality standards that aftermarket manufacturers aren’t required to meet.
In layman’s terms, the part only has to fit or work. This fundamental difference in standards usually results in aftermarket parts constructed with cheaper materials. Cheaper materials result in a shorter lifespan.
A shorter lifespan means you’ll be replacing the aftermarket part sooner.
Another common trait of aftermarket parts is that they fit poorly. A poor fit could be because the part is now made for several different brands, not the single Mercedes-Benz model for which it was originally made.
It could be that the aftermarket part is slightly longer or wider than the OEM version, yet they both function the same. So the aftermarket part works fine but doesn’t fit properly. This improper fit might make it harder to install in a tight space, or it might not fit at all.
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Using aftermarket parts makes for cheaper parts that may initially save you money, but if it doesn’t fit or work properly or fails quickly, how much money are you actually saving? Purchasing OEM vs aftermarket parts is less expensive than you might think. There are ways to save money buying OEM parts. One way to save money is to buy used parts.
At autohubshop.com, we specialize in certified used Mercedes-Benz OEM parts. Every car and part we receive is thoroughly tested for quality, structural integrity, cosmetic condition, safety, and operating condition.
Our inventory is available for you to browse online. You can contact us online or by phone at 916-759-7316 and one of our friendly, knowledgeable staff will help you find the right OEM part for your Mercedes-Benz at the right price.
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