MacBook Pro 2017 A1708 problem with 3rd party SSD

Machine Check Errors are usually caused by a hardware issue. Make sure to disconnect all external devices in case one of them is causing a problem.

Either the new SSD is bad, or the laptop has some other hardware issue (perhaps those other hardware issues are why you thought you had to replace the original Apple SSD, although the original Apple SSDs for this laptop do tend to have a higher rate of failure). I should also mention that Apple does have a free repair program for some faulty SSDs in this particular model laptop:

https://support.apple.com/13-inch-macbook-pro-solid-state-drive-service

As well as a free Battery repair program (only affects certain laptops and only an AASP can confirm if the laptop qualifies):

https://support.apple.com/13inch-macbookpro-battery-replacement

FYI, here is the current list of publicly acknowledged free repair programs for various Apple products (some products such as your laptop may have multiple programs):

https://support.apple.com/service-programs

I suggest reinstalling the original Apple SSD and having Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider examine the laptop to see what they find wrong with it. If you go to an AASP, I suggest taking your OWC along as well as an AASP may be willing to test the laptop with the OWC SSD (Apple won't have anything to do with third party parts, but some AASPs might). Take your charger and charging cable along as well just in case they need to be checked out as well for the possible charging issue.

If you have a USB drive available you could try installing macOS to the USB drive to see how the laptop works. You will need to have a working internal SSD installed though since the macOS installer requires it (you may want to try with the original Apple SSD installed in case it works just enough to allow the macOS installer to work). If the laptop works Ok while booted to the USB drive, then it may indicate the issue is with the OWC SSD. However, if the laptop crashes even while booted to the USB drive, then it doesn't really help us unless the crash log provides some more/other information. If you have access to another Mac capable of running macOS 10.13+, then use that Mac to install macOS to a USB drive so you can test the laptop without an internal SSD installed. This latter option may provide the most information about the issue.

Troubleshooting this is not easy because of how the Apple hardware and macOS work. The USB-C Macs are the hardest computers to troubleshoot.

Good luck.

You mentioned in an earlier post that you did attempt to install an older version of macOS. If the installation of older versions of macOS failed, then you need to mention this to OWC tech support since the older macOS should work with the new OWC SSD. If the older versions of macOS don't work, then it indicates a problem with the new SSD and it should be exchanged under warranty. You should also mention that with the new SSD installed the laptop is experiencing other issues which disappear once the original non-functional Apple SSD is reinstalled. It seems pretty clear from your troubleshooting that the new OWC SSD has a problem and is most likely bad. Make sure the OWC tech support agent understands these points.

Contact OWC tech support to get a warranty replacement SSD. You may have received a defective SSD. OWC has excellent tech support (even better than Apple's own support these days). I've never had a problem getting warranty replacements in the past.

Ok, so the two possibilities are either you have a bad SSD from OWC or the Logic Board is bad. In nearly all of my own repairs I find the SSD is most likely the problem so I would suspect the original Apple SSD is indeed bad. You will need to contact OWC tech support for assistance since the new SSD most likely is bad as well. Most likely they will exchange the SSD.

It would not surprise me that the original Apple SSD failed. However, when you boot to the macOS installer (recovery or USB installer) and launch Disk Utility you may need to click "View" and select "Show All Devices" before the physical SSD appears on the left pane of Disk Utility. macOS and Disk Utility can sometimes be difficult to use in situations like this. It may not hurt to try the original Apple SSD again knowing this extra information.

Just something to consider if you continue to have issues with the new SSD plus it would be interesting to see if you get the "dings" again when connecting the charger when the original Apple SSD is installed. If the "dings" return with the original Apple SSD (even if the SSD is bad) and the "dings" disappear when the OWC SSD is installed, then it does point to an issue with the OWC SSD or perhaps a latent issue with the Logic Board since the OWC SSD may be drawing more power than the original Apple SSD.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

Definitely contact OWC tech support. OWC tech support is usually very good and will generally replace the drive with little hassle if some basic troubleshooting has already been done. OWC is definitely one of the easier & friendlier companies to deal with when troubleshooting issues with their products.

The blinking folder with question mark indicates no bootable drive is available. Have you installed macOS to the new SSD? You will need to boot into Recovery Mode (Command + R) in order to access the online macOS installer for the OS that was last installed on the old SSD (in theory since sometimes it will only boot to the OS which originally shipped with the laptop). If macOS 12.x Monterey was installed on the original SSD, then you can also try booting into Internet Recovery Mode using Command + Option + R. If macOS Monterey was not installed on the original Apple SSD, then it may not currently be possible to install Monterey since users on these forums are reporting that Monterey is refusing to install when an internal third party SSD is installed.

Once booted to the macOS installer you need to use Disk Utility to erase the whole physical drive. Within Disk Utility you may need to click "View" and select "Show All Devices" so that the physical drive appears on the left pane of Disk Utility. The physical drive is usually identified by its make & model. Erase the physical drive as GUID partition and APFS (top option). If the erase is successful, then quit Disk Utility and select the "Reinstall macOS" option.

If the laptop is not properly recognizing the charger (no "ding" when connecting the charger), then make sure you are using at least a 61W charger and make sure to connect the charger directly to the laptop. Try using the other USB-C port as well. If the charger still does not work, then try rotating the connector of the charging cable 180 degrees upside down in case you have a half bad USB-C port. You can also try unplugging the charger from the electrical outlet for a minute to reset the charger's internal circuitry. You can also try an SMC Reset. Here is an Apple article for troubleshooting USB-C charging issues:

If your USB-C power adapter isn't charging your Mac notebook - Apple Support

Did you disconnect both the battery flex cable as well as the Battery BMU screw before inserting or removing the SSD? If not, then you may have damaged the laptop and/or the SSD.

If the laptop is working and you still cannot install or boot macOS from the new SSD, then you will need to contact OWC tech support for assistance. If, however, the laptop has some sort of hardware issue, then OWC won't be able to help you and Apple may give you grief for using a third party SSD. FYI, Apple and Apple Authorized Service Providers may not be able to properly diagnose any hardware issues with the laptop if the original Apple SSD is not installed and of course the first thing they will want to do is replace the bad SSD even if that is not the only hardware issue because Apple & AASPs don't usually have a spare SSD to install for testing purposes since this laptop uses a proprietary SSD unique to just the two laptops from 2016 & 2017.

Good luck.