CA2WALS430

Hi All, I have read several threads here over the years and just read one about struts. I have learned that we casually throw the acronym OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) around when what we really mean is OE (Original Equipment). OEM may be the same as OE, but not always!

Any manufacturer can be an OEM, all it takes is a contract with a car-maker, but the specification, or "spec" they build to can be totally different. Whatever your favorite name is, Pilkington, Bilstein, Momo, etc, are all capable of building cheap crap or really good stuff. It is all about the spec they are contracted to make. So any mechanic can say they only install OEM products on your car, but that does NOT mean those products are OE.

If you want OE, it will cost more, but when you think of how long the original stuff lasts verses the lower cost replacements, even in some cases from the same company, my humble opinion is you get rewarded. True, sometimes OE is cost-prohibitive (glass), but we also have several discount sources available for OE. Mylparts.com, Amayama.com, Discountpartsmonster.com, oemvehicleparts.com all provide OE at significant discounts.

Anyway, FYI. Hopefully this is a constructive thread that will benefit people for a long time. It took me a while to learn it.

LeX2K

I find this one frustrating. People will for example install a KYB strut and find out it doesn't ride like the original, but it must since KYB is OEM. Well yes but parts are made to specification dictated by the OEM, what KYB sells in the aftermarket is their specification.

Another problem is parts listings like to say "OEM quality" which is usually a lie.

CA2WALS430

@LeX2K , you just nailed why I posted the thread. Exactly.
However, per my post, "OEM quality" would be vague, and not really a lie, but just erroneous.