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OEM VS Aftermarket

• By https://www.edmunds.com/car-maintenance/
• 18/05/2025
• 0 comments

When you take your car to the dealership's service department for repairs, you know you're getting original equipment manufacturer (OEM) replacement parts. But if you visit an independent mechanic, you're more likely to be offered aftermarket parts — that is, parts not sourced from the automaker. These typically cost less and help keep repair costs down. But a lot of people wonder: Are they inferior to "original equipment"? The short answer: Not usually. OEM parts aren't necessarily better, nor are aftermarket replacements necessarily worse. Some are built to the same quality and specs as the ..