Was I Overcharged for Engine Replacement?
Discussion
My car recently broke down on the motorway. I contacted a local company and they towed me off to their garage. They had a look at the engine and because it was losing a lot of oil internally they said the best thing to do was buy a second hand engine and have it fitted. They told me it would be best to buy a second hand engine as it would cost up to £300, then with fitting, a new cam/timing belt, and a couple of other new parts, my total outlay would be up to £800 . They said to by one from a breaker for about £250 and showed me one on the internet that was the correct type and available. They told me that they weren't allowed to buy the engine for me. I bought the engine after phoning the company selling it and they said it was in working order, so I bought it and got it delivered to the local garage. They then fitted the engine, after testing it by hand, and then told me that it didn't work properly. I then rang the engine supplier and they sent another engine. My garage then fitted this engine for me and it worked ok. When I got my bill I had been charged 8 hours labour at £50 per hour for fitting the first engine and removal of my engine and then another 6 hours labour for removing the faulty engine and fitting the working engine. My total garage bill ended up being £930 inc VAT, so my overall cost was nearly £1200! I am now told by the garage that the CAT is damaged and also needs replacing which is another £70 for the part and an hours labour. The car was only worth £2000 when I bought it a year earlier!
My question is, Is the garage being fair or reasonable? Should I have paid for all this labour? Can I get reimbursed the cost of the labour for the fitting and removal of the faulty engine from either the garage giving the advice or the seller of the engine?
My question is, Is the garage being fair or reasonable? Should I have paid for all this labour? Can I get reimbursed the cost of the labour for the fitting and removal of the faulty engine from either the garage giving the advice or the seller of the engine?
This is the minefield buying a engine separately which the fitted garage would have known, the risk was put on you. I don't think they have been unreasonable thou.
I would pursue costs for the broken engine but I am sure some one better qualified can help.
Unfirtetuly any older car can go kaput and it is easy to get suxked in to spending money.
I would pursue costs for the broken engine but I am sure some one better qualified can help.
Unfirtetuly any older car can go kaput and it is easy to get suxked in to spending money.
...and that's precisely why the garage fitting the engine were reluctant to get involved in supplying it, too.
Because they know it's a minefield, and didn't want exposure to the risk of it being a pup.
Supply-and-fit? You're liable for the labour in replacing if the part turns out to be duff.
Customer-supply-you-fit? You're only liable for problems arising from your labour.
Because they know it's a minefield, and didn't want exposure to the risk of it being a pup.
Supply-and-fit? You're liable for the labour in replacing if the part turns out to be duff.
Customer-supply-you-fit? You're only liable for problems arising from your labour.
Firstly, I don't think the garage is being unreasonable, as mentioned there's always a risk with 2nd hand engines (and to be fair to the scrappy, they seem to be being reasonable too).
Secondly, £1200 for effectively 2 engine refits including a 2nd hand engine is pretty damn cheap in my expectations (I'd have guessed £1000 just to do the one!), so it doesn't seem like you've been ripped off by the garage.
Unfortunate that one engine was a duffer? Yes... But look on the bright side, you're already stuck with spending the money, hopefully the car is sorted now and you can keep driving it!
Secondly, £1200 for effectively 2 engine refits including a 2nd hand engine is pretty damn cheap in my expectations (I'd have guessed £1000 just to do the one!), so it doesn't seem like you've been ripped off by the garage.
Unfortunate that one engine was a duffer? Yes... But look on the bright side, you're already stuck with spending the money, hopefully the car is sorted now and you can keep driving it!
As a mechanic i will NOT supply S/H parts but i will fit owner supplyed parts, it's standard practise as said above, you supply then you pay when they are broke, dont fit ect and yes an engine breathing lots of oil will block the cat.
Hmm i woner if this new poster will return or dissapear like all the other 1 post wonders we get? ask a question, dont like the answer = dissapear.
Over to the OP to prove me wronge (i may be jaded through years of answering question and getting no reply) .
Hmm i woner if this new poster will return or dissapear like all the other 1 post wonders we get? ask a question, dont like the answer = dissapear.
Over to the OP to prove me wronge (i may be jaded through years of answering question and getting no reply) .
S0 What said:
As a mechanic i will NOT supply S/H parts but i will fit owner supplyed parts, it's standard practise as said above, you supply then you pay when they are broke, dont fit ect and yes an engine breathing lots of oil will block the cat.
Hmm i woner if this new poster will return or dissapear like all the other 1 post wonders we get? ask a question, dont like the answer = dissapear.
Over to the OP to prove me wronge (i may be jaded through years of answering question and getting no reply) .
Perfectly reasonable to join a forum that knows about something, get your answer and then leave. Why would he stick around ?Hmm i woner if this new poster will return or dissapear like all the other 1 post wonders we get? ask a question, dont like the answer = dissapear.
Over to the OP to prove me wronge (i may be jaded through years of answering question and getting no reply) .
If you try and claim to the supplier of the original engine for some money they will no doubt send you packing, saying it must have been damaged or whatever by the fitters
Hard lesson to learn really
As said above, a car worth two grand and a blown engine is not work spending on - I would have just cut it loose or floged it on ebay and bought another
Hard lesson to learn really
As said above, a car worth two grand and a blown engine is not work spending on - I would have just cut it loose or floged it on ebay and bought another
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