Although not limited to automobiles, you might have heard of the term “spare parts”. When your car is at the service centre and needs some parts replaced, you will likely hear jargons like OEM and OES spare parts. Ever wondered what exactly is OEM, OES, or Aftermarket? What are the advantages of using genuine spares? How to differentiate between a fake and a genuine spare part? Well, follow along as we help you get a better understanding of everything you need to know about car spare parts.
What are OEM car spare parts?
OEM or Original Equipment Manufacturer spare parts are replacement parts made by the original equipment manufacturer or by a manufacturer supplying parts to the vehicle maker, depending on the specific part and supply arrangement. Take, for example, Maruti-Suzuki Dzire’s headlamp unit, which is manufactured by a reputed parts supplier; LUMAX. The same headlamp unit, (sans the car MGA logo), manufactured by LUMAX is available off the shelf as an OEM spare. OEM and genuine manufacturer-branded parts should not always be treated as identical terms: terminology can vary between automakers and suppliers. OEM spares are designed to meet the required specifications for the vehicle application and can offer the correct fit and function when sourced from a reputable supplier. Vendors may also offer a warranty on OEM spare parts, depending on the product and seller.
What are OES car spare parts?
OES or Original Equipment Supplier spare parts are parts supplied by manufacturers that supply components to vehicle manufacturers. An OES supplier may also sell compatible replacement parts through the independent aftermarket, depending on the supplier and distribution arrangement. The key difference is that OES spare parts are associated with the supplier that manufactures components for the vehicle manufacturer rather than necessarily carrying the vehicle manufacturer’s brand.
To ensure steady and consistent inbound of spare parts, automobile companies rely on several suppliers for this requirement. Suppliers manufacture components according to the specifications and quality requirements agreed with the vehicle manufacturer for the relevant application. E.g. Maruti Suzuki Dzire’s OEM Headlamp unit originally made by LUMAX is also available by OES manufacturer; HELLA. However, specific supplier and vehicle-part examples should be verified for the exact model and part number before publication. OES spare parts can be a cost-effective alternative to vehicle-branded genuine parts, depending on the component and supplier.
What are Aftermarket car spare parts?
Aftermarket car spare parts are sourced as a direct replacement for OEM and OES spares. Typically, aftermarket spare parts widely range in terms of pricing and quality, giving a more flexible and cost-saving alternative to OEM/OES parts.
Aftermarket parts manufacturer; Brembo produces high-quality brake components like brake calliper, brake pads, brake rotors and are known for their superior build quality.
In fact, Aftermarket spare parts offer more variety and are often easily available upfront. You can even get specialised aftermarket spares specific to your car.
Beware of counterfeit spare parts
Beware of counterfeit spare parts. Quite obvious, these spare parts are manufactured using inferior tools and dubious procedures. Such counterfeit spare parts can be made to resemble genuine products but may not meet the required specifications, quality or safety standards.
Counterfeit spare parts aren’t built to your car’s specifications; which can lead to mechanical problems and breakdowns. Worse yet, fake car parts can cause major safety concerns. For safety-critical components such as brake, steering and suspension parts, using a verified and correctly specified replacement is particularly important.
The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) has previously reported that counterfeit auto parts were associated with around 20% of road accidents in India. This is a historical industry estimate and should not be treated as a current nationwide accident statistic without updated supporting data.
Here is how to spot the difference between fake and genuine OEM and OES spare parts
How GoMechanic sources genuine car spare parts
Using a genuine spare part in your car will allow it to function optimally and effortlessly. Our centrally integrated supply chain, spare parts procurement and inventory management system allows for only 100% genuine and authentic OEM and OES spare parts ensuring what goes into your car is nothing but the best. GoMechanic currently states that it uses 100% genuine OEM/OES car spare parts and bulk-procures them through its central supplier network. We source OEM/OES and Aftermarket spare parts directly from reputed vendors and suppliers like MINDA, Brembo, Denso, Bosch, Mann, UFI etc for best results.
FAQs
What is OES and OEM?
OES stands for Original Equipment Supplier; they make original spare parts according to the company’s requirement, while OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer, which refers to the manufacturer of the original equipment or component. The exact use of the terms OEM and OES can vary across the automotive supply chain, so they should not automatically be treated as completely interchangeable or as a strict quality ranking.
What is OEM and aftermarket?
OEM parts are made by the original equipment manufacturer or supplied through the original equipment supply chain, depending on the part and terminology used, whereas aftermarket parts are replacement parts produced by manufacturers outside the vehicle manufacturer’s original supply arrangement. Aftermarket parts can vary significantly in quality, specifications and price, so they should be selected based on the vehicle’s requirements and the reputation of the manufacturer.
Is it better to use OEM parts or aftermarket parts?
The right choice depends on the part, vehicle, manufacturer and intended use. OEM/OES parts can provide a specification and fit aligned with the original vehicle application, while reputable aftermarket manufacturers can also offer suitable replacement parts. If you want genuine parts, then GoMechanic states that it provides genuine OEM/OES spare parts for its car services.
What are the disadvantages of OEM parts?
OEM spare parts can be more costly and less widely available than some aftermarket alternatives. Availability, pricing and warranty terms can vary by vehicle, part and supplier, which may sometimes affect the overall servicing time and cost.
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Thank you for sharing such an amazing information
nice info thank you for this post and i like this article
Worst ever experience…
I would request all car lovers, who really love their car not to visit GoMechanic. The road-side garages and mechanics are far more experienced than those in GoMechanics. They are real cheat and inexperienced mechanics who doesn’t know how to repair or handle your vehicle. GoMechanic can only keep advertising but pathetic at providing desired services to their customer. I experienced the worst kind of service from them where certain part got malfunction because of the negligence from their side and when I confronted, I was told that the condition of the part was same even before I gave them for the servicing of my car….
They seems give the franchise to anyone just to get money, expand and show their presence everywhere without knowing this will only bring bad names and demean the reputation. They should know, they can fool a customer once but not for ever…Very BAD….
Hi there!
We don’t aim to provide such an experience at all. Request you to share your orderID or contact number for us to help you out on priority.
Good
I came across a situation where GoMechanic App shows OES part of Cooling coil at 2350 and GoMechanic buddy quoted cost for the same as 3700 saying in App it is oes part and i given Quotation of Original part. But then it is pretty confusing. If you have original and oes part both available then why don’t app shows both prices.
Hey Sagar,
Allow us to help us with your service. Please share your contact details on gomechanicblog@gomechanic.in and we’ll arrange a callback for you immediately.