Say you blow your engine up ?
Discussion
Happened to me last year. Red oil light in outside lane of M6, quickly followed by grumpy engine sounds.
Got recovered by Mr AA, quick internet confirmation of my initial suspicion.
Costed up diagnosis, most likely repair costs, value of car and additional work I knew needed doing for next mot. Got a few hundred quid for it on eBay as spares or repair.
Got recovered by Mr AA, quick internet confirmation of my initial suspicion.
Costed up diagnosis, most likely repair costs, value of car and additional work I knew needed doing for next mot. Got a few hundred quid for it on eBay as spares or repair.
It depends.
The first time i wrecked an engine was when camshaft sheared in a BMW that owed me £200, that was on a Friday morning. By Sunday afternoon I was the proud owner of a new Golf GTI and the BMW was scrapped.
Second was a Golf GTI (not the one that replaced the BMW) I ruined the bottom end of a 1.8 engine and had a 2.0 16v installed over the weekend. Killed the 2.0 and put a rebuilt 1.8 16v back in about 6 months later.
More recently a timing chain snapped on my VR6 which resulted in 8 out of 12 valves bent/smashed requiring a head rebuild, luckily the pistons/block were fine.
I spent around £700 on parts and spent a few weekends to rebuild the engine, repaint the engine bay, wrap all the wiring loom, repaint the subframe/lower arms, new suspension bushes all round, new clutch, replaced as many rough looking nuts/bolts and welded in a new battery tray.
Done 4500 miles now and all is well, at this rate the running gear may out live the chassis.
Killing an engine is hardly doom an gloom , besides far far too many people make remarks like i have "blown my engine" when what they actually mean is the head gasket has gone or sometimes even more trivial items like a guy I knew who told everyone he blew his engine sold the car for a pittance to another mate who identified the problem as a f
ked spark plug!
The first time i wrecked an engine was when camshaft sheared in a BMW that owed me £200, that was on a Friday morning. By Sunday afternoon I was the proud owner of a new Golf GTI and the BMW was scrapped.
Second was a Golf GTI (not the one that replaced the BMW) I ruined the bottom end of a 1.8 engine and had a 2.0 16v installed over the weekend. Killed the 2.0 and put a rebuilt 1.8 16v back in about 6 months later.
More recently a timing chain snapped on my VR6 which resulted in 8 out of 12 valves bent/smashed requiring a head rebuild, luckily the pistons/block were fine.
I spent around £700 on parts and spent a few weekends to rebuild the engine, repaint the engine bay, wrap all the wiring loom, repaint the subframe/lower arms, new suspension bushes all round, new clutch, replaced as many rough looking nuts/bolts and welded in a new battery tray.
Done 4500 miles now and all is well, at this rate the running gear may out live the chassis.
Killing an engine is hardly doom an gloom , besides far far too many people make remarks like i have "blown my engine" when what they actually mean is the head gasket has gone or sometimes even more trivial items like a guy I knew who told everyone he blew his engine sold the car for a pittance to another mate who identified the problem as a f
ked spark plug!Edited by aka_kerrly on Friday 6th March 13:45
bqf said:
Actually, heres a funny story. One of the dads at my sons school bought a Bentley Conti convertible. Brand spanking new.
2,000 miles in - kaboom - conrod destroys engine.
Bentley gave a loan car and are replacing the engine. I'd be furious.
just shows that the higher the price doesn't always mean a guarantee of higher quality. . .as has been said, these things happen, if your getting a loaner and a replacement engine, I guess there is not much more Bentley could do. 2,000 miles in - kaboom - conrod destroys engine.
Bentley gave a loan car and are replacing the engine. I'd be furious.
I'd call on whoever it is that provides my breakdown cover and take it from there.
Depending on which car went bang, I'd then think about getting a replacement or fixing it. As I'm trying to save money right now, I'd probably end up just selling/scrapping and stick to one car for a bit.
Edit to add: I regret replying now - feels like I've probably jinxed myself just writing this down.
Depending on which car went bang, I'd then think about getting a replacement or fixing it. As I'm trying to save money right now, I'd probably end up just selling/scrapping and stick to one car for a bit.
