New vs. Used Excavator Parts: What the Data Says in 2025
- RALPH COPE
- Jul 16
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 23
Spoiler: Your Wallet Already Knows the Answer
Let’s get one thing straight—buying brand-new excavator parts in 2025 is like ordering a 5-course meal in a tuxedo… to eat in a trench. It's fancy, expensive, and most of the time, completely unnecessary.
At Vikfin, we’ve seen this story play out hundreds of times: an operator shells out R400,000 for a shiny new part, when a tested, clean used one would’ve done the same job for a quarter of the price—with the same uptime.
But don’t just take our word for it. Let’s talk data, trends, resale value, and cold Rands and cents.
🔧 The Market in 2025: Used Parts Are Booming
📈 The Shift Is Real
In 2020, used excavator parts were considered a bit of a risk—mostly because there were too many dodgy sellers and not enough transparency.
Fast forward to 2025, and here’s what the industry looks like:
✅ Over 65% of medium-to-large contractors in South Africa now source at least one major component from a used parts supplier annually.
✅ The used heavy machinery parts market in SA is growing at 12.4% annually, outpacing new part sales by a factor of 2.
✅ OEM lead times are still erratic—anywhere from 3 to 10 weeks, depending on the part, thanks to global logistics chaos.
✅ Smart operators are budgeting for reliability, not prestige.
In short, the stigma is gone. Used parts are now mainstream business sense.
💰 Cost Breakdown: New vs. Used (The 2025 Edition)
Let’s compare real-world pricing from the past 12 months (all based on actual transactions through Vikfin and other reputable South African suppliers):
Do the math.
Buying new might give you a warranty—but it doesn’t save you money. And most new parts come with long lead times and a painfully bureaucratic purchase process.
🕑 Downtime: The Hidden Killer
Let’s say you’re waiting 5 weeks for a new final drive to arrive from Japan. Your machine is parked. Your crew’s twiddling their thumbs. Your contract deadline’s creeping closer.
Meanwhile, we could’ve shipped a tested used unit in 24 hours.
Average cost of downtime for a mid-sized contractor in SA?R18,000–R25,000 per day.
Waiting 30 days? That’s potentially R600,000 in lost productivity and penalties.
Used parts win again.
📉 Depreciation Doesn’t Care About Your Shiny New Part
Here’s a fun fact most OEMs won’t tell you: as soon as that “new” part is installed, it becomes a used part. No resale value. No bragging rights.
Think of it like driving a new bakkie off the lot—it’s already worth less than you paid. The same goes for:
Final drives
Pumps
Swing motors
Track frames
Let’s take an example:
You spend R400,000 on a new hydraulic pump for a 12-year-old Hitachi.You install it.Six months later, you sell the machine.Will that new part increase resale value by R400K?Hell no. Maybe R50,000–R80,000, if the buyer notices.
Buying new is like gold-plating your hammer.
💼 What Do Buyers Actually Want?
Buyers in 2025 are smarter.
They don’t care if your machine had new OEM parts. They care about:
Service records
Functionality
Uptime history
Parts that work
If you show them the machine has a well-running used final drive from a reputable supplier like Vikfin—with paperwork—they’re satisfied.
Used parts don’t kill resale. They prove practicality.
⚙️ When Does New Actually Make Sense?
We’re not completely against new parts. There are rare moments when they make sense, such as:
1. Brand-New Machine Under Warranty
If your excavator is still under factory warranty, using a non-OEM part can void it. Fair enough—play by the rules.
2. No Used Option Available
If it’s a weird part or an uncommon model, and we haven’t stripped one yet, new might be your only choice.
3. Safety-Critical, High-Risk Components
Things like boom pins, pilot control valves, or ECU modules might warrant a new purchase if failure poses a major safety risk.
But let’s be real—90% of parts purchases don’t fall into these categories.
🔍 What to Look for in a Quality Used Part (So You Don’t Get Screwed)
At Vikfin, we pride ourselves on transparency. If you’re buying used parts anywhere in South Africa, here’s what you should demand:
✅ Full compatibility check based on model and serial number
✅ Tested and inspected for wear, cracks, or internal damage
✅ Photos and video proof on request
✅ Return policy or exchange guarantee
If the supplier can’t give you that, walk away. Or run.
📦 Grey Imports vs. Used OEM Parts – Know the Difference
Let’s address the elephant in the scrapyard: grey imports.
These are usually cheap, new-looking parts from unknown factories in Asia, slapped with a fake OEM label, and sold at “too good to be true” prices.
Red flags:
Super low pricing
No testing record
Zero history
No company address
No VAT number
Used OEM parts, on the other hand, are genuine. They’ve been pulled from real machines. They’re tested. And they work.
At Vikfin, we only sell used OEM. No grey. No knock-offs. No BS.
🧠 The Smart Buyer’s Decision Tree (2025 Edition)
Let’s simplify it for you. Next time a part fails, ask yourself:
❓ Is the machine under warranty?
Yes → Buy newNo → Go used
❓ Is downtime killing me?
Yes → Go used (we can deliver next day)No → If you can wait 6 weeks, enjoy the Zen
❓ Do I care about resale?
Yes → Good condition used parts protect resaleNo → Why are you here?
❓ Do I want to save money?
Yes → You know what to do
📊 Recap: Used vs. New in Numbers
🧩 Final Thoughts: It's 2025, Not 1995
Back then, used parts were sketchy. But times have changed.
Vikfin clients know they can get:
Top-quality, tested parts
Massive savings
Fast delivery
Real advice from real people
New parts might feel “safe”—but used parts are smart, savvy, and sane.
Let the data speak. Let your budget breathe. And let your excavator keep digging—with a little help from South Africa’s best used parts supplier.
📞 Ready to Join the Smart Side?
Get in touch with Vikfin:
Call us with your machine model and the part you need
We’ll check stock, verify compatibility, and quote fast
You get back to work—without the 6-week OEM drama
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