Core deposit on engines and gearboxes: how to get it back

A core deposit (also called a core charge; in German Altteilpfand) is a refundable deposit on your old part. When you buy an engine or gearbox, you pay it on top of the item price, and once you return the matching, complete old unit, you get the full amount back. With us, the core deposit is usually €500 for engines and €250 for gearboxes, so it is not an extra fee but money that comes back to you.

What is a core deposit on an engine or gearbox?

If you are buying a used engine, a remanufactured engine or a gearbox, you are almost always replacing a unit that has failed. That removed unit is the "core". The deposit makes sure it does not end up forgotten in a corner of the workshop but finds its way back into circulation. Here is how the core deposit works at our company:

• Engines and gearboxes only. Parts such as turbochargers, alternators or starter motors carry no core deposit.
• Amount: usually €500 for engines and €250 for gearboxes. The exact amount is always shown on the product page.
• Added automatically: you do not need to select anything. The deposit appears as a separate line in your basket.
• Full refund: once we have received and checked the old part, we refund the deposit in full and without delay.

You will find the key points summarised on our core deposit page as well.

Why is there a deposit on the old part?

A removed engine or a failed gearbox is not scrap. Old parts are professionally reconditioned or sent for recycling, and that benefits everyone who needs an engine or gearbox later on:

• Availability: returned cores become usable units and parts again. That matters especially for vehicles that are no longer brand new.
• Affordable prices: reconditioning is often cheaper than manufacturing from scratch, which keeps replacement engines and gearboxes affordable.
• Less waste: metal and components stay in use instead of being thrown away.

The deposit is simply an incentive: return your old part, get your money back, and the part gets a second life.

How to get your core deposit back, step by step

1. Order. Add the engine or gearbox to your basket and the deposit is added automatically. Before you order, use the code to check that the unit fits your vehicle. Our guide on finding your engine code explains how.
2. Delivery on a pallet. Every engine and gearbox is checked before dispatch and packed securely on a pallet. It is delivered by freight carrier within 3–7 working days, and the driver usually phones ahead.
3. Return the old part. The easiest way is to hand the core straight back to the carrier on the same pallet. Alternatively, you can drop it off at our site in Nortmoor by appointment.
4. Inspection. Once it arrives, we check that the old part is the same type and complete.
5. Refund. If everything is in order, we refund the core deposit in full, straight away.

If your old unit is still fitted in the vehicle when the delivery arrives, give us a call beforehand and we will work out the easiest way to handle the return.

Conditions: same type and complete

There are exactly two conditions for a refund:

• Same type: the old part must be the same engine or gearbox type as the one you bought from us. A different engine from the back of the workshop, or a gearbox of another type, does not qualify.
• Complete: no ancillary parts may be missing. In other words, it should come back the way it was removed from the vehicle.

Practical tips for the workshop

The points below are not extra conditions, just good practice that makes the return run smoothly:

• Do not strip the old unit. Do not remove parts or sell anything off separately, otherwise the core is no longer complete.
• Drain oil and coolant. An empty unit is cleaner to transport. Place it on the pallet so nothing can leak and secure it so it cannot shift.
• Compare the code first. Read the engine or gearbox code on the removed unit and check it against the part you received before the carrier arrives.
• Keep the pallet. The pallet from the delivery is ideal for sending the core back.
• Make it easy to match. A note with your order number on the old part and a quick photo before handover help if there are any questions.

For what to watch out for during fitting itself, see our engine installation checklist.

Will I get my deposit back? Common situations

Common core deposit mistakes

• Selling off ancillaries: the turbo, alternator or injectors are taken off the old engine and sold separately. The core is then no longer complete.
• Returning the wrong unit: a different engine from the workshop goes back instead of the one that was removed. If in doubt, compare the code.
• Not being ready: the carrier is at the door, but the old part has not been drained or put on the pallet. Plan the return as soon as the delivery is announced.
• Turning up unannounced: dropping off in Nortmoor is possible, but by appointment only.
• Counting the deposit as a cost: the core deposit is not part of the price and comes back in full when you return the core. For your budget, what counts is the purchase price, labour and any additional parts.

Questions about the core deposit, or not sure whether your old part is the same type? Call us on +49 4950 93890 (Mon–Fri 8:30–12:30 and 13:30–17:30). You will find more answers in our FAQ, and you can browse our engines and gearboxes directly.