money and time to replace head gasket and turbo housing????

[KrissJ]

As it says really.

Engine was pressurising in the radiator so assumed it was the head gasket. It wasn't, but after having the head pressure tested twice it was found to be bent which is hopefully it. The turbo also has a crack in the housing so is being replaced.

No I'm not the happiest of R owners at the moment

The thing is, I reckon the mechanic that's doing it is takin the p1ss. He's a turbo specialist but has never done a GTIR before (but no1 has round here and he was the only 1 that could do it). But he's now had my car for 2 1/2 weeks and is saying I might not even get it back by the weekend!!!

So what's the maximum you would expect to pay and how long should it take (bearing in mind he's a good mechanic but doesn't know the car) to get the head gasket replaced, 2 pressure tests (he said he wanted to make sure :? ), new turbo housing (std turbo) and to replace that. Parts (except head gasket cos I bought a HKS 1 ) and labour??

Please reply cos he's an utter tossser and I reckon he's gonna charge me over a grand :shock:

 

[jasegould]

If hes got all the bits there and didnt have to send the head for testing....and presuming hes got no other work in that needs doing, prob 2-3 days............but trying to fit big jobs in around a busy workshop, speaking from experience, is a nightmare!!

How was the turbo cracked because a customer supplied a turbo that had cracks around the wastegate area and I told him to take it back, the people that supplied it said that it was ok because it was a recon unit and cracks were normal.... :? We fitted it as the customer told us to ga ahead and do it

 

[zia]

if the head warped then it need skimming about £30 you replace the stem seals, grind the valve seats,check shim clearances, which shouldn,t cost a grand, the turbo has to come off anyway so there should be no charge for swapping exhaust housing.

zia

 

[KrissJ]

OK, cheers.

1 of the probs was that when it got warm it wasnt boostin properly so he said it might be turbo housin n thats what it was so it needs replcain.

He is busy but the fact is I've been without a car for 2 1/2 wks now n he knows my personal situation as well, i.e. I live out of town, have many things to sort out and am totally stranded without a car!!! :evil: :evil:

The head has been skimmed but I wondered how much the labour to take the head off, check the turbo, put everything back on etc would cost.

The thing is, since my car's gone in he's been bad mouthin me (to my step dad so I'm obviously gonna find out) and in the past he's been unreliable with calls when he says he'll call, gettin work done when he says, my saxo used to come back with new scratches every time it went to him and he even said he was close to bringin my car up n leavin it with the engine in a box of bits cos he was sick of me ringin when the only reason I kept ringin was cos he said he would n never did :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

I honestly hate this guy now but the fact is that I didn't know all this stuff before and he's literally the only person that could do it.



Don't worry, I'm NEVER going to him again, I just wana know he's not takin me for a mug

 

[KrissJ]

That is, I don't want him to think he can take me for a git n desperately overcharge me cos I'm not sure that the work he's done should cost as much as I think he's gonna charge me, i.e. over a gran and he chages £25 per hr i think.

 

[Pulldog]

Dont just think cos hes had the car 2 1/2 weeks he will charge over a grand if hes honest he will charge you for the work hes done, and aint exactly done 2 1/2 weeks work.
If hes worked on it flat out then hes shite and a time waster you no now to take it some were else.
Its very hard to get mechanics to work on the GTI-R i know this because my local garage work on and rally escort cossies and even he wont touch mine.