OEM Maserati Parts

Genuine vs OEM vs aftermarket: the definitions

Genuine (also called original or OE)

Sold by Maserati through its parts channel, in Maserati packaging, under a Maserati part number. Maserati makes very few parts itself; most genuine parts are made by a supplier and boxed for Maserati.

OEM (original equipment manufacturer), sometimes OES

Made by the company that supplied the part to the factory, and sold under that company's own name and packaging. Often identical to the genuine part, sometimes differing only in a logo ground off or a different label.

Aftermarket

Made by a company that did not supply the factory. Includes high-quality performance upgrades, reputable replacement brands, period reproductions and cheap copies of unknown origin.

Who actually makes Maserati parts

Maserati, like every low-volume manufacturer, buys most components from specialist suppliers. Knowing the supplier tells you where an OEM alternative may exist.

• Brakes: Brembo on modern cars; Girling and other period suppliers on classics; Citroën high-pressure hydraulics on Bora, Merak and Khamsin.
• Engine management and electrics: Bosch and Magneti Marelli on fuel-injected cars; Weber carburettors and Marelli or Lucas ignition on earlier cars; Lucas mechanical injection on the Sebring and Mistral.
• Transmissions: ZF automatic and manual units across many eras, Graziano manual and automated-manual (Cambiocorsa, DuoSelect) gearboxes on the 4200, GranSport, Quattroporte V and GranTurismo, and a Chrysler automatic in the Quattroporte III.
• Suspension: Skyhook adaptive dampers on modern cars; conventional dampers and bushes from mainstream European suppliers on older cars.
• Wheels and lighting: Borrani wire wheels and Campagnolo alloys on classics; Carello lighting on many Italian cars of the period.
• Engines: the F136 V8 family used in the 4200, GranSport, Quattroporte V and GranTurismo was built by Ferrari and shares components with Ferrari models of the same years.

Supplier relationships changed often, so treat this list as a guide and confirm the supplier for your specific part before buying an OEM alternative.

When genuine is worth the premium

• Maserati-specific parts with no supplier equivalent: body panels, castings, badges, interior trim, model-specific lamps.
• Parts where finish and appearance are judged: anything visible on a car that will be shown.
• Modules that must be coded to the car, where the dealer-supplied part comes with the correct software level.
• Cars under warranty, to keep warranty and recall records uncomplicated.

When OEM is the smart buy

For any part made by a known supplier and sold under that supplier's name, OEM is usually the best balance of quality and cost. Typical examples:

• Brake pads, discs and calipers (Brembo).
• Sensors, ignition coils, injectors, fuel pumps and relays (Bosch, Magneti Marelli).
• Filters, belts, tensioners and bearings from the original suppliers.
• Transmission service parts and some internal components (ZF, Graziano).
• Electrical modules sold by the supplier under its own number, where no coding is needed.

Confirm the cross-reference between the Maserati number and the supplier number before buying. A specialist that stocks both can do this for you.

When aftermarket makes sense, and when it does not

Good uses of aftermarket: performance brake, exhaust and suspension upgrades from established specialists; reproduction rubber, trim and small hardware for classic cars where nothing else exists; commodity service items from brands you already trust.

Poor uses of aftermarket: cheap electrical and electronic parts of unknown origin; hydraulic components for the Citroën-system cars; structural, steering and suspension parts from unbranded sources; anything where the only argument for it is price.

A sensible rule: aftermarket is a choice you make for a reason (an upgrade, or the only part available), not a default.

How to tell genuine, OEM and aftermarket apart

• Packaging. Genuine parts come in Maserati-branded packaging with a Maserati part number label. OEM parts come in the supplier's packaging with the supplier's number. Aftermarket parts carry a third-party brand or no brand at all.
• Markings on the part. Supplier logos cast or stamped into the part (Brembo, Bosch, ZF) appear on both genuine and OEM versions. A part with no markings at all is usually aftermarket.
• Cross-reference numbers. A legitimate OEM part has a documented supplier number that cross-references to the Maserati number.
• Price. A "genuine" part at a fraction of the usual price is either mislabelled OEM or counterfeit.
• Seller. Specialists that stock all three categories will tell you which one you are buying. Sellers who blur the categories are best avoided.

What OEM means for a classic Maserati

For a car from the 1950s to the 1980s, the original suppliers are often gone or no longer make the part. In that world, OEM in practice means new old stock from the original supplier, correctly identified, or a current production part from a supplier that still makes the same item (some Weber, Bosch and ZF parts fall into this category). Everything else is a reproduction or a rebuild of an original.

MIE Corporation (maseratinet.com) classifies its inventory this way, so an enquiry about a classic part comes back with a clear answer about what it is: genuine NOS, supplier NOS, rebuilt original or reproduction. See Where to Get Maserati Parts for the classic-specific picture and Used Maserati Parts for condition terms.