Car diagnosed as terminal - looking for advice on options

thom119

Hey,

So my 2010 VW Golf (1.4tsi) was diagnosed as terminal by the garage last week and I’m looking for advice on what to do. The timing chain has stretched and the garage are quoting ~€4,000 in repairs (timing chain and some other little bits)

It’s at a main dealer currently and they’ve offered my €2,000 trade in.
My problem is, as it’s a main dealer, the cars I like are outside of my price range.

I’d like to change to a 2015/16 A5 but not sure of the best way to go about it. Hoping you knowledgeably folks of boards can help.

I’ve found a couple of models around my budget of €18k in other garages.

I think my options at the moment are;
1. Ask the main dealer if they’ll buy an A5 from another garage at trade price (and stand over it to offer at least 12 months warranty)
2. Call dealers and see what they’d offer for my car as a non runner


Would a main VW dealership even do option 1?

Cheers!

colm_mcm

Is the car currently in bits at the main dealer? That was the first mistake letting them near a 2010 car.

Keep in mind the €2000 probably includes whatever discount you’d get for buying the car straight.

If the car is still in one live, bring it to a VW specialist.

thom119

colm_mcm wrote: »

Is the car currently in bits at the main dealer? That was the first mistake letting them near a 2010 car.

Keep in mind the €2000 probably includes whatever discount you’d get for buying the car straight.

If the car is still in one live, bring it to a VW specialist.

My insurance only would only cover a tow to the nearest VW garage unfortunately.
They’ve only run diagnostics on it, so I don’t think it’s in bits, but haven’t seen it to confirm.

It’s not running at the moment either, so options are limited

colm_mcm

Where is the car (geographically)

punisher5112

Get a tow truck person out and bring to your own.

thom119

colm_mcm wrote: »

Where is the car (geographically)

Deansgrange

colm_mcm

The only place I’d be able to point you to would be Daltons in Portlaoise.

jmreire

Some more background history might help..from your post, I gather that you were driving along, and the car stopped. You called your insurance breakdown service, and they towed the car to the nearest dealership. Right so far? Then the dealership examined the car and told you it was "terminal". Unfortunately, in most timing chain / belt cases, the damage is terminal ( would depend on the type and make of car, and it's value etc) But it can happen too that an engine can survive a chain/ belt "incident". Problem is that it need's to be investigated by a mechanic, to see if it's repairable or not. Even if it is terminal...could be worth your while fitting a 2nd hand engine, and getting another year ( or more ) out of it. Then trade it in as a "Going Concern".....Will all hinge on what the mechanic say's, but for sure, the deal you are being offered, is not great. The dealership has you backed into a corner, TBH. Good Luck with it anyhow, hope that it work's out OK for you.

dvdman1

Out of interest..how many km are on the clock?

thom119

jmreire wrote: »

Some more background history might help..from your post, I gather that you were driving along, and the car stopped. You called your insurance breakdown service, and they towed the car to the nearest dealership. Right so far? Then the dealership examined the car and told you it was "terminal". Unfortunately, in most timing chain / belt cases, the damage is terminal ( would depend on the type and make of car, and it's value etc) But it can happen too that an engine can survive a chain/ belt "incident". Problem is that it need's to be investigated by a mechanic, to see if it's repairable or not. Even if it is terminal...could be worth your while fitting a 2nd hand engine, and getting another year ( or more ) out of it. Then trade it in as a "Going Concern".....Will all hinge on what the mechanic say's, but for sure, the deal you are being offered, is not great. The dealership has you backed into a corner, TBH. Good Luck with it anyhow, hope that it work's out OK for you.

The check engine light came on the week before last, so I booked it in for a service in the dealership as I wanted to keep up the main dealer service history and it was just due one. The following weekend, before it went in for a service I tried to turn the car on, engine turned over but the revs were dropping to zero straight away (no idling).
My insurance covered a tow to the nearest VW garage, which is where it was booked to be serviced.

I’m a bit annoyed by the situation really, the main dealer has serviced it the last 3 years and didn’t give any indication the timing chain could go, even as an advisory maintenance item.
To be honest I don’t want to put that amount on money into a car that’s realistically only worth €7k max, which could turn into a potential money pit.

thom119

dvdman1 wrote: »

Out of interest..how many km are on the clock?

There’s 109,000 miles on the clock

dvdman1

thom119 wrote: »

There’s 109,000 miles on the clock

What about getting quote on replacement engine and arrange tow
Heres 1 of the many that do full replacement
http://iviengines.ie

jmreire

thom119 wrote: »

The check engine light came on the week before last, so I booked it in for a service in the dealership as I wanted to keep up the main dealer service history and it was just due one. The following weekend, before it went in for a service I tried to turn the car on, engine turned over but the revs were dropping to zero straight away (no idling).
My insurance covered a tow to the nearest VW garage, which is where it was booked to be serviced.

