Club 80-90 Forums

To buy a 'proper' engine that has had what most people might consider as reconditioned,(assuming everything is worn out rather than in tolerance) I. E a reground crankshaft, camshaft, crack tested head's, new valves, tappets, new bearings throughout, new oil pump, barrels, pistons, oil seals, gaskets etc simply won't come into the price range that fits most people's pocket.
WBX engines are known to be very expensive to do a 100% overhaul properly To the best of my knowledge, Elite more tend to use serviceable parts from various engines to offer a replacement engine rather than the above, with a warranty, at an affordable price.

My previous van had Elite engine in it and it served me well with no issues. I had no idea as to what or had not been done to it but it didn't drop water or oil, drove well and didn't let me down once. Perhaps I was lucky, and I know others too have been as well, and others not so fortunate. I suppose it comes down to the old addage, ' you pays your money and takes your choice'

The sad fact is that these engine "reconditioners" build engines to suit a budget dictated by the customer base.
To rebuild a WBX properly is unaffordable for most.
These companies make a living by offering an affordable alternative by using used spares and a handful of new parts to freshen them up.
If you want new heads, new barrels and pistons, new oil pumps, new cam, new cam followers then you have to pay for them.
The trouble with that is that all the parts are expensive as they are all from an engine that VW produced for less than 10 years that was only fitted to one vehicle.
Add a new thermostat housing, waterpump etc.. it all gets a bit.... expensive..
We did one here recently, it came in for a leak, one head, an exhaust and a load of other stuff, £2500 later.... That's just to stop the drip!
Yes, that's right, £2500 to repair an engine, it may drop a con rod next week, that wasn't rebuilt, that was just removing an engine, stripping everything off it, pulling the heads and barrels and pistons out and putting it back together replacing knackered parts found on the way...

If I can get it repaired then that would seem like the best option with all the advice given. Is this a job small enough where someone could come to the van? Like I say currently stuck at garage in Carshalton.

Once again, very grateful for any input:)

Wesley

Might be worth talking to spannerboy, he is in Guildford. https://club8090.co.uk/forum/memberlist. ... ile&u=2291" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wesley, read the post above your last post by simon baxter, he gave you a perfect example of what you may have to expect, came in with a drip, im guessing it was a water drip. so yours could well run into something similar , they normally turn into an expensive repair. The garage you use, has advised you get a recon, so he may know the engines shot. Id check the recon people will take yours as an exchange first. Personally id go to elite, let them collect your van and fit. They seem to honour there warranty, if they were as bad as some of the stories they wouldn't be giving warranties of 2 years or still be n business, surely? Ive not used elite, ive had vans with there engines which were fine. Its a gamble, unless you pay big money and have it done correct.

I did this costing exercise a while ago and posted it all up. The risks associated with a top end repair (and inevitable replacement of all the suspect bits) sp then it makes more like full power again, but with worn out crank bearings.
Result: leg out of bed, scrap engine and tears.
As Simon said, its a one-model engine and the parts are dear BUT
if you are in for the long run, 4500 quid spent on a full-house engine that will carry you 100,000 miles or more, could last you 20 years if you only do 5k a year...
That's hardly big annual expenditure on your prime mover.

That is great thanks, I have sent him a message so hopefully he will get in touch. As much as I love the van this issue with it is now driving me crazy. Just really want to get it going again and back on the road:)

Thanks
Wesley

You're not doing him a favour recommending Elite. Yes they do "repair" them when the break down but mine broke down repeatedly leaving my young family stranded again and again, repeated wild goose chases to collect the vehicle which also broke down twice within 5 miles of Elites premises having supposedly been fixed. They handed the the van back so low on fuel that I ran out before reaching a garage. They lost my keys and changed the locks and ignition which was then faulty and I had to pay elsewhere to get it repaired. After weeks waiting they told me that they'd built a 2.1 engine by mistake which wouldn't fit my van(it would) so I had to wait for another. For two years my van was off the road more often than on.

Constantly buck passing on the phone. Another member on here found nuts welded on, mastic liberally applied in the rocker cover, mine had the temperature sender wedged on with cardboard which promptly got wet and failed. I also met a guy with a T2 in Norfolk who told me that he'd supplied them a variety of new parts but when he collected his van, old parts have been fitted. Just Google Elite and see other's experiences. They used to work as an Agent for a reputable Trader on here who stopped that relationship pretty quickly.

I don't want this to look like a Vendetta but it seems fair to share my experience with Elite. It's a gamble

Do you feel lucky?

Sorry silverbullet- missed your post. I completely agree with regards to you get what you pay for- sadly for me I don't have £4500. I guess that's exactly what people have been explaining- I was just hoping that for £2000 I was going to get a decent engine that was reliable for family trips out on weekends.

Guess I will just have to take a chance and go for a re con and hope it all works out.

Cheers all

HI Wesley. Many of us have recons. I'm sure that the decent mechanics on here will be in touch.

Thanks Flyinghitop,

I appreciate the advice - I have read many bad posts now on elite.

My choices now are between the vege from just kampers or go with what the garage recommends- they use the vw engine shop in catford.

Many people have advised fixing the broken bolt but I ran this by the owner of the garage today and he reckons it's much cheaper /easier to replace with re con. He obviously knows his stuff but it's a shame as the engine is only 10 years old (4 of that it's been in a shed)!

Think it's coin flipping time and hope it all works out:)

Flying hightop who do you recommend he buys his recon from then? Sorry if ive missed this in the thread.

When my engine failed last time I has the AA tow it to Andrew at Campershack who has also fitted a blos system, alarm and worked on the suspension. t3volution has some good feedback on here as well.

If I had 2 grand to spend, I'd probably go for a 1.8t

keytouch wrote:If I had 2 grand to spend, I'd probably go for a 1.8t

Oo.. Yes. Has anyone got one fitted this side of the pond? The samba has a good 1.8t following and do seem nice.