What is the difference between original parts from 4S stores and original car parts?
4 Answers
Here are the differences between original parts from 4S stores and original car parts: 1. Terminology: 'Original' parts are referred to as 'original'; 'Original car' parts are referred to as 'original car'. 2. Meaning: Original parts are produced by the main manufacturer's regular suppliers; original car parts are the parts that come with the car. 3. Current production situation: Original parts are not produced by the car's original manufacturer but by the same production suppliers as the original car parts, and they are also sold in the market, including branded parts and imitations; original car parts are the genuine original parts from the car manufacturer, exactly the same as the original car parts, and these are actually the true original parts.
When I first started repairing cars, I couldn't tell the difference either. Original equipment (OE) parts are those installed when the car leaves the factory, directly procured and assembled by the automaker. What 4S shops call 'genuine parts' are actually authorized by the manufacturer, with brand logos on the packaging, but they might be produced by different OEM suppliers. Last time I replaced a transmission oil pan, the 'genuine part' from the 4S shop had 'supplier code' printed on the box, and the mechanic quietly mentioned its heat treatment process was two grades below the OE part. Still, such parts at least meet the automaker's quality standards, with traceable anti-counterfeit codes, making them much more reliable than aftermarket parts. For core engine components, I'd rather pay extra to insist on using true OE parts.
Having repaired cars for 15 years and handled tens of thousands of parts, I can sum it up as differences in 'pedigree purity.' Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts are like biological sons—installed on the same production line as the vehicle, with material formulations meeting the highest standards. 4S store's genuine parts are more like adopted sons—authorized by the automaker but potentially cost-reduced or simplified. Last year, when replacing suspension bushings on an old Mercedes, the OEM part had three layers of fluororubber coating, while the 'genuine part' from the 4S store had only one. Still, it's sufficient for most owners, especially with a two-year warranty. For true perfectionists, I recommend asking the technician to keep the old part for comparison during disassembly.
I have handled over thirty accessory disputes. Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts are directly supplied to the production line by the vehicle manufacturer with the strictest quality control. Genuine parts from 4S stores are specifically for after-sales service, produced by suppliers certified by the automaker, with the brand logo printed on the packaging, but the testing standards are slightly relaxed. For example, the dust cover for the steering gear, OEM parts can withstand -40°C, while after-sales parts only guarantee -30°C. However, the difference is negligible for regular city driving, and 4S stores provide electronic warranty certificates. Be especially cautious not to be misled by aftermarket parts—so-called 'OEM equivalent' parts on certain online platforms are mostly counterfeit.
