Second Hand Car Engines – Sourced Right, Tested, Ships Worldwide

Second Hand Car Engines – What to Look For and Where to Buy With Confidence

Second hand car engines are one of the most practical ways to get a vehicle back on the road after an engine failure — and one of the most misunderstood segments of the auto parts market. Get it right and you have a fully functional engine at a fraction of new engine cost. Get it wrong and you’re pulling the motor out again six months later wondering where your money went.

At Best Auto Motors, we sell second hand car engines that have been sourced properly, checked before listing, and shipped to customers worldwide. We’ve been doing this long enough to know what separates a good used engine from a bad one, and that knowledge goes into every engine we sell.

Why Second Hand Car Engines Are a Legitimate Repair Solution

Let’s be honest about what second hand car engines are: they’re engines pulled from vehicles that were written off, crashed, flooded, or retired for reasons unrelated to the engine itself. The car is gone but the engine was running fine. That’s the basic premise and it’s a sound one.

A second hand car engine from a vehicle totaled at 45,000 miles has had less wear than most people put on a set of tires. When the source vehicle’s history is clean and the engine was running at the time of the write-off, that’s a quality part at a fair price. The challenge is knowing which second hand car engines fall into that category and which ones don’t. That’s what we do.

Related: Why Buy Used Engines Instead of New Ones | How Salvage Yard Engines Save Money

Second Hand Car Engines We Carry – Popular Platforms and Specs

Toyota 2AZ-FE 2.4L Inline-4

Displacement: 2.4L | Configuration: Inline-4, DOHC, VVT-i | Horsepower: 155–166 hp | Torque: 161–167 lb-ft | Compatible with: Toyota Camry (2002–2011), RAV4 (2004–2012), Highlander (2001–2007), Solara, Scion tC. One of the most commonly requested second hand car engines in the import market. The 2AZ-FE has a strong reputation for longevity, and low-mileage JDM examples are frequently available. Common second hand car engine request for mid-mileage Camry owners facing an expensive repair who want to maximize vehicle life without buying new.

Honda J35A / J35Y 3.5L V6

Displacement: 3.5L | Configuration: V6, SOHC, VTEC or i-VTEC | Horsepower: 240–310 hp | Torque: 233–272 lb-ft | Compatible with: Honda Accord (2003+), Honda Pilot, Honda Odyssey, Honda Ridgeline; Acura MDX, TL. The J35 is one of the most durable V6s in the Honda/Acura lineup. Second hand car engines in this family from vehicles under 80,000 miles are excellent value. We regularly stock J35A6, J35A7, and J35Y1 variants with mileage documentation.

Ford 3.5L EcoBoost V6

Displacement: 3.5L | Configuration: V6, twin-turbocharged, DOHC | Horsepower: 365–400 hp | Torque: 420–500 lb-ft | Compatible with: Ford F-150 (2011+), Ford Expedition (2018+), Ford Explorer (2020+), Ford Edge ST, Lincoln Navigator. Second hand car engines from the EcoBoost family are in high demand because these engines power some of the best-selling trucks in North America. Low-mileage units from collision-damaged F-150s are frequently available. The 3.5L EcoBoost is a performance-oriented engine and a well-sourced second hand unit gives the same output for a fraction of new engine cost.

Nissan VQ35DE / VQ35HR 3.5L V6

Displacement: 3.5L | Configuration: V6, DOHC, 24-valve | Horsepower: 245–306 hp | Torque: 246–268 lb-ft | Compatible with: Nissan 350Z, 370Z (HR), Nissan Maxima, Murano; Infiniti G35, G37, M35, FX35, EX35. The VQ35 is one of the most celebrated V6 engines ever built. Second hand car engines in this family are sought after by 350Z and G35 owners doing engine swaps or replacements. Both DE (naturally aspirated) and HR (high-revving revision) variants come through our inventory regularly.

