The counterfeit car parts are overflooding the auto parts market. These parts are the ones that are produced by the intermediate dealers having a striking resemblance to the original genuine spare parts. Many times, customers have fallen prey to the luring offers provided by these dealers and they often choose to buy the easily available, cheaper products but they often fail to understand the underlying factors, which might hamper the overall working of the vehicle. Wherever a replacement for the car is required, generally the OEM or OES parts have to be looked into. Each type has its own benefits and value for the car.
The basic difference between the OEM or OES parts of a car
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. In auto parts, it refers to the manufacturer of the original equipment, that is, the parts assembled and installed during the construction of a car.
OES stands for Original Equipment Supplier. An OES part is made by the same manufacturer that built the OEM parts found in your cars.
The key difference between the two arises from the assembly lines of the OEM.
The OEM and OES are practically indistinguishable from one another in terms of function and performance because these parts:
- Built by the same manufacturer
- Built to the exact same specifications outlined by the vehicle’s designer
OES manufacturers have the resources and equipment to build high-quality parts. Automakers deem them worthy of putting in their vehicles and putting their brand on them.
What car parts are being counterfeited?
The most common fake parts include the filters, wheel rims, airbags. seatbelts, tyres and lights. Many of these parts have direct safety implications and if ignored might lead to serious accidents as well. The quality of these parts is very poor but the furnishing and finalised product will have a strikingly similar appearance to the actual one, thus tricking people.
What happens when fake car parts are used?
A majority of fake car parts have caused a lot of car accidents in recent history. The car might stop, out of nowhere and this might lead to a lot of a series of unexpected events. About 50% of road annihilations, in countries like India, have been a result of the use of fake parts. Companies producing such products use cheap raw materials which will deteriorate the overall quality of the car parts. Just for the sake of a cheap price, it is not advisable to opt for such car parts and risk the lives of the drivers and passengers.
How to spot a fake car part?
1. Look at the packaging- if it looks flimsy and with some Chinese or any other writings, it is definitely not an authentic product.
2. Check the part numbers- Any reputable brand is going to have a part number. This number remains the same across the internet.
3. Do a side-by-side comparison- Carrying out a thorough comparison of the car part to be bought, to identify various signs will actually help in eliminating the real part from the fake ones.
4. Check the noticeable differences- Identify the variations in weight, the font used, its colour, texture and also the packaging used for the item.
5. QR Codes- Many manufacturers also include QR codes on the packaging, which work as an extra layer of protection to help you scan via smartphones and check the authenticity with the manufacturer.
6. RFID Electronic Tags- these are not commonly seen in every car part but are present in some high-end ones. These tags allow the manufacturer to scan and verify if the parts you great are genuine OEM auto parts.
7. Confirm the COA(Certificate Of Authentication) – Each COA sticker must have a unique ID label and security code generated by the manufacturer and not the dealer.
8. Hologram Stickers- Many manufacturers believe that these cant be replicated but many counterfeits do have the exact ones. So a closer look is required to actually differentiate between the two.
9. Look out for the exciting low prices- The original spare parts are quite costly, but the counterfeit parts come at low, attractive prices, which are too good to be true.
10. Go with the trusted suppliers- Sometimes, reading the online reviews about a product may not be enough. Always make sure to deal with a trusted enterprise.
Also, read: Wheel Alignment and Balancing: All You Need To Know!
Avail 100% genuine OEM/OES spare parts @ Pitstop
The fake parts are being produced by carrying out reverse engineering of the OEM/OES parts. These might hamper the vehicle’s well-being and thus prove to be dangerous to the lives of the driver and the passengers.
We at Pitstop strive to uphold the trust and support of our customers. Pitstop ensures 100% genuine OEM/OES parts are being used during servicing. Book a service and get the service done to your cars, at your doorstep.
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