OE stands for Original Equipment

OEM stands for Original Equipment MANUFACTURER... ie Someone that made the parts for BMW, and now make the same part for non-BMW sale.

Like Mann filters or Mahle rings, etc, etc...same parts as you get in the BMW box, but from the OEM that made them for BMW

Although, as this thread attests, people use OEM to mean whatever they want it to mean!

A

PS Mbarrett- we agree..same pet peeve it seems. ;)