Is buying broken AC units a good idea?

Hey, just yesterday i bought my first two window AC units from a neighbor friend of mine. She was going to scrap them herself, but i offered to buy them from her as is for $5 each. I have broken down several of them and they seem to have a decent value once broken down. i just have no real way to know how much i will get for the motors and compressors and copper and aluminum i pull out because i dont have a scale yet. i really wont be able to tell what the shells are worth either because i throw them in with a load of "white goods" (appliances) which is what they are called around here. any reassurance that $5 is a fair buying price to break them down would be much appreciated. thanks, all -Dirty



Note: neither of them contain freon.

I got a smaller newer one and pulled out the wires,motor,and coils. I can't find my ticket but I think I made like$20 total steel and non ferr

thanks guys... i was kinda hoping for the average price of a torn down one, which will allow me to determine if its worth it. i know someone put together a collection of estimated prices for appliances on a thread somewhere back, but i couldnt find it, so i thought i'd ask. for a return of $20, i think i am comfortable, because it only takes me 20 min or so to completely break one down.

thanks again!