Should I buy new or used parts for Porsche cars?

There isn’t really a right or wrong answer to this question.

Your local Porsche main dealer will insist that you only buy new parts for Porsche cars. On new Porsche cars that are still under the manufacturer’s warranty, you will have to buy new and genuine Porsche parts to avoid invalidating your warranty.

For the slightly older Porsche, i.e. those that are outside of their warranty, there is nothing to say that you should buy new parts and there is nothing to say that you shouldn’t buy used or second hand spares and parts for your Porsche.

The decision primarily comes down to vehicle running costs. If the financial side of running your Porsche is not a priority, then you only ever need to consider new parts. With them, you also receive the added reassurance of the manufacturer’s warranty.

For the majority of us, there is a budget associated with Porsche ownership and as a result, there are occasions where we may consider purchasing used and second hand Porsche spares. Is there anything wrong with this? We don’t think so. The facts are that many aspects of the Porsche engine, Porsche gearbox and Porsche suspension were over engineered on all models built prior to the mid 1990s. Irrespective of the brand being an enthusiast’s product, the fact is that you still see plenty of older Porsches on the road does confirm the “over engineering”. Just take a look at other vehicle brands. When was the last time you saw a Ford or a Toyota from the 1970s or 1980s still on the road?

When considering used Porsche spares or old or recycled parts for Porsche vehicles, it also worth asking the seller a few questions. First of all is what kind of guarantee or warranty they offer on any of their parts? A reputable used Porsche spares and parts specialist will offer 30 days. Secondly, you ought to try and establish the donor vehicle’s history to allow you to assess the part suitability e.g. the likelihood of having problems buying a used Porsche door of a 928 that has suffered an engine failure is going to be low, however, you may run into problems with fitment and alignment if you were buying the same door from a 928 that had been involved with some kind of side-on impact.

A little common sense must also prevail. Used gaskets, filters, brake pads, lubricants and fluids are a false economy. The implications, both financially and from a safety point of view, of these items failing whilst in use are huge so don’t even consider it. Service parts are meant to be disposed of after they have been used.

Sometimes, there is no choice with buying new or used parts. Although Porsche do try their very hardest to stock all parts for all cars, there are occasions where they have had to delete parts from their catalogue because they are no longer economic to stock. When this happens, a second hand or used Porsche spare is the only option.

If you want to find out more, go to my parts for Porsche website.