[powitte]

I'm just starting to learn the ropes of doing my own relatively simple maintenance and repairs. As I've written recently, this forum has been a great help.

So that I don't have to post every time I'm looking to replace something, can you all give me your more experienced opinions on when it's ok to use aftermarket parts and when I should use original equipment?

I know some Saab parts websites make claims that anything aftermarket that they sell is a quality alternative to the pricier OEM parts... Are there any online parts stores that make this claim that I can trust? (Keep in mind I'm in the US, so the venerable partsforsaabs.com won't work for me).

Thanks all.

 

[Gunnar]

If genuine saab sells it, you can be pretty sure it's going to be a high quality product. That being said, they don't carry some things. But for the most part, I've found aftermarket parts to be just as high quality as the oem ones.

 

[GarrettCharger]

Eeuroparts.com is a great parts website if you are in the US, good selection, good prices on most parts, and you can pretty much trust anything they sell to be of reasonable quality (thet do offer a lot of genuine saab parts).

The only time I personally have regreted buying an aftermarket part was when I bought an EMPI axle (from eeuroparts.com). The inner CV boot began to dry out and crack within the first two years. While I believe the internals of the CV joint are good quality, if you ever decide to buy an EMPI axle you might as well order the replacement boot from scan-tech and replace it before you even put it on the car to save yourself the headache down the road.