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fter conducting several laboratory tests, German carmaker Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) AG reminded its customers to use original spare parts rather than counterfeit items.

The company said on Monday as part a campaign to combat piracy that counterfeit products were poorly made and could not provide maximum protection for drivers and passengers.

BMW parts expert Yip Chee Choon said the Munich-based company had proven that fake spare parts such as air filters, oil filters and spark plugs burned easier in higher temperatures.

“In a laboratory test, we put two products, the original and the counterfeit copy, under 150 degrees Celsius for 500 hours. The counterfeits were completely scorched,” he told reporters.

Fake brake pads could also lead to fatal consequences because they would significantly reduce the speed control function.

“Original brake pads are among the most important accessories that our customers should care about,” Yip said.

BMW also found fake alloy wheels, which Yip also said was one of the most critical safety-related parts of the car.

“Counterfeit alloy wheels are exposed to the risk of deformation and breaks in the inner rim wall, which will put people in danger,” he said.

Nicole Spila from the BMW product management department said that counterfeit goods were sold from between 25 to 70 percent cheaper than the genuine products.

She said counterfeit products were found in many countries, including China, Indonesia and Thailand. However, Spilla said that BMW had not disclosed a detailed loss calculation.

“We never specifically count how much our losses are. The issue here is about our customers’ safety,” she said, adding that BMW would cooperate with other entities to combat pirated products.

“We will seek support from law enforcement authorities in various countries. On the other hand, we will support capacity building for our customers, staff and brand partners.”

PT BMW Indonesia spokeswoman Helena Abidin told reporters that so far there were no reports of fatal accidents related to the use of counterfeit spare parts.