My car has done 180thousand miles, newly MOT'd/taxed & now has a probable blown head gasket. I don't want to spend any more money on it.
I'm in Cornwall & have not yet managed to find a scrap metal merchant who pays by weight, so that doesn't seem like an option at the moment.
So, before I scrap it for nothing, I thought I'd try an ad in case anyone wanted to try & fix the head gasket themselves (??). Is that a ridiculous idea, given the amount of work I hear is involved in that? Perhaps it's only good for spares, if that.
Basically, I don't know what price to ask for. Is £160/150 way too much? Any ideas on prices or otherwise, I'd be grateful.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 29/12/2009 at 01:25
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It depends largely on condition, unless its immaculate I doubt if its worth more than scrap value. If the car is good otherwise I would fit a head gasket, it will be a lot cheaper than buying a modern car and having to pay a garage every time somethiing goes wrong. Whatever you buy secondhand is bound to want something doing to it and unless you can do it yourself will probably cost more than repairing yours. Cars made in the mid '90s were the best, they have gone steadily down hill since.
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Have you owned it for more than a year?
Know any relatives or friends that want a new car?
Take advantage of the scrappage scheme. Initially register the new car in your name, then transfer ownership to them a few weeks later.
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I have just gone down the route suggested by DD. I owned an old Clio which was used by my son-in-law and of which he was the registered keeper. He traded it against a new car, for which I paid (less the £2000 scrappage). He picked it up and when the V5 arrived sent it straight back to Swansea. Job Done! You car is worth £2000 if you do it the right way.
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If you're mechanically minded (or have a mate who is), a head gasket change on one of these is a relatively easy job, assuming as Peter says, the rest of the car's condition makes it worthwhile.
Otherwise the scrappage route is an excellent idea.
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OK, thanks all for the excellent feedback.
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Given the circumstances wouldn't trying something like K-seal be a reasonable gamble?
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Does any one know if Steel Seal works?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3suQy44G_B0
It seems very unlikely. But has anyone used the stuff?
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K Seal worked on my XUD engine when it started an appetite for water - and that was over 18 mths ago now.
Not an ideal solution but there becomes a point in a cars life where these remedies are acceptable.
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