New engine for 10 year old car

BewlayBrother

I have a question, any expertise appreciated…

I have a 2015 Nissan Qashqai, 1.2 L, petrol car that, as it stands right now, starts but, as soon as the engine heats up, it breaks down.
We got it towed to a mechanic the tow-guy knew and he put new spark plugs in it and they immediately fried (€160 for nothing, thank you kindly).
This mechanic said that we probably need a new engine, there’s an oil leak deep down in the engine and even invegating the situation probably wouldn’t be worth it.
I’ve been quoted €5,100 for a ‘new’ (restored) engine with a 6 month warranty.
We can’t really afford a new car so seriously looking at this.
Would it be worth it, do you think?
Assuming the new engine is solid and lasts for many years, what else could go wrong with a 10 year old car that could be very expensive? Could I have issues with emmissions at NCT?
As far as I’m aware, other than that, the car is in good shape, new tires, new break pads, no cosmetic damage and no other major issues since we’ve had it (about 7 years).

Thanks in advance…

artanevilla

Well first of all, restored is not new. And that restored engine will have come out for some reason be it a crash that left the rest of the car BER or had a problem itself.

BewlayBrother

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123611942#Comment_123611942

Yes, I meant the engine would be new to our car. Also forgot to say there is 147,000 kms on the car.

manatoo

First thing you need to do is get a second opinion from another mechanic. Someone you trust or have strong recommendations for from people you trust.

Secondly, €5,100 for a recon engine is insane. Sell the car as a non-runner for €1000 and buy yourself a 20 year old petrol Corolla before you do this

JIdontknow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123612019#Comment_123612019

This. Get a second opinion and quote, 5100 sounds expensive to me but I am not a mechanic! For the 5,100 + whatever you can sell the car for as scrap, you'd be able to buy a similar vehicle or even possibly upgrade slightly. Get a second opinion from another mechanic first before doing anything.

kurt_angle

For 5100 I’d run a mile and get a different car. What’s to say what mileage on the new engine is. A 2015 Nissan Quashi isn’t an expensive car. I’d get a second opinion

enricoh

A mechanic the tow guy knew- hmm. Is this the same guy that'll fit refurbed engine for e5100. Ring traynors up north ask them how much for an engine n what mileage, a few hundred euro should get it fitted

ongarite

That 1.2T engine is known for serious problems with engine oil consumption causing complete engine failure. Sounds like what you have now.

https://www.qashqaiforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=2780

BewlayBrother

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123612062#Comment_123612062

No, when that guy when he heard the 5g price offerered to do it for 4! (with no guarantee).

Thanks for the feedback, it sounds pretty unanimous. Regarding a couple of the responses above, I don't know any mechanics or, even asking mates, nobody I know knows one.

When I had a previous minor issue with the car, all the local-ish mechanics were completely snowed under, long waiting times etc. and I don't live in an isolated area.

Also, I've been looking at used cars. Any family car with less than 250,000km is waayy more expensive than €6000. Hence the dilemma.

BewlayBrother

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123612438#Comment_123612438

Yeah, probably true, it's a big car for 1.2L engine. Probably under pressure a lot of the time.

DoctorEdgeWild

Just to give you a little bit of reference, I recently bought a new engine for £300. Fitted by a specialist, plus clutch, water pump, gaskets etc. (all the bits that could possibly be done while the engine was out) - and I am coming back with change from £2750. (I'm in England so there's more options here but just in case it's helpful to have a general ballpark figure)

User1998

I’ve bought 1.2 VW engines for as little as €700 and had them fitted for an additional €500. Granted you’re car is clearly a lot different so prices can vary but €5k seems absolutely insane to me

GavPJ

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123612463#Comment_123612463

Certainly wasn't a "new" engine for that money!

And you definitely will not get a used 1.2 petrol Nissan engine for that money.

BewlayBrother

Maybe I'm naiive, but would a new engine in this yoke not be better than buying, for eg., a 2013 Qashqai with 200,000 for €8,000, which could break in a month. (Obviouly mine could in 6!)

witnessmenow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123612487#Comment_123612487

The price of the replacement car seems really high. We bought a 2012 Ford Smax recently for €3k, now it does have 70k more KM, but surely 70km less KM doesnt make it nearly 3 times as expensive.

shane b

2 colleagues of mine recently had engines replace in their cars. One car was a 2010 Opel Astra 1.4 petrol and it cost 2k euro. The other car was a 2014 3 series BMW Diesel and that cost 3.5K euro.

BewlayBrother

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123612511#Comment_123612511

Looking at Carzone, Done Deal and local dealerships, prices seem really high to me.

I just feel if I'm getting a different car, it wouldn't feel right to spend similar or more money for a car I know nothing about which has more miles on the clock.

BewlayBrother

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123612547#Comment_123612547

Interesting, do you know where by any chance?

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123612559#Comment_123612559

So instead your going to put a used engine into your car which you know nothing about, don’t know how it was serviced, how many years old it is or how many miles it has😂

BewlayBrother

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123612598#Comment_123612598

Fair point! That's why I'm looking for opinions here. At least a 10,000km/ 6 month warranty is something but I'm aware it's a huge risk.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123612605#Comment_123612605

Ah thats fair enough then. Still a ridiculous price regardless. Plenty of reliable Japanese cars out there to choose from anyway. You don’t need a car under 250k km if its a petrol Japanese car

DoctorEdgeWild

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123612484#Comment_123612484

No, I should have specified that actually. Thought it was implied. Would never touch anything from the last 15/20 years with regards to cars/motoring.

shane b

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123612581#Comment_123612581

They both live in Dublin 20 and they used 2 different mechanics. Sourcing 2nd hand engines took a while though. They were both without the cars for about a month.

GavPJ

Sometimes it is better to spend a bit of money on the car you have because you know

the car, what you have put into it and how you have looked after it. Better the devil you know

and all that.

Maybe worth trying to get your own engine rebuilt by an engine specialist like Dan Daly

in Dunshaughlin or this crowd:

Nissan Qashqai 1.2 DIG-T Recondition Engine for sale in Co. Dublin for €4,000 on DoneDeal

Back Home

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123612019#Comment_123612019

Bet advice so far (mechanic here) Do not put 4-5 thousand euro into a 6-7 grand car.

Buffman

Those Renault/Nissan 1.2 petrols have major issues with oil consumption apparently due to design flaws, last I heard there was legal action against them in France. Sounds like exactly your symptoms OP.

Wasn't as well known about here as say the likes of the Mazda diesel issues as they weren't that popular here.

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/renault-customers-lodge-criminal-complaint-france-over-faulty-engines-2023-06-02/

OP, if you're on FB there's a group on it where you might get more info.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/enginefailuresnissanrenault/

And finally, IMO it would be insanity to put €5k into that car, you can literally buy another for that. (Not that I'd recommend anyone touch any of those 1.2 petrols at all!)

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/nissan-qashqai-2015/39966315