I am 90% certain that the head gasket has gone on my
petrol 95 M plate Golf 1.6 CL.
It is having a block test today to confirm.
I hear that it is best to have the head skimmed when
replacing the head gasket.
I was going to change the car anyway in September,
the question is, do I fork out the £400 + or trade it in
for another car??
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 26/12/2007 at 18:10
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If the car is in good shape, I would have the work done. Mk3 Golfs seem to be still in demand, but you will have to reduce the price by more than £400 to sell it with a blown head gasket.
The price you have been quoted seems a little high, even including a head skim. This is basically the old 8 valve motor from the Mk2 Golf, and a head gasket change shouldn't be a major job. Say 4 hours @ £35, new head gasket and cam belt, cam cover and manifold gaskets, plus fresh antifreeze £75 (max), and maybe £75 for the head skim. Head should only need skimming if the engine has been overheated due to the blown gasket.
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The garage has contacted me with a all in price of £400.
I probably will have the work done.
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You could do ityourself in under 5 hours for the cost of the gasket.They are simple to change.That is of course if money is scarce,400ups is way over the top a 150 to 200 is about correct.I am returning to the UK next week and would welcome a few Golf head gaskest changes at 400ukps to get me started.
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Andy B, AND Mark (Brazil) AND Growler - all heading back...
Is there something sinister going on, I wonder?
;>)
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Blimey, where do you live? Main dealers are on £70 ph plus VAT round here in SW Surrey.
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With South American economies imploding I am not surprised! Recommends he comes to Colchester, Essex. Loads of car work and nice easy in-easy out units convenient for town centre. Ones I am thinking of are nearby a sports centre and MacDonalds(not sure if this is an advantage)
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Last time I was in Colchester was at University, and living in Clacton.
I have to say I prefer Rio.
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I'll be up there tonight having my weekly kick about on the astroturf (which may not have been in place when you were there).
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Mark
Don't you miss the easterly breeze whistling round those (non-ivory) towers?
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Nuts (Brazil)
I obviously missed the fact that you were returning, I take it this is only temporary?
"And I'd like to roll to Rio
Some day before I'm old!"
(Kipling)
Stu.
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I used to like the huge chess set. Playng chess from up the building and shouting down below for the pieces to move was fun.
Especially given the state we were normally in by the time big chess seemed like a good idea !
And that wonderful cascading fountain - except it didn`t.
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>I obviously missed the fact that you were returning, I take it this is only temporary?
Brolly,
visiting in the next few weeks, returning to do a contract, of about 12 months, after July when this one finishes.
Nuts.
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Matt,
I doubt if astroturf was even invented when I was there. We only had two types of grass - the type you sat/walked on and the other type.
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I considered a job there once, went to look around the site and decided it was too depressing to contemplate!
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Richard, don't know who charges £35/hour anymore, but if you ise that in the calculation, I make that a total of £140 + Gaskets £30 + cambelt £20 + antifreeze £10 + oil £20 + oil filter £10 + skim £75 = £305, and don't forget the VAT, total = £358. Most garages charge £50/hour + VAT, which makes a total of £428.
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Richard, £25/hour?? I should keep quite about them, in case too many people start using them and they put the rates up. Don't know how they survive, as if they manage to actually book 37 hours/week at £25/hour it only comes to £600/week. By the time they take off the overheads, then Gordon Brown's ever increasing share, they must be earning £300/week. A lot less than you probably earn, me thinks.
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i had exactly this problem with a 309. If you like the car, its fine in all other respects, mechanically and cosmetically then i woulod go for the change. Really this is a job you can do yourself or with a slightly knowledgible friend, and for £100 all in. Otherwise phone around a get some other estimates. If you want to sell then you can be ethical and mention the problem, or you can try and hide it. I found the latter very hard to do and found myself mentioning it to the prospective owners and knocked the price down accordingly.
Good luck whihc ever option you choose.
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£50? £70? My two favourite local garages in Ipswich charge £25, and they don't make up the difference by overcharging on parts and lubricants either. There are no polite words to describe a garage charging £70 per hour, plus big mark up on parts, and oil priced per half litre as if you were buying it in little bottles. Here in Suffolk, £70 per hour is the sort of rate you pay for a lawyer, not a car mechanic.
Moral - shop around. There are probably more independent specialists for VWs than any other make of car, and if you think you'll get better quality work from a main agent, you haven't been a Backroomer for long enough....
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Local garages in Bristol Bedminster charge between £20-£25/hour. probably not alot of help to you but it's nice to know someone somewhere is being sensible.
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The problem must be - with our friends from foreign shores returning - how on earth are they going to compare the UK (roads/TAX/fuel prices/weather/car prices/safety/LPG conversions (that Mr Bairsto once condemned as dangerous but now wishes to have done on his return)/weather/weather/weather/etc to the area in which they currently reside which, as always, must be better than being in the UK.
Are we going to start some petty tit-for-tat over Council Tax rates and Britain in Bloom?
A bit off-topic but £400 is big bucks for a head gasket.
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We have to take a few risks in live otherwise it gets boring.
Andy
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