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MG MGF Technical - Advice needed please.

Right I'm after a bit of advice of you lot please!!

As you may or may not know my wife's 96 VVCi needs a new engine and there are two options open to us:

1. We can get a recon engine for £950 (which also means giving our old engine to this company).

or

2. We have a choice of second hand ones which are, 47,000 mile one for £625 or a 64,000 mile one for £550, (both have 30 day guarentee)

Now I know getting a recon one is better but we are selling it as soon as it comes out of the garage and are therefor trying to keep the cost to a minimum.

Just wondering what you lot would do?
David

If you are selling the car as soon as it is returned then clearly the choice is a no-brainer. Go for the cheapest engine. So long as it runs and doesn't suffer an immediate gasket failure, you're quids in to the tune of 400 beer tokens (which probably could not be reclaimed in a private sale).

If you were planning to keep the car for a while, clearly the answer would be different.
Rob Bell

It sounds, rather sadly, like we may be hearing from the new owner soon. So if I am one of 'the lot', and you want an honest opinion I would suggest doing it nearer properly; as a some things can cost unexpectedly more.
C.R.B. Simeon

If the secondhand ones are from accident-damaged cars & with verified mileage & service history available, that's the course I'd take. If you go for the one with the mileage closest to your car, and fit a new cambelt & tensioner (regardless of service history) the potential buyers really don't have much to be concerned about.
Mike Hankin

Torn between the two, do we take a gamble with a secondhand one and as Mike says get the cam belt and tensioners changed or go for the reconditioned one as it's a safer bet (already paid way too much out on repairs on this car). Not sure how long it will take us to sell it so would always have the worry that something would go wrong with the second engine as my wife would still be using it (maybe a couple of months).

Well we've got an engineer coming out to inspect it to see if we can claim off the insurance for weather damage, if we can (which I doubt) then a new engine here we come!!!

Thanks all,
David

If it were me, buying the engine for myself, I'd still buy the cheaper engine. Whilst the engine is out, it is very easy to change the cam belt (as that recent video demonstrated) and tensioner. Very easy in fact (so long as you invest in a crank-locking tool).

Get the engine installed back into the car, perform an engine oil flush, and flush the cooling system and refill.

Assuming that the engine is in sound condition to start with (and it is sold with a 30-day guarantee), then I would have full confidence in it. :o)
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 02/05/2006 and 03/05/2006

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