New parts for an Infiniti are expensive, which makes finding used parts at a junkyard a great alternative. While you won’t find many pull-apart yards dedicated strictly to these Japanese autos, you can find used parts. Junkyards offer discounted prices on functional parts from junked autos. The key is knowing what yards will carry salvage Infiniti parts. Below I will share how the Infiniti salvage yards near me work, where to find them, and some tips.
Map of Infiniti Salvage Yards Near Me
For “Infiniti Junkyards Near Me” or “Infiniti Salvage Yards Near Me”, see the map below…
If you have limited results on the map, you can try looking at general auto salvages, import salvages, or Nissan salvages since Infiniti is a division of the Nissan brand.
How Does an Infiniti Salvage Yard Operate
An Infiniti scrap yard operates like any local business. They are mom and pop style lots, while others are chains of pick and pull. They operate kind of like a thrift shop except they deal in junked autos. These places buy salvage vehicles and then sell them for parts. Some places sell parts online, some do pick and pull, and some have both.
How Does an Infiniti Junkyard Get Vehicles
Junked autos typically come to salvage through one of three inventory streams: private owners, insurance companies, and auctions.
Vehicles that come from a private owner are inoperable and were junked because the cost of repairs outweighed the vehicle’s value. Insurance companies junk cars that have been in a wreck. They sell the wrecked auto to the salvage in order to offset the payout on an insurance claim. Some vehicles will come from an auction, where the salvage bought a group of junked vehicles by bidding on them in order to sell them off for parts or with salvage titles.
How Infiniti Junkyards Process Their Vehicles
When these Japanese autos arrive, they get processed like any other junk vehicle. Standardized processes are completed by a mechanic to meet government environmental regulations and to prep the vehicle to maximize profit.
Some of the basic processing involves draining the fluids like gas, oil, antifreeze, and wiper fluid. Fluids like oil get recycled, while gas, anti-freeze, and wiper fluids are containerized and resold. Batteries will get pulled, recharged, and resold for between $12 and $15. In some circumstances, they may pull the engine and send it to a 3rd part vendor to be rebuilt and sold with a warranty.
How an Infiniti Junk Yard is Structured…Also Look for Nissan
As stated earlier, you aren’t going to find a dedicated Infiniti lot. There are places though like Mazda Nissan Heaven in Texas that will have more Infiniti’s than most places. Every salvo will be laid out differently. Some salvages will be very organized and have them by model and year. Others will have them spread out and mixed with other manufacturer’s makes and models. If it isn’t clear on the salvages map where you may find Infiniti’s, you may want to check the Nissan section or a section for JDM.
Here are some of the most common Infiniti models I find at the Infiniti salvage yards near me:
- G20.
- G35.
- FX45.
- M30.
- M45.
- Q45
- EX
- FX
- G Series – Coupes, Sedans, Convertibles
- M Series – Coupes, Sedans, Convertibles
- I series
- J series
- JX series
- Q Series
- QX series
You can find some pretty obscure Infiniti’s if you look hard enough. One of my best finds was a 1992 M convertible GT coupe, which was later rebadged as the Nissan Leopard. These are rare find though and you will find a majority of models between 1996 and 2010 in my experience. You will see newer models as well like the Q60, Q70, and QX80 that have been in accidents.
If there is a specific model you need, some salvages will have a searchable database. You can look by year, make, and model. I often run a check on the Infiniti salvage yards near me to see if they have the parts I need. Some places don’t have an online inventory. My advice here is to call ahead. You can ask questions like “Do you have a rear fender for a 2014 G35?” or “Do you have any Q45s on the lot, what years, and what condition are they in?”
What Kind of Used Infiniti Parts Can You Find?
The possibilities of finding OEM parts are endless. Plus since these are Nissan’s, many of the same parts are used on Nissan models, which expands your pick list. You can find various parts for Infiniti such as doors, mirrors, exhausts, turbos, radiators, pistons, wire harnesses, fenders, panels, dashboards, and much more. Even more specifically you can find things like a VG30DE V6 engine or the Gatling gun-style headlights on a 2005 Q45.
So many times working on Nissans and Infinits are come across aftermarket parts that sell well on Ebay. I also found a lot of new JDM parts. This happens when the owner tries to fix their vehicle by throwing parts at it and junking it anyway. Some people never remove the new parts they paid for!
M30-in-California-junkyard. Photo by Murilee Martin
What Happens After an Infiniti is Stripped?
