The Importance of OEM Parts in Collision Repair

When you’ve been involved in an automobile accident, you deserve to feel confident that your car will be returned to you as good as new. That means it’s vital to choose a collision repair facility with an outstanding reputation for quality repairs. Your repairer should be equipped with the latest diagnostic technologies and tools, as well as highly trained technicians who are up to date with the most current repair techniques. But there’s an even more important factor that you need to be sure of to guarantee lasting and safe repairs: the use of only OEM parts.

What is an OEM Part?

“OEM” stands for “Original Equipment Manufacturer.” OEM parts are manufactured to exacting specifications, using the identical processes and molds that were used when your vehicle first rolled off the assembly line. Not only are these parts guaranteed to be of the highest quality, they are also guaranteed to be a perfect fit and match, identical in every respect to the parts your vehicle was built with.

Quite simply, choosing OEM parts for your repairs means your vehicle will provide the same degree of performance and safety as it did before the collision, and also that your car will look exactly as it did prior to being damaged.

The different types of parts available

You can see why it’s so important to choose a facility that uses OEM parts for quality, safe repairs, but the fact is that not all collision repairers commit to this. To save money and attract customers with lower rates, many shops opt instead to offer only aftermarket parts or even used parts to complete repairs.

Let’s take a closer look at what each of these classifications means:

OEM Parts

• Made by your vehicle’s original manufacturer and identical to the parts installed during initial assembly.
• Guaranteed to be a perfect match and fit, likely to last longer and perform more predictably
• Come with some degree of warranty protection
• May cost more than aftermarket parts and/or be more difficult to source

Aftermarket Parts

• Manufactured by third party companies based on OEM part designs
• Often made with less expensive components and processes, may break down faster
• Not covered by warranty
• Inconsistent quality can lead to potential performance and safety issues
• More supply options; potentially lower cost

Used Parts

• Parts of unknown origin and location
• No way to know if past wear & tear, storage conditions, type of use etc. will impact performance & safety
• Elevated risk of counterfeit (and potentially dangerous) parts being substituted
• No guarantees to protect consumer should used parts fail in future

OEM Part Manufacturer Recommendations

Back in 2012, the National Automotive Trades Association of Canada (NATA) acknowledged that repair standards suggested by original equipment manufacturers should be considered industry standards. What’s more, every major auto manufacturer specifies detailed collision repair recommendations — standards which these carmakers know must be observed in order to ensure the continued safety, quality and performance of the vehicle when repairs are needed.

OEM parts are rigorously tested for quality and reliability, and to ensure they perform to the same high standards as your vehicle’s original components. They are even crash-tested in place in the vehicles for which they are designed. Unlike aftermarket or used parts, OEM parts can always be relied upon to fit perfectly without any form of modification. This consistency ensures that your vehicle’s structural integrity will be maintained, and that even the most drastic repairs will not adversely affect future performance, gas mileage, depreciation, etc.   

Quite simply, any collision repair facility you work with must be dedicated to completing their work in accordance with these standards in order to ensure the continued performance and safety of your vehicle. Mitek is meticulous in maintaining our status as a manufacturer-approved facility for every brand that comes through our doors. As a member of a manufacturer-approved network, our technicians must complete a series of mandatory trainings and submit to regular inspections to retain this status. As a result, they know how to complete every repair in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines and standards.

Why Mitek uses OEM Parts

As a collision repair facility that specializes in high-end vehicles, we know that the parts that go into these exceptional machines are of the highest quality and not easily replicated. By using OEM parts, our technicians can be confident that their efforts will result in the most durable, highest quality repairs. From bumpers to suspension coils to headlight housings, they know that OEM-approved parts will be a perfect fit — every time.

It only makes sense. Imagine if you needed a prosthetic body part or a pacemaker – you would never consider going with a third-party manufacturer or used part! You would insist on going straight to the source to ensure your health and safety. It’s the same with car parts. Using OEM parts, designed by the same engineers who built the car to begin with, is always going to be the safest, most reliable and sensible choice.

Our customers appreciate the peace of mind of having warranty protection on their repair parts — a benefit they would not enjoy if aftermarket or used parts were installed. Perhaps most of all, our clients like knowing that that our dedication to OEM parts will help to preserve the resale price of their vehicles down the road.

So there you have it – a “crash” course in the various types of parts that are available on the market for collision repair experts (and you) to choose from. Of these three kinds — OEM parts, aftermarket parts, and used parts — Mitek highly recommends the use of OEM parts, and that’s why they’re the only kind of parts we ever use.

Like automobiles themselves, we’ve learned that OEM parts are manufactured to precise specifications by the original auto manufacturer whose name is on your car. They fit flawlessly and predictably, they are protected by a warranty, and you can be sure they will perform every bit as reliably as the original part. Using OEM parts also means your car’s resale value will be maintained. Most importantly, OEM parts will keep you and your passengers safe.    

At Mitek, we believe our customers deserve no less than OEM parts for reliable, safe repairs. To that end, we are proud to be an OEM certified collision repair facility for all the top brands, including Mercedez-Benz, Jaguar, Infinity, Acura, Audi and more. We know it’s the best way to ensure our customers get the exceptional repair results they deserve in terms of appearance, safety, performance — and peace of mind.   

Mike Tikl

Proud owner of Mitek Fine Autobody & Paint,

Serving Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, and the surrounding region since 1980

Your Fine Car Deserves our Fine Care