What is OEM-plus?
A modification style that uses factory or factory-style parts from higher trims or other models, keeping the car looking stock but with subtle improvements.
OEM-plus (sometimes written OEM+) describes modifications using only factory or factory-style parts. The "plus" comes from upgrading components from higher trims, special edition models, or related vehicles within the same manufacturer family. The result looks stock to a casual observer but has meaningful improvements over the original specification.
A common OEM-plus example: a base Civic LX upgraded with Si front bumper, Si wheels, Type R brake calipers, and Type R suspension. Every part is a factory Honda part. The car looks like a slightly higher trim Civic, not a modified one. To trained eyes, the upgrade is obvious; to most viewers, it just looks clean.
The aesthetic sits opposite the ricer style. Where ricer modifications emphasize visual flash and aftermarket parts, OEM-plus modifications emphasize subtlety and factory-correct execution. The community generally rewards OEM-plus builds for restraint and attention to detail.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
OEM-plus on the blog
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A ricer is a car modified to look fast without being made faster: big wing, loud muffler, stick-on vents, decals for sponsors it doesn't have. The word comes from "rice burner," a slur aimed at Japanese bikes and cars, and the acronym people cite is a cover story. Here's the history, the line between a ricer and a real build, and why the industry does the same thing.
OEM Plus, or OEM+, is a build philosophy: upgrade a car using factory or factory-style parts, often borrowed from higher trims or related models, so it looks like it could have left the factory that way. The whole point is restraint.
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