As your little shop evolves in Car Mechanic Simulator 2021, one milestone stands out above most: unlocking barn finds. This long-anticipated step finally allows you to venture beyond your garage, dig through forgotten parts, and potentially walk away with rare components or full vehicles. But before you get to that dream barn, there’s a fair bit of grinding to do — and that’s where the gameplay truly starts to flex its depth.
The Path to the Barn: Jobs, Gearboxes, and ABS Pumps
Grinding for XP to unlock barns means taking on job after job — some simple, some deceptive in their complexity. Brake issues might be hiding behind crusty ABS pumps or warped pressure plates. And sometimes, you’re replacing a gearbox so rusted it feels more like artifact excavation than repair.
There’s a rhythm to the work. Identify unknown parts (usually it’s the ABS when it’s brake-related), repair what you can with your lathe or workbench, and make strategic purchases only when absolutely necessary. Occasionally, you’ll luck out — repairing a part worth 950 credits instead of buying it outright. Other times, you’ll have to bite the bullet on a new gearbox.
But with perseverance, jobs start paying off. After a few clutch-heavy repairs and brake system overhauls, the money starts stacking. One high-paying gearbox job later and you’re sitting at 9,000+ credits. From there, you’re not far off from unlocking your first barns.
Barn Find 101: What’s Inside the Mystery Buildings
Once you’ve earned enough XP, barn finds become available. These dusty treasure troves cost just 100 credits to enter — far cheaper than the 500 needed for a junkyard trip — and hold the potential for serious loot.
Inside, you’ll find a scattered mess of parts, some junk, some valuable. You don’t get to take everything for free — you purchase the parts at a discount. The idea is simple: buy low, resell for profit, or stash good-condition parts for future builds.
In the initial test run, buying roughly 5,300 credits’ worth of parts yielded just over 5,400 in resale value. That’s a tiny profit for the time invested. The real value in barn finds, it turns out, isn’t in flipping the parts — it’s in building something from the ground up. With enough barn scavenging, you could piece together a full restoration. That’s where the long-term play and serious profit lie.
The DLC Expansion: First Look at Electric Cars
CMS 2021 continues to evolve, and the addition of electric cars is one of the most exciting updates yet. DLC content now includes fully electric vehicles with unique layouts and components. The first electric job might be basic — a brake system fix — but it offers a peek into a whole new kind of mechanic work.
Electric cars in CMS feature central battery systems and motor placement that differ significantly from traditional gas vehicles. You’ll find battery packs between the axles and simplified engine bays. While the job might have only required an ABS pump and brake pads, the layout and handling on the track are a refreshing change.
And yes — they’re fast. Quiet, too. A test lap in the electric sports car showed off nimble handling and powerful acceleration, proving this DLC isn’t just cosmetic — it’s redefining how these cars feel and behave.
Garage Growth: Tools, Lifts, and Customization
As jobs stack up and profits roll in, it’s finally time to invest in the garage itself. A second lifter is a must — streamlining workflow and reducing the back-and-forth of juggling jobs. That addition alone helps your shop feel like a legitimate, two-bay operation.
Even better, CMS 2021 allows for full garage customization. New walls, lifter colors, decals — even lighting and floors. A fresh coat of green paint and upgraded lifter aesthetics can breathe new life into your workspace. It’s not just about function anymore; it’s about style.
Final Thoughts: A Shop on the Rise
From grinding basic brake jobs to the thrill of barn discoveries and electric car diagnostics, Car Mechanic Simulator 2021keeps delivering layers of depth and progression. The real key? Persistence. Every job, every clutch, every scanned part edges you closer to that next milestone — whether it’s unlocking new maps, affording a project car, or maxing out renovation perks.
The barn may not be a goldmine on your first visit. The electric cars may only give you a glimpse of what’s to come. But these are the pieces of a much bigger puzzle — one that turns your humble garage into a full-blown restoration empire.
So keep wrenching, keep scanning, and never underestimate the value of a well-timed ABS repair.
Until next time — enjoy the grind, and keep your toolkit close.
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