Alas ebay is riddled with many aftermarket car parts that are supposedly "JDM" products. JDM means Japanese Domestic Market. It means that the product was made, tested, developed and marketed only in Japan. Such items are sought after for their rarity or improved design characteristics which in the car parts world usually equates to better performance. The increase in performance is due to the less restrictive peformance and emissions standards for NEW japanese vehicles. I say NEW in caps because this is the reason why JDM patrs exsist. Japanese safety & emissions work in such a way that newer cars are more tolerated. Obviouly a new car should be safer and less polluting than an older car. however when japanese cars grow older, emissions gets harder...it does remain the same. Yes it actually geta harder for the car to pass. That is why there is an abundance of low milage japanese motors and an abundance of spare "JDM" parts floating around. To find good JDM parts you must be a very savy ebayer or very lucky. Such parts are usually only sold individually or for a short period of time as they are most likely too rare, used or discontinued. It also helps to know alot of japanese aftermarket car parts companies.  Heres a few general things that might help you in your quest for true JDM parts on Ebay.

1) Search for parts that are specific to an engine code or JDM chasis code.
    Example: A japanese chasis code for a Honda CRX is "EF8" and the corresponding engine it came with in Japan is known as the "B16A".
    The japanese often refer to vehicles in chasis codes. if you have a japanese car, do some reasearch and find out what YOUR desired chasis code or
    engine code is. This info will help you locate JDM parts faster.

2) There are only 3 types of aftermarket car parts...BUT ONLY 2 TYPES OF JDM PARTS.
    CHASIS PARTS (parts specific to the way your vehicle is designed) examples are suspension systems, aerokits, interior / exterior trim.
    ENGINE PARTS (parts specifically designed to work with YOUR engine)
    UNIVERSAL PARTS (parts that work with any car...)
   Most JDM parts are NOT universal. Its pretty normal to find a few universal JDM parts, but for the most part any JDM parts you find will most
   likely be geared specifically towards one make, model, or engine. Again, if you know what chasis code and engine code you are working with, it will
   make finding JDM stuff easier. Also remember a lot of  JDM stuff is used and individually sold.

3) KNOW WHAT IS REAL JDM STUFF AND WHAT ISNT!
    A lot of the ingeneuity that goes into the design of JDM parts is derived from an obsession for a specific type of car or engine. (example: there are a
    lot of parts designed for Honda's VTEC motors and a lot of parts designed for the Nissan 240sx- a popular Drifting vehicle) If you were a
    performance car parts designer, would you waste time designing fake suede shift boots that have the name of your company embroidered in them?
    Probably not right? Thats because you're busy designing parts for the car or engine you think has great potential. Do the math... JDM is quality stuff.
    Don't buy something because you THINK its JDM. buy it because you KNOW its is. DO RESEARCH... find out if anyone you know is running
    that part, look up the part number, find the website of the comapany that makes it, find pictures of the part. See if anyone else is selling it and if so, is
    it being sold brand new or are they used also. If you find a similar product and its used and but the same description chances are the two are
    authentic... but still be wary... find a part number or a website.

  ...more to come!