Megane with broken timing belt – what to do with it?

Barr

Hi All

A friend has a 2003 Megane Hatch. Its got 2 years NCT and was in pretty good nick before the belt broke.

The mechanic has said 5 or 6 of the valves are bent so I’m guessing its in a bad way. Would the engine be worth repairing or would a new engine have to be sourced?

What ye think she should do with it - Is the car worth repairing?

If not what value would it have” as is”

Thanks

ANXIOUS

If its being scrapped, i would buy a few small parts that i need for mine.

colm_mcm

question is:

are you stuck for a car.

If you saw another car like yours that you knew the history of, with fresh test - would you spend the €700 or so to buy it?

Senna

If they car is in good nick and 2 years nct, it might be worth getting a replacement engine, especially if the owner plans to keep it.
Second-hand engine and labour, probably less than €850.

DickyC

Senna wrote: »

Second-hand engine and labour, probably less than €850.

Still a lot for a car that may make 2000 euro on a good day.

colm_mcm

€2k for an 03 Megane?

twould want to be a very good day.

Plug

Why get a new engine? Don't!
Take off the head and look at it, get the mechanic to do up a price for you. Broken valves, but if the head is broken well then it may be cheaper for you to source a second hand engine because getting a second hand head is a whole different game. Most scrap dealers wont sell the head on its own.

DickyC

I did say may make:) Personally I would put it on done deal under Damaged Repairables for 1250 euro, if I got close to 1000 euro I would be more than happy.

Senna

DickyC wrote: »

I did say may make:) Personally I would put it on done deal under Damaged Repairables for 1250 euro, if I got close to 1000 euro I would be more than happy.

Cant see anyone paying near 1k for a 03 megane with broken timing belt, lucky to get 500 i'd say.

DickyC

If you don't ask you won't get. I sold repairables before and you would be suprised how many people I turned down bad offers from only to get closer to asking price later. Granted a 03 megane would never be a great seller and will eventually break your heart replacing parts. You will always get people looking for something for nothing though, especially with cars.
Good luck with the sale.

George Dalton

If the car is good then why not fix it rather than selling it off cheap and buying another potentially worse car to replace it?

It should be a straightforward repair, it will almost certainly be cheaper to repair the existing engine than swap in a secondhand unit. The labour should be less for removing and refitting the cylinder head than it would be for an engine swap. The cost of a head gasket and repairs to the cylinder head should be similar to or less than the cost of a whole secondhand engine.

The only other cost you will have on the job is a new timing belt kit and water pump and filters, fluids etc but you would be buying all of these anyway if you went down the engine replacement route as well.

So all in all repair is the way to go IMO.

Nissan doctor

I agree with George. If the car is in good condition otherwise then having the head repaired will be cheaper then a second hand engine and cheaper then buying a new car.