When a salvage vehicle has had its valuable parts pulled, what remains gets sold to a scrap facility. Doing this allows the salvage yard to get the last bit of cash out of the vehicle. It also makes room on the salvage lot for more junked autos. A well managed salvage can turn over their inventory in 4 to 6 months.
Not all yards keep up with the vehicle recycling practice. Some places let the inventory rust in the yard. You will know how a well yard is managed by the condition of the vehicles. All the vehicles are junk, but some have no value left to offer.
Buying Used OEM Salvage Infiniti Parts
When seeking reliable and cost-effective Infiniti parts online or offline, buying used OEM salvage Infiniti parts is a savvy choice. With a great selection of used auto parts, including used engines and used transmissions, buyers can find quality components at unbeatable prices. Trusted dealers ensure a seamless shopping experience, making it easy to score exceptional deals on genuine Infiniti parts for sale.
Pros of Buying Used Infiniti Parts at a Salvage Yard
Saving money is always your primary driver for used parts. Examples of what some salvages charge for parts are alternators for $18, car doors for $60, or a battery for $12. Heck, you can even pull parts and sell them yourself on Ebay. There is a huge market there for JDM and you can make nice profits.
Many salvages offer the ability to purchase a warranty on the parts. For between $8 and $12 per part, you can have some assurance that the part will function. If it doesn’t you can return it for an exchange of credit at the junkyard. No yard ever gives cash back. I typically will get a warranty on any part that has complicated mechanics or is a bit expensive.
One of the best reasons to get salvage Infiniti parts is that will will find OEM parts. Unlike going to your auto parts store and getting something after market, you can Nissan-manufactured parts. This is like ordering parts directly from Nissan except that you save the money going used. You can also find parts that are no longer manufactured that you can’t even order from Nissan.
Cons of Buying Used Infiniti Parts Cheap
Quality is always the big question mark when going used. You just can’t be sure how much life is left in a part. You need to really inspect the part for rust, corrosion, cracks, etc…before you even remove it. This is also why I suggest asking about a warranty for parts you feel are expensive.
Sometimes Infiniti parts are hard to come by. It’s not that these models aren’t found in typical salvages, but they are often mixed amongst Nissan’s or import sections. You really got to look around. You can find them, but the amount of 2006 Q45s you find as compared to 2006 Maxima’s is no contest.
Salvage Part Tips for Infiniti’s
The better you know the brand of Nissan and Infiniti the easier it is to find and match parts. Many parts are used across multiple years and models. For example on an an old 1992 M series, the suspension system was taken from a Maxima called Sonar Suspension. You could pull an early 90’s Maxima and interchange the suspension with an Infiniti M coupe, sedan, or convertible. For more tips on pulling parts efficiently, you can read this article here.
Tips For Selling Your Infiniti to a Salvage Yard
If you have an Infiniti that you want to junk, you should consider all the options and learn about junking a vehicle.
Some of the steps you will want to take are:
- Siphon your gas to use for yourself (they are just going to resell it).
- Take all of your personal belongings out. Check the seat flaps, glove box, center console, etc…
- Wipe your personal data (like addresses and numbers) if there is a navigation system in it.
- Cancel your insurance policy, state registration, and license plates (they will charge you an admin fee if you don’t).
- Know the Kelly Blue Book value of your Infiniti before you negotiate the price. You won’t get KBB but should have a reference.
- Know the scrap value of your vehicle weight, which will likely be their first offer. Learn to negotiate up.
If you are looking for all the potential options on where can you get cash for the vehicle, read our article called: Who Buys Junked Cars.
Resources for Infiniti Vehicles
- Infiniti Homepage
- Infiniti Wiki
- Reddit r/Infiniti
- Infiniti Forum
- Nissan Forum for Infiniti
- Infiniti Help Forum
- JDM Chat
Infiniti Salvage Yards Near Me – Wrap-Up
You won’t find cheaper OEM parts than at a salvage yard. Whether you are looking for Infiniti, Nissan, or any manufacturer, this is where you get cheap parts. You need to obviously understand that with saving money you may run into poor quality parts. This is where you can ask about a warranty to give yourself some protection. Salvage yards are great because they not only offer you savings, but they are good for the environment and are a key piece of the recycling industry. So if you have an inoperable Infiniti you can consider if you can get cash for it at a junkyard. This is what I have learned from the Infiniti salvage yards near me.
