Aftermarket New Radiators vs. OEM Radiators (Buying from the Dealership)
So here’s the scenario that most women, know and despise. If you are like I was as a young lady just starting out in the new found world what seems to be a few short years ago, you will know and recognize my pain as soon as I start to write this blog. I was sitting in the waiting room, almost like at the doctor’s office, nervously but patiently waiting and hoping this diagnosis that I wasn’t going to have to start harvesting internal organs to pay for. (As a young girl just out of high school living on her own, money was tight.) The mechanic walks in covered in only God knows what and called my name to the computer with all my information pulled up on it. He turns to me and says, “Well ma’am, it looks like your radiator is cracked.” as he continued to ramble off all the other things that was wrong with my car, but I knew could wait. I started to think to myself, how much is this going to cost me? The mechanic hands me a piece of paper and I look at the price, and immediately crumpled up the paper and it ended up on the floor in my car.
I went home that night, and sat in front of my ancient computer that slowly dialed up to connect me to the internet. I needed to find my options on how I can replace and/or fix my radiator without having to dodge the landlord because I used my rent money to pay for it. Here are the options that I came up with:
· Buy the OEM from the dealer and have them install
· Buy aftermarket from a mechanic and have him install
· Buy aftermarket online and put it in myself
Oh boy.. here we go… I have no clue at this point… What I’ve learned along the way I’ve written below. First and foremost, you need to know what OEM means vs. Aftermarket…
Aftermarket Parts –Aftermarket radiator is a radiator that is not built directly from the car’s maker. Aftermarket parts have been designed to function the same way or in some cases better then the original radiator that was installed from the manufacturer.
PROS
· Less expensive: Aftermarket parts are usually less expensive than OEM parts; how much you save varies by brand. Shopping around to find the best price works in your favor. Search around to different websites, who has the better price. But be careful of bait pricing. It may look cheap at first glance, but as the check out process comes to a closing more fees and shipping are added. Call the website, ask about shipping and fees. Chances are if you can’t get someone on the phone, they are not looking to help you.
· Direct fit- These radiators are direct fit, made for your car.
· Quality can be equal to or greater than OEM- In some cases, you may end up with a better part than you started with. The aftermarket companies reverse-engineer the part, and work the weaknesses out.
· More variety: There are hundreds of companies that make aftermarket parts. Some specialize in specific parts, and other companies, make a verity of parts. More variety means greater selection and a wider range of prices.
· Better availability: These parts are available mostly everywhere. You can find them in a local auto parts store. Your mechanic is most likely going to have them too. As well as finding them online. A great website that has great quality parts and low prices is www.radiatorexpress.com
CONS
· Quality varies greatly: It’s true, not all aftermarket parts are made equally. Some are made better then others, and this is because of the lower quality materials.
· Overwhelming selection: There are many aftermarket manufacturers that have a part to fit you car. And if you are not familiar with each individual brand it can become confusing. Don’t be afraid to do your homework on the brands available. Google the reviews for brands, and companies. Do your homework before you decide which part you are going to buy. Don’t rely on the website or sales person to decide for you. Talk to your mechanic and see what they recommend.
· May not have a warranty: In some instances, the companies will not offer a warranty. There are some companies that still do, like Radiatorexpress.com However in most cases it is a limited lifetime manufacturers warranty. Some places may offer an additional warranty for a little extra money. And in some case it is truly worth the money.
OEM Parts
OEM parts are made by the vehicle's manufacturer. There parts are exactly the same as what came in the car when it came off the assembly line.
PROS
· Easier to choose your part: The OEM part comes from the dealership, so when you walk to the parts department and tell them you need a radiator, it is usually just one kind. You don’t have to worry about differentiating between the brands and their quality.
· Greater assurance of quality: The OEM part works like the one that is in your car now, no guessing if it will work or not.
· Comes with a warranty: Most manufacturers do back their parts with a one-year warranty
CONS
· More expensive: OEM parts usually cost more than an aftermarket part. OEM parts tend to cost about 60% more, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.
· Need to be bought at the dealership: Even though there are other ways of buying OEM parts (eBay, online wholesalers), most people will go to a dealership to buy their car parts. This limits the number of places you can buy from. You can request OEM parts from your local mechanic, but it may take longer to get your vehicle repaired since the parts must be ordered.
· Quality may not be superior: Unfortunately, just because you pay more for something does not always mean that you are getting a better quality part. As mentioned earlier, some aftermarket parts are equal or even better then OEM parts. And in the end you end up paying for the name and not the quality.
After doing all this research, I was leaning towards just purchasing the OEM dealer part. That was until I met “Mack” the parts person for my dealer. I don’t think he was even 18 years old and after speaking with him, I doubted he even would be able to function without the computer in front of him. Why am I considering paying 4 X more for a radiator from someone who doesn’t even know what a radiator is… “Jeez, I could work here” .is what kept running through my head. My decision was save the money and buy a radiator online. I did that and a friend install it in my Jeep Wrangler. I’ve never actually needed another radiator for this vehicle and I can’t even remember how long it’s been.
Now oddly enough, I’m a sales representative now for the same company that I purchased my first autopart from : Radiator Express… I guess that’s what happens when the friend that installs your radiator ends up your boyfriend and gets you a job.
Hope some of this is helpful…
Radiator Chick