I’m a bit annoyed by the situation really, the main dealer has serviced it the last 3 years and didn’t give any indication the timing chain could go, even as an advisory maintenance item.
To be honest I don’t want to put that amount on money into a car that’s realistically only worth €7k max, which could turn into a potential money pit.

I understand completely where you are coming from,but a bit harder to understand why a garage who has serviced the car for the last 3 year's failed to do or at least advise you that the timing chain needed checking and possibly replacement....That would be one thing that ALL garages are well aware of,,,Timing Chain's / Belt's. because of the damage they can do if they break or jump a link. So she started ok, but would not tick over? Definitely worth looking at then if you have the energy and motivation to follow up on it. ..Normally if they break, they will not start again because valve's, pistons etc can be damaged. As a last resort, could you ask the garage who normally service it to pick it up from where the breakdown truck took it? ( Assuming that they took it to a different Garage? Mostly they are contracted to take it to the nearest garage,,,which could be many miles from your own garage.) They might feel under an obligation to do something for you, given that they were responsible for the servicing. At the very least, you would get a second opinion which in turn might give you a better option? Worth a try anyway, at this point, you have nothing to lose.

colm_mcm

The timing chain has hardly snapped though.

punisher5112

Having dealer stamp at something 9 years old isn't much use as in spending much more when not needed...

Second hand engine.... Maybe be best option as letting main dealer do it it's going to be expensive......

jmreire

colm_mcm wrote: »

The timing chain has hardly snapped though.

No, I don't think so either...he switched off the engine after parking the car. Next morning, it started, but would not tick over. If the chain had snapped..( and it started...it's a modern day miracle...:eek: ) Definitely worth another look..That's the course of action that I'd take anyway. As it is, seem's to me that the Garage where it was taken too, are a bit over-zealous in writing it off...:rolleyes:

..Brian..

I definitely wouldn't take the main dealers word on the repair cost. Get it towed to a good indy mechanic and see what they say. Swap the engine if necessary and get another few years out of it. Be a lot cheaper than buying a new car at this time.

jmreire

punisher5112 wrote: »

Having dealer stamp at something 9 years old isn't much use as in spending much more when not needed...

Second hand engine.... Maybe be best option as letting main dealer do it it's going to be expensive......

Yes, basically if you buy a brand new car, then you will have use that dealership for at least the term of the guarantee, and get it stamped . But after that ( unless you pay for an extended Guarantee ) find a good non-main dealer or Independent to do your servicing. After all, its the mechanics who will do the actual work on the car , ( whether it's in the dealership or in shed ) but the difference is that they don't have the overhead's that a main dealership has, and give a better price.

monkeycork

Anyone know of a VW independent garage in Cork

jharr100

monkeycork wrote: »

Anyone know of a VW independent garage in Cork

Mick Kelly in Pouladuff worked in Turner's Cross VW for years .
Plenty of good independents who are good with VW's .
Northside or southside ?

greasepalm

I heard those tsi engines chains going at 40th even with full vw service history
An engine with chain gone sounds different when cranking.
Could be correct with a stretched chain if sensors go out of sync putting a light on but the cost seems too steep.

Toyotafanboi

The biggest miracle here is that the car has done 109k miles on the original chain. The 1.4 chains weren't as bad as the 1.2 but still gave an impressive amount of trouble.

You'll find it nigh on impossible to find a second hand engine for one of these, no matter whether it's the 125 or 170bhp engine and if you do find one, nobody will warranty it because they are so flaky. Even buying a second hand, running engine you'd want to be doing the chain straight away.

I wouldn't be too quick to blame the servicing dealer. If they were to highlight when a 1.4 tsi "could" need a chain, they could flag it every single service for the cars lifetime, they are a rubbish chain. They have to make a judgement call is it "ok", is it likely to go to the next service, is it fair wear and tear vs the age and mileage. If they were over zealous, advising replacement a minute too soon people would be up in arms too. It cant be the dealers fault that the chain has went in your 9 year old, 100k mile car.

In the later stages of wear like this, dealers will only quote for a replacement chain and guides aswell as a new cam variator kit, the parts value of this stuff alone is around €1500 for OE stuff and 7 or 8 hours in a Dublin main dealer is another €1k ish. I'd say they are pushing rubbish upsell on you too, tyres, brakes, servicing etc.

Best advice, ask the dealer to cut the messing, you've no interest in upsell or additional work, what is the bottom line on the chain repair only. If its €2.5k ish, it's still a sound move financially as the is probably worth €6 or 7k running. Second best advice, settle the diagnostic fee with the dealer, tow it to a good independent and hope the engine isn't too far gone. The only downside to this is, OE parts are advisable no matter what when doing this job, so that's still €1500 and and labour rate saving you may make could be swallowed up by the dealer diagnostic fee and towing charge.