What does OEM mean?

[Tannaton]

Manufacturers like Volvo spend millions on r&d and therefore protect it. Most Volvo branded parts that are “consumables” cannot be bought any other way (batteries, bulbs, wiper blades, brake parts, filters etc.) many are manufactured by other companies (eg ATE for brakes) but the contract will prevent them from selling the exact Volvo part under their own brand. Just ask any Volvo mechanic who handles the parts daily.

It’s the same in the food industry, supermarket own labels are never the same as brands, they might be as good as, possibly better, but never the same.

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

Manufacturers like Volvo spend millions on r&d and therefore protect it. Most Volvo branded parts that are “consumables” cannot be bought any other way (batteries, bulbs, wiper blades, brake parts, filters etc.) many are manufactured by other companies (eg ATE for brakes) but the contract will prevent them from selling the exact Volvo part under their own brand.

I'm sorry but that's simply not true.
Please see below a set of XC90 front calipers.
They are the ATE branded calipers in an ATE box and they are identical to genuine Volvo calipers made by ATE.

So how can I tell?
"Volvo" has been filed off front and rear and everything else has been left the same.
If this "exclusivity" contract that you talk about exists, ATE aren't listening to Volvo.
I have similar examples with thermostats by Wahler with Volvo ground off, Corteco engine mounts and of course, the aforementioned Mann oil filter.....the list goes on.

Tannaton, if you could tell me what the difference is, I'd love to hear it.

[Dancake]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

Manufacturers like Volvo spend millions on r&d and therefore protect it. Most Volvo branded parts that are “consumables” cannot be bought any other way (batteries, bulbs, wiper blades, brake parts, filters etc.) many are manufactured by other companies (eg ATE for brakes) but the contract will prevent them from selling the exact Volvo part under their own brand. Just ask any Volvo mechanic who handles the parts daily.

It’s the same in the food industry, supermarket own labels are never the same as brands, they might be as good as, possibly better, but never the same.

To a certain extent this is true. I have first hand experience of trying to buy car parts from the original manufacturer, only to find out that they cannot be sold due to contracts with vehicle manufacturers. It doesn't apply to all parts though. It only seems to apply to expensive or small component parts. For example, the loom plugs for vehicle lights. Valeo might make them, but they can't sell them separately because they supply them to Volvo as part of a complete loom. The same applies to Nissan, Mercedes and many other manufacturers. These vehicle manufacturers would rather sell a complete loom to keep things simple for themselves, and make a few quid on it too.

Earlier I gave examples of filters from Mann, and 4x4 directly contradicted my statements. Vehicle manufacturers make vehicles to a price. Adding an extra special bypass valve into an oil filter adds cost. The vehicle manufacturer would have to be very confident that they could recoup their initial additional outlay. Whether through sales of the filters through franchised dealers, or adding extra margin somewhere else to balance the books. When we're looking at millions of filters across all manufacturers per year, the cost would quickly add up. Worth the hassle? It would also have to pay the filter manufacturer to run with such an arrangement. The Mann representative was clear that it wouldn't be beneficial for them to run with such an arrangement. Perhaps Mann are unwilling to devalue their brand for the benefit of a few OEM contracts?

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by cheshired5

I'm sorry but that's simply not true.
Please see below a set of XC90 front calipers.
They are the ATE branded calipers in an ATE box and they are identical to genuine Volvo calipers made by ATE.

So how can I tell?
"Volvo" has been filed off front and rear and everything else has been left the same.
If this "exclusivity" contract that you talk about exists, ATE aren't listening to Volvo.
I have similar examples with thermostats by Wahler with Volvo ground off, Corteco engine mounts and of course, the aforementioned Mann oil filter.....the list goes on.

Tannaton, if you could tell me what the difference is, I'd love to hear it.

You and I have debated this before in other threads, there will be one or two examples where they may be nearly the same and brake calipers are a likely candidate being a casting with no specific compounds etc like brake pads.

I doubt the the word Volvo has been ground off - it’s more likely that it’s been covered over on the mound. Anyhow the fact that they have done that means that they do have to differentiate between the Volvo originals and their own brand.

I would be interested to see a photo of genuine Volvo brake pads and ATE branded side by side. In the meantime we will both have to accept we have a different opinion on it....

[Sysyphus]

This is usually the point in the conversation where someone claims that the Volvo was ground off because they were quality control rejects

[SwissXC90]

Originally Posted by cheshired5

...and they are identical to genuine Volvo calipers made by ATE.
So how can I tell?
"Volvo" has been filed off front and rear and everything else has been left the same.

So thus, by the definition of the word "identical", they are not identical as you have clearly shown.

[Refills popcorn and sits back to watch the show]

[4x4]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

...I would be interested to see a photo of genuine Volvo brake pads and ATE branded side by side. ....

More than likely they will look identical (apart from the name), after all they do have to fit into the same slot dimensions therefore no point making them different. The difference however is in the lining material which will be an entirely different composition.

I know from experience I can expect around 75,000-80,000 miles from a set of genuine brake pads on my car. If I fit so called OE pads the best I have seen was around two thirds, 50,000-55,000 miles

As for cheap aftermarket brake pads I wouldn't even touch them as they can easily depart the brake lining from their metal backplate as my father in law found to his horror on one occasion when he was trying to save a couple of shillings.

[Tannaton]

That's my point - I would expect to see a difference in the compound.

The same for discs too - Volvo original discs with Volvo pads tend to wear very smooth - almost a mirror finish on the disc.

Non-gen stuff tends to wear the discs like they were made of coarse sandpaper.

[gmonag]

I can expect around 75,000-80,000 miles from a set of genuine brake pads on my car. If I fit so called OE pads the best I have seen was around two thirds, 50,000-55,000 miles

That is exactly what I was on about at the start of this discussion.

Are "so called OE" pads actually OEM or aftermarket. I do not dispute that aftermarket, other brand, items may well be inferior but if they are being sold as OE that is fraud or similar. Big difference.

The calipers that Cheshired5 referred to are clearly OEM, not aftermarket.

[CaerYnArfon]

Here's an other point...

For years in the IT industry OEM, in regard to our small IT company, stood for "Other Equipment Manufacturer".

And until recently, when i began to maintain the car myself, I was unaware of the "Original" definition

In fact reading this post has led me to conclude that OEM (mahle etc.) should really be "Other" as most of the examples given above are NOT actually "manufactured" by volvo... which the term "Original equipment manufacturer" suggests

So perhaps none of the parts sold as "Volvo" parts are manufactured by volvo and so OEM has no meaning whatsoever?

Discuss....