What’s a remanufactured part and is it right for you?

• What is a remanufactured part?
• What’s the benefit of fitting a remanufactured part?
• What type of parts are remanufactured?
• Where can you get remanufactured parts?

What is a remanufactured part?

A remanufactured part is a used component, that was fitted to a car when it was originally made, but has been completely taken apart, cleaned and examined, and had any of its worn constituents replaced. It should not be confused with a refurbished or reconditioned part, which will have gone through a much less thorough process, to merely extend its life, whereas in terms of quality and durability, a remanufactured part will perform to the same level as the original part and so, should be considered to be equivalent to a brand new part. 

 

What’s the benefit of fitting a remanufactured part?

Reducing our carbon footprint, both individually and collectively, is clearly a major goal for governments around the world and a big driver in the introduction of emissions standards and associated environmental legislation. So, one of the main attractions for producing remanufactured parts is the environmental benefits they deliver when it comes to their production.

Although not an exact science, studies indicate the environmental gains involved in the remanufacturing process, (and the lower costs associated with remanufactured parts, which are typically 30-40% cheaper), mean that their production uses around 85% less energy and considerably less raw materials compared to manufacturing a part from scratch.

So, if you are attracted by the green agenda or are simply trying to reduce your annual motoring costs, there is a strong case for following the remanufacturing route when you have your car serviced or repaired.

 

What type of parts are remanufactured?

Naturally, it is not possible to remanufacture every component that makes up your car, but popular parts include alternators and starters, drive shafts and steering racks, brake calipers and air conditioning compressors, as well as diesel parts like pumps and injectors. To further underline the quality of these products, in common with a brand new component, they will also carry a warranty that will provide the peace of mind you’d obviously seek.

 

Where can you get remanufactured parts?

Bear in mind that the use of remanufactured parts is not generally standard practice, as most workshops will assume that you’d want a brand new part fitted should something need to be replaced. However, if you let them know that you’d like to use a remanufactured component, they will be very happy to say whether that’s an option for the part that needs replacing and if it is, source one for you.

Another big advantage with remanufactured parts is when catering for older vehicles, for which there would typically be problems with availability because the normal production of replacement parts has ceased. Although in these circumstances they may not provide the cost advantages usually associated with remanufactured products, they afford an excellent solution for keeping older vehicles, particularly the classic car fraternity, on the road and operating safely and reliably.