Believe it when I tell you not only your Car but their individual parts will often try to "Tell' you in their own language they're about to fail. Some parts will even tell you before leaving their box they have no chance of ever learning to speak "German".
In terms after market parts and "Improvements" made to an "Original I'm very skeptical there is such a thing outside the realm of "Reverse engineered parts". The automotive parts "After Market" duly named is a whole separate write up on "Parts Sourcing and Quality".
I think the phrase "Field Tested" is probably less thought out in the realm of public opinion in terms of "Where" and exactly "How" that testing actually takes place on any item considered to be 'New" and/or "Improved". The type of products that seem to have evolved in nearly any industry that are wanted to be considered 'Original". Field and Industry" tested are both vague terms as compared to the rigors of each manufacturers original standards and mass Production protocol.
In this business I get ask a lot of questions and some more frequently than others. I'm often asked, "Do you only use OE or OEM parts" as if there's a clearly understood difference being tabled. The easy response would be to just say "Yes" and move on, yet I know what's really being asked is "Do you only use quality parts"? Once again the response should be as simple as "Yes".
It took me a while, but one thing I to decide years ago as a technician was 'Why" to stop asking "Why" in terms of Mercedes and BMW engineers and how each came to adopt their approach to making not only quality Vehicles, but the individual components used and "Why" as compared to other Auto Makers.
The Mercedes Benz and BMW presentation may not always be the most perfect thing one could imagine, but at minimum their automotive engineers have historically proven not only their products but also their intense and progressive approach in terms of remaining the "Leading" edge of Automotive technology & "Quality" as compared in the market place.
It does occasionally happen but rarely will Major Auto Makers make major changes to or switch parts manufacturer's when the product continues to perform as is marketed. When one does it's usually so subtle most consumers will never know. Don't hear what I'm not saying, because manufacturer recalls combined with public opinion & class action suits speak louder than do crafty commercials or individual "Virtual" research based billions spent in "Controlled Test Environments" trying to "Reinvent' what otherwise works best in day to day reality.
There's a lot of wisdom in that saying, 'If somethings not broke don't try to fix it" and the same could be said about the quality of parts Mercedes and BMW both go to great extremes to produce and/or outsource there product in a very specific fashion.
It may be true "Not all parts are created equal" yet when the dust settles it usually speaks to the long or short lived philosophy of each manufacturer.
Bottom line is if the same part is also made by the "Same" manufacturer is available at a more affordable price which usually comes in unbranded box, it only interprets into common "cents" should that same manufacturer insist they're fully invested in order to maintain the Highest of Industry Standards.
These parts manufacturers that have worked hard to meet the high standards of Mercedes and BMW accounts should also have a clear understanding of what it takes to remain a "World Class" parts providers as well "Why".
Let's face it, car manufacturers pay a premium price to have their parts boxed and branded and hopefully Individual parts manufacturers clearly understand their real staying power in terms Name branding when they enter the Automotive Big Leagues.
If a person wants only to use OE (Original Equipment) they should expect to pay more for that branding and at today's inflation indexed pricing. More often the norm for branded products will land somewhere between 15% - 25% higher price tag.
In terms of replacement parts and their OE vs OEM differences the exception might be if a person plans on keeping their car until it becomes a "Classic". Such a status where "Mint Condition" truly means branded "Original parts" with little to zero exceptions".
Buying only OE parts as if the Golden Rule doesn't always interpret "Best Quality, Best Fit or Longevity, whereas whenever dealing with the cosmetic and color matching, best Fitting parts (namely Trim Items) "Original Equipment" is the only way to go.
My philosophy is, stay in touch with who the manufacturer's "Original" parts are being outsourced to. Find out if there has been any more recent developments as well why and if you can procure those parts at a fair Market price. Find out if those same parts manufacturers make them available to the "Independent" repair industry if you're not a "Fix it yourself" sort.
Having a clear understanding as to why any under rated "Replacement" component is ever devalued and/or chosen after the fact should also point back to the origins that continue to speak to why we choose the vehicle to begin with.
If you're not one for Due Diligence, then OE should become the ONLY other obvious choice when choosing the right part that will perform as did the "Original". The same philosophy that also lead you to "Decide" upon the original purchase of the vehicle in question.
