Head Gasket Cost ?

[evil len]

My 2001 2.2 Omega 119k is in the garage ... on Friday it started misfiring badly, dash all lit up, heavy coolant loss ... to my eyes the oil's starting to turn a bit milky and the oil level's gone up, so the obvious assumption here would be head gasket.

When I dropped it off to my local independant garage (the closest to my house !) the guy commented that "if it is the head gasket, it's going to be about £1000".

Now, maybe I'm out of touch, but that seems rather high (even allowing for possible head skimming etc) ... thoughts everyone ?

[louismchuge]

I would have thought it'd be more like half that

[kambites]

I don't know anything about that particular engine, but on the Elise, it's generally reckoned to be about 4-500 quid.

[S3_Graham]

i did my own on my polo for about £80...

[balders118]

I recently got a quote on my car "fiat" for a headgasket as I thought it may have gone, £600 quid, maybe a bit more he said. Generally I have found the fiat to be relatively expensive to repair. Luckily I dont think it has gone.. keeping an eye on it.

[Targarama]

Sounds a bit steep - maybe ask on a Vauxhall forum, they will know the ins and outs for this engine (is it an overbored 2.0 or a completely different engine?).

Hope you get it sorted. Otherwise I guess you'll be looking for another shed, maybe a Mk1 Transit to keep up the image?

[evil len]

Targarama said:

Sounds a bit steep - maybe ask on a Vauxhall forum, they will know the ins and outs for this engine (is it an overbored 2.0 or a completely different engine?).

Hope you get it sorted. Otherwise I guess you'll be looking for another shed, maybe a Mk1 Transit to keep up the image?

Oy, watch it Tref

[edo]

Be cheaper to scrap it and buy another - even at £500 for the repair?

2000 VAUXHALL OMEGA 2.0i 16V GLS 4dr Saloon
Private Seller
53,000 miles, Grey with cloth trim, 4 Door Saloon, Petrol, Manual, Full Service History, 10 months Mot, taxed, front airbags, air conditioning, RCL, CD player, alloy wheels, 2 keys, very good condition throughout. £999.

Edited by edo on Monday 19th April 13:06

[The Hitman]

Did the mechanic suck through his teeth before telling you the "bad" news?

They love taking people for their money.

How much is the car worth? Is it worth it to do a DIY job on it? I'd wager its better than forking out a hefty bill to pay for a round of drinks at that guy's local.

[evil len]

The scrap it option is certainly there, hence why I'm asking really ... it's probably worth about £1500 tops, if that (looking at local Omegas on Autotrader). On top of the head gasket it needs a new exhaust and rear brakes. If the head job is about £500 I'd get it done (it's a good car otherwise, and you never know what hidden problems a replacement car might have) but if it's £1000 then it's prob not worth it. However general consensus is that if it IS £1000 (and it was only a passing comment, the muppet on receiption might be wrong I guess) then they are potentially robbing gits

[Superhoop]

Is the Omega fitted with a water cooled oil cooler?

I only ask, as some of the older VW engines are, and when the cooler fails, the symptoms look the same as HG failure (Milky oil, coolant loss, oil level rising). A replacement oil cooler is about £30 from GSF

[evil len]

I dont think so ... but even so, that wouldnt account for the bad misfire / low power / engine dash lights would it ?

[busta]

Buy this headgasket kit, this haynes manual and splash out on this decent socket set and it's job done for just over £100 with shiny new tools to show for it.

Edited by busta on Monday 19th April 13:29

[evil len]

Already got the tools and the manual ... what I dont have is the time and inclination to get home from work and start working out on the driveway all evening trying to get the damn thing put together within a sensible time frame (the older I get, the more I canna be harrised )

[Targarama]

evil len said:

Already got the tools and the manual ... what I dont have is the time and inclination to get home from work and start working out on the driveway all evening trying to get the damn thing put together within a sensible time frame (the older I get, the more I canna be harrised )

How about one of those mechanics who comes to your home with a van full of tricks and tinkers? I guess you need to see what this garage is up to first...

[evil len]

Sorted, got the car back from the ripoff garage, and got someone in Nottingham to do it for 300-350 ... okay, I've also got to pay a bit for transport, but it'll still be waaaay cheaper and I trust this guy.

Thanks for all the replies guys