Used engine advice

Chunkylad

Chunkylad

Well-known member
My friend was telling me today that her 2010 Citroen DS3 engine went bang and the garage where it got towed to said £4k for a new engine.

How feasible is it for a used engine to be fitted on it instead by a mechanic?

I haven’t a clue about these things….
 
4k seems ludicrously expensive for a bog standard French presumably diesel.

Who told her it went bang? Second opinion time...
 
Lytham_fy8 said:
4k seems ludicrously expensive for a bog standard French presumably diesel.

Who told her it went bang? Second opinion time...
Click to expand...
The nearest garage it got towed to in Warrington. Sounds ridiculous and she’s panicking about having to buy a new car now.

I thought it might be worth getting a used one fitted but I’m clueless.
 
Chunkylad said:
The nearest garage it got towed to in Warrington. Sounds ridiculous and she’s panicking about having to buy a new car now.

I thought it might be worth getting a used one fitted but I’m clueless.
Click to expand...
They'll all be used anyway, I would imagine they're no more than a grand for a very low mileage one, replacement engine is rare unless she cracked the block or something, anything bottom end might need it, top end doesn't.
 
I'd do an insurance check to see if they could claim. Do an insurance comparison thing, false name so no account pops up, do with same reg, not bought yet and 0 years no claims and see what comes up price wise.

Pretty certain it's a new car though. A grand for a new engine, probably £500 + to get fitted, then oil and stuff. Is it worth it?
 
It really does depend what has gone bang, it could just be a top end rebuild. Absolute worst case is a recon engine. Both options shouldn't be more than £2K.
 
£2k would be ballpark for a full rebuild, so dropping a recon engine in, might make more sense. However, for a 2010 DS3 they’d be better putting their money into another car, and scrapping the DS3.
 
Chunkylad said:
My friend was telling me today that her 2010 Citroen DS3 engine went bang and the garage where it got towed to said £4k for a new engine.

How feasible is it for a used engine to be fitted on it instead by a mechanic?

I haven’t a clue about these things….
Click to expand...
Very and there should be plenty available at breakers who will stick it on a pallet and deliver it if needed.
 
The website Enginefitted.co.uk suggests the cost of a refitted engine for a Citroën DS3 would be about £1100 plus Vat. However, as others have said, would it be better putting that plus the trade in / scrappage value into a newer replacement car especially when the Citroën is 14 years old?
 
Sorry couldn’t be of any help. In that situation I’d probably just cut my losses and try to replace car. I know thats not always an option though. Hope she gets sorted. Bloody cars 🤬
 
Chunkylad said:
My friend was telling me today that her 2010 Citroen DS3 engine went bang and the garage where it got towed to said £4k for a new engine.

How feasible is it for a used engine to be fitted on it instead by a mechanic?

I haven’t a clue about these things….
Click to expand...
I had a Zafira gsi that blew its engine. The garage I use charge me £750 to fit an engine I bought and that price also included head scimmed full time belt kit with water pump and tensioners. I paid £500 for the engine which was delivered straight to the garage.
 
Chunkylad said:
Thanks everyone.

Bloody love Avftt for things like this. Such a great wide range of knowledge
Click to expand...
One other thing for your friend to consider. There is a common fault with the 1.6 petrol engine on the DS3. Plenty fail or have issues, so it’s quite possible a recon engine might fail too. Obviously I don’t know whether it’s the same engine, but thought I’d add the note in case.
 
Chunkylad said:
That makes sense 👍
Click to expand...
It might not be what you want to hear mate but you could be buying a whole new set of problems, coming from the industry I know, trust me. If 4k buys you a total whole reconditioned engine, that where you need to be rather than a half price version that will give you the same probs a mere 6months down the line. Shit situation, I know but its the reality, Im afraid with modern cars.
 
TimperleyTangerine said:
£2k would be ballpark for a full rebuild, so dropping a recon engine in, might make more sense. However, for a 2010 DS3 they’d be better putting their money into another car, and scrapping the DS3.
Click to expand...
So scrap it for a few hundred quid and buy something that may also be hiding a world of pain?

Not so sure about that.
 
Lytham_fy8 said:
So scrap it for a few hundred quid and buy something that may also be hiding a world of pain?

Not so sure about that.
Click to expand...
Err, no, just don’t buy the same car / engine again, as there is a known issue with it. It’s extremely rare to have a well maintained engine let go, unless there is an inherent problem. What I’ve advised is not to spend £2k getting it repaired or having a recon fitted, that might have the same issue. That money would be better spent on something more reliable, particularly as values of DS3 are not strong.
 
