Used vs remanufactured engine: which one should you choose?

Choosing between a used vs remanufactured engine mostly comes down to the age and value of the vehicle and how quickly it needs to be back on the road. A used engine comes straight out of another vehicle and is usually the cheapest option. An overhauled engine, often sold as a remanufactured or reconditioned engine, has been stripped down and rebuilt with new wear parts, while a new engine has 0 km on it. The same three options apply to gearboxes.

Used, overhauled or new: what each condition means

Every engine and gearbox in our shop clearly states its condition on the product page. Here is what each one means:

• Used: the unit was removed from a vehicle and has mileage on it. The mileage and, where known, the year of manufacture are shown on the product page. We check every engine and gearbox before it is shipped.
• Overhauled: the unit has been professionally dismantled, cleaned, fitted with new wear parts and then tested. In the trade this is often called a remanufactured, reconditioned or exchange engine. Those terms are not used consistently, though, so always go by the condition stated on the product page.
• New: 0 km, never fitted.

Used vs remanufactured engine: side-by-side comparison

Worth noting: the warranty on all three conditions has no mileage limit. For a van that covers a lot of miles every year, that makes a real difference.

Which option suits which situation?

An older vehicle with low residual value

When the car is not worth much any more, an expensive engine rarely makes financial sense. A checked used engine with documented mileage gets the vehicle back on the road at a manageable cost. Look for mileage that is low relative to the year of manufacture.

A company or lease vehicle that needs to be back in service fast

With fleet and commercial vehicles, every day off the road costs money. What matters most is that the right engine is available now. A low-mileage used engine or an overhauled engine in stock is often fitted sooner than a part with a long lead time. We deliver by freight carrier on a pallet within 3 to 7 working days. For lease vehicles, check beforehand whether the leasing company has any requirements for replacement units.

Garages quoting for a customer

Many garages give their customer two options, for example a used engine and an overhauled one, each with its warranty and fitting costs. The customer decides how much to invest in the vehicle, and expectations are clear from the start.

What to check when buying a used engine

1. Engine code: it must be an exact match. The same displacement and power output does not automatically mean the same engine. Our guide on finding your engine code shows where to look.
2. Mileage: it is shown on the product page. Compare it with the year of manufacture to judge how the engine was used.
3. Year of manufacture: ancillaries or control units can change within one engine code. A year close to your own vehicle's makes fitting easier.
4. Completeness: check which ancillaries are included, such as the turbocharger, injection system or alternator. Anything missing has to be transferred from the old engine or bought separately.
5. Photos and description: look closely at the pictures and read the full product description. If in doubt, give us a call.

Cost: what the total price depends on

There is no one-size-fits-all price. These are the factors that decide what an engine or gearbox replacement ends up costing:

• Condition (used, overhauled or new)
• Mileage and year of the unit
• Availability and demand for that particular engine or gearbox code
• Which ancillaries are included
• Labour hours for removal and fitting at the garage
• Extra items needed for fitting, such as oil, coolant, gaskets or a new timing belt
• The core deposit, which you get back once the old unit is returned

Have the engine fitted professionally by a garage and follow the manufacturer's instructions, for example changing the oil, bleeding the cooling system and checking the timing belt or chain. That way the warranty stays fully intact. Our engine fitting checklist helps you prepare.

The core deposit in brief

Engines and gearboxes carry a core deposit, normally €500 for engines and €250 for gearboxes. The exact amount is shown on the product page and added to your basket automatically. You get the full deposit back as soon as the identical, complete old unit has reached us and been checked. The easiest way is to hand it to the carrier on the same pallet. Our article on the core deposit explained covers the details. Parts such as turbochargers or alternators carry no deposit.

For garages and fleets: one regular supplier saves time

If you order engines or gearboxes regularly, searching across different platforms eats up a lot of time. In our shop you can search directly by engine code, gearbox code or OE number, for example CFFB, and immediately see the condition, mileage and warranty. On top of that you get the same process every time: delivery on a pallet, the old unit returned on that same pallet, and one point of contact on the phone.

Not sure which engine is right?

Call us on +49 4950 93890 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 17:30 CET). Give us the engine code or the vehicle identification number and we will work out together which option fits your vehicle. Or browse our engines and gearboxes directly.