What to Look For When Buying European Aftermarket Parts

Few people understand the feeling of driving an expertly-crafted BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, or other European car. These cars are designed not only to be driven, but also experienced. They weren't just designed to look good. 

Many car owners want to customize their ride and make it run and/or look even better. This is where buying European aftermarket parts comes in.

These are parts that are designed to work with your car, but they are different from the original parts. Is that a bad thing? Actually, no.

There are some great aftermarket BMW parts and other parts for your European car. Here are some tips on what to look for when purchasing aftermarket parts.

European Aftermarket Parts Differences

OEM parts are the exact parts that came with the car and made by the manufacturer who made them specifically for that vehicle.

Many people go with only OEM parts, and for good reason. OEM parts are guaranteed to work perfectly with your car because they were designed to go with it. 

For some areas of repair, you definitely want to go with OEM parts. For example, if you have to fix collision-type damage and replace body panels on your Mercedes, you want Mercedes Benz parts.

The exterior crumbles in a way that protects the driver and passengers by spreading the impact.

Because of this design, you would want to replace those components with original OEM Mercedes parts. 

Aftermarket parts are parts created by another manufacturer and not the original one.

This is not necessarily a bad thing for the other parts of your car. Many of these manufacturers are small, and that increases their ability to focus on their specialized parts.

They can actually design parts that perform better than OEM parts. Many European aftermarket parts have integrated engineering that makes them perform better than the original OEM parts.

This can be especially true if one of the OEM parts doesn't perform as well as it should. Manufacturers of aftermarket parts will reverse engineer and create a better performing part.

OEM parts are best for specific repairs, especially with the outside of the vehicle. 

But aftermarket parts can perform even better than OEM parts for many other aspects of the vehicle. 

European Aftermarket Parts Sources

There are many different sources for aftermarket parts. However, OEM parts are usually found in only a few places.

If the original manufacturer doesn't make the OEM VW parts you need, your dealership may not have them in stock. This means you have to go to an online auction or a junkyard.

Aftermarket parts have much more competition, and that can be a great benefit to you. For example, if you want a new airlift for your vehicle, you could have many different companies competing for your business.

This competition helps keep prices competitive, and the parts will be ever-evolving and improving.

For example, Rotiform wheels are often much better than the OEM rims that come with the European vehicle. Their performance and build make them one of the most sought-after aftermarket parts.

Fifteen52 is another wheel manufacturer that has an incredible reputation as an aftermarket parts manufacturer. Their innovation has given them a large following in European aftermarket parts circles.

This specialization can help you in areas such as performance. For example, Unitronic is a company that keeps its focus on European car performance with its aftermarket parts.

Their passion for excellence and their focus on just a few parts gives them an excellent reputation among aftermarket enthusiasts.

What you want to do is research the many different manufacturers out there for the parts you are looking for.

Some companies are small enough that they can focus on one brand. For example, they may concentrate on Audi parts or Volkswagen parts and offer you great customization options.

Many online parts stores offer a specialized focus on European aftermarket parts. These stores provide advice, tips, and even videos to help you not only buy the part but also install it yourself. 

European Aftermarket Parts Enthusiasts

What you want to do when looking for quality aftermarket parts is ask around. There are plenty of sources for references out there.

Many European auto message boards and Facebook groups will have other gearheads like yourself in them. These are great places to connect with others who love their European car and love working on it themselves. Join these groups and start asking around for their advice on what parts places they prefer. You will find themes in many of the answers. This gives you an excellent place to start when looking for quality aftermarket parts.

You could also get tips and advice for installing parts to your car. You can get tool advice, for example, that would help you before starting a project or repair.

If you bought a new AccuAir system for your BMW, one of the forums that focus on BMWs could be a gold mine of information for you. 

Find those who have gone before you and let them help you learn from their past mistakes. This could save you a lot of headache and trouble while installing your aftermarket parts.

Next Level Performance

The European driving experience is something you understand. You bought your car to be a performance machine.

You take care of your car and want to use only the best parts for it every time. OEM parts are perfect for your car, but European aftermarket parts can help it go to the next level.

Our passion is European cars! We are enthusiasts who built our site for enthusiasts. Contact us and let us help you find the best performance part for your unique ride.