Headgasket blown after 17,000 on recon engine - what can i do ?

redsclubbedup

Hi all

I made the mistake of buying a 2nd hand freelander

It was sat on my drive for 8 weeks having enough work done to get it safe to drive (looks like it had a dodgy MOT)

I bought the car in question as I knew about the headgasket issues - and this one was sold with a fully reconditioned engine, with multilayered headgasket with only 17,000 on it.

This work was carried out by the previous owners garage in October 09 - and I have the bill for £800

My question is - do I have any legal standing here, to go down the small claims route - or even to contact them and ask for the work to be carried out again ???

I can see no guarantee in the paperwork - just a receipt but surely a fully reconned engine, with only 17,000 on teh clock should not suffer headgasket failure if the job had been done properlt - I have heard of them going as early as 40K, but that was the old style, not the new mulitlayered one

any advice is much appreciated

thanks

ian

molerat

It did not have a "recon" for £800. A recon engine will cost around 2K+ depending on model plus labour. The engine was repaired after HGF. As you did not pay for the work you have no recourse. Buyer beware.

steveo3002

yeah 800 sounds like fit a new gasket , a recon lump fitted would be several thousand pounds

forgotmyname

Was the recon engine just a 2nd hand one? that had claimed to have only done 17,000 miles?

Or 17,000 on the original engine after having the headgasket done?

Puzzled as to what the 17,000 miles relates to? Done 17,000 miles since oct 2009?

Hammyman

steveo3002 wrote: »

yeah 800 sounds like fit a new gasket , a recon lump fitted would be several thousand pounds

Err, no. The last reconditioned engine I bought was £800. It had a full crank regrind, new pistons and rings, a rebore, new valve guides and seats cut, new valves and a camshaft and was done by a company with a good reputation in the classic Ford scene.

Hell, I once bought Ford Sierra twin cam with a receipt for a brand new engine from the local Ford Dealership and that was only £1500 so quite where you're plucking this fantasy figure of several thousand pounds from is beyond me.

Hammyman

molerat wrote: »

It did not have a "recon" for £800. A recon engine will cost around 2K+ depending on model plus labour. The engine was repaired after HGF. As you did not pay for the work you have no recourse. Buyer beware.

Utter tosh. I've bought recons for £800 and I've had a car with a receipt for a brand new engine from the main dealers for £1500

johnnyroper

steveo3002 wrote: »

yeah 800 sounds like fit a new gasket , a recon lump fitted would be several thousand pounds

that figure is way out for a recon engine,when i worked at vauxhall you could get a recon x18xe through the parts dept for about £1100 on exchange basis,the labour to fit would not be more about 5 hours so several thousand is way more than i would pay.that is more like a genuine brand new unit price not a recon..


as for a landy the k series lumps are ten a penny so prices should be reasonable.

colino

I think the point is that whatever engine work was done it wasn't paid for by you and the warranty, if any, is unlikely to be transferrable.

Hammyman

colino wrote: »

I think the point is that whatever engine work was done it wasn't paid for by you and the warranty, if any, is unlikely to be transferrable.

That and pretty much every recon I've come across has a 12 month, 12000 mile warranty.