In recent years, the cost of car ownership in Russia has reached record levels. This has led to an increase in interest in used cars and has made the secondary market one of the key segments of the automotive trade. With the departure of familiar brands and rising prices for new cars, the demand for used foreign cars from Europe, America, Japan and Korea has increased dramatically.
Buyers have become more flexible, not so strictly assessing the number of owners or odometer readings, but paying attention to the quality of the body and the integrity of the paintwork. Complex operations that were previously considered unprofitable have become in demand: engine rebuilding, major repairs of gearboxes, body restoration with re-welding. Today, such investments allow you to extend the life of an old car and keep it running.
On classified ad boards, there are increasingly offers to buy old engines, including seized or heavily worn units. They are bought up by resellers and service centers for significant amounts to be used in repairs or to create combined engines.
The high cost of new spare parts makes the repair of used components particularly relevant. For many engines, it is almost impossible to find new pistons, cylinder heads, crankshafts or camshafts, so restoring an old engine is often more profitable and faster than buying a new one.
However, not every unit is repairable: some damage is too serious, and restoration is impractical. Trying to weld a pierced cylinder block is an extreme measure, while finding a used engine is often a more rational solution.
Interestingly, in recent years, garage services have been gaining popularity, where experienced craftsmen use Soviet technologies to create one working unit from two old engines. The service life of such engines varies, but there is always demand for them, because they give the owner a chance to extend the operation of the car.
Thus, the market for old engines is experiencing a real boom. The mass purchase of damaged and worn engines has become not just a business for resellers, but also an important part of the automotive ecosystem, allowing motorists to save on repairs and keep old cars in working condition.