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OE versus Pattern?

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McCabe-Thiele (Ted):
In the various dealership car parts departments I have worked in we used to use the description OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer - that implied it was the same part but boxed by the part maker (e.g.Brembo) rather than the vehicle brand (e.g.Mercedes or Vauxhall) however there was a oxymoron here.

Interestingly OE parts were a different (generally much better) specification to a manufacturers replacement part supplied as a service part or for spares. e.g, back when they were new a set of replacement brake pads for a Carlton were around £80 for a set of fronts branded as AC Delco. An OE set of front brake pads from Vauxhall were over £200! They marketed the AC Delco brand to compete on price with aftermarket brands but they were an inferior specification to the parts originally fitted in the factory. The reason for higher specification OE was to ensure a new vehicle had a chance of not needing parts replacing until out of warranty.

A rear lamp lens for a Mercedes was boxed as a Mercedes part the OE lamp would have a Mercedes Star stamped on the part. Mercedes were not in the game of diluting their reputation by selling you the same lamp made by Bosch supplied in a MB box. If a MB dealership is found to be selling or fitting  parts not supplied by MB parts based in Milton Keynes even if they were OEM they risk losing the franchise or facing a hefty financial penalty.

Interestingly MB actually lower the price of service items once a model is out of production to avoid losing out to OEM suppliers.

Athame57:
I've raised the subject on Quora and there has been an interesting response too....https://www.quora.com/If-a-motorcycle-was-built-entirely-of-pattern-and-secondhand-parts-would-it-be-a-forgery

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