Let's say KBB retail is $3000. Car is 10 year sold. 200,000 miles. The above is just an example, to keep the numbers easy.

Remanufacture engine from the dealer. Done at 150,000 miles. Cost $2000.

Do we still value the car at 10 years 200,000 miles? 10 years at 150,000 miles? Or 10 years at 50,000 miles because of the new engine?

Certainly one should not add to it. No way $5,000.

The question is how do I value or factor in major repair items on an used car? Using kbb.com, how should I enter the information to use the website to determine value?

 

your example numbers made it confusing. lol

 

In the Legend community it is very common to see motor swaps done on high mileage cars due to head gasket failures. Most go with a 50-60K JDM motor or the RL 3.5L.

If documented and the car runs great, they sell for around the same price as a car with the stock engine. It really depends on the entire vehicle condition rather than just the motor.

 

Still value the car at 10 years 200k miles. There's much more to a car than just the engine.

It infuriates me to no end when someone lists a car as having 50k miles, then you come to find out that's just the engine and the rest of the car has something like 180k miles.

I say engine swaps detract from the value of the car. Almost like collision damage. Even with the best repair, it'll never be worth more than an identical, all-original car.

 

^



The engine isn't new. It's used/remanufactured. Why do you keep calling in "new?"

 

At best it's worth the same as if there was no engine swap.

Otherwise it tends to be worth less.

 

Tells me the rest of the car was not maintained. Engine is the most important piece, if they couldn't keep that taken care of what else is lurking? Walk away.

 

I'm the same way. It tells me something went horribly wrong and I'm not about to find out what it was, or what else is.

 

I'll give you $34.50.

 

I only need about $3.50.

 

The car needs to come with a running engine, so i would value it the same as others. For a premium, i would want everything else on the car to have been replaced also.

 

Be a man. Do the right thing.