Invest in a good and cheaper substitute

Do you have to use your brand's authorized service centre to maintain your warranty? No - the European Commission has deprived car manufacturers of exclusivity for car servicing. Since 2010, you have been able to easily service your car cheaper outside the ASC. But what conditions must be met in order not to lose the warranty?

The European Commission Regulation dated 01/06/2010 allows every driver to freely choose a car service for repairs, replacement of car parts or periodic inspections. You no longer have to worry about losing your warranty. However, you must meet several requirements for the service to be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. What are we talking about?

You must use workshops where the mechanic will follow all the procedures imposed by the vehicle manufacturer. Additionally, the mechanic must use original parts or substitutes that meet the manufacturer’s parameters.

Where and under what conditions can you have your car serviced under warranty?

When purchasing substitutes, you must remember about the law and the requirements of car manufacturers. You cannot use spare parts as you wish, especially if you buy them yourself. Have your car serviced using substitutes, but with strict standards. What ones?

OE means original parts bearing the logo of the vehicle manufacturer, such as VW, Mercedes or Ford. In turn, OEM or Q are authentic spare parts offered by renowned brands, e.g. ATE, LUK, LEMFORDER, BOSCH, SACHS or TRW. These parts provide the same quality as the original ones, are manufactured using the same technologies and cost on average 15-20% less.

OEQ or P are substitutes of quality comparable to original parts, supplied by reputable companies. They may differ slightly in technology, but maintain the quality requirements of the vehicle manufacturer. The PJ marking means that they are recommended by the vehicle manufacturer, and their price may be up to 35% lower than original parts.

If your car is under warranty, do not use these parts

AM or Z are aftermarket spare parts produced by less known companies. They do not meet the quality standards of the vehicle manufacturer and are not accepted in authorized services. The price of these parts can be up to 60% lower than the price of original parts.

You can freely use these substitutes when the car is a bit worn out and no longer has any manufacturer’s warranty. This option will be useful when you have an older car and you do not expect another 10 years of operation, or the price of parts and repairs is a decisive factor.

What substitutes should be chosen instead of parts at the ASC?

Great examples of spare part manufacturers that meet car manufacturer standards are the Frey and Birth brands. Both companies specialize in the production and distribution of substitutes for many car brands.

The Birth brand produces spare parts for almost all car brands. This Italian giant distributes spare parts to 65 countries. Of course, it meets the service standards of car manufacturers. The Frey brand is a company producing spare parts for BMW and Mercedes. Frey focus on two brands has resulted in the fact that even original assembly parts are not as good as those from Frey.

Are substitutes just cheaper? No, they are sometimes better than the originals

Substitutes are up to 35% cheaper or much cheaper, up to 60%, compared to the originals. However, they can surprise you with the quality of workmanship compared to those used in ASC. Let’s take a closer look at the oil pan for the BMW F10, F20 or F 30.

The original pan is made of plastic and equipped with a gasket. This design reduces the pan’s resistance to damage, deformation or leakage. The Frey substitute for the same BMW models is made of aluminium and silicone. This makes it more resistant to mechanical damage, high temperatures, deformations and leaks.

Not very convincing? The oil filter housing for the BMW F10, F20 or F30 by Frey is also made of aluminium, and the original is plastic, which gives more advantages to the substitute. Of course, the price is also in favour of the spare part, and to prove it, visit the website of the Frey brand spare parts distributor – Motores.

Well, ok, but not everyone has a BMW, what about something like an Opel?

A nice surprise awaits you here too. The manufacturer of Birth substitutes not only makes parts in accordance with the manufacturer’s expectations, but also offers them at a much lower price. Even if it is a car no longer produced, like the Opel Corsa D.

Let’s take a closer look at the wishbones – 1 piece, front axle, right body. The Birth substitute with an OE mark (in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendation) costs PLN 336. For comparison, the original part in the Opel store costs PLN 880. If the “entire front” is to be replaced, you will save PLN 1,088. Is it worth it? A rhetorical question, isn’t it?

Finally, it should be added that you can purchase spare parts yourself as an individual – you do not have to be a mechanic or workshop owner. Naturally, you don’t have to worry about such purchases if you don’t have a knack for cars. Car workshops also order the above-mentioned spare parts in bulk, and you can order them through them.