Are Aftermarket Car Parts Right For Me?
When it comes time to repair your vehicle, you have options, including the choice between aftermarket car parts and original equipment manufacturer auto parts, which can be new or used. We call the used car parts recycled or ROEM. In this article we’ll explore these choices so you can confidently decide which option is best for you and your vehicle!
Aftermarket car parts are made by companies other than the vehicle manufacturer. Many of these third-party companies are from China and their parts look attractive because they are less expensive than buying new OEM parts from a dealership. According to a 2022 study by automotiveresearch.com, aftermarket auto parts accounted for 50% of the total parts purchases from independent repair shops, and more than 30% of the 500 shops surveyed said they have increased aftermarket parts purchases in the last two years and plan to even more in the next two years. The main driver is cost, aftermarket parts are usually less expensive than new OEM parts. There are also times when new OEM parts are unavailable or have a long lead time but aftermarket parts are quick to ship.
The sacrifice may come in quality. Some, but not all aftermarket parts, are made with lower-quality materials and wear faster than their OEM counterparts. Many body shop techs complain that aftermarket sheet metal takes more labor as it doesn’t always line up quite the same as the pieces the manufacturer makes. Aftermarket headlights come in a variety of quality levels and you may find you “get what you pay for” in terms of how long the finish lasts without dulling/yellowing. However there are also many quality aftermarket companies and an aftermarket part is not necessarily a bad choice, you just want to understand what you are purchasing and why. For example, aftermarket brake pads that have excellent performance, durability and are inexpensive may be a great choice if you do not mind a little brake noise when stopping.
A set of aftermarket wheels may not have the emblem of your car manufacturer on them but you may prefer their look, or want a set of winter wheels. Aftermarket door mirrors general function just as well as an OEM mirror, and are not known for wearing out the way headlights and taillights are. Some people choose to upgrade their suspension using aftermarket parts, to have better vehicle handling or ride comfort or for going off-roading. Also, if you drive an older vehicle, a new aftermarket part may be the best option for you if the original manufacturer doesn’t make the replacement parts anymore or there aren’t quality used options available.
There are many aftermarket parts that are great choices. At Pete’s Auto Parts, we sell aftermarket parts as well as ROEM parts and we try to give our customers the options that make the most sense for them. The quality and the prices vary but we are always up front and honest about what we are selling and what you can expect from the parts. Many aftermarket parts are good options for our customers so we do offer them!
What About OEM Parts or ROEM Parts?
The difference between OEM parts and ROEM parts is simply the latter was previously traveling down the road on another vehicle, and the former is brand new. OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer, meaning the same people who made your vehicle and all the parts that came on your vehicle from the factory made these parts. The OEM and ROEM parts match what’s being replaced and provide a guarantee of function and quality. They are designed to perform and fit factory specifications!
ROEM just means Recycled OEM, but really these parts are more like re-used OEM. When we think of recycling, we generally think of soda cans being flattened and turned back into some other aluminum product, or steel melted down and made into new steel… but these quality used vehicle parts are good to use as-is, they don’t need to be remade to be useful!
At Pete’s Auto Parts, we purchase insurance company total loss vehicles, meaning these cars, trucks, vans and SUVs had full coverage insurance and were driving down the road running great when they were in an unfortunate fender-bender. Although some parts are damaged or even destroyed in an accident, many other parts are still good! Pete’s Auto Parts never purchases vehicles that are worn out by age or mileage, never purchases fire or flood vehicles that render the parts useless, never purchases vehicles that are extremely damaged to the point they DON’T have great parts for sale. We leave those vehicles to scrap processors who do that for a living. Pete’s Auto Parts buys high quality vehicles that run and drive so we can test the mechanical parts, we even put the videos of our engines running on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@petesauto7873
ROEM or used auto parts are a great choice when you want to put parts on your vehicle that the original manufacturer made but you don’t want to pay an arm and a leg! Recycled or reused car parts and truck parts come with significant savings. For example, a 2017 Ford F150 radiator that is $362.00 new at the dealer can be purchased at Pete’s Auto Parts for just $54.00! A transmission for that same F-150 at the time of writing this was priced from the dealer at $3,687 (just the long block) whereas an ROEM engine with only 91,000 actual miles on it is available at Pete’s Auto Parts for $550 with a 90 day part warranty, $605 with a 1 year part warranty, or $688 with a 3 year part warranty! The savings is significant for quality parts that Ford made and designed to last for years and years.
What Parts Are Best For Me?
Whether you choose aftermarket, OEM or ROEM parts, the goal is to get your car going back down the road and not have to return to the repair shop. We hope we’ve shown you there is no right or wrong way of doing that, but that many times ROEM or used auto parts can do it at a cost savings without sacrificing the quality from the original manufacturer! At Pete’s Auto Parts we want to help you save money and find the right part – fast! We can also deliver parts straight to your mechanic if they have normal business hours in our expansive delivery zone – don’t be afraid to ask! Call or text today to find the parts you need whether they are aftermarket or used vehicle parts! Our main number you can text or call is 616-669-6592 or see below for specific salespeople’s contact info.
Contact Pete’s Auto Parts Any Way You Prefer
We are here for you on the phone, by text, email, skype, even facebook messenger! Some of our older clients like to walk into our office and speak to a salesperson face-to-face instead of calling or texting, and that is just fine by us! Amy and Tommy are available in the front office 9am to 4pm Monday through Friday, besides their lunch breaks of course. We have five salespeople on the phones and responding to online messages throughout the day, with staff available from 8am to 5:30pm Monday through Friday. You can always call or text our main number 616-669-6592, but f you want to contact someone specific directly, here is the info in alphabetical order:
- Brian: 616-797-7978 brian@petesauto.net X216 (works from home)
- Dan: 616-797-7973 dan@petesauto.net X213 (works from home)
- Lindsey: 616-797-7969 lindsey@petesauto.net X210 (office in our sales and business office) ella habla español
- Tommy: 616-797-7964 tommy@petesauto.net X224 (office at Pete’s)
- Amy: 616-797-7962 amy@petesauto.net X231 (front counter at Pete’s)
Or if you prefer to search our site, you can do that now on our used auto parts search page. Please note you will find ROEM parts in the search but not the aftermarket car parts we offer and not as extensive of an inventory as you will find if you call in or text in and let our trained sales staff do multiple nationwide locating searches in the various computer programs we pay for so that we can find the parts you need, fast! Whether you want aftermarket parts or ROEM parts, call or text today!
