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Is a reconditioned gearbox as good as a new one?
What 'reconditioned' really means, how it compares with new and used gearboxes, and what to look for in a warranty.
New gearboxes from the manufacturer are expensive and often hard to get. Used gearboxes from breakers are cheap but unknown: you're buying someone else's wear. A reconditioned gearbox sits in between, and done properly it's the best value for most cars.
What reconditioning involves
The gearbox is fully stripped, cleaned and inspected. Wear parts such as clutches, bearings, seals and gaskets are replaced as a matter of course, along with any other parts that are worn or damaged, and known weak points for that gearbox are addressed. It's then rebuilt and tested before it leaves the workshop.
What to look for
- A clear warranty. Ours is 12 months with unlimited mileage.
- A specialist who knows that gearbox's common faults, not just one who swaps units
- Fitting by people who'll check the cooler, fluid and software, as a reconditioned gearbox fitted with contaminated cooler lines or the wrong fluid can fail early
Our view
For most cars, a properly reconditioned gearbox gives new-gearbox reliability for a fraction of the main dealer price. Ours typically cost up to 50% less than the dealer, and you can spread the cost with Klarna.