The use of genuine parts for your Land Rover can be both time-saving and can get your vehicle back on the road in a short time, says motoring guru Stu Bird.
There are a few perceived drawbacks to using genuine OEM parts, mainly around cost, which is a significant factor when running a vehicle. This becomes even more apparent when the car ages a little; how long do you keep spending on OEM parts to keep an old model on the road?
The perceived expense isn’t necessarily a valid concern. There are times when genuine Land Rover parts can cost around the same as a patterned part, sometimes even less. It’s anecdotal, but a suspension ball joint for my Citroen (granted, it’s no Range Rover Sport!) recently cost me just £4 more than one from a motor factor, showing that it can make financial sense to shop for genuine parts.
Tight Fit
As a budding car restorer, I sometimes come across the challenge of patterned parts not fitting correctly. I used to work in the motor trade, and I frequently found that a non-OEM part from some surprisingly large firms would work fine, but a poor fit would cause problems.
The fear factor when obtaining car parts isn’t limited to wondering whether it will fit or not, but what if it goes wrong? Buying Land Rover parts from eBay is a minefield. Yes, you can get some bargain prices, but you can also get some shoddy parts, and you really don’t want the hassle of sending it back and waiting for a replacement when your Evoque is off the road.
No one selling genuine parts wants those orders coming back or warranty claims made. A tried and tested part goes through rigorous testing, intending to have parts fitting and working correctly every time.
The Right Stuff
A manufacturer’s genuine part and a pattern part are not the same, even if they appear identical at first glance. Take an essential part like a brake disc; a reproduction replacement to one of my vehicles was somewhat thinner than the original part I had removed, which, while perfectly safe, will reduce the life expectancy of the replacement part.
If a brake disc can be made thinner, so can the internal workings of a water pump, a brake master cylinder or a drive belt. That’s not something you’ll want to take a risk with on your Land Rover. The use of genuine parts makes sense when it comes to quality. If you’re replacing like with like, you are guaranteed that it will last as long as the part you are replacing.
Peace of Mind
A genuine part from a manufacturer will have been tested for optimal performance, made to fit correctly and may have undergone research and development improvements since the original production, improving performance.
While it’s nice to be able to visit a dealer and chat with the service advisor about any parts required, many of us don’t have that much free time. Online outlets will sell the same parts, with any moderately knowledgeable user able to navigate a website, complete with technical drawings, to ensure the correct part is ordered at the right price. If you’ve any doubts, there’s usually a contact form or chat system to ask the right questions.
Quality is guaranteed by using original parts, and by ordering online, your time is left free to enjoy the day.
Cash Back
One of the most important things about buying genuine parts is the invoice. Selling your Range Rover with a folder full of receipts showing only genuine parts have been used can add value to your vehicle and secure a quicker sale. You could easily make all the extra costs back with a higher selling price – but we know genuine parts might not cost you any more in the first place.
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