• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

YACT: How hard is it to take apart a car to sell parts?

James3shin

James3shin

Diamond Member
My GF's '98 Sentra was declared totalled. She was rear ended, and the front end of the car is perfectly fine. Motor and all is in good shape. I've called around a few junk/salvage yards and some say like $75 for the whole damn car, and some say $250...one place did say to bring it in. But I was just thinking maybe I can take apart the car and she can sell the parts individually. I know my way around a car fairly well, and was just wondering if it would be worth it or should we just take it to one of the yards and get the best offer.

I did look around on ebay to see what the motor itself would fetch and one guy did pull in around $350.

I believe the motor is a GA16DE.

*edit*
Car has like 60k miles on it I believe. The car still runs fine and is driveable, just the rear is pretty fvcked up. Trunk won't close and back left tail light and q. panel are damaged.
 
If you have time to tear it apart and resources to ship the parts then go ahead and do it. $250 for the whole car is actually a great price.
 
I think I can do it at my uncles shop...Im just wondering how much she would lose if we just sold it to the salvage yards.
 
^^ haha yeah, but they're in DC and they usually want a cut of the money, or just all the money. Depends if they have guns or not.
 
If you have a place you can store the parts for free, go for it. Dunno how the market is for parts from that car though. Might see if there's any Sentra forums you can advertise on.
 
You can definitely make more money parting it out to people than selling it to a junk yard. Just depends if you have the skill and motivation to take it apart.
 
Piecing out a car is a lot of work, but you can make a lot of money off it that way. Taking it apart is pretty easy (relative to putting it back together anyway 😛) as long as you have the right tools. Just make sure you take care of the parts - don't damage aluminum surfaces, strip bolts, etc... As someone who bought a cylinder head off E-bay (for $50 😀), I would have been seriously buggered if it hadn't performed as promised. Make sure you accurately assess the shipping price prior to posting. For my cylinder head, price was $50, but shipping was $55. It was still definitely worth it, but again I would not have been happy if I weren't told about the shipping up front.
 
i guess ill research this some more. I am leaning towards taking apart the car moreso then i was before, because I simply believe that the money the junkyards/salvage yards are offering are not enough for a car that runs well.
 
Best bet is post parts up on ebay, then take them out once the money is in hand. Seriously, you can sell doors, hood, bumper parts ect, and make a grand easy. Also talk to local collision repair places and let them know you are parting out the car. They will buy it for the good body parts for cheaper than they can get new, and charge the customer reg price.
 
if the decision to take apart the sentra comes about, i will try and update this thread with some pics of my progress
 
Hello! I'm the girlfriend with the car. I got rearended by a truck who was rearended by a tractor trailor and I hit a ford contour in front of me, hooray. My front bumper isn't damaged, just scuffed up and my license plate is bent in.

Yes, they normally repo your car, but the insurance lady told me I could keep my car and she would give me the money. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that it was completely not my fault and they know it and my whining about how they've put a transitioning college kid into the real work world in quite a pickle and I haven't been a happy camper.

I will be talking with her tomorrow because my check should arrive. She declared my car totalled, but I told her that even if it was totaled, it was in my best interest as a poor kid to fix it if it was feasible because with the money they give me, I'd end up with a lemon or have to fork out thousands for something very reliable. So she's sending me a check and said that whether I decide to repair it (I just have to sign a damage release form saying I won't chase them for more than they've given me) or buy another car is fine with her.

I hope they don't repo my car. I need money to go towards my other car now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top