Fix or flog?

[dr_bob]

Hi,

I posted way back in November about my 8v digi making worrying sounding rattling noises. These have gotten progressively worse, and it looks like the big end bearings are totally shot and the engine is starting to go through oil at a fairly alarming rate, so I figure it's only a matter of time before the engine packs in completely.

What kind of costs would I be looking at to get a replacement engine fitted? Including the cost of the engine itself?

I'm kinda leaning toward the idea that it might be better to just flog the car as-is as spares/repairs on eBay and look for something else, because it's going to be the same sort of money involved.

What do you reckon?

[dan_apps]

loads of things to factor in.

how much did you pay for the vehicle?
whats it like condition wise?
does it need any other work apart from the engine?

in terms of replacement engine these can be sourced easy enough, and cheaply enough, there have been a few on ebay recently going for as little as £50 with big miles but work done to them. labour wise your probably lokking at £150.00+ for engine out and new put in i reckon dependant on where you go.

[dr_bob]

Hi dan_apps,

The car cost me £800. There's nothing else mechanically wrong with the car at all. The paintwork is more Tornado Pink than Tornado Red, but the interior is in great nick, and everything (central locking, electric windows, heater, demister etc) works.

A very steep driveway managed to rip off half my front valence and the plastic arch trim from the passenger side front wheel arch, but that's all fairly easily fixable.

£150 seems reasonable for an engine swap - I was expecting much more. I'm not sure a £50 eBay engine is going to be a great idea though!

Any recommendations of a good garage in Berkshire, near Reading? Other than 'Henley VW'/VAG Autoworks who were completely useless the last time I took it there.

[Sam]

my big end is been done at the min.. bill is gonna be over 1k

[Ben Lessani]

my big end is been done at the min.. bill is gonna be over 1k

For big ends? Its only a few hours work

[Jay]

my big end is been done at the min.. bill is gonna be over 1k

For big ends? Its only a few hours work

he haz turbo init, done by a bunch of northern monkeys by the sounds of it 

[Sam]

my big end is been done at the min.. bill is gonna be over 1k

For big ends? Its only a few hours work

Ha ha yer i did leave out some info... it might be all custom stuff 

[Horney]

If your reading way there's a few places. Try Roy at Autobarn down here in Basingstoke. If I had a driveway I'd offer to do it for you for a few beer tokens.

NIck

[shrocco]

before everyone else says it - abf time

[dr_bob]

before everyone else says it - abf time

  I want to fix it as cheaply as possibly really - if an ABF engine costs as much as a regular old PB, then, fine, lets chuck one in, but I suspect it'll cost quite a bit more.