What is my car worth if it needs an engine/rebuild?

[Shuvi McTupya]

I appear to have gotten some H20 into a place it shouldn't be (the cylinders) and the car is off to the garage tomorrow so i am trying to figure out possible outcomes..

The car is a 2003 X-type 2.5 petrol AWD. I just paid £2,400 for it a couple of months ago. Although she is currently still running, the engine management light is on and the car is restricted to 3000RPM.

A mobile mechanic has taken a quick look and the fault codes are all to do with a misfire in one side of the engine. He seems to think that the chances are it will need a new engine or a rebuild . The insurance company say i am on my own.

Anyone have any idea how much an engine swap might be? I can get a used lump with 60 day warranty for £1k, but how much labour is reasonable?

Or the alternative is a rebuild, how much labour would be reasonable (hours, not pounds) to rebuild one of these things?

I would like to go to the garage a little prepared, so i know if they are quoting reasonable figures at me.

Or, is this car basically a total loss if it needs either of these things?

Thanks

[SV8Predator]

It might just be a blown head gasket.

And what do you mean about the insurance company? Do you mean warranty company?

[Shuvi McTupya]

not sure about the head gasket, i dont appear to have water in the oil..

The car is not under warranty, so i thought i would check with my insurance company to see if i was covered for this kind of damage.

Apparently i would have been covered if i had driven into a flood and got stuck, but seeing as this damage appears to have been done by just going through some deep puddles and the car is till running, i am not covered

[phumy]

You can still get water into the cylinder from a blown gasket and not have water in the oil. (or very little anyway)

[Six Fiend]

The air intake is at the top of the grilles on the X-type so I'd be amazed if it was puddles to be honest - unless you created a big old wave above bumper height.

Sounds more like head gasket which I think may be better news.

[P700DEE]

Might be nothing more than water in the plug wells affecting the coils. Removal and drying would be my first step. Very common issue with the V8s as the coil covers are prone to damage and can let water in.

[Shuvi McTupya]

Six Fiend said:

The air intake is at the top of the grilles on the X-type so I'd be amazed if it was puddles to be honest - unless you created a big old wave above bumper height.

Sounds more like head gasket which I think may be better news.

Well, the exhaust pipes were fully submerged when i was in the middle of the puddle and i did the wrong thing and just tried to power through so i imagine i did create a bit of a bow wave

The car cut out but restarted after it was pushed out of the water.

No defense, i am a town dwelling numpty, not used to living in the country, i thought the 'puddle' was easily passable

[tonys]

Has anybody actually said you have water in the cylinders? You might be lucky and it could just be water not mixing well with some of the electrics.

[Shuvi McTupya]

Nobody has actually said there is water in the cylinders but i did have to dry out the air filter and there was a bit of water in the pipe the other side of it.

the car is now at a garage and they are investigating. So far they suspect it might just just be the coils in the rear bank of cylinders. They have to remove the manifold (which it turns out has some buggered bolts on) in order to check it out.

fingers crossed

Also, after a bit of shopping around i can get an engine delivered for £550, and that will still leave me the original engine to sell on to someone who wants to rebuild it, but hopefully i won't need to do any of that..

Edited by Shuvi McTupya on Friday 4th January 19:48