I think the DS3 has a BMW engine also used in the Mini.
My daughter was looking at one and was told by a friend, a car mechanic, to stay away.
Think that's why it's an expensive replacement engine, I might be wrong, just what I've been told?
 
The engine went on my wifes Focus about a year ago and we bought a re conditioned replacement, cost about £3500 all in, just glad she was driving it at the time as no doubt it would of been my fault when it went wrong...
 
TimperleyTangerine said:
Err, no, just don’t buy the same car / engine again, as there is a known issue with it. It’s extremely rare to have a well maintained engine let go, unless there is an inherent problem. What I’ve advised is not to spend £2k getting it repaired or having a recon fitted, that might have the same issue. That money would be better spent on something more reliable, particularly as values of DS3 are not strong.
Click to expand...
Maybe she likes them, maybe it wasn't maintained, maybe it had no oil or coolant...

Guess what you can get for 2k these days...
 
Always makes me laugh on avftt….whatever the subject there will be an expert on here….🤣…..so here goes…..🥶
I’ll guess cam-belt has snapped, personally I wouldn’t waste money on a recon engine….get a new/replacement car…..👍
 
£1800 plus VAT last year in total for a 10 yr old VW Polo engine swap out (prior engine had gone 190k mileage) including purchase of the salvaged low mileage engine. Might be less for a shite French one 😂 Had it since new and good for another 100,000. (I also had a new clutch put in at the same time as it would have been mad not to..but haven’t included that in the price above )

If there’s no finance on it and no major issues it’s a no brainer…buying a replacement carries risk of the unknown too.
 
clappers said:
£1800 plus VAT last year in total for a 10 yr old VW Polo engine swap out (prior engine had gone 190k mileage) including purchase of the salvaged low mileage engine. Might be less for a shite French one 😂
Click to expand...
As I said Clappers I think the DS3 has a Krout engine.
Re the shite French engines, the 1.9 diesel and 1.4 petrol Peugeot engines were known to be pretty reliable. ZX etc.
 
I defer to your knowledge base mate. The polo petrol engines seem to have a bit of a hit and miss timing chain issue that can ruin things in spectacular fashion…if you get a good un…no problem but a bad one and it’s going multiple times over the course of 150,000 miles

My personal preference is to buy new, maintain well and know every single thing about what’s been done and how it’s been driven until rust puts it to bed!
 
Last edited:
clappers said:
£1800 plus VAT last year in total for a 10 yr old VW Polo engine swap out (prior engine had gone 190k mileage) including purchase of the salvaged low mileage engine. Might be less for a shite French one 😂 Had it since new and good for another 100,000. (I also had a new clutch put in at the same time as it would have been mad not to..but haven’t included that in the price above )

If there’s no finance on it and no major issues it’s a no brainer…buying a replacement carries risk of the unknown too.
Click to expand...
Exactly this.
 
Lytham_fy8 said:
You appear to have a very low bar for what constitutes an argument. You were suggesting scrapping it and using the two grand to buy something else, I suggested this was shit economy.
Click to expand...
You can use the £2k or less as a deposit on a newer car. Nowhere did I say go out and buy a car for £2k. Particular engines on the DS3 are known for letting go, so I was just saying that a recon engine might do the same. Just trying to be helpful to Chunky, as I’ve bought / sold 60+ cars, renovated a few classics and sourced cars for others. Never have I bought a car that has ever given me a moments problem with the engine, so just suggesting Chunky’s mate chooses something without inherent problems.
 
TimperleyTangerine said:
You can use the £2k or less as a deposit on a newer car. Nowhere did I say go out and buy a car for £2k. Particular engines on the DS3 are known for letting go, so I was just saying that a recon engine might do the same. Just trying to be helpful to Chunky, as I’ve bought / sold 60+ cars, renovated a few classics and sourced cars for others. Never have I bought a car that has ever given me a moments problem with the engine, so just suggesting Chunky’s mate chooses something without inherent problems.
Click to expand...
So 2k and finance as opposed to 2k and sorted?
 
Lytham_fy8 said:
So 2k and finance as opposed to 2k and sorted?
Click to expand...
Do you know what a 2010 DS3 is worth? Less than the cost of a recon engine, so it makes no sense when it won’t be ‘sorted’ as you say. The recon engine can then let go, so potentially good money after bad.

