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MG MGF Technical - Head Gasket Replacement Cost

Hi,

Can anyone tell me the MG Rover standard cost for a HEAD gasket replacement assuming there is no HEAD warping (i.e. the simple case).

I think my MG Rover dealer is overcharging me at a cost of 569.29 and it would be useful to have some back up.

Cheers chaps,

Chris
C P James

Unfortunatly this doesn't sound excessive for MGR. Have you considered getting it trailored to a specialist?

Will
Will Munns

Hi Will,

Thanks for the speedy response.

Unfortunately the work has been done. The car is a 2001 import. So I have
been 'discussing' with the dealer why this has happened on such a young car. They are telling me this is a labour only cost and they have absorbed the parts cost, does this sound reasonable for labor only bearing in mind the dealer tells me it was straight forward with no knock on complications.

Chris

C P James

I know Techspeed and Dave Andrews come in around £400 assuming no problems. but after the event i would say your a lttle bit stuffed! Main dealers labour rates are usually higher than independants anyway...

Is that price inclusive of Vat?

Stu
S.C. Dickens

Unfortunatly HG change is almost all labour, I think on the F the gaskets are about £50. Last week I did a Polo, it's gaskets were £20, + oil + coolant. All the rest is labour and at £65 an hour / mechanic it quickly tots up. As the car is less than 3 years old (standard UK warrenty) I would try to get them to pay 1/2 labour, I would also try contacting the head office- known failure point, hall of shame, watchdog programme + real angry, british workmanship, never going to buy another, etc rant. and see where you get.

Will
Will Munns

Unfortunately, imported cars only come with 12 months warranty.

I've taken out AA extended warranty to cover myself.

Sam
Sam Murray

Just cause they don't have warrenty, doesn't mean they should fail, Have a rant, what have you to lose?
Will Munns

I was quoted £625 by one MGR dealer, £500 by another, £800+ (!!!!!!) by one independant local, and £435 by another independant(also local), for head gasket replacement.

The latter got the job, and actually charged £420 - that included VAT, as did all the quotes.

Jonty
John Tait

A recent repair for a warranty company shows how much of a lottery HG replacement is. According to them the standard official Rover time for HG replacement is 6 hours and their standard rate is £28.50 per hour making an all up cost of £171 + VAT. The actual job took around 14 hours to do with the usual crop of rusted and/or unreachable fasteners, overtightened tensioner bolts etc.etc.

Dave
Dave Andrews

Hi all i have a question on this subject as i want to buy an MGF but have heard horror stories about the frequency of a head gasket change, usually at around 30k and every 30 there after, is this a norm and should i buy an MGF expecting to replace the gasket at some stage . any help will be appreciated.

Steve
s pursglove

This thread was discussed between 19/05/2003 and 21/05/2003

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