Compare the cost
Your local motor mechanic or service centre may be the best guide for price comparison. He will be able to tell you the cost of a new part compared to a good second hand part, and even has access to car wrecking yards for less expensive parts. Sourcing a part from an auto recycler can save up to 50% on the cost of buying a new replacement part, but this will vary depending on the type of part you’re looking for, the make of the vehicle and the availability of the part. If you’re replacing a part on an older car, it makes sense to find a part in good condition that is roughly the same age as your car. In this way, you are replacing parts for your car with parts from the same era, rather than paying higher prices for a newer part, which might not be necessary. Remember, in some cases a mass-manufactured new part may in fact cost less than a reconditioned original, and that prices may vary for the same part between dealers.
