Getting your money's worth . . . rotsa ruck!

[Mike Arman <armanmik@n-jcenter.com>]

>It shows an air cooled
>VW bug engine and a pile of VW Bug parts and it reads "Your Volkswagen
>runs like a Volkswagen because of Volkswagen Parts"  And though OEM
>parts are expensive, they are the best for the original purpose of that
>car.  Only after many many people have used aftermarket parts, and the
>results of their trials are posted on a list such as this, do they pass
>the test of time, and become welcome additions to our cars.  If you pay
>for original quality, you should be entitled to get it.  
>
>Chris Locke 86 4kcstq
>	    88 90q

This is a HUGE assumption - that just becaues it is OEM it is the optimum
(and priciest) part for your car . . . just because it is OEM and expensive
is no guarantee that it is any good.

Any Audi owner can make an impressive list of expensive, poor quality OEM
parts, Where do we start? Radiators? Plastic cap OEM vs less expensive
all-metal aftermarket? DOT lights? OEM tires? Window motors (no
replacements there . . .) 

Just because it is OEM doesn't mean it will be the BEST and ONLY parts you
should use. You can often buy the SAME part for 20% of the price if you
know where to look. Example - when I worked for Hoffman, running the
warranty dept for MBW back in 1968, we had a little smog pump for the 1600
model. Came in a little blue box which said "Genuine BMW parts - Im Werk
Gepruft." - $174 list price, if I remember correctly - however, you could
go down the block to the GM dealer and buy the same - identical - part for
$26, but you didn't get the blue box, and it didn't get a round trip to
Germany (on your $100). Made in Detroit, by GM. BMW may have bought a lot
of automakers, but they can't afford GM (yet).

Most auto makers buy out a startling percentage of the parts on their cars.
No one except the dealer will tell you that OEM is absolutely better,
across the board - and they are hardly an unbiased source.

Yes, there ARE poorer quality aftermarket parts available - and that is one
of the reasons this list is so valuable. It lets us know what works and
what doesn't. However, the blanket statement that all aftermarket parts
should be automatically viewed with suspicion is WRONG - its the OEM parts
that scare me! I want a very good reason why this here widget for
$$$$$$$$$$ is better than the same widget for $$ from the store down the
block. Further, if you buy wisely, you can get much, much better than OEM,
often for less money - priced a type 44 power steering pressure hose lately
at the dealer? - I like my $26 hydraulic shop special better - and it is a
FAR superior item.

Best Regards,

Mike Arman