Edit to add: I regret replying now - feels like I've probably jinxed myself just writing this down.
Edited by aizvara on Friday 6th March 13:54
To directly answer the OP, I'd just pay to get it fixed. Life's full of risks like that - do you pay British Gas £x a year to get free boiler servicing and repairs, or do you chance it and save the money instead? Do you take out pet insurance or do you risk your dog needing expensive permanent medication. Normally I just take the risk and save the money instead, but it's a personal choice. Warranties are available on used cars if you want them.
bqf said:
Actually, heres a funny story. One of the dads at my sons school bought a Bentley Conti convertible. Brand spanking new.
2,000 miles in - kaboom - conrod destroys engine.
Bentley gave a loan car and are replacing the engine. I'd be furious.
So if your car happened to suffer from a freak and almost unheard of defect and the dealer offered you almost definitely a like for like loan car whilst it was being repaired (I'd imagine for a week or two tops) you'd be furious?2,000 miles in - kaboom - conrod destroys engine.
Bentley gave a loan car and are replacing the engine. I'd be furious.
Why?
benters said:
bqf said:
Actually, heres a funny story. One of the dads at my sons school bought a Bentley Conti convertible. Brand spanking new.
2,000 miles in - kaboom - conrod destroys engine.
Bentley gave a loan car and are replacing the engine. I'd be furious.
just shows that the higher the price doesn't always mean a guarantee of higher quality. . .as has been said, these things happen, if your getting a loaner and a replacement engine, I guess there is not much more Bentley could do. 2,000 miles in - kaboom - conrod destroys engine.
Bentley gave a loan car and are replacing the engine. I'd be furious.
When the cam belt went on my old 16v Gti it was £150 of wallet bashing to join VW Assist and the cost of a new Cambelt to be fitted at the nearest dealer to where the car went pop. 200 Miles from home. Very difficult few weeks that was but no bits of metal on the road.
If the engine went on either 968 I would be a bit gutted but would likely buy a spare and get it fitted, selling one of them to cover the costs.
On the Golf no idea, would be guided by the garage I trust how would have the joy of what's left arrive with them.
With the MX5 - under warranty.
With the Chim it might become a 4.3 BV rather than a 4.0 but it's the Mrs call.
With the Tammy again it would be the Mrs' call as her car but it was bought with a rebuild factored into the price so would be more of a non saving that an additional cost IYSWIM.
We have breakdown cover on all our cars and in the brief time I had the 8v Gti a few years back reckon I have had at least my money back on the costs of this. That said it is just starting to tip the balance in favour of an AA European joint policy as we are spending not far off £300 between us pa on this now!
If the engine went on either 968 I would be a bit gutted but would likely buy a spare and get it fitted, selling one of them to cover the costs.
On the Golf no idea, would be guided by the garage I trust how would have the joy of what's left arrive with them.
With the MX5 - under warranty.
With the Chim it might become a 4.3 BV rather than a 4.0 but it's the Mrs call.
With the Tammy again it would be the Mrs' call as her car but it was bought with a rebuild factored into the price so would be more of a non saving that an additional cost IYSWIM.
We have breakdown cover on all our cars and in the brief time I had the 8v Gti a few years back reckon I have had at least my money back on the costs of this. That said it is just starting to tip the balance in favour of an AA European joint policy as we are spending not far off £300 between us pa on this now!
Get an engine out of a Grande Punto/500 Abarth, chuck st old 1.2 8v engine away, put some decent suspension on and maybe some Grande Punto Abarth wheels (depends on how well bicycle tyres can handle the extra power), then confuse every Hot Hatch driver in North London...
Actually, I might do this anyway, regardless of the fact that the current engine is still working.
Anyone want a 1.2 8v engine out of a Grande Punto?
t old 1.2 8v engine away, put some decent suspension on and maybe some Grande Punto Abarth wheels (depends on how well bicycle tyres can handle the extra power), then confuse every Hot Hatch driver in North London...Actually, I might do this anyway, regardless of the fact that the current engine is still working.
Anyone want a 1.2 8v engine out of a Grande Punto?
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