Should I buy a modified car?
A car with a modified engine will greatly affect its value and reliability to the buyer.
Many experienced people therefore advise against buying a car that has had its engine "repaired".
Simply put, a "rebuilt" car is one that has been disassembled for repair. This process usually involves disassembling and inspecting internal engine components such as pistons, cylinders, valves, camshafts, oil pumps and water pumps, fuel injection systems, electrical systems, and other components.
Car engine overhaul or engine rebuilding aims to restore original performance, increase durability and ensure stable engine operation.
However, in the case of used car shops lacking reputation, the repaired cars can be replaced with low-quality equipment and spare parts. This causes the old cars to break down frequently, wasting time, money and effort of the car owner.
On this issue, many experts also agree that the "engine repair" of a car greatly affects its future operation. Not to mention that the reassembly at the dealer cannot be as precise as at the factory.
“The reassembly cannot reach the original standard, the tightening force of each screw is also different, the factory has a part to measure the tightening force of each of these screws. After a period of running, these screws will also loosen, affecting the safety of the vehicle.”Engineer Le Van Tach said.
According to engineer Tach, normally the staff at the dealerships are not good at engines, only the machine engineers can “diagnose the problem” and can “diagnose and treat” it. Moreover, “opening up the engine” does not necessarily cure the problem.
“Every driver must know how their car is damaged, in terms of sound, noise, fuel consumption or vibration… there are hundreds of reasons why the engine does not work well. Therefore, car owners need to remember the errors to report to the dealer or car manufacturer to come up with the best solution,”Engineer Le Van Tach gives advice.
In fact, each car manufacturer often imports car parts from different countries and has different quality. So it is possible that the same car manufacturer but the engine imported in India has different quality than the engine in Korea, and it also depends on that batch. Therefore, checking whether the car has been modified or not is very important.
First, the buyer needs to check the screws, check the condition of the screws on the vehicle such as the engine mount screws, engine cover screws, hood screws, and frame screws. These screws must still have the original paint, no signs of peeling and no signs of tightening. If the screws have changed color or show signs of being opened and tightened, there are definitely signs of disassembly.
Next, you need to start the engine and listen to the engine sound. The sound must be crisp, even, without strange noises and no unusual vibrations. Observe the indicators on the dashboard such as the screen, lights, air conditioner, dashboard clock, and error warning lights to ensure they are working properly.
Finally, test drive the car. Test drive the car to check its performance and feel the “pulse” of the car. Check the power of the engine when accelerating, the sensitivity and safety of the brake and clutch systems. Observe the smoke and check the heat of the engine after the test drive.
It is important to check whether the car has been modified or not. However, whether to buy it or not depends on many other factors.
In terms of benefits, even new cars with engine repairs will lose at least 30% of their value, so buyers will save a lot of money initially.
In terms of performance, the engine will perform better if it is done at a center and replaced with reputable components. Conversely, if the wrong type of components is used, it will damage the vehicle.
Regarding the drawbacks, resale value and engine repair cars often decrease in value rapidly over time. Consider the ability to retain value and resale value of the model you are interested in. In addition, non-genuine engine repair cars will also void the warranty.
