I have just had a compression test done on my Rover 100 ascot and was told that the head gasket had gone and that there was water leaking ito the cylinders, I have half expected this as it has been over heating alot recently. It has been mentioned by one garage that as the engine is a K series it is useless to replace/repair this problem as it will go again within 18 months, but other places have not said this, so the first question would be is this correct?
I have also been quoted prices of £650-£700 to get it done (from the garage that did the test) and a ball park figure of £450 + VAT from an engine specialist who hasn't seen the car as yet, do these sound like reasonable prices (this is my first car and I really am not too sure on prices, and as I am a student omoney is tight and I don't want to be ripped off!)
Many thanks in advance for help with this!
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hi, the prices ou have been given, are realistic prices for retail work, and ref what the garage said ref not worth the repair, it is commen knowledge that the k series engie wasn't the best for headgaskets. the only thing ref the ball part figure you was given, is they will be quoting you no doubt on removing the head, replacing the gasket, and rebuilding it. i would ask them the question first, of what extra will it cost you if they find that the overheating has casued the cylinder head to warp and buckle?? normally a skim will be in the region of £40, but you need to know the worst poss outcome, ie if the clyinder head is found to be u/s. because you dont want to go wading in if money is a priority, because if they say £450 + vat, what will happen when they say it also needs a head? (worst case obviously) and that it will be an extra £200 + vat.
I dont mean to make it all look so bleak, but working in a garage, i have learnt that it is best that a customer knows everything that could poss be at fault.
thanks
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seems a bit expensive that! Where abouts are you in the country? theres a few garages round the teesside area that would charge a 1/3 of that and do a good job!
Also, if the job is done properly and the car didnt significantly overheat then it will last for a considerable amount of time - the garage should change the head dowls from plastic to metal which does help.
I had my K series HG replaced a couple of years and 50K ago and is still ok.
Also get them to change the cam belt whilst they are doing it - that would be £150 alone and they'll only add £20 for the cam belt to the bill!
If its a 1.1 its fairly easy to do yourself with a haynes manual, rainy weekend and a crate of lager!!
Hope this helps
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Thanks for the advice, I will take the car into the place that quoted £450 and let them have a look at it, see if I can get an exact price, as much as I would love to have a go at it myself I have neither the tools nor the experience and no garage so a rainy weekend would be a bad thing!
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£450 - too much to spend on an old car. Bet it's rusty as well.
I would put that money towards something else.
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i"d have a look through the autotader and my local auction before i put any money into the over,sorry
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I agree.... £450+VAT = £528 which is far more than the car is worth.
You could pick up a Mark 3 Golf for that kind of money! You'll have a far better car, which is more reliable, and will be worth far more than the Metro when you come to sell it. (you'll also go up several notches in credibility stakes!!)
I bought an M-reg VW Golf 1.6 with 100,000 miles on it but in A1 condition with 12 months MOT for £600 the other week.
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The headgasket also went on my 1997 Rover 100 - I just scrapped it and bought a Micra!
The headgasket on my previous car, a Metro with a K-series engine, lasted over 95,000 miles so they're not as fragile as people make out.
Have you considered getting a second-hand engine instead? They normally cost around £250-300 fitted and usually have a 30 day warranty. You could then sell your car for up to £1000, assuming there's a reasonable amount of time left on the MOT.
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a 30 day warranty,mm and as the engine may have stood in the breakers yard for 6 months and all gaskets/ ancilleries have deteriated to a point of breaking down. I personally wouldnt buy an engine like this for an over i would want to hear it running in the donor vehicle first before i parted with my money............sorry
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