Hey guys,
So what are your opinions on aftermarket parts versus OEM? Does anybody here buy aftermarket (say from eBay, Amazon, etc.)? Would you only buy some things aftermarket but stay away from others?
My own opinions on the subject are this: If the OEM parts were so terrific, they wouldn't fail at such a high rate compared to, say, a Honda or Toyota (never had a vacuum line crumble when working on a Honda). BMW's engineering is very good, but let's be real they aren't perfect and they don't make most of the parts on the vehicles anyway. Other German companies like Behr, Wahler, Meyle and ATE make many of the parts and they are as human as the next company. Whether these parts fail because of cost-cutting measures by BMW or because BMW hasn't engineered them well enough is hard to say (I mean, a frickin plastic and aluminum radiator??).
So I approach the OEM parts with a certain degree of skepticism. When it comes to something with a sensor built into it, like a MAF or a thermostat with a heated element, I'd have to go with OEM for sure. I've had an Indian-made eBay thermostat throw a P1620 code on my E46. But when it comes to simpler parts like a rubber valve cover gasket or the plastic CCV tubes or even the rubber & plastic radiator hoses, I'd go aftermarket. The OEM ones fail just like any other.
What is your opinion?
Have you gone with aftermarket parts and had an earlier failure than you should have? If so, please share your story.
-Jason
So what are your opinions on aftermarket parts versus OEM? Does anybody here buy aftermarket (say from eBay, Amazon, etc.)? Would you only buy some things aftermarket but stay away from others?
My own opinions on the subject are this: If the OEM parts were so terrific, they wouldn't fail at such a high rate compared to, say, a Honda or Toyota (never had a vacuum line crumble when working on a Honda). BMW's engineering is very good, but let's be real they aren't perfect and they don't make most of the parts on the vehicles anyway. Other German companies like Behr, Wahler, Meyle and ATE make many of the parts and they are as human as the next company. Whether these parts fail because of cost-cutting measures by BMW or because BMW hasn't engineered them well enough is hard to say (I mean, a frickin plastic and aluminum radiator??).
So I approach the OEM parts with a certain degree of skepticism. When it comes to something with a sensor built into it, like a MAF or a thermostat with a heated element, I'd have to go with OEM for sure. I've had an Indian-made eBay thermostat throw a P1620 code on my E46. But when it comes to simpler parts like a rubber valve cover gasket or the plastic CCV tubes or even the rubber & plastic radiator hoses, I'd go aftermarket. The OEM ones fail just like any other.
What is your opinion?
Have you gone with aftermarket parts and had an earlier failure than you should have? If so, please share your story.
-Jason
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