Original parts or aftermarket components? That's the perennial question. The answer is that genuine OEM Chevrolet parts are preferable in many situations. Insurance companies often require mechanics to use aftermarket components when doing repairs. That's because third party manufacturers generally offer aftermarket components more cheaply than OEM Chevrolet parts. Unfortunately, aftermarket parts are also sometimes inferior to genuine Chevy parts. Nevertheless, there are some times when it's acceptable to use aftermarket parts - oil filter and air filter changes are two examples. In other situations, particularly when the parts could impact safety, you should insist on genuine OEM Chevrolet parts.
Body Work
Insurance companies are notorious for requiring mechanics to use aftermarket replacement parts when doing body work. This is partly because body work is generally not considered a safety issue and partly because OEM body parts are frequently considerably more expensive than similar aftermarket parts. The key issue here is called fitment - how the part actually fits your car when it's attached. OEM Chevrolet parts are guaranteed perfect fitment, because they are made using the same dies, equipment and materials as the parts that originally came with your car. Because they fit better, they will not only look better, but will probably last longer, thanks to tighter quality controls.
When Your Car Is Under Warranty
If your Chevy truck or Chevrolet car is still under factory warranty, you may have to use genuine Chevy parts to prevent voiding the warranty. Don't be penny wise and pound foolish. The few extra dollars you spend to guarantee your mechanic uses genuine Chevrolet auto parts can save you a lot of money over the course of the warranty. This is especially important if you have an extended factory warranty that will cover the costs of inspections and recommended maintenance and repairs for up to five years or 50,000 - 100,000 miles.
Get a Better Warranty
When you have repairs or upgrades done using genuine OEM Chevrolet parts, you'll almost always get a better warranty. Factory Chevy parts nearly always carry a longer warranty than third party aftermarket components. The extended warranty on the parts often offsets the additional cost of Chevy parts.
Preserve Automobile Value
In most cases, Chevrolets that have all OEM factory or original Chevy parts are valued more highly than those that have been repaired or restored using third party aftermarket components. If you want to maintain the value of your Chevy, make sure your mechanic always uses OEM parts.
Safety Concerns
When it comes to replacing safety equipment, there's no better choice than genuine Chevy parts. After an accident in which your air bags have deployed, for example, insist that they be replaced with brand new OEM Chevrolet air bags. Any parts that are vital to the safety of your family should also always be replaced with genuine OEM Chevrolet parts - integrated child safety seats, for example. Never take chances with safety - always opt for the real thing when repairs impact safety.
Author Resource:
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the world's MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
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