Re: OEM vs. Factory original

[Mpotheau@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 4/21/01 9:08:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
owner-bmw-digest@domain.elided writes:

<< OEM and Factory parts aren't always the same thing. >>
<< OEM should mean that the same manufacturer that made a part for BMW is also
 selling their parts into the aftermarket.  Remember that BMW doesn't like
 that and actively discourages it. >>

BMW often sells off OE parts into the aftermarket. Don't trust them. Often 
they still have the BMW AG orange stickers on them. These are parts which 
often did not pass BMWs in house quality control standards. If you look at 
the parts often they have a paint dot on them. That dot is a different color 
than the one on a part BMW sells in house via its dealers. It doesn't mean 
the part is defective, just at the lower range of what is acceptable. 

I will recount an experience I had with them on an Idle Control Valve for a 
535i. We sold one, with full BMW markings and stickers, to him. The car's 
idle was better but not acceptable. We did this two more times. The customer 
went to the local dealer and bought one there. The idle was perfect. I 
swapped in the valves I had sold him, one at a time and the idle was not 
acceptable again. Gave him a refund and apology. He and I looked the valves 
over very carefully and spotted that the three I had sported a different 
color paint dot than the one he got at the local dealer. I concluded that 
this is a part which tested differently than the one they kept to sell for 
themselves. 

On other "OE" parts obtained from US importers I have found poorer fit 
(lenses) and higher failure rates (switches, relays, bushings, suspension) 
than on dealer obtained OE parts.  

I do not wish to debate this, these are my personal experiences during 30 
years of parts/service sales. YMMV.
Michel

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