What Is OEM Plus? Let’s Break It Down

OEM plus—short for “Original Equipment Manufacturer +”—is the cool, insider way to upgrade your ride without making it loudly screaming “look at me!” It’s all about using parts from the same manufacturer or its brand family, but from higher trims or different models. So you get an improved ride, but it looks like your car was born that way.

OEM vs. OEM Plus vs. Aftermarket

Regular OEM parts are the same parts that came stock on your car. They’re guaranteed to fit, match, and keep your warranty intact. OEM plus, on the other hand, steps it up by borrowing premium bits—like bigger brakes or sportier suspension—from fancier versions in the same family. Aftermarket parts are replacement or upgrade parts that a third-party brand manufactures. This doesn’t mean they necessarily sacrifice quality, but that’s not the point right now.

OEM parts that you’ll use on your build can be further enhanced with stealth aftermarket additions, too. You may put aftermarket spacers to push out the OEM bigger wheels for an even better fit, or slightly lower the car with a set of subtle lowering springs that won't require too much work or mess up the stock suspension geometry. While aftermarket upgrades are used, the final product still counts as OEM+.

Why OEM Plus Feels Right

When you go OEM plus, you're not throwing random parts at your car—you’re enhancing it with factory-grade stuff that is almost guaranteed to work together seamlessly. Whether bolting in an upgraded brake system, slapping on a bigger turbo, or throwing in sportier seats from a higher trim level, you ensure everything fits right and works together. And the cherry on top? No warranty nightmares, weird interface issues, and most of the time, no custom fabbing or shop visits—just plug-and-play improvements.

What You Actually Get

By tapping into the brand’s parts bin, OEM plus upgrades cover everything from performance (like better cooling or intake/exhaust tweaks) to aesthetic tweaks (more aggressive body kits or bigger wheels from sportier trims) and comfort tech (from heated seats to high-end audio systems). It’s about enhancing both how the car feels and how it functions.

An E93 3 Series lowered on E60 5 Series wheels

OEM Plus isn’t about loud wings or crazy body kits. It’s about adding parts that your car could have come with from the factory that way, if cost wasn’t the issue at manufacturing or the R&D process. It’s functional, reliable, and subtle while looking and feeling the business. If you’re aiming for understated dominance, OEM Plus is your blueprint.

Most Popular OEM+ Examples

You’ll find some of most common OEM+ builds coming out of the VAG and BMW scenes. Even the term “OEM+” originated from Volkswagen forums back in the day. These two German giants are like Lego sets for car nerds—their platforms and parts are often super interchangeable, which makes dropping in components from higher trims or even full-on engine swaps way more doable than you'd expect. Whether it's slapping on Audi RS3 seats into a Golf or sliding an M3 steering wheel into your 3 Series, the parts-swapping game is strong.

But don’t get it twisted—OEM+ isn’t just a German car thing. The movement goes way beyond that. Think swapping in ZL1 brakes on a Camaro SS for some serious stopping power, or giving a standard Civic that corner-carving edge with Type-R sway bars. If it’s an upgrade using OEM parts from a higher-spec version of the same lineup, it’s OEM+.

Stealth Upgrade Superstar: The Fukin Tuned Throttle Response Controller

Meet the Fukin Tuned throttle response controller, the ultimate stealth upgrade to top off any OEM plus build. It plugs straight into your pedal position sensor, tucks discreetly in the footwell area, and links up to your phone via Bluetooth—no buttons, no dash-mounted knobs. It's a pure plug-and-play, sleek upgrade.

Inside the Fukin Tuned module, the stock signal from the gas pedal gets re-calibrated on its way to the ECU for a razor-sharp throttle response—meaning throttle lag becomes history. You get four driving modes (Fukin Slow, Cruise, Fast, and Send It), each with nine sensitivity levels, giving you 36 ways to dial in throttle feel on the fly.

But it doesn't just add pep—it’s also got clever add-ons like the subscription-based Anti-Theft mode, which locks the gas pedal entirely. It is FREE for the first 14 days and then costs $0.99 a month or $9.99 a year—that’s just very cheap for complete peace of mind! 

For those building an OEM+ ride, Fukin Tuned is the perfect stealth cherry on top. It’s an aftermarket mod—but it feels factory, installs with OEM plugs, stays hidden, and plays by the rules.

Add Fukin Tuned to your build list today!