If something has happened to the engine in your car and it requires major repairs, sometimes it can be more economical to buy a complete new engine rather than repairing it.

When it comes to buying a new engine, the question is should you buy second hand or is it better to buy a new engine?

In this post we will discuss the pros and cons of doing both and give you some tips on what to look for when buying an engine.

Buying a New Engine

If the car is relatively new, odds are that the manufacturer still sells brand new engines, which means that buying a complete new replacement is an option.

Pros

There are a number of pros when it comes to buying a brand new engine. For starters, its brand new, you can guarantee its going to be in good condition, and you will often get a warranty on it as well.

This means you won't have to worry about any issues or potential failures in the short term, which can be a real concern when spending the money to replace an engine only to find out the replacement has issues as well.

You will also know the complete history of the engine, as you've had it since the beginning, so you will know how it was maintained.

Having a new engine in the car could also help with the resale value, as a brand new engine with full service history and less mileage is going to be worth more than an older engine, with potentially missing service history, and lots of mileage.

Cons

There are practically no cost to buying a brand new engine other than the cost. Getting a brand new engine is very costly, often several thousand dollars, and potentially into the tens of thousands depending on what engine it is.

It is by far the most expensive option you have, so you have to take that into account. Often a second hand engine will cost only a fraction of the price.

Buying a Second Hand Engine

Buying a second hand option can be a very good option that saves you a lot of money, but it's not without its risks.

Pros

The advantages of buying a second hand engine are that it is going to be significantly cheaper than buying a brand new engine. Often, a second hand engine can be hand for less than $1000, or at best a few thousand dollars if its close to new and something special. Most engines for average cars will not be that expensive.

Cons

The cons of buying a second hand engine are that it is risky. You don't exactly know what you are getting, unless you open up the engine to have a look, but that comes with added cost.

Even if you get a service history, you can never be 100% sure that everything is ok, since there could have been an issue since the last service. You may end up paying for the labour to get the engine installed only to find that is also has an issue and needs to be replaced.

While these circumstances are rare, and you can certainly minimise them by buying from a reputable source, the risk is there.

Things to Look For When Buying a Second Hand Engine

If you are looking at buying a second hand engine, there are a couple of things to look for in order to increase the chances that you get a good unit that won't have problems.

See It Running

Often times, the seller of an engine will advertise it while it's still in the car, so that you can see it running to make sure it runs ok. While this may not always be possible, say if the engine has already been removed, definitely take the seller up on the offer of seeing it running if it is possible.

Service History

Ask the seller for a service history on the engine. While this won't guarantee that everything is perfect, it will increase the chances of it being good if it has a detailed service history showing it has been looked after. A service history will also give you a better indication of the true mileage of the engine.

Warranty

While private sellers likely won't offer a warranty on an engine, some businesses do offer some kind of warranty period, such as 30 days. If you can get a warranty, better something than nothing.

Why Was the Engine Removed?

Finding out why the engine was removed from the car in the first place can often give you big clues as to its true condition. If the car was rear-ended and the damage was not sever, but the car was written off, odds are the engine is perfectly fine.

However, if the car was in a serious crash, especially a frontal, there is a good chance that the engine took some impact and could be damaged, even if you can't see anything on the outside.

If there was a fire in the car, best to stay away. The heat from the first can cause the metal to weaken, and even if it looks like everything is ok, you are better to be safe than sorry.

Get a Mechanic to Have a Look

If you have a trusted mechanic, it may pay off to pay him to have a quick look. Odds are he has more experience dealing with engines and will be able to tell you if it looks like a good unit or not. They will be able to spot things that would otherwise go amiss to the untrained eye.

Conclusion

Buying a second hand engine can be a good economical solution if you need to replace your engine. Just be aware that there are some risks involved, but if you play it smart you should be able to get a good unit.

If you are after European auto spares for your car, make sure you get in contact with us today!