Scrap or keep? 2002 9-5 Aero Auto

[Drac]

What a luck! Just 3 weeks after having the car serviced, breaks replaced, engine mount replaced, CPS, BOV and APC proactively changed, etc the engine has given up after only 126k miles - while accelerating it went boom! crunch crunch crunch silence.... According to Motorvation piston number 3 ceased to exist - cheapest option that makes sense (please confirm) is to buy a brand new engine from neobros (£1600) and get it swapped. I was told all in all £2400-2700 for the job.

Since I am sort of emotionally attached to the car, it is in a really good clean condition and it was well cared for, I initially said - fix! Now that I rethought, checked autotrader etc and I can buy a newer 9-5 with not so many miles for about that.

Good question now: should I buy a "new" MY2003-2004 Aero or fix my old banger? How much money is a well cared for 2002 Aero with busted engine worth?

Isn't £800-1100 a bit excessive for relatively simple job of disconnecting one engine, swapping accessories onto the new one and mounting it in (pretty much labour charges + fluids + oil filter)?

How much would it be to fix just a busted piston/cylinder?

£2700 sounds like more than the car is effectively worth. A lot more in fact...

[Audax]

You could end up buying another car with the engine about to go pop so you're not comparing like for like, you're either getting a new engine for your car or a new unknown quantity that will need money spending on it.

What it comes down to is how much you like your car and how well maintained it is, it sounds like you've spent quite a bit of money on it already so having an engine put in for £2700 could be cheaper than replacing the car long term.

I'd say £1100 for the charge for swapping an engine is reasonable, remember nearly £200 of that is VAT!  Saying that the engines Neo are supplying are complete with head as in the past you'd only get a block so I'd hope it came out a bit more towards the £800 end of the spectrum. Just keep in mind It's not a simple task as you have to remove the engine, gearbox, subframe, driveshafts and then get it all back together and working nicely which can take a while as after an engine swap you'll always find things like rattles, minor running problems etc. etc.

You're right that £2700 is more than the car would sell for but I'd not relate that to worth, the engine on the 9-5 is a bit of an expensive weak point so once replaced you should be good for another 130k, quite simply, how many years do you want to be driving this car? If you're happy to keep it another 10 years then repairing now would possibly be the cheap option long term, if you were already thinking of getting rid then you can probably sell it for £300-£500 with the blown engine and just get another.

[phoenix]

Rather than buy a new engine, I'd find a B234 block and marry that to a T7 head- possibly even your own if it's not damaged. It'll be cheaper and stronger than a new B235. You should be able to get both of them for comfortably less than £400. Fitting would be the same.

[chris aka zaphod]

Yes, a very sound idea, and I have already known this done (after an accident with biofuel).

[Audax]

Although I can't see the sense in putting a second hand engine in, as you'd be no better off than just buying a complete working car for less money.

[chris aka zaphod]

You would not know what faults another car may/not have. Changing the block would mean no worries here.

[Audax]

...but you end up putting in another block that may give problems in future, I'd rather keep to a new engine for £1600 or replace the car. I'd not entertain the idea of a second hand block as it just wouldn't be worth it.

[Drac]

After putting some thought into the case, I think fixing it makes more sense than scrapping. I need 2 cars - an estate - a babywagon for the missus and something to get me around. The babywagon needs to wait I guess...

I don't want to play around with B234 block etc. In fact I could consider if I had other cars and a good garage/workshop I could play around with it. Actually I would have just replaced the busted piston, cylinder etc. Years ago I had time and means to do it, nowadays I don't so need to cough up...

[phoenix]

If you put another block in it's only a bit more labour to check it out and the B234s are known for their durability. I certainly wouldn't worry about putting one in mine.

[Audax]

Hmmn, I've known B234's to fail and there is messing about putting them in a 9-5, I don't think they're going to be any better than a complete brand new B235 engine which I'd expect to get a warranty on! I'd call Neo and ask them how much for engine fitted which when you compare to a B234 you have to play with heads and gaskets which is extra labour where Neo are selling the complete engine for £1600. I just think by the time I'd paid for a B234 engine put into a car it'd cost more than a complete car and some pennies to sort problems on it.

[Drac]

I agree with Audax, it just doesn't make sense to mess about when brand new engine is relatively inexpensive. Different thing if it was supposed to be a track car and prepared to be seriously upgraded...

One thing I will do though is swap my stage 1 Trionic7 for stock. It may have contributed to the disintegration of the piston - open sid was showing >1.5 bar boost when floored... I'm gonna miss the open sid and extra oomph though. But the new engine should be run in with stock programme.

[Norfolk Jim]

Q? How do you get this open SID. Mine is a SID2.

[phoenix]

It's a function of Trionic suite- only available for petrol models I'm afraid.

[Norfolk Jim]

Thank you

[sgould]

Leelac at Bedford had some reconditioned engines available recently.  Maybe worth a call as he can fit them too.