When repairing, servicing, and maintaining vehicles, technicians will occasionally need to replace parts of that vehicle. Different vehicle manufacturers design and create different types of components and they’re not interchangeable. Hence, using only compatible parts is crucial to effective collision repair, especially when it comes to prestigious automotive brands, such as Mercedes-Benz.
It’s important to get collision repair right, regardless of the type of vehicle that needs repairing. However, it’s especially true for luxury vehicles. Mercedes-Benz is a German luxury and commercial vehicle brand with nearly a century of history behind it. Mercedes-Benz has manufactured many legendary and adored vehicles over the decades. Drivers expect high performance and an enjoyable driving experience when they opt to pay for an elite car, but if the parts inside that Mercedes aren’t high-quality, then all you have is a nice-looking shell over an average, or even below average, vehicle. So, it’s critical to bring your Mercedes-Benz vehicle to a collision repair shop that has access to OEM parts.
OEM parts and their significance in Mercedes-Benz auto repair
There’s no point in driving a luxury vehicle if you won’t take care of it. This doesn’t mean you yourself need to get under the hood of your Mercedes every weekend, it just means you trust its service to a reputable collision repair shop that uses the OEM parts your vehicle needs. But what does this mean, exactly?
What does OEM mean?
OEM stands for “original equipment manufacturer”. There are many different components to an automobile and these components require replacing over time. Even the safest, most attentive drivers of the most well-made vehicles will eventually need some replacement parts. When that happens, it’s important to replace those components with parts designed and manufactured by the same company.
OEM parts for Mercedes-Benz
For any collision repair, you ideally want replacement parts for your vehicle that were made by your vehicle’s manufacturer, or which were made by a third party for use in that specific make and model. You want OEM parts for your Mercedes-Benz that were made by Mercedes-Benz or which the company recommends for your type of Mercedes.
OEM parts warranty
But what if these OEM parts are more expensive? What if your preferred collision repair shop can’t get these OEM parts? Can’t you find a cheaper or more accessible alternative? Maybe, but it’s probably not a good idea.
Consider that OEM parts are likelier to be covered by your vehicle’s warranty. If your mechanic replaces your torque converter, steering column, or intake manifold with one that the designers of your vehicle never intended to be inside a Mercedes-Benz, then you may have to pay out of pocket for that repair. Furthermore, any problems that occur with that part, or other parts that it affects negatively, won’t be covered by your warranty. Remember, engineers design these parts to interact with and complement other parts and thus they issue a specific OEM parts warranty.
OEM parts and Mercedes-Benz performance
The reason a Mercedes-Benz warranty might stipulate you must use certain OEM parts isn’t just a business decision. An automobile is a highly complex, highly intricate piece of machinery, and this is doubly true for expertly designed vehicles such as a Mercedes-Benz.
All the components within a vehicle must work together for a vehicle to operate efficiently and smoothly. You can’t get the refined driving experience you paid for if you’re not using OEM parts in your Mercedes. Longevity is another issue. If you use non-OEM parts, you risk reducing the lifespan of your Mercedes, which will ultimately cost you more in the long run.
Why must you always use genuine Mercedes-Benz parts?
The Ship of Theseus is a thought experiment that makes us think about the nature of objects that are collectives of other objects. Theseus was the mythical founder of ancient Athens, and he had a ship. Over time, the Athenians replaced every part of his ship, so that no original material remained. Was it still the Ship of Theseus at that point? If not, when did it stop being the same ship Theseus captained many years before?
What makes a Mercedes-Benz? Is it the powerful engine that offers swift acceleration? The smooth turning ability? The comfortable and sophisticated interior? It’s all those things, but when you start to replace certain components with non-OEM parts, then your vehicle begins to lose its Mercedes-Benz identity. You must get Mercedes-Benz auto repair right to get the most out of your vehicle.
The importance of OEM parts for warranty, for function, for longevity, for enjoyment, and for the whole identity of your Mercedes makes them integral to maintenance and repair. So, you owe it to yourself to find a Mercedes-Benz collision repair shop that only uses the OEM parts your vehicle needs.
