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OEM Car Parts Explained: A Simple Guide to Finding Authentic Used Car Parts Online

Finding the right replacement part for your car isn’t always straightforward, especially if you’re unfamiliar with terms like OEM, VIN, or part numbers. This guide will break down what OEM car parts are and show you how to use OEM numbers (and even your VIN) to track down the correct parts for your vehicle. We’ll go over what OEM actually means, how it connects with VINs, how to identify OEM part numbers, and where to shop for reliable used car parts online. Along the way, you’ll also find practical tips, real-world examples, and insights that even experienced mechanics would approve of.

What Does OEM Mean in Car Parts?

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. In the automotive world, OEM parts are components made either by the original manufacturer of your vehicle or by the supplier that built the parts for the carmaker. In simple terms, an OEM part is identical to the part your car was fitted with when it left the factory. These aren’t generic “will-fit” parts — they’re made to match the automaker’s exact standards.

For instance, if you own a BMW, an OEM brake pad is produced by the same company that supplied BMW with the brake pads installed during production.

You might now wonder: Is an OEM part the same as a genuine dealer part? In most cases, yes. Genuine parts (sometimes just called “original parts”) are sold in the car manufacturer’s packaging and often display their logo. But the actual production is often handled by another company — the OEM supplier.

Take Volkswagen as an example: your car’s alternator might carry a VW logo, but it could have been manufactured by Bosch (the OEM supplier for VW alternators). Likewise, a Renault headlight might bear the Renault badge, while the actual manufacturer is Valeo. In both examples, Bosch and Valeo are the official suppliers making the exact same parts fitted by the automaker.

So, an OEM car part usually means one of two things:

  • Factory-Installed Part: The original component your car came with when new (sometimes just called an “original” part).
  • OEM Replacement Part: A part made by the same manufacturer that supplied the original. It may be sold under the automaker’s branding or under the supplier’s own name, but it meets the same specifications.

Anything outside of OEM is considered aftermarket — parts produced by other companies that weren’t involved in making the original vehicle. Aftermarket parts vary in quality: some are excellent and may even offer performance improvements, while others might have a slightly different fit or be of lower quality. In general, OEM parts are trusted because they are guaranteed to match your car’s original design, quality, and fit.