Audi S3 Engine seizure - what should I do?
Audi S3 Engine seizure - what should I do?
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Discussion

Fanatical

Original Poster:

3 posts

35 months

Tuesday 22nd August 2023
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I’m praying someone can give me some advice here! My car is a 2010 S3 black edition with 150k on the clock.

As I was driving home yesterday the engine seized and the garage have got back to me to say it’s won’t turnover and is basically.

The oil warning light came on and the engine shut down before I could get to a safe place. 

Car insurance won’t pay out on engine failures so I’m trying to figure out what my best option is in this situation? I’m guessing it will be to scrap it/ sell it for spares and repairs as the car is in excellent condition but can anyone give me any advice on the best way to do this as I don’t have the skills required to strip this down myself?

Or if anyone has any other ideas I would really appreciate any input.

Thanks in advance!

Crusoe

4,120 posts

258 months

Tuesday 22nd August 2023
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Would need assessing to see if anything was salvageable but it looks like a secondhand engine is around £1500 on ebay, or if is seized with no oil pressure you might just need liners and pistons and could keep the rest though turbos and other bits don't tend to like running without oil. You could do some upgrades while you have the head off, bore it slightly larger and fit some better parts.

MDMA .

10,528 posts

128 months

Tuesday 22nd August 2023
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Friend of a friend owns this place.

https://m.facebook.com/vagpartswigan

I don’t have Facebook myself so you might be better to check yourself. He always has them in and is breaking them. Worth a call or maybe see about trailering yours up to him and swap the engine. Easy enough job.

Belle427

11,704 posts

260 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2023
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Replacement engine is probably the way forward and most cost effective, if you dont want the fuss then stick it on ebay as it is.
Likely to cost you around £3000 to put it right with the above but whats to say the replacement wont let go as well, didnt they have issues with oil pumps?

Abdul Abulbul Amir

13,179 posts

239 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2023
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Most likely to be the balance shaft bearing that have seized...the shaft runs off the same chain as the oil pump, so when the balance shaft seizes it snaps the chain so no oil pump.

Anyone with an EA113 8P S3 should get the balance shaft delete sprocket....bit late for the OP sorry.

eta
...and renew the oil pickup pipe at the same time.

Fanatical

Original Poster:

3 posts

35 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2023
quotequote all
Belle427 said:
Replacement engine is probably the way forward and most cost effective, if you dont want the fuss then stick it on ebay as it is.
Likely to cost you around £3000 to put it right with the above but whats to say the replacement wont let go as well, didnt they have issues with oil pumps?
Yeah that’s my concern with trying to get a replacement engine, it could end up being another £3-£5k down the drain. If I did go down that route, where would be the best/safest place to source one?

Also, i know it’s a bit of a lottery if I sell it as is on eBay but does anyone know how much I would expect to get for it?

Thanks for everyone’s input, I really appreciate it.

Belle427

11,704 posts

260 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2023
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I'm sure I've seen that Wigan Vag parts linked to on a you tube channel I watch and they seem like good guys to me.

CrippsCorner

3,362 posts

208 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2023
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Stick an RS3 engine in driving

Mr_Megalomaniac

1,239 posts

93 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2023
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Sorry OP. Sounds like, if insurance are saying this isn't covered, then it's either part it out or swap another engine in.
Not trying to be funny, but it's why I left VAG products after 7 years. The lack of reliability was very annoying after a period of time. Been having better success with Jap products, and ironically enough Jags (petrol ones, please note).

BertBert

21,125 posts

238 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2023
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Mr_Megalomaniac said:
Sorry OP. Sounds like, if insurance are saying this isn't covered, then it's either part it out or swap another engine in.
Not trying to be funny, but it's why I left VAG products after 7 years. The lack of reliability was very annoying after a period of time. Been having better success with Jap products, and ironically enough Jags (petrol ones, please note).
Or sell it as is

georgeyboy12345

4,554 posts

62 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2023
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You’ll get maybe £1700 for it if the engine is seized.

bencollins4

1,239 posts

233 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2023
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Mr_Megalomaniac said:
Sorry OP. Sounds like, if insurance are saying this isn't covered, then it's either part it out or swap another engine in.
Not trying to be funny, but it's why I left VAG products after 7 years. The lack of reliability was very annoying after a period of time. Been having better success with Jap products, and ironically enough Jags (petrol ones, please note).
You’re not going to get a motor insurer to pay out for a mechanical failure I’m afraid.

Has a similar incident with my wife’s Mini Cooper S a year or so back which had overheated. In the end I found someone to buy it as it was for £1,400. Repair with a new engine was circa £3k and even then it would be worth no more than £4k so we had to give up on it. Your S3 will be worth a bit more though so run through the maths when you get a repair estimate and go from there.

Gixer968CS

843 posts

115 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2023
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georgeyboy12345 said:
You’ll get maybe £1700 for it if the engine is seized.
Don't think so. A nice 2010 S3 could fetch up to £10k. £7-8k easy in good condition. I could see a nice car with a blown engine fetching easily over £3k and maybe as much as £5k to the right person

Mr Whippy

32,453 posts

268 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2023
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Ignore common faults at high mileages to your peril.

I’d just learn to strip it down and sell all the bits on.

ZX10R NIN

30,390 posts

152 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2023
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OP with you car being worth mote than a couple of K, I'd personally go for a used engine.

Puppisadeer

95 posts

58 months

Thursday 24th August 2023
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If you can get some kind of warranty on the engine/repair, it may be worth doing and keeping it until warranty expires - it would help you get more value out of the repair cost.

Fanatical

Original Poster:

3 posts

35 months

Thursday 24th August 2023
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So maybe see if I can source an engine (providing I can get some sort of warranty for protection) and once it’s fitted I could then sell it immediately and hopefully get a decent price for it?

Where are the best places to source an engine please? Is it a case of calling individual salvage yards or just looking on ebay?

Thanks for all the input lads, I definitely don’t have a clue so any info is a big help.