What Are Aftermarket Car Parts?

Mclaren parts After market car parts is a fast growing business in the USA. Many car enthusiasts love to make their car unique and stand out from the crowd by making modifications to the original. Though due to the limited options given by car manufacturers some look elsewhere. That is where aftermarket car parts come in.

When purchasing a new car from an auto dealer, there is something commonly known as "stock" which are the standard options provided by the dealer. These standard stock options include the essential components such as engine, transmission, wheels and also performance part. The stock can also include interior car parts such as lighting. Though many dealer do provide upgrades to a certain extent these are still limited for many car enthusiast, some extras can include alloy wheels, satellite navigation and other extras. Thus many people look elsewhere to truly modify there vehicles.

Some people may purchase aftermarket car parts for safety reasons such as xenon headlight upgrades which provide brighter and whiter light and therefore greater visibility. Other people may just want their cars to look good and have that exclusivity and would purchase styling parts and accessories like body kits and alloy wheels to make their cars stand out from the crowd. For many car enthusiasts purchasing aftermarket parts and modifying their cars is a real pastime and may spend thousands on performance upgrades, interior & exterior styling as well as other cosmetics.

Many car modifications (or mods, as it is often referred) made to a vehicle are made using aftermarket car parts. So what are aftermarket parts? Simply put, aftermarket parts are those which have been made by a company other than the original manufacturer of your car. Manufacturers parts are commonly known as Original Equipment Manufacturer. So why buy parts from someone other than that of your car manufacturer? It's like in any market if a company are making only certain kind of products they may have more knowledge than the original manufacturers therefore they have the ability to provide better and larger range of products such as a company specializing in performance car parts may provide better parts. Aftermarket car parts contain wide range of product types such as light bulbs to air filters and turbo kits and chrome wheels. Some aftermarket parts can be installed by the car's owner with minimal or no knowledge about cars while other parts may require you to seek a professional to install the part. You should seek advice from a knowledgeable person before purchasing an aftermarket car part.

There are certain criteria which one must be aware of before going out to buy aftermarket car parts. Firstly you need to be aware that installing an aftermarket car part may null your vehicles warranty, if there is any. Therefore, be sure to check your warranty documents before proceeding to install a car part. Secondly ensure you know your car make, model and year as these are the common criteria used to check whether a part is compatible with your car. Finally be sure to check your local laws as installing a certain type of part may be deemed illegal in your area of residence.
There is much debate and controversy on which auto parts are ideal for servicing and repairing cars. Ideally, there are three types of car parts. New OEM parts are manufactured by the original car manufacturer or a authorized designate of the car manufacturer. Used OEMs are second hand car parts removed mainly from written off cars. The aftermarkets are auto parts manufactured by a manufacture not authorized by the car manufacture. There are many arguments for and against the different types of car parts. This article endeavors to highlight on the various arguments posed for these different types.

New OEM Parts

For many years, new OEM parts were the only options for servicing and repairing cars. Today, there are still many car parts such as Brake Rotors and Brake Pads that wear fast and are cheap to purchase and it only makes sense to purchase the new auto parts. However, for the more expensive ones, you can check out the options. New manufacturer parts are either manufactured at the car manufacturing plant or outsourced to off-shore metal fabrication companies especially in far east countries like China. They are made with a certain level of quality standards.

Advantages of New OEM Parts

The main argument for the new OEM parts is that they are approved by the original car manufacture. Therefore, they do not affect the insurance of the car or the warranty placed on the car. Furthermore, if you can get parts made by the original car manufacturing plant, then you can be sure that the auto parts will fit properly and will be compatible with other car parts. Since they are new and quality, they last longer and give your car better functionality.

Disadvantages of New OEM Parts

The main case against the new OEM car parts is their high cost. Many argue that the same companies outsourced to make the new manufacturer parts are the same that make the aftermarkets. However, the aftermarkets are usually 50-70% lower in price than that of the new OEM parts. Furthermore, some car service experts complain that the new manufacture auto parts made from outsourced companies in China, India and other offshore countries are of low quality as compared to the original ones.

User OEM Parts

Used car parts are usually staked in a second hand garage or a junk shop. However, over time, the industry has become organized and there are big companies that test and package used auto parts in a more professional way.

Advantages of Used OEM Parts

Mclaren parts The main advantage of the used manufacturer parts is that they are originals that were used in a similar car model. They are therefore guaranteed to fit. They are also much cheaper than the new OEM ones. The people who argue for used parts insist that they are the best since there are many new manufacture car parts made by inferior outsourced companies and thus compromising on their quality. They say that the aftermarkets are not tested and come with no guarantee.

Disadvantages of Used OEM Parts

The biggest pitfall for these used auto parts is that they are at times unavailable and you can not always rely on them. Furthermore, being used, many argue that the quality cannot be guaranteed as the level of wear and tear is a subjective issue.

Aftermarket Parts

In the early 1980s when the outsourcing boom hit, many car manufacture outsourced the making of parts to outsource companies in South America and in the far east Asia. Many of these outsource companies manufactured these parts but sold them indirectly to the car market. This is when the aftermarket parts came to be.

Advantages of Aftermarket Parts

Many who argue for the aftermarkets insist that they are manufactured by the same outsourced companies but cost much more than those that are labeled with the original car company authority. They argue that the high price for the new OEM ones is simply the high franchise fees charged to the companies that manufacture the car parts.

Disadvantages of Aftermarket Parts

The main disadvantage of aftermarket auto parts is that they have no warranty and you can never be sure about their quality or whether they will actually fit into your car.