Mercedes-Benz’s tuning shop has such an extensive part catalogue that it is easy for car fans to daydream about all the ways to customize your car. The price of those parts is usually high because of their quality but, unfortunately, that characteristic makes people ponder the possibility of looking for cheaper alternatives. After all, what harm could there be in that?
To tell the truth, a lot; and many parts of that harm are unknown to many of us. The good part is that this issue should no longer be a problem once you read the following topics. You will easily see how worthy it is to invest in the appropriate parts to tune your Mercedes-Benz.
#1: No more manufacturer warranty
In general, cars are covered by their makers throughout the first year of use. However, this warranty is only valid if the car is used in normal conditions; typical locations, speeds and driving modes for which it was originally developed. And, of course, if the car has its integrity preserved.
Applying non-genuine parts represents a problem even when they are simply intended to maintenance because they are unknown to the car’s manufacturer. Since it does not know how those parts are going to affect the car, it is understandable that it chooses to no longer guarantee its proper operation.
#2: Lower overall quality
One of the reasons why Mercedes-AMG parts are expensive is the use of top-notch materials. They were carefully chosen because the automaker has researched and determined that their selection is the most appropriate. Using other materials is an effective way to lower the price, of course, but quality usually goes down as well.
Cheap alternatives such as adopting lower-grade material or replacing the original with a whole different one may make the part less resistant and, as a result, prone to frequent failure. In the end, you will be at risk of accidents on the street and might spend even more over time with replacements and repairs.
#3: They are potentially unsafe
It is possible (and necessary) to dig deeper into the previous topic. MB tuning parts work under severe conditions even in cars which do not focus on performance. Therefore, replacing components with others of lower quality will make them withstand those work conditions much worse than expected.
Brakes may fade too early, lubricants may work at inappropriate viscosity, and wheels may simply break in movement, to mention only a few examples. Depending on how the car is being driven at the moment, this type of failure can lead to serious accidents.
#4: Limited compatibility
The electronic architecture of a modern car is completely interconnected. Engine, transmission, suspension, steering, brakes, sound system, GPS… the main reason why they offer so many functions that make driving safer, more comfortable and more efficient is that all those systems were designed to work together.
In short, non-genuine parts do not respect that. They may use different work parameters, have different tolerances, use different programming… it’s like buying computer software designed for a given operational system and trying to run it on another one. It won’t work well — assuming it will work at all.
#5: Design mismatches
Manufacturers spend years developing every car model in order to carefully plan each of its parts. As a result, it is easy to conclude that genuine replacement parts are designed and produced with the very same level of attention to detail.
Cheap alternatives, even of seemingly small accessories like side spoilers or mirror covers, may not follow the car’s visual identity. They send a different message of the rest of the car and end up causing a feeling of visual confusion. That is definitely not something you want if you are trying to improve your car.
#6: Poor dimensional fit
Once again, a necessary specialization of the previous topic. Quality control is expensive but essential because it helps ensure the correct operation of all components. Unfortunately, this is another part of the production process where some companies cut costs to make their non-genuine parts competitive.
Dimensional imprecision in visual parts affects the whole design; it’s the case of asymmetrical left and right counterparts, parts that go in place with variable gaps, and parts with different colour from the rest of the car’s sheetmetal, for example. That is not an intelligent way to save money on car tuning.
#7: Occasional bootlegs
AMG wheels are one of the most expressive components in Mercedes-Benz design and, as a result, one of the most coveted in visual tuning. Unfortunately, the level of attention to detail with which manufacturers design and produce them has motivated many other people to produce literally fake copies to sell for cheap.
If the blatant violation of the manufacturer’s intellectual property was not enough reason to avoid bootleg rims (or any other component), you should remember the previous two topics seen here: those products often have poor dimensional fit and had their production cheapened in ways that render them unsafe even for non-performance cars.
#8: Scarce technical specifications
All that level of attention to detail makes manufacturers and resellers of genuine parts absolutely proud to show the details of their work. Whether by browsing their websites or paying a visit to the physical dealer, it is generally easy to obtain plenty of information about what you intend to buy.
As you can imagine, non-genuine parts have much less, if anything at all, to brag about. If you feel that there is too little information available and/or it is too difficult to contact the manufacturer and/or the seller to ask for more, it is probably a sign of low quality.
#9: Scarce seller support
Following the train of thought of the previous topic, you should pay attention to how does the seller stays in contact with customers. Trusted ones make themselves available at all times and do their best to provide all the information you request.
If you see the opposite behaviour, that allows you to question the quality of not only the store from which you are trying to buy but also the components you have chosen. You should also keep in mind the possibility of getting downright scammed.
From AMG carbon ceramic brakes to Maybach rims, Mercteil is ready to offer you countless options of spare and tuning parts for your Mercedes-Benz. All of them are 100% genuine and made available on a detailed online catalogue with plenty of official information and at affordable prices. How are you going to start making your Mercedes-Benz even better?
