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SimonMac

Member Since: 08 Jun 2025
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 8

Original Vs Aftermarket

Hi all,
I’m new to the forum, and first time Land Rover owner. I picked up a MY22 90 D250 X-Dynamic SE in Santorini Black a couple of weeks ago. So far so good and loving it.
Even though the spec is okay there’s still a few ‘bits’ missing/ desirable. I wanted to fit the roof rails but at circa £700 not cheap for the genuine Land Rover ones. I’ve seen plenty of aftermarket alternatives that are considerably cheaper, closer to £200 - £250.
Does anyone have experience of alternatives? Am I getting what I pay for or are they just as good? If aftermarket is just as good is there a particular brand to chose or avoid?
Thanks.

8th Jun 2025 8:41am

Defendit..

Member Since: 09 Aug 2020
Location: 's-Hertogenbosch
Posts: 451

Welcome Simon, No Mud flaps for my 90.!
-----------------------------------------
P300S MY21 Keswick Green on air, adv.+ offroad pack, DRL+fog, Dinamica Suedecloth + Ebony headliner/Cross Beam- Many Mods..

8th Jun 2025 6:16pm

SimonMac

Member Since: 08 Jun 2025
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 8

Thanks Defendit

8th Jun 2025 6:24pm

lightning

Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 3236

See if you can find some second hand OE parts, l picked up some "as new" OE side steps for half the new price.

Have a look at the for sale section of this forum, or you could try a wanted advert.

8th Jun 2025 7:04pm

SimonMac

Member Since: 08 Jun 2025
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 8

Thanks lightning, I’ll take a look

9th Jun 2025 7:46pm

XplusYplusZ

Member Since: 16 Aug 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 534

Sorry, I don't have any input on sourcing cheaper options..

I'm sure you'll have found this already, but just in case - powerfulukltd are very helpful on the fitting process:
https://www.google.com/search?q=defender+l...r979Y,st:0

12th Jun 2025 9:59am

Co1

Member Since: 19 Aug 2018
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 3725

I’ve got aftermarket roof rails. They fit just fine and you can’t tell the difference.

13th Jun 2025 6:38am

SimonMac

Member Since: 08 Jun 2025
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 8

Thanks XplusYplusZ - PowerfulUKltd has become my new obsession - Simon makes a good video, everything explained really well.

Appreciate the assurance Co1 - Thanks. Which ones did you go for in the end?

13th Jun 2025 7:05am

Crazymind

Member Since: 11 Jun 2024
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 288

OEM isn’t always the best option, but in this case, the OEM rails are clearly well-engineered. You can tell that time and effort went into their design and the selection of the right supplier.
They also provide a single point of contact for any accessories you choose to install, which gives me peace of mind knowing that they’re built to OEM standards.
While aftermarket copies may look identical, we can’t be certain of their durability or how they perform under stress. Have they even been tested under extreme conditions? I sometimes carry 120–130 kg on the roof, and that’s not a risk I’m willing to take.
That said, everything else mounted on my rails — like the roof rack, ladder, boxes, and molle plates — is not OEM

13th Jun 2025 8:29am

SimonMac

Member Since: 08 Jun 2025
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 8

Thanks crazymind. Appreciate the advice. Do I assume all OEM are the same then? My understanding is OEM means original equipment manufacturer, which I’m taking to mean same spec as the original and as Land Rover but perhaps without the branding and packaging? So if I bought something that was marked up as OEM it’s the equivalent to what you’d buy from Land Rover? I can’t recall if Britpart supply roof rails but I’m guessing they are as good as if they do.

13th Jun 2025 9:13am

Crazymind

Member Since: 11 Jun 2024
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 288

Ideally it would be great to know who is the supplier to the oem rails for Land Rover.
I have bought the bars for the roof rails from the oem supplier…Thule… half the price…
Mine came with rails so I didn’t dig enough to find the oem supplier…

13th Jun 2025 9:26am

SimonMac

Member Since: 08 Jun 2025
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 8

I’ll do a bit more digging. I might just go for the original in this case, like you say - tested and warranted. It’ll just have to wait that bit longer, I can then go for aftermarket accessories.

13th Jun 2025 9:28am

SteveG

Member Since: 29 Nov 2011
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 671

With the right fitting kit from Thule, you can fit the Thule aero cross bars directly to your Defender L663 roof. Obvious additional benefit of a lower height when the bars are fitted.

13th Jun 2025 7:47pm

Co1

Member Since: 19 Aug 2018
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 3725

SimonMac wrote:
Thanks XplusYplusZ - PowerfulUKltd has become my new obsession - Simon makes a good video, everything explained really well.

Appreciate the assurance Co1 - Thanks. Which ones did you go for in the end?

Not sure of the brand, but it’s the ones sold by Maltings 4x4.

14th Jun 2025 7:14am

SimonMac

Member Since: 08 Jun 2025
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 8

Appreciate that, thank you.

14th Jun 2025 5:42pm

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