If you’ve ever had gearbox problems, you know how unfortunate this event can be in your car’s life (and your own!).
Replacing your gearbox with a new one can be a very costly exercise and not one everyone can afford to do. So what are your other options?
In this article, we will be looking at the difference between a reconditioned and a used gearbox, we’ll be examining the pros and cons of each. And give you our top recommendation at the end.
Reconditioned Gearbox
When should a gearbox be reconditioned? Normally an older gearbox will undergo full reconditioning when it has been damaged or from general wear and tear. This process involves all parts that have been damaged to be stripped down and replaced with new or newer parts depending on the damage done. It should be noted that these reconditioned gearboxes will have new and used parts, but they should still have a long happy life with your car.
This option is almost like having a new gearbox, but at a lower cost to you. In general, these reconditioning units will also have new bearings and seals as part of the process. You should ensure that the company doing the reconditioning is in line with the standards criteria expected from such a service.
Positives
Reliability – Very good
Warranty – Normally longer than a new unit has and all the parts will be covered under that same warranty.
Price – Cheaper than a new gearbox.
Negatives
Depending on the model and make of your car, and the availability of parts, this can become an expensive exercise.
Used Gearboxes
Used gearboxes are not a popular option amongst car owners. The main reason for this is finding a reliable supplier can be hard, and ensuring you buy a reliable product can be even harder.
In some cases repairing or reconditioning your gearbox is just not a cost-effective option, or you might find it hard to find the parts you need because of the age of your car or the model, then you might consider buying a used gearbox to replace the broken one with rather than choosing to recondition. That is where we thrive. Did you know we offer imported low milage gearboxes for most of the top car brands in South Africa? We do because we feel used does not need to mean a negative outcome for your gearbox.
Positives
Price – Low-cost option, in most cases the cheapest option
Warranty – with us you get a 3-month warranty
Reliability – with low milage genuine gearboxes, reliability can be great
Negatives
Reliability – we list reliability as a pro and a con because if you aren’t sure of your supplier’s standards, this might come back and bite you
New Gearbox
Even though we feel our low milage used gearboxes are the best option, if you can afford it, buying new is always a good option, though it can become very costly especially if your new genuine gearbox needs to be imported.
Positives
Warranty – usually comes with a 12-month warranty
Reliability – because it is brand new it should have a long service life
Might come with greater peace of mind.
Negatives
Price – new units are costly.
If you have a very old car, the price of a brand new gearbox might exceed the value of your car which wouldn’t make this a good option to go with. Time – if your gearbox needs to be imported from the original car manufacturer, the time to get the job done might be very extensive.
Our Choice
We feel that buying a good-quality second-hand gearbox is the way you should go when you need your gearbox replaced. Here are some advantages of this option.
- Second-hand gearboxes are always almost original items. Choosing original parts for your car is always the best option as they were made to be the perfect fit.
- Buying second-hand is environmentally friendly, this is called upcycling. So do your part for the environment and buy second-hand.
- Last and most obviously we love that second-hand gearboxes are very cost-effective.
Conclusion
Many car owners don’t realize that when it comes to their gearboxes, they have more than 1 choice for replacing them. Whether you buy new, used or reconditioned, is up to you.
