To fix or not??

Sarahfoxy · Sep 3, 2012

Mechanic has looked at Ruby and her head gasket has gone.
She is a 1998 300 tdi es auto. Has done 285,000 MOT in july indicated that sills will need repair/ replace for next year.

We have 600 in our emergency vehicle fund, so do we put it towards fixing her, or do we cut our losses and weigh her in?

chezvegas · Sep 3, 2012

You will only get £200 tops at a breakers if they go for the full vehicle weight. What would you do next?? Might be better if you can do all the repairs so it is rock solid for the future. Head gasket isn't to difficult to do just follow the instructions in one of the repair manuals. I am also assuming that other than the head gasket the engine, gear box, axles etc are all in good order.

Brian S · Sep 3, 2012

Depending on how tidy it is then even with a blown head gasket you would get more selling it then weighing it in.

Head Gaskets are easy on those.

Sarahfoxy · Sep 3, 2012

Yes everything all good, she's just had a new water pump, alternator and steering box, she is ideal for what I need with 7 seats when needed, easy access when my pain is bad, easy to get kids in and out of, and boot is big enough for wheelchair or moby scooter AND shopping etc. So my thought is to fix her. Mechanic isn't keen, I'm not sure if he id trying to put me off so he can buy it at scrap and then repair and sell her on?

Brian S · Sep 3, 2012

Sounds like it, if he offered you cash for it.

The Head Gasket should take a mechanic a few hours to change, but if the head needs a skim then it will add cost and time as the Valves need to come out.

I can do it and i'm not a mechanic.

1spin · Sep 3, 2012

at nearly 300k you need to be asking yourself whats going to fail next ? gearbox , transfer box , diffs ???? then you got all the welding to do .. if you aint handy with some tools , then its going to cost you a fortune .... your proberly looking at £600 for a garage to do the head gasket , then all the welding . you need to be thinking whats it going to cost you in another six months from now , could be nothing , could be another £600 ...

Sarahfoxy · Sep 3, 2012

It's a hard one. Husband is really handy with tools, we usually manage to muddle it through together he has the strength,(my joints aren't up to it) I can do other bits. On the 200s we replaced diff, axles, gearbox and transfer box, all sorts, it's mainly a time issue for us.... I thought I would ask you lot on here for a more balanced outlook, as husband can be easily influenced by his mechanic 'mate', whereas I will get the good and bad and make a more balanced choice after reading on here.

Brian S · Sep 3, 2012

If its been looked after and not off roaded then 300k miles would not be a worry to me.

If the only issue is the gasket and I could do it myself then I'd get it done and worry about the next issue when it comes.

biolandy · Sep 3, 2012

If hubby is good with tools,head gasket should be within his skill set-even if you have to get it skimmed

1spin · Sep 3, 2012

Sarahfoxy said:
It's a hard one. Husband is really handy with tools, we usually manage to muddle it through together he has the strength,(my joints aren't up to it) I can do other bits. On the 200s we replaced diff, axles, gearbox and transfer box, all sorts, it's mainly a time issue for us.... I thought I would ask you lot on here for a more balanced outlook, as husband can be easily influenced by his mechanic 'mate', whereas I will get the good and bad and make a more balanced choice after reading on here.

in that case then , i would get some quotes see what people will do for there money.... On the head gasket , make sure there going to skim head , and while heads off ,worth doing valves, valve stem seals etc if your going to keep it .

is your mechanic up for the job ? will he do it properly ? you said he didnt seem that bothered in doing the job ? make sure you fit landrover head gasket , and new head bolts , Dont use pattern parts

alex8882 · Sep 3, 2012

Your looking around these prices parts wise:

head set with head bolts but doesn't include head gaskets STC2802B £39.50+vat
head gasket 1,2,3,or no hole depending on what you have, erling ERR5261G £14.95+vat
then you have your cost of engine oil, and anti freeze. and maybe a new thermostat.
If you did have the head pressure tested and skimmed then its worth fitting the thickest h/g 1.6mm or no hole.
pressure test and skim around here floats around £75-£85. If your fella is handy with tools, get a hanyes and follow the steps

Sarahfoxy · Sep 3, 2012

Thanks for the info, wil try to have a sensible conversation with my husband tomorrow, haven't seen him today without 3 kids scrambling for attention and talking over us, so need to pick my moment.

I'm definitely on the side of fixing it, (better the devil you know and all that) as for the money we have available it's gonna be another scrapper we end up with anyway

Sheeprus · Sep 4, 2012

I work on the philosophy that the amount of money I need to spend to get it repaired is significantly less than the amount to replace and find the same problems to fix.
If yours is solid enough and with little or no tin work then keep on with it.

alex8882 · Sep 4, 2012

I've sank over £1600 in mine since jan this year,. that's not including the purchase price. I've had to replace the cylinder head and gasket, way I see it its solid, and pretty much all the merchanical has been replaced. Better to stick with it like you and the above have said

To fix or not??

Sarahfoxy

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chezvegas

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Brian S

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Sarahfoxy

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1spin

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