Fitting used engine in the car

movilogo

Unforunately my car's engine died

Link to how it happened =>
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=5174122#post5174122

A local garage offered me to fit a same spec used engine (67k miles) while my car has done 70k miles, for £650 (incl. labour).

Other options are to fit a new engine (£3000 cost) or to scrap the car (£200 salvage).
It is an X-reg car with very good condition otherwise.

I'm going for fitting a used engine anyway. But like to know

* Whether it is legal to do it
* Whether it is safe or not (though even main dealer recommened me to fit used engine if possible)

Hintza

Yes and yes, assuming the garage knows what they are doing and I assume you have no reason to think otherwise. You will need to inform DVLA of the change in engine number and it might be worth calling them just to clarify what you need to do.

anewman

Is a new car an option? Or even a stop-gap car - £650 can get you something that isn't too bad.

It is legal, but as hintza says DVLA will need to know. Also, if the engine is not of original spec it may have implications for insurance costs, and possibly if it's not declared your insurance may be considered null and void should any claim need to be made.

movilogo

I currently don't have money to buy a new car! Yes, for £650 I can buy another car probably, but its reliability will be a question again.

The engine will be of same spec as of original. In fact, it is taken from exactly same model of the car.

vansboy

As mentioned above, you should be OK!

& as a Moneysavers point of view, you'll not be spending much £$£$ to have a 'good' car, that you already know!!

Only thing I would say, is are you SURE of the source of the the new engine? There are plenty of spare parts suppliers, that will take an order & go out to steal the required vehicle, to fulfill the requirements!!

VB

movilogo

To be honest, no, I don't really know the source of the engine. The local garage said they would get it from a supplier and he would give me an invoice with 3 months warranty.

manda1205

Why anyone would think fitting a used engine woul be illegal is beyond me. My OH does this quite regularly but as he fits them himself its at little cost to us. But as others have said your main prob is knowing as much about the engine replacement as possible. You need to find out if it has any service history and what sort of person had this car ie a little old lady treating engine very well or a boy racer thrashing its nuts off. If you dont you could end up with a nice looker of a car but still rendered little use as its been thrashed and not looked after hense more cost to maintain in the long run.

manda1205

Just noticed your post above. Try and find out a bit more about the engine, ask the garage for the name of the supplier, your not gonna get much more than a 3mnth warranty.

tony8_2

One way to be sure that you have taken "sufficient care" when purchasing a second hand, or used, engine, is to request the Engine number from the garage before they fit the engine. If they are unable to supply the number, because it has been ground off or erased in some other way, don't touch it with a Barge Pole, it may well have obtained by some dubias means.

Best of luck

anewman

movilogo wrote: »

I currently don't have money to buy a new car! Yes, for £650 I can buy another car probably, but its reliability will be a question again.

I got my current car free. A few months later it needed £100 worth of work doing and £60 for the MOT test and re-test. Never had a problem starting even after being stood for nearly two weeks whilst I was in hospital. But I guess I could just be lucky, and could be much worse off with the next MOT.

Inactive

As a matter of interest, which make / model of car are we talking about?

This is an X Reg Car with 70k miles, any properly maintained modern car should do twice that mileage before having any problems.