There are a number of different types of parts that may be available as replacement parts for your vehicle including Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) (parts provided by the car maker), aftermarket, salvage, gray market, and counterfeit. At AGC Collision, we feel that choosing Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) collision replacement parts is the best choice and offers you the following advantages:
Fit
Before assembly, it can be hard to tell the difference between OEM and non-OEM collision parts. However, upon installation there may be a noticeable difference in the way they fit. Alternative parts may leave unsightly gaps between body panels, a sure sign of a collision repair. Conversely, a gap that is too small may allow body panels to rub together under certain conditions, compromising paint adhesion and promoting unsightly and damaging rust spots. OEM collision parts from your vehicle’s manufacturer—sold exclusively through new-vehicle dealers—are designed to fit properly, providing consistent and uniform space between body panels.
Finish
In general, “finish” refers to what the paint job looks like. Original Equipment collision replacement parts are treated with a special primer process, which helps resist corrosion and promote paint adhesion, for the best possible finish that is both durable and aesthetically pleasing.
Design
OEM collision parts, both those that came on the car originally, and replacement parts, are designed with safety in mind. Many parts, including hoods and fenders, are designed with crush zones, allowing the part to bend and crumple like an accordion, thereby absorbing the energy of an impact, rather than transmitting it to the cabin—and the occupants.
Quality
The same quality that went into building your car went into the Original Equipment collision replacement parts, from the way the part was designed to the material used to make it.
Safety
Nobody wants to think about being in one accident—let alone two. A vehicle repaired with OEM collision parts, in accordance with vehicle manufacturer repair processes, is more likely to provide the level of safety and occupant security that the vehicle manufacturer originally built into your vehicle.
Substrate Material
Substrate material is the metal, plastic, or composite material used to manufacture an original or replacement part. Depending on the year, make and model of your car, some parts may still be made from soft, low-grade steel. Other parts may be made with high strength or ultra-high strength steel, magnesium, aluminum, fiberglass, carbon fiber or various types of plastics, all of which need to work together to ensure proper cabin integrity and crash-worthiness. Replacement parts made from something other than the substrate material could comprise your safety.
Parts Working In Concert
All late model cars are designed and built to protect occupants in the event of a crash. This means all parts of the car from the bumper to the vehicle’s glass must work together to dissipate the extreme energy generated in a crash situation. Most particularly, many cars produced in the last 10 years feature various accident avoidance and accident mitigation systems. These are controlled by cameras, radar and other sensors strategically placed on the vehicle. If the “field of vision” for these devices is unclear or distorted because something other than an Original Equipment part was used, the system will not function properly.
Structural Integrity
All body components contribute to the structural integrity of the vehicle. Even items like windshields, side glass and doors help a vehicle to maintain its structural integrity in a collision or roll-over situation. Only Original Equipment collision replacement parts are proven during the vehicle development process to deliver the intended level of protection as a whole system.
The only way to know for sure you are getting this level of protection is to use Original Equipment Manufacturer collision replacement parts that are installed following the manufacturer’s recommended procedures. No other parts meet this level of testing. Using them removes any doubt caused by non-OEM parts, and ensures your new-vehicle warranty remains intact.
Resale Value
Use of Original Equipment collision replacement parts will help keep your car looking new while you own it, and help maintain its value at time of trade-in or re-sale. Parts that fit well, sell well.
At AGC Collision, we insist on Original Equipment collision replacement parts for safety, durability, appearance and performance.
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