Anyway, I’m sure Chunky’s mate can decide what’s best for them, based on their circumstances. Chunky asked for advice and AVFTT kindly responded. That’s nice.
 
TimperleyTangerine said:
Do you know what a 2010 DS3 is worth? Less than the cost of a recon engine, so it makes no sense when it won’t be ‘sorted’ as you say. The recon engine can then let go, so potentially good money after bad.

Anyway, I’m sure Chunky’s mate can decide what’s best for them, based on their circumstances. Chunky asked for advice and AVFTT kindly responded. That’s nice.
Click to expand...
About the same private, so she'd only be losing out on the scrap value, dealer is a good grand or so more with warranty that she'd get on a recon engine anyway.

Suggesting someone get finance is mental.
 
Shootz said:
The engine went on my wifes Focus about a year ago and we bought a re conditioned replacement, cost about £3500 all in, just glad she was driving it at the time as no doubt it would of been my fault when it went wrong...
Click to expand...
Yep…those last few words are certainly true😂….good luck with sorting the car out for the original poster…love our car but it is a financial nightmare even for just a flipping service.🫣
 
I had a Nissan Qashqai for 18 months (16 plate) and the engine went on me last autumn, Nissan garage quoted £4800 for a new one including labour.

Ended up getting rid of it and have got a Peugeot now and had a lot of trouble with that.

Wish I’d have got a second opinion/quote for a reconditioned engine on the Nissan now to be honest.
 
PR3BFC said:
I had a Nissan Qashqai for 18 months (16 plate) and the engine went on me last autumn, Nissan garage quoted £4800 for a new one including labour.

Ended up getting rid of it and have got a Peugeot now and had a lot of trouble with that.

Wish I’d have got a second opinion/quote for a reconditioned engine on the Nissan now to be honest.
Click to expand...
Main dealer garage charge the earth , I was quoted recently £140 per hour as opposed to a local garage of £40 per hour.
 
I've have a Ds3 for 8 years majority have the 1.2 puretech engine 3 cylinder, found now in most of the Citroen/ Peugeot range .I've done 120 thousand in it. The only fault I've found is the timing belt is a wet belt and is made of rubber, and being cooked in hot engine oil isn't so kind on them, the rubber starts to break up after 50 thousand miles / or after 5 years and needs changing, Costs around 400, most DS3 owners don't no to change it and it snaps hence why so many engines fail, they also use a lot of oil, maybe a litre every 3 thousand miles or so ,it's not a BMW engine its designed and built by Peugeot.
 
Sunpool said:
I've have a Ds3 for 8 years majority have the 1.2 puretech engine 3 cylinder, found now in most of the Citroen/ Peugeot range .I've done 120 thousand in it. The only fault I've found is the timing belt is a wet belt and is made of rubber, and being cooked in hot engine oil isn't so kind on them, the rubber starts to break up after 50 thousand miles / or after 5 years and needs changing, Costs around 400, most DS3 owners don't no to change it and it snaps hence why so many engines fail, they also use a lot of oil, maybe a litre every 3 thousand miles or so ,it's not a BMW engine its designed and built by Peugeot.
Click to expand...
👍 you know where you are with a belt, as long as they are changed before recommended time. The 1.6 petrol is chain driven and causes the most issues. Chains shouldn’t really be an issue, just need to check tolerances, but on the DS3 they get loose & rattle and eventually…
 
First Generation DS3

The 1.2 petrol engine, one out of five, I said I may be wrong?

The 1.4 & 1.6 petrol engine had links with BMW
The 1.4 & 1.6 diesel engine had links with Ford
 
andoverhantsseasider said:
I think the DS3 has a BMW engine also used in the Mini.
My daughter was looking at one and was told by a friend, a car mechanic, to stay away.
Think that's why it's an expensive replacement engine, I might be wrong, just what I've been told?
Click to expand...

andoverhantsseasider said:
As I said Clappers I think the DS3 has a Krout engine.
Re the shite French engines, the 1.9 diesel and 1.4 petrol Peugeot engines were known to be pretty reliable. ZX etc.
Click to expand...

Would it be possible to replace the expensive and not very good engine with a cheaper and better one?
 
I wouldn't know mate, I have no knowledge on replacement engines.
As a lot of people have already stated, it would cost a fair amount to have the work done, then it could just become a money pit?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top