You may have heard of car part exchange schemes. In most cases, we are referring to exchanging an old car to a dealer so that its value can be used against the buying price of a newer model. However, we will be taking a look at the physical sale of certain car parts before a sale in order to turn an additional profit. This is actually a much better way than simply selling an entire vehicle only for the buyer to subsequently strip it down for what could prove to be very valuable parts and accessories. We will take a look at which pieces of equipment are the most valuable and those that can be ignored during the part exchange scheme.
The Most Valuable Car Parts
One of the first areas of your vehicle to look at revolves around its internal electronics. However, we are not talking about ripping out every wire. There are two pieces of equipment which are known to be very valuable. These are the GPS system, the radio (stock or otherwise) and the internal computer (sometimes known as the motherboard). Even if the GPS system was purchased after you bought the car, selling this unit separately could give your bank account a much-needed boost.
Were you aware that fenders have been known to fetch an impressive price? The reason that this is the case is that the typical bumper can be quickly mounted onto a similar make and model. In fact, some manufacturers will use the same exact design across several years! Another reason that fenders can prove to be valuable is that these are some of the most common parts to become damaged. Replacing them with those from an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) can be expensive. So, people will often look for used fenders to save money.
Catalytic converters can be another gold mine in terms of a part exchange plan. There are two reasons why these converters are known to fetch a high price. First, they are necessary in order for any vehicle manufactured after 1975 to pass the annual emissions test. Secondly, they contain precious metals such as platinum, rhodium and palladium. These are quite valuable to recycling firms, as they are able to extract such substances.
Air bags are another hidden gem within your vehicle. Not only are these life-saving devices found within every modern car, but they are actually very costly to reinstall if they have been deployed. Installing a new air bag can run upwards of $1,000 dollars in some cases. So, it only makes sense that buyers will want to dramatically reduce such prices. Many air bags can be sold for up to $200 dollars. Just be sure to take your car to a professional, for you could otherwise cause the unit to deploy accidentally!
The tires are also valuable; particularly if they are in good condition. Special variants such as all-weather tires or snow tires are often in high demand regardless of the time of the year. However, make sure that the treads are not worn and that the rims are in good shape. A set of moderately good tires can sell for $100 dollars or more.
Parts to Ignore
Not every item within your car will be attractive to a third-party buyer. This category mainly addresses parts that can be quickly and easily changed out. Examples here include oil and air filters, distributor caps, spark plugs and the serpentine belt. So, do not waste your time stripping such areas; it simply is not worth your effort.
The same goes for parts that may be extremely outdated such as GPS systems from ten years ago or a stock radio from 1993. there is simply not a large enough market to turn any type of real profit.
All in all, your car may be worth much more than its simple resale price. Many sellers will spend a great deal of time pulling out valuable items before placing the car on the market, for hundreds of dollars (or more) could be just around the corner. So, a bit of automotive “mining” could produce surprisingly rewarding results within only a short amount of time!