At the end of the day it all boils down to who, why and what we trust the "Most" in terms of the dependable functionality of our "Family" operated vehicles. DL
In terms after market parts and "Improvements" made to an "Original I'm very skeptical there is such a thing outside the realm of "Reverse engineered parts". The automotive parts "After Market" duly named is a whole separate write up on "Parts Sourcing and Quality".
I think the phrase "Field Tested" is probably less thought out in the realm of public opinion in terms of "Where" and exactly "How" that testing actually takes place on any item considered to be 'New" and/or "Improved". The type of products that seem to have evolved in nearly any industry that are wanted to be considered 'Original". Field and Industry" tested are both vague terms as compared to the rigors of each manufacturers original standards and mass Production protocol.
In this business I get ask a lot of questions and some more frequently than others. I'm often asked, "Do you only use OE or OEM parts" as if there's a clearly understood difference being tabled. The easy response would be to just say "Yes" and move on, yet I know what's really being asked is "Do you only use quality parts"? Once again the response should be as simple as "Yes".
It took me a while, but one thing I to decide years ago as a technician was 'Why" to stop asking "Why" in terms of Mercedes and BMW engineers and how each came to adopt their approach to making not only quality Vehicles, but the individual components used and "Why" as compared to other Auto Makers.
The Mercedes Benz and BMW presentation may not always be the most perfect thing one could imagine, but at minimum their automotive engineers have historically proven not only their products but also their intense and progressive approach in terms of remaining the "Leading" edge of Automotive technology & "Quality" as compared in the market place.
It does occasionally happen but rarely will Major Auto Makers make major changes to or switch parts manufacturer's when the product continues to perform as is marketed. When one does it's usually so subtle most consumers will never know. Don't hear what I'm not saying, because manufacturer recalls combined with public opinion & class action suits speak louder than do crafty commercials or individual "Virtual" research based billions spent in "Controlled Test Environments" trying to "Reinvent' what otherwise works best in day to day reality.
There's a lot of wisdom in that saying, 'If somethings not broke don't try to fix it" and the same could be said about the quality of parts Mercedes and BMW both go to great extremes to produce and/or outsource there product in a very specific fashion.
It may be true "Not all parts are created equal" yet when the dust settles it usually speaks to the long or short lived philosophy of each manufacturer.
Bottom line is if the same part is also made by the "Same" manufacturer is available at a more affordable price which usually comes in unbranded box, it only interprets into common "cents" should that same manufacturer insist they're fully invested in order to maintain the Highest of Industry Standards.
These parts manufacturers that have worked hard to meet the high standards of Mercedes and BMW accounts should also have a clear understanding of what it takes to remain a "World Class" parts providers as well "Why".
Let's face it, car manufacturers pay a premium price to have their parts boxed and branded and hopefully Individual parts manufacturers clearly understand their real staying power in terms Name branding when they enter the Automotive Big Leagues.
If a person wants only to use OE (Original Equipment) they should expect to pay more for that branding and at today's inflation indexed pricing. More often the norm for branded products will land somewhere between 15% - 25% higher price tag.
In terms of replacement parts and their OE vs OEM differences the exception might be if a person plans on keeping their car until it becomes a "Classic". Such a status where "Mint Condition" truly means branded "Original parts" with little to zero exceptions".
Buying only OE parts as if the Golden Rule doesn't always interpret "Best Quality, Best Fit or Longevity, whereas whenever dealing with the cosmetic and color matching, best Fitting parts (namely Trim Items) "Original Equipment" is the only way to go.
My philosophy is, stay in touch with who the manufacturer's "Original" parts are being outsourced to. Find out if there has been any more recent developments as well why and if you can procure those parts at a fair Market price. Find out if those same parts manufacturers make them available to the "Independent" repair industry if you're not a "Fix it yourself" sort.
Having a clear understanding as to why any under rated "Replacement" component is ever devalued and/or chosen after the fact should also point back to the origins that continue to speak to why we choose the vehicle to begin with.
If you're not one for Due Diligence, then OE should become the ONLY other obvious choice when choosing the right part that will perform as did the "Original". The same philosophy that also lead you to "Decide" upon the original purchase of the vehicle in question.
At the end of the day it all boils down to who, why and what we trust the "Most" in terms of the dependable functionality of our "Family" operated vehicles. DL
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