[avar]

If you'd like to experiment with bricking the head unit on your new car you can shop around and find a totaled specimen.

If all you need is a working head unit you should be able to get that for <$1000.

It's still an investment, but nowhere near $30k.

The real reason nobody bothers with this is that it's just the infotainment, and if you really want a custom one you can just buy a new head unit, or glue a tablet where the existing one resides.

You won't get access to the engage electronics, emissions controls etc. Those are all other dedicated computers.

[tyingq]

Assuming the head unit isn't DRM locked to a specific VIN, etc. That's then extra cost to chase that rabbit trail.

[numpad0]

The one taken off your car to be recycled could be, the new one cannot be because you DYOR and install a compatible third party unit.

[tyingq]

Context of the parent was buying a spare OEM unit from a junkyard for experimenting.

Third party can be a money pit also. Like a volume knob that controls the factory amp via canbus rather than the fixed output level head unit. And the amp is conveniently not close to the head unit. And, mentioned elsewhere, but additional stuff for steering wheel controls, car data that the OEM head unit displayed (mpg, trip meter, etc).