Mini Cooper S - advice please!
Discussion
Hi all,
Hoping to get some advice on my poorly Mini Cooper S 2008.
It broke down last week due to a timing chain fault and this has damaged the inside of the engine and I now have a bill of almost £3k to get it fully repaired and back up and running. This work includes replacing the timing chain and work to the cylinder head.
So here's the question..... as the car is worth about £4,500 (when in full working order) do I sell it in its current state, hoping a mechanic or garage will buy it, do the work and they sell it on? My concern here is that I would get not a lot for the car as it is.
Or do I stump up the repair bill and get it fixed?
Not a great situation to be in so would appreciate thoughts and feedback on what I should do.
Thanks!
Hoping to get some advice on my poorly Mini Cooper S 2008.
It broke down last week due to a timing chain fault and this has damaged the inside of the engine and I now have a bill of almost £3k to get it fully repaired and back up and running. This work includes replacing the timing chain and work to the cylinder head.
So here's the question..... as the car is worth about £4,500 (when in full working order) do I sell it in its current state, hoping a mechanic or garage will buy it, do the work and they sell it on? My concern here is that I would get not a lot for the car as it is.
Or do I stump up the repair bill and get it fixed?
Not a great situation to be in so would appreciate thoughts and feedback on what I should do.
Thanks!
I'd personally get a second hand engine fitted and get rid. The N14 engine in those are nothing but trouble - I had a Citroen DS3 with the same one.
The later model cars have a revised engine - the N18. There's currently one on ebay for 1800, if you went down the route of having the revised engine fitted I'd be inclined to hold onto it for a while and get your money's worth.
The later model cars have a revised engine - the N18. There's currently one on ebay for 1800, if you went down the route of having the revised engine fitted I'd be inclined to hold onto it for a while and get your money's worth.
As others have said, I think your only two realistic options are to get shot of it as is to just save youself the hassle of dealing with the situation in exchange for a financial hit, or to fit a second-hand engine.
A used engine will be around half the cost of the repair bill you quoted (although no idea on how much labour would be involved on a MINI) and you'll know with reasonable certainty that you're starting from scratch with an essentially good engine. With major repairs like you're talking about there's always the potential (whilst unlikely) to be chasing gremlins for ever and it never quite being right again.
A used engine will be around half the cost of the repair bill you quoted (although no idea on how much labour would be involved on a MINI) and you'll know with reasonable certainty that you're starting from scratch with an essentially good engine. With major repairs like you're talking about there's always the potential (whilst unlikely) to be chasing gremlins for ever and it never quite being right again.
I was in the same situation last year.
I stumped up for the work on having my original engine rebuilt - total bill was £4,2k on a £5.5k car (this included a new clutch etc)
Reasoning was i'll just run it into the ground for 30k miles a year now safe in the knowledge that it shouldn't go pop again and i bought a tidy car in the first place.
Car hasnt used a drop of oil since it was done - and i drive it pretty hard.
I stumped up for the work on having my original engine rebuilt - total bill was £4,2k on a £5.5k car (this included a new clutch etc)
Reasoning was i'll just run it into the ground for 30k miles a year now safe in the knowledge that it shouldn't go pop again and i bought a tidy car in the first place.
Car hasnt used a drop of oil since it was done - and i drive it pretty hard.
If you're brutally realistic about values this is also a no-brainer. You've said £4500 but there are high-spec cars advertised on ebay and Gumtree for well less than £4000 and as low as £3400 with some recent service history and MOTd. Even with a replacement engine, you're not necessarily going to see £1000 back for it if you sell it on at the repair prices you've been quoted.
I had the same thing. Timing chain jumped and bent two valves. I done all the work myself so about £500 in total probably less. Unfortunately it’s not worth £4500 I thought that with mine trying to sell it with all the work done etc. Couldn’t sell it and got some silly offers so gave it to my gf to trade in to get rid of it.
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