Arc Raiders: Best Locations to Find Motors for the Refiner Level 3 Upgrade
Upgrading your workstations is one of the most important parts of progression in Arc Raiders, and the Refiner is especially valuable. By upgrading the Refiner, you unlock the ability to convert basic salvage into higher-quality resources—something you’ll rely on constantly for crafting, repairing gear, and completing quests.
However, upgrading the Refiner to Level 3 requires Motors, a material that is notoriously inconsistent to farm. Motors can technically spawn on all maps, but the drop rate is low enough that you need to target very specific areas to gather them efficiently.
This guide covers all reliable Motor farming locations, optimal routes, extraction advice, and methods you can use to collect them safely without losing progress.
Table of Contents
- 1 What Motors Are Used For
- 2 Where to Find Motors in Arc Raiders
- 3 1. Breaching Broken Vehicles – Parking Garage (Buried City)
- 4 2. Breaching Buses – Dam Battlegrounds (North Complex Elevator Area)
- 5 3. Searching Containers – Primary Facility (Dam Battlegrounds)
- 6 General Tips for Motor Farming
- 7 Farm Motors Hassle-Free
- 8 Final Overview – Best Motor Farming Spots in Arc Raiders
What Motors Are Used For

Motors are a mid-tier mechanical component used for:
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Refiner Level 3 upgrades
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Advanced crafting recipes
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Quest turn-ins
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Higher-grade mechanical conversions
Because Motors are rarer than basic crafting parts, they often bottleneck your progression. Knowing where to find them becomes essential if you want to upgrade workstations early and maintain steady gear growth.
Where to Find Motors in Arc Raiders
Motors can drop from a variety of sources, but your chances increase dramatically when you focus on the right structures and vehicles. Below are the most effective farming methods.
1. Breaching Broken Vehicles – Parking Garage (Buried City)
The most common way to find Motors is by breaching broken cars scattered throughout the world. All maps contain abandoned vehicles, but the Parking Garage in Buried City is one of the densest vehicle clusters in the game.
Why This Spot Works
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Multiple floors filled with abandoned sedans and vans
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Fast to clear
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1–2 Motors per run on average
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Low enemy density compared to outdoor areas
Inside the garage, breach every trunk, hood, and side panel. Vehicles don’t always drop Motors, but because the density is so high, this area gives you the greatest volume of attempts in the shortest time.
If you’re struggling to find consistent drops in early-game maps, this is the best place to begin your Motor grind.
2. Breaching Buses – Dam Battlegrounds (North Complex Elevator Area)
Your second reliable method is searching buses. Unlike cars, buses have multiple breachable panels, giving you more opportunities per vehicle.
Location: North Complex Elevator (Dam Battlegrounds)
Head to the Northeast side of the Dam Battlegrounds map, near the Generator Hall. You’ll find several large buses parked beside the North Complex Elevator, which doubles as a convenient extraction point.
Why Buses Are So Good for Motors
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Larger breachable areas → more loot checks
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Motors are more likely to drop from bus compartments
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Quick extract right beside the vehicles
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Low-risk loop, easy to reset
One sweep of this area can yield multiple Ruster components as well as a potential Motor drop. Because extraction is so close, you can reset this run efficiently to maximize Motor farming per hour.
3. Searching Containers – Primary Facility (Dam Battlegrounds)
This final method requires a bit more map traversal but remains one of the best options if you want variety and extra loot alongside Motors.
Location: Primary Facility
At the Primary Facility in Dam Battlegrounds, you’ll find rows of large containers with built-in loot panels. These compartments offer:
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Motors
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Ruster Gear
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Other mechanical components
Compared to vehicles, containers have slightly lower Motor rates, but the quantity of searchable compartments makes up for it.
Extraction Tip
Use the Water Treatment Elevator, located close to the facility, to extract safely once your inventory is full or once you’ve secured your Motors.
General Tips for Motor Farming
Finding Motors is all about increasing your volume of loot interactions while staying safe enough to extract. Here are some crucial tips to keep your runs efficient:
Always Use a Normal Loadout
Never go into Motor-farming runs with a free loadout. A normal loadout gives you access to a Safe Pocket—which is essential because:
If you get knocked down, you drop your un-pocketed items.
Motors are too valuable to risk losing. Always stash them in your Safe Pocket the moment you find them.
Route Rotation
For long farming sessions, rotate between the following:
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Buried City – Parking Garage
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Dam Battlegrounds – North Complex Buses
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Dam Battlegrounds – Primary Facility Containers
Switching routes helps avoid fatigue and makes motor farming feel less repetitive.
Loot Quickly and Extract Immediately
Don’t overstay your run:
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Find 1–2 Motors
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Extract
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Reset the route
Staying longer increases your chances of getting downed and losing the materials you worked for.
Bring a Build Focused on Mobility
Fast extraction saves time—and saves your loot.
Recommended perks include:
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Mobility boosters
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Faster sprint-to-fire
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Tactical movement perks
These perks make it easier to dodge encounters and get out with Motors intact.
Farm Motors Hassle-Free
Motor farming can be time-consuming, especially if you’re preparing for multiple workstation upgrades. If you want guaranteed farming runs, safe carries, or help clearing high-density zones, Arc Raiders Boosting from GladiatorBoost is an excellent option. Professional boosters can help you:
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Farm Motors quickly and safely
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Clear challenging areas with minimal risk
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Complete workstation upgrades efficiently
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Progress your account without repetitive grinding
It’s a great solution for players who don’t have hours to spend searching for rare materials. (Insert internal link here.)
Final Overview – Best Motor Farming Spots in Arc Raiders
To recap, these are the best Motor farming locations in the game:
Top Places to Find Motors
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Parking Garage (Buried City) — Best for car clusters
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North Complex Buses (Dam Battlegrounds) — Highest compartment density
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Primary Facility Containers (Dam Battlegrounds) — Great for multi-resource farming
Using these three areas efficiently will give you all the Motors you need for your Refiner Level 3 upgrade and future crafting needs.
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