How to buy a reconditioned car engine Others sell 'reconditioned" engines when they really mean only the components that failed have been replaced, which can stress other parts of the engine. In fact what many people think of as a reconditioned engine is actually remanufactured. That is stripped down completely, rebuilt and then tested to the manufacturer's original specifications. Essentially it's a new engine. The RAC's Andrew Whitehouse says: "This is by far the better option. Most importantly ask about warranty details. If the engine comes with a good warranty at least you are covered if anything goes wrong. I'd add make sure whoever you buy from is a member of the Federation of Engine Remanufacturers because it has a complaints procedure. Assuming you're unlucky enough to have an engine fail, it's not covered by a warranty, and you're not rich enough just to throw the car away, there are questions to be asked of whoever diagnoses the fault. Most importantly, do you really need a new engine? Or is it a case of, say, replacing the turbo charger on the existing one? Then why did the engine fail in the first place? If it's a cooling system problem for example, and you don't sort that out before fitting a new engine, the replacement will probably go the same way as the old one. When there's nothing for it but to buy a new engine, research where that's coming from. As with second-hand cars, the used engine market is peopled by the scrupulous, the unscrupulous and pretty much everyone in between. The RAC advises asking the garage that's going to fit it, or a sympathetic mechanic, for recommendations. There are companies that sell you an engine before they actually have it to sell. So while you're waiting for it to be "checked" before it's couriered to you, they're casting around scrap yards trying to find and buy that engine for the best possible price. Also make sure that you're buying what you think you're buying. Some companies will sell you an engine complete with all its ancillaries such as injection systems, control modules and so on. Some will sell you just the engine. Unless you're planning to do the work yourself, or your garage seriously undervalues its time, it'll work out cheaper buying an engine complete because it's time-consuming removing and then re-fitting all the components it needs to work.