Auto parts. Original or replacement?
Repairing a car, especially new models, very often requires significant costs. Especially if the driver decides to install original spare parts available at an authorized service station. But is it always necessary?
The auto parts market is currently very extensive. In addition to suppliers of components for the first, factory assembly, many companies have also been created to replace original parts. Their biggest advantage is the low price, often over 50 percent compared to an authorized service center. Unfortunately, the quality of such items is not always good enough to pay off the savings in the long run. This is why you must be smart in your purchases.
High quality, high price
The parts sold at the Dealership are the same as those used in the vehicle used in the factory assembly. They are marked with the car manufacturer's logo. This is the most expensive, but the surest choice. Especially when the driver decides to install it in an authorized service center, because then he will receive a guarantee for the service. In case of problems, it will be much easier to turn to such a service than to a small company, often consisting of several people. ASO also has a great opportunity to replace a defective part from the importer, and, importantly, the guarantee very often also depends on the assembly of the part by its worker.
Branded replacements are a very good alternative to factory components. Many of them are made by the same companies and on the same production lines as the factory parts. The only difference is that the logo of the car brand is not applied to the packaging. Such double production is carried out by the leading companies of the European market, incl. Valeo, LUK, Bosch, SKF, TRW or Febi.
“For example, Valeo makes a very wide range, from brake components to water pumps and wiper blades. In turn, SKF specializes in bearings and timing, while TRW specializes in suspension and brake components, says Waldemar Bomba from Full Car. Is it worth it to buy these parts? - Yes, but you need to remember that individual manufacturers specialize in one or two areas. That is why it is always worth asking the seller if, for example, brake pads are better than Valeo or Bosch, says Waldemar Bomba.
SKF gears and bearings have an excellent reputation and dealers compare them to factory-installed quality. The same is true for TRW brake components. – LUK makes good clutches, but dual-mass wheels, for example, have recently become a little worse in quality. While those for the first assembly can last up to 200 kilometers, spare parts are four times less durable. Here, Sachs, which also produces good shock absorbers, is doing better, says Waldemar Bomba.
The offer of spare parts under the Ruville brand is very wide. However, the sellers indicate that this is not a manufacturer, but a packaging company. They are produced by different companies, but they are always first-class. Febi offers a wide range that also deserves high praise.
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– Lemfårder, which produces the suspension components used in first assembly, is popular with Volkswagen drivers. Interestingly, in many cases these are identical parts available in the cabin. Unless the brand logo is blurred here,” says V. Bomba.
How much does the driver save by choosing the highest quality branded replacements? For example, buying a complete set of clutch and two-mass wheel for Volkswagen Passat B5 (LUK, Sachs), we spend about PLN 1400. Meanwhile, the original in ASO is even 100 percent higher. Interestingly, more and more authorized service centers are introducing cheaper lines of spare parts, designed primarily for older cars, into their offer. For example, at Ford, cheaper components and services are branded as "Motorcraft Service". The component manufacturer here is Motorcraft, the same company that supplies parts for the first assembly.
“These cheaper parts are also excellent quality. And most importantly, if the driver installs them at an authorized workshop, he receives a two-year warranty, as is the case with original components, says Krzysztof Sach from the Res Motors car dealership in Rzeszow. How much are we saving? For example, for front brake pads for Ford Mondeo 2007-2014. you have to pay 487 zł. The rear ones cost PLN 446. The economic version in ASO costs PLN 327 and PLN 312, respectively. Instead of PLN 399 for the rear brake disc, the Motorcraft price is PLN 323.
– Original exhaust muffler for Fiesta 2008-2012 with Zetec 1.25 engine costs PLN 820. The Motorcraft version costs PLN 531. A timing kit with a water pump for a Focus II with a 1.4 TDCi engine in a cheaper version costs PLN 717, which is PLN 200 cheaper than the original, says Krzysztof Sach. He adds that maintenance services are also cheaper under the "Auto Service" service. – We recommend them primarily for vehicles older than 4 years. This is a great alternative to repairs performed outside the network of authorized stations, he says.