BMW N55 3.0L Single Turbo Inline-6

Displacement: 3.0L | Configuration: Inline-6, single twin-scroll turbo, DOHC | Horsepower: 300–306 hp | Torque: 295–295 lb-ft | Compatible with: BMW 135i (F20/F21), 235i, 335i (F30), 435i, 535i (F10), M135i, M235i. The N55 replaced the twin-turbo N54 and simplified the turbo setup. Second hand car engines from N55-powered BMWs that suffered chassis damage are a popular source for replacement engines. The N55 is a strong, well-built unit and low-mileage examples from late-model F-series BMWs are excellent purchases.

Subaru EJ25 2.5L Flat-4

Displacement: 2.5L | Configuration: Horizontally opposed 4-cylinder (Boxer), DOHC | Horsepower: 165–293 hp depending on variant (NA vs turbocharged) | Torque: 166–290 lb-ft | Compatible with: Subaru Impreza, WRX, STI (certain years), Legacy, Outback, Forester. Second hand car engines from Subaru’s EJ25 family are among the most requested import platform engines we handle. Both the naturally aspirated DOHC and the turbocharged STI variant come through our inventory. Head gasket condition is the key thing to verify on second hand EJ25 units, and we note that in every listing.

Chevrolet 6.2L L86 EcoTec3 V8

Displacement: 6.2L | Configuration: V8, OHV, AFM | Horsepower: 420 hp | Torque: 460 lb-ft | Compatible with: Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country/LTZ, GMC Sierra 1500 Denali, Cadillac Escalade (2014+). Second hand car engines from the top-trim GM truck lineup are valuable finds. The 6.2L sits above the more common 5.3L and second hand units from high-spec trucks that were totaled at low mileage represent excellent value. We source these from documented write-offs with odometer verification.

What Makes a Good Second Hand Car Engine

Not all second hand car engines are created equal. The things that actually matter when evaluating a second hand engine:

• Verified mileage: Not just claimed — backed by vehicle history, odometer documentation, or import records (for JDM engines)
• Source vehicle: What happened to the vehicle the engine came from? Collision damage at the opposite end of the car is ideal. Flood damage, fire, or mechanical failure is not.
• Oil condition: The oil on the dipstick tells you a lot about how the engine was maintained. Clean oil = maintained. Black sludge = neglected.
• Compression: An even compression reading across all cylinders is the most important internal health indicator
• External condition: Visible cracks, corrosion on the block, or evidence of overheating are red flags
• Cold start: If the engine was run-tested before removal, that result should be documented

We check all of these before listing second hand car engines in our inventory. If something raises a flag and the engine still has value at a lower price point, we disclose it.

See also: Low Mileage Used Engines | Used Engines for Sale

JDM Second Hand Car Engines – Why They’re So Popular

Japanese domestic market engines are the most sought-after second hand car engines for Japanese and many European platforms. Japan’s shaken inspection law makes it expensive to keep older vehicles registered. As a result, Japanese cars get retired and exported while their engines are still in excellent shape — often under 60,000 kilometers. For Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru, and Mitsubishi applications, JDM second hand car engines offer unusually low mileage at reasonable prices. We source from established JDM importers with odometer documentation on every unit.

Second Hand Car Engines – Domestic vs JDM vs European

Each market has its strengths:

• Domestic US sourced: Best for American trucks and SUVs (GM, Ford, Dodge). Good supply from insurance write-offs. Mileage varies widely — history verification is important.
• JDM: Best for Japanese platforms. Typically lower mileage. Odometer records available through import auction sheets.
• European imports: Good for BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Audi applications. Service records vary. We carry a curated selection with documented history where available.

How to Buy Second Hand Car Engines From Best Auto Motors

Reach out with your year, make, model, and VIN. We’ll check current inventory of second hand car engines for your platform, confirm mileage and condition, and quote a price including shipping to your location. We ship worldwide — palletized freight, properly prepared, fully documented for export where applicable.

If you need help deciding between second hand car engines and a rebuilt or remanufactured option for your specific vehicle, we’ll give you an honest answer rather than just sell you whatever costs more.

More: Remanufactured Engines | Buy Used Engines Online | Cheap Used Engines | Ford F-150 Engine Compatibility Guide

For engine specifications and OEM technical data, SAE International publishes engineering standards used by manufacturers and rebuilders worldwide to define what second hand car engines must meet before installation.