Advice on buying junk parts in a barn?

[jztemple]

I'm confused about buying junk parts in a barn. I know that it costs money to fix up parts on the parts bench and that getting low percentage quality parts means I'm more likely to break them while fixing them. But is worth while just to buy them to sell them after you repair them? I've tried to figure this out on my own and I'm not seeing any general rule about the process.

Or should I just buy junk parts in a barn only if I really think I'll be able to use that part on a car repair job in the future? Thanks for any advice on this!

[Rumpelcrutchskin]

Problem with amassing bunch of parts in your warehouse is that there is no easy way to check if you have the exact part you need in the warehouse or not and you need to scroll through it each time, making it generally just big waste of time.
On restoration jobs even if you buy everything you need you still make solid profit and so I`m never bothering to collect old parts anymore and just buy what is needed, saves a lot of time trying to remember if I actually have something that is needed and then trying to find it.

[dbwhip42]

I do pretty much what Rumple does except I will pick up a repairable part that shows up alot in rebuilds (radiators etc) I don't hunt for them, just if I come across one. I only really search the parts piles looking for the crates.
Edit: I do harvest rims when I go to junkyards. A single riim (depending on type) can pay for the $500.00 entry fee. I usually grab around 5 since I dont keep track of which ones are most valuable...

[sergetechone]

It depend on the skill that you have and on what you plan to do with those parts from the Barn.

If you got the top level for parts fixing ( including Body Parts ) , Most of Body Parts that is in orange - except Windows and Lights can be repair. And most repairable parts that is in orange can be repair, except Battery - Charger. If you plan to keep everything, than do and look for the crate.

From that point, you can : repair all the parts that is repairable, and no repair and keep in the warehouse for future use. Sell the body parts or keep, sell the regulars parts or keep.

When you got a car - from junkyard or barn or auction, you can : just fix it and run or complete 100 % restoration from the parts that you collect.

Most of the time, the parts that is the most important is those parts that is expensive. Any Engine Block - orange, Engine Head - orange, Frame - orange, any Drive Shaft - orange , Transmission - orange , battery - any condition, rear differential - orange, Any expensive looking parts that is orange, Any expensive body parts that is expensive - ex : McLauren Any engine part you can fix that is orange, Any suspensions you can fix that is orange.

If you are planing to : Fix and Run. Any engine part that is orange or better, Fuse and relay - electrical - that is orange or better, Fuel related that is orange or better The rest can be red or better.

oh ... I forgot ... some red parts that you can not repair can be use for scrap points.

[astrofelix59]

Warehouse is like a bank, plan for the future, it's a really big shed.
resell a non-repaired part = 3-5% return on investment
resell a repaired part = 100-300% return on investment
use part in a build = 1000% return on investment
periodic culling can be thought of as a dividend
Every part I can save money on in a build, means less capitol tied up in the big shed.

Current game: did 29 jobs (got badge), had all repair skills and tools, 102k in the bank before I hit the junkyard.
First 10 visits, each time I spent around 30k just on parts, repairing each haul costs about 15k, I kept about a third and sold the rest which brought in 60-80k, basically I make a minimum 15k for the trip and have a bunch of "free" parts or worth 30ish if resold but will make 10X their value when used in a build. Ended with 438k after opening 4 more alleys, the paint/dyno shops, also a dozen cars stripped, washed and welded waiting in the shed. Did 2 of those cars just with parts I collected and boom I'm a millionaire. Even without doing builds you can make better money, faster with buy/repair/sell of junkyard parts than jobs (just not much XP)
From there I didn't bother with reselling parts, I can afford to just get the stuff I need knowing it will pay off later. My day starts with 3 trips to the Junkyard, more if I don't find 5 cars I want, then it's empty the pockets and sort today's finds (4 keepers, 1 flipper). I flip cars for parts but make sure I get at least double the buy plus all costs for all parts I keep, everything makes money. I collect +85% bits like glass and seats for the drivers, it's good enough for the track.
I feel at home in the junkyard, I've set myself a junkyard challenge, going for 800 cars from the junkyard and that's a lot of boosters and batteries, I have a lot of rules, I might be mad.

[dbwhip42]

Originally posted by astrofelix59:

, I have a lot of rules, I might be mad.

Thats what I call immersion! I am working on the 50(?) salvaged rebuilds goal right now. I might re-think my junkyard/barn strategy after that (I have a lot of unused barn maps at this point). If I understand your strategy, you can rebuild a car based on what you find in the yard...but you cant get it to 100% due to glass and upholstery not being repairable. Might make an interesting challenge (with a lot of note taking!). I dont pay too much attention to the profit loss aspect since the game does not really give you tools to manage it.

[astrofelix59]

Originally posted by dbwhip42:

Originally posted by astrofelix59:

, I have a lot of rules, I might be mad.

Thats what I call immersion! I am working on the 50(?) salvaged rebuilds goal right now. I might re-think my junkyard/barn strategy after that (I have a lot of unused barn maps at this point). If I understand your strategy, you can rebuild a car based on what you find in the yard...but you cant get it to 100% due to glass and upholstery not being repairable. Might make an interesting challenge (with a lot of note taking!). I dont pay too much attention to the profit loss aspect since the game does not really give you tools to manage it.

All cars get panels, frame, block, crank, cross members, driveshaft and gear box, repaired to 100% or from warehouse, I only buy flywheel, pressure plate and bearing. This is shed ready if flipped at this point they turn a reasonable profit for minimal effort. I flip the ugly ones and keep the rest, every now and then I can finish a car or two, with about 100 cars in shed, I have 20ish at 100% ready to sell, plus 10 track cars that have everything but new glass and seats, mostly because I had the stuff already so it became a trend, every other part in the shed is at 100% and if repairable came from junkyard. Boosters and ABS modules are the main blockers to more finished cars