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WHats the Difference.. OE, OEM, GEN

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Old Feb 12, 2018 | 02:18 AM
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Post WHats the Difference.. OE, OEM, GEN

The Basics

OE & OEM are indicators that the part you're buying meets or exceeds the quality of the original item in your vehicle. In general, OE means the part is the exact piece used in original manufacturing, while OEM means that the company is held to a high quality standard and that they produce OE parts for other manufacturers. When it comes to OE quality level, drag the sliders across every photo on this page to see exactly what we mean!

Original Equipment (OE) Parts: These are the same parts originally supplied to dealerships, except with the dealer logos removed. This is done by manufacturers so the parts can be sold outside the dealer network due to licensing agreements.

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Parts: These are produced by a manufacturer that supplies at least one OE part to a vehicle manufacturer. OEM parts may not have been original to the car, but are held to higher-quality standards and stringent quality control.

Genuine Parts: These parts come branded by the vehicle manufacturer and at a premium cost, as they're sold through dealerships with higher overhead expenses. These are the same parts you would find at your local dealership.The Details

Original Equipment (OE) Parts:

These are the original parts that would have been used by the vehicle manufacturer on the car when it left the factory, except the genuine logos have been visibly removed (scratched, ground, or marked out) so they can be sold outside the dealer network due to licensing agreements. The vehicle manufacturers (BMW, Volvo, etc.) do not manufacture many products themselves but rather they contract their original equipment manufacturers to do so.

OE parts are typically sold direct from their respective manufacturer and can be had for a much lower price because of this. All of these parts will be stamped with the original manufacturer's brand name/logo such as Bosch, Hella, or Lemforder (or Modine in the expansion tank photo above, SGF in the flex disc photo below, or Sitronic in the final stage resistor photo to the left). These are the same parts supplied to dealerships, just with the genuine logo removed so they can be sold through different retail channels.Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Parts:

OEM parts are produced by a manufacturer that supplies at least one OE part to a vehicle manufacturer. These are often produced in the same facility that manufacturers OE parts and are held to the same high-quality standards. OEM parts are not originally put on a vehicle from the factory, but the manufacturers adhere to stringent quality controls, and their parts share in the same reputation.

As an example, Bosch may supply the spark plugs that go in at the factory and also produce a fuel pump for a different make/vehicle. The Bosch spark plugs would be an “OE” part and the fuel pump “OEM”.Genuine Parts:

This is a product that we have sourced from the local dealer network and is the same part that the dealership would offer you to install on your car today. This part will come branded by the vehicle manufacturer (BMW, Volvo, Audi, etc.) and a premium cost as it’s being sold by dealerships with higher overhead costs.

Genuine parts from FCP Euro are sourced from a dealer and in the car manufacturer’s packaging. In nearly every instance the part inside the box will have been manufactured by one of their approved OE suppliers such as Bosch, Hella, Mann, Lemforder, and many others. Use the interactive image sliders on this page to see how OE and Genuine parts are one and the same.

Last edited by Nice Ride; Feb 12, 2018 at 02:24 AM.
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Old Feb 12, 2018 | 08:25 AM
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Was always a fan of this that article, Michael did a solid video on this topic a few months back

--Kyle

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