Buying a used engine online can seem very intimidating. I’m here to tell you it’s really not. I'll go over some basics and things to watch out for and what to know when ordering and finding your mechanic. If you have any questions at all at the end of this, please feel free to contact me with questions and I'll be happy to help you out.

 

 

Before buying an engine, you need to make sure you need an engine. It’s easy to think the worst but maybe there’s another problem with the car. Remember your changing the engine only so if the engine wasn’t the problem then you risk having the same issues after the engine is replaced.

 

Have your car diagnosed buy a trusted mechanic or dealership before hand. Paying to have it checked first could save you thousands in the long run. Finding a mechanic that specializes in your make of car is also a good idea. For example many garages will specialize in European cars and will be familiar with diagnosing them. Talk to the mechanic before hand and agree on a price to diagnose the problem, make sure you and him both know that no work is to be done until you okay it. This will eliminate unexpected or unexplained repair bills when you pick your car up.

 

Once your mechanic verifies that it is indeed your engine that needs replacing, ask him why. Find out as much as possible about the problem that caused it to go bad and what’s actually wrong with it. This will also save you some trouble in the future if there are any problems with your replacement.

 

 

So now you know you need an engine. The price the garage quoted you isn’t in your budget or maybe they can’t find the engine for you. What now? That’s where ebay comes into play. Before you start your hunt for an engine, make sure your mechanic does not have a problem installing a used engine you provide. Also check what his policies are about installing an engine you provide, every shop is different so its very important to know before hand. Ask your shop if you can have it shipped to them, shipping to the shop can save in freight fees.

 

It's time to find that engine now. There is an engine listed on ebay for just about everything and in most cases there is multiple ones from multiple sellers, titles may say they fit different years then what you need and the price could vary alot. It can be very confusing for someone that's not familiar with buying car parts. First start by narrowing it down, many engines fit more then one car so check the descriptions to make sure the ones your looking at will fit your vehicle. Also search ebay stores, you may be missing some great deals that aren't showing on ebays search.

 

*A note about JDM engines* If your only looking for a stock replacement then staying away from JDM engines is a good idea. The mileage on them is low but they may take alot more work to install and in most cases won't pass american emmisions. If your into modding your car and want more power and can deal with the extra labor and possibility of emmisions problems then a JDM engine may be for you but will take alot more research. JDM engines are better for the hobbyist and import tuners.

 

Once you have it narrowed down to the engines that will fit, compare the listings to see whats included with the engine. Most places will leave valve covers, manifolds and fuel injection on the engine but others may leave bolt on accessories on such as alternators and ac compressors. This may or may not be a good thing depending on your situation. Some may want to use what they already have which means you may encounter more labor fees to remove the old parts from the engine your buying. A very important thing to consider is that your buying an engine that may not be from the same exact year and model with the same options as yours so it's a very good idea to use the old intake, fuel system and harness from your car and not the one on the engine you buy. This will eliminate problems when the engines in the car and things don't match.

 

So you've found a couple great deals for engine that meet your requirements, it's time to take a look at the sellers. Check feedback first. A user with 0 feedback or a user with negatives in regards to other engine sales may be someone to stay away from. This is a big purchase so It needs to be from somone your 100% comfortable buying from. Next check their terms. Idealy you'd like to buy something with a warranty so that if something does go wrong you can be covered. The longer the warranty the better. Now that you've narrowed it down even more and eliminated the sellers you don't want to buy from, it's time to commit and order that engine.

 

 

Shipping is done by freight. Many people will be new to freight shipping at this point. It’s very important that you contact the seller and know all the freight terms, the companies they use and where their sending it. You do not want to ship freight to a residence. The shipping fees to a residence can be substantially more. Generally most people have their freight packages sent to a commercial address such as the shop doing the work, or to a terminal where the shipment can be picked up. When your shipment arrives, make sure you or whoever is receiving it knows to check the package over completely before signing for it. Once that package has been signed for, you agree that no damage has been caused during shipping. If you wait and open the package later on (after you've signed) and find that your engines been damaged the freight company will not be able to help you.

 

 

Before the install, have your mechanic look over everything. You want to catch any possible problems before it’s in your car. During the installation, have your mechanic keep you posted and make sure he knows to contact you immediately if there are any problems. If a problem does come up, get as much information about what the problem is and contact your seller. Most sellers are always willing to help you out but will need all that information from you and in many cases the seller will ask to contact your mechanic.

 

After all is said and done, drive your car. The research and work you've done before hand should have ensured an overall positive experience with your engine purchase.

 

If you have any questions at all or need any help let Us know, we're always willing to help

 

-Dan