Should I sell my broken car to my mechanic?

Calum

VW GOLF SDI E 1.9 (V Reg, 99)

Hi,

I put my car to my mechanic with a serious issue with the car burning oild and ideling at low revs.

He had a look and said there is a problem with a cylinder and suspects a hole in a piston. He is not sure so would have to look further and dosn't think it makes commercial sense.

One of his employees at the garage is however intrested in buying the car from me and fixing it.

The car has done 160k miles and is running, just did a 300 mile round trip last weekend but dosn't sound good. It also burnt off 5l of oil on that trip so I have no doubt there is a major problem.

So whats everyones thoughts, whats it worth in this condition?

For info:

Mot expires in Sep

Taxed for (10 months - worth £160)

New starter motor

New altinator

New power stering hose

Thanks in advance!

paddedjohn

Get a second opinion before doing anything. If their diagnosis is correct then the lad who wants to buy it can repair it for only the cost of parts so whilst not making commercial sense for you to get it repaired it will for the mechanic who can supply his labour for free.

Calum

paddedjohn wrote: »

Get a second opinion before doing anything. If their diagnosis is correct then the lad who wants to buy it can repair it for only the cost of parts so whilst not making commercial sense for you to get it repaired it will for the mechanic who can supply his labour for free.

Thanks for that.

I have used this mechanic for a long time so I trust him when he says it isn't worth it for me to pay the labour time. Im happy to sell to the other guy but was just wondering what I would be looking at. Its probably worth £100 for scrap so was wondering on its worth more if its staying on the road?

Thanks.

paddedjohn

Get a second opinion before doing anything. If their diagnosis is correct then the lad who wants to buy it can repair it for only the cost of parts so whilst not making commercial sense for you to get it repaired it will for the mechanic who can supply his labour for free.

marlot

If you trust your mechanic, then the car is worth just a little bit more than scrap value. Maybe £150. (assuming you trade in the tax disk back to DVLA)

The employee is probably planning to drop a second hand engine in. That's fine (and you could do the same if you wanted). But its unlikely to be worth it at retail labour rates.

vax2002

I doubt it would have enough compression to start with a hole in a piston.
The oil is more likely to be worn valve guides, a very simple fix for a mechanic.

paddedjohn

Second hand engine £200-£300 and fitting for about £200. In the end you could keep the car on the road for between £400and£500 max, that's if it's not just a head off job.

Calum

Thanks for the advice folks.

Sold the car for £250 and I kept the road tax - happy with that.

It had done 160k miles and I needed a new car anyway.

Cheers!

marlot

Calum wrote: »

Thanks for the advice folks.

Sold the car for £250 and I kept the road tax - happy with that.

It had done 160k miles and I needed a new car anyway.

Cheers!

Good result.

mcjordi

should of got a deal including the tax to save you sending it back and waiting..

not too shabby on the £250 tho

Notmyrealname

vax2002 wrote: »

I doubt it would have enough compression to start with a hole in a piston.
The oil is more likely to be worn valve guides, a very simple fix for a mechanic.

Seriously, stop posting advice because so far on every post you're basically 100% wrong.

The car has FOUR cylinders and has a fault on ONE. The car is perfectly able to start and run and move on the other three.