Ã‚Â£1585 for a replacement engine to be fitted?!?!?!

Post by **MrDenis** » 14 Feb 2007, 18:42

I recently discovered, thanks to an RAC man, that I was no longer allowed to drive my bus as the crank pulley nut had fallen off and driving it might knacker the engine.

Had it recovered to South London VWs in Croydon and they say they're not sure they can fix the problem as it looks like the crank's knackered

Only real way to fix it is a new lump at a cost of £1585 fitted

Is that a reasonable price?

I believe my engine's a 1900cc water-cooled

Thanks

Mr D

Post by **Rozzo** » 14 Feb 2007, 19:45

i think i'd rather eat broken glass than pay that much for an engine?
smells of a rip off to me?

Post by **Simon Baxter** » 14 Feb 2007, 19:47

Sounds far too cheap to me.
I would be wary.

Post by **Ray** » 14 Feb 2007, 20:58

I had a vw factory reco engine fitted £1500 for engine and £350 labour + any other bits that may be found needing replacing - usually exhaust and clutch?

Post by **excalibur** » 14 Feb 2007, 21:53

I agree with Simon, at that price it is very cheap, in fact with the VAT a genuine VW engine will come in slightly above that.

I know the dealers don't do it, but in my garage I would have swapped the crank if everything else was OK.

It gets me how many garages nowadays are full of fitters rather than mechanics. What happened to the places that would repair a starter, alternator of fix an engine rather than just swap it?

I know, I work for a main dealer now and see it all the time

Post by **Plasticman** » 14 Feb 2007, 22:06

Dont worry excaliber, I've still got starter bendix compressors, Manual jigs for refacing point sets, armstrong taps and pegs for refurbing struts, the list goes on,
Trouble is with garages having to charge £25 ++++++/hr for labour it is often not economicaly viable to repair many things, then theres the warranty aspect plus the can of worms that are often released, oh and how many mechs are trained to do such?

Mike

Post by **Simon Baxter** » 14 Feb 2007, 22:56

Yep, much easier and cheaper and you get a warranty if you just change a starter.
I only repair stuff like that for myself as if it goes breasticles up again in the not too distant future I only have myself to blame but if a customer comes to the garage for something fixing I want to fix it and let it go away and I don't want to see it back again for the same fault.
And, if it does come back I swap it and get a labour claim in for th hassle of having to do so!
Just building a engine for myself at the moment.

Post by **Headley18** » 15 Feb 2007, 09:28

Try Elite engines in Essex http://www.elitevw.com/products.htm 2 years warranty

Post by **jed the spread** » 15 Feb 2007, 09:37

pete am i right in thinking these people will fit a recon for you for £860

jed

Post by **MrDenis** » 15 Feb 2007, 09:50

OK so elsewhere I'm being told I shouldn't pay more than 900 for a recon engine + fitting - why such a disparity in figures?

Post by **Ray** » 15 Feb 2007, 11:37

I had a £860 recon - thats why I had another fro vw 9 months later

Post by **jed the spread** » 15 Feb 2007, 11:59

what went on you recon ray

jed

Post by **DapperDavies** » 15 Feb 2007, 14:29

Try Elite engines in Essex http://www.elitevw.com/products.htm 2 years warranty

£680, with 2 years warranty and free fitting??????!!!!????
Has anyone here bought a 1.9 WBX from these people?
That seems incredibly cheap.

Post by **Pootle** » 15 Feb 2007, 16:16

Just Kampers have the Vege 1.9 DG engine for £1295 so £1585 fitted seems about right.

Had mine done 20,000 miles ago and no complaints. Pulls like a train!

I paid £1200 for the Vege engine.

Post by **Aidan** » 15 Feb 2007, 19:40

I've got an elite in one van and two years on it's all good, and the Micks are good people imho, how they do it at that price I don't know, but I watched them build it so I know it was done.
I also have vw engine in my work van, 2 year warranty and I can get them at a good discount, and have had no probs with that or others I've supplied, however Simon Brickie has come up against VW's warranty solution which is to take it back to main dealer and wait for ever, so he uses VEGE as no quibble warranty which allows him to fix it and recharge vege which is better for customer.
How's the crank knackered ? If it's just a wear issue at the pulley fitting then that should be sortable and the pulley refitted - I have a brand new pulley if required - maybe the garage is having a laugh.
The price looks right - for an elite engine plus labour and ancillaries and southern based business margin.