2010 MCS Turbo replacement

7945 Views 5 Replies 3 Participants Last post by mike1967, Mar 3, 2019

Austin_CS

Discussion Starter · Mar 1, 2019

SO I 've just been told my turbo needs replacing after all the other parts were replaced. Apparently, the low boost pressure only manifests itself after the cracked inlet manifold, replaced timing kit, head de-coke (and skim), new clutch (while the front was off to save cost!) and new sensors like MAP etc.

So from an expected bill of around 2,700, I'm looking at 4 grand and that's with a reduction in the labour. I would have scrapped it if I'd known this would totalize the way it has but now I'm in so deep I have little choice but to go to the bitter end of this odyssey.

Three(ish) questions if you can good folk:

a) Is a factory turbo really 1k ?
b) I've gone for a re-conditioned unit for around 680 plus labour - was that a risky move?
c) Admitting only a general description of 'low boost pressure' and all the related sensors tested and correct - is that always terminal for a turbo unit? Could removal, inspection, and parts possibly have renovated it without recourse to renewal? Are some causes possible to repair cheaply? I suppose I'm asking if the garage is going the nuclear route without fully exploring options - desperation Stakes here!

Thanks for any consolation hugs here - the car's been in the works for seven weeks and it will be eight before I see it again. A nicotine-stained VAG saloon has been my courtesy car, and while solid, it hasn't exactly been fun.
::frown::

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mike1967

· #2 · Mar 1, 2019

Austin_CS said:
SO I 've just been told my turbo needs replacing after all the other parts were replaced. Apparently, the low boost pressure only manifests itself after the cracked inlet manifold, replaced timing kit, head de-coke (and skim), new clutch (while the front was off to save cost!) and new sensors like MAP etc.

So from an expected bill of around 2,700, I'm looking at 4 grand and that's with a reduction in the labour. I would have scrapped it if I'd known this would totalize the way it has but now I'm in so deep I have little choice but to go to the bitter end of this odyssey.

Three(ish) questions if you can good folk:

a) Is a factory turbo really 1k ?
b) I've gone for a re-conditioned unit for around 680 plus labour - was that a risky move?
c) Admitting only a general description of 'low boost pressure' and all the related sensors tested and correct - is that always terminal for a turbo unit? Could removal, inspection, and parts possibly have renovated it without recourse to renewal? Are some causes possible to repair cheaply? I suppose I'm asking if the garage is going the nuclear route without fully exploring options - desperation Stakes here!

Thanks for any consolation hugs here - the car's been in the works for seven weeks and it will be eight before I see it again. A nicotine-stained VAG saloon has been my courtesy car, and while solid, it hasn't exactly been fun.
::frown::

i can only speak highly of turbo refurbs below link of one of the best i would say because they are hand built with good parts chances are better than stock at 1/4 the price ,
https://www.gap-turbos.com/

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Oakleyguy

· #3 · Mar 2, 2019

mike1967 said:
i can only speak highly of turbo refurbs below link of one of the best i would say because they are hand built with good parts chances are better than stock at 1/4 the price ,
https://www.gap-turbos.com/

Have you used GAP turbos yourself Mike, or have you heard good reports from other people??

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mike1967

· #4 · Mar 2, 2019

Oakleyguy said:
Have you used GAP turbos yourself Mike, or have you heard good reports from other people??

both i've used them good company. trouble is there are people out there repairing cars that have no clue, so what happens is someones turbo fails, so the owner goes thats easy buy a new one stick it on and bang it fails again within 500 miles,, the correct path of someone who is trained is ask WHY has this turbo failed, then a path of checking oil pressure, condition of oil, condition of air cleaner. condition of timing chain, condition of injectors etc, because all these things will keep destroying turbo's,,, so this all said the just stick a new turbo approach then causes problems with the company who supplied refurb turbo because someone needs to blame someone and also wants a free turbo again to wreck or by that time have worked out there is a deeper problem, also must do jobs are fit new oil feed pipe, drop sump and clean it out and clean or replace oil strainer,, then never start the engine until you can prove oil is at the turbo bearing,, and then only start car on idle for a good hour, after that no revs above 3000 revs for 1000 miles, most uk refurb company's are pretty good,,

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Austin_CS

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 3, 2019

mike1967 said:
i can only speak highly of turbo refurbs below link of one of the best i would say because they are hand built with good parts chances are better than stock at 1/4 the price ,
https://www.gap-turbos.com/

Ok so if the garage uses a decent refurb company there's a good chance the unit will perform... interested to hear they can be as low as a quarter the price of a new one. Makes my 2/3rds quote seem high, but I'm committed now.
Such a shame the low boot pressure only appeared after all the other work was completed; a real cynic might have said it was a convenient way to claw back the reduction in the bill due to the fixed price previously agreed for the main job. >

But I'm not one of those.

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mike1967

· #6 · Mar 3, 2019

Austin_CS said:
Ok so if the garage uses a decent refurb company there's a good chance the unit will perform... interested to hear they can be as low as a quarter the price of a new one. Makes my 2/3rds quote seem high, but I'm committed now.
Such a shame the low boot pressure only appeared after all the other work was completed; a real cynic might have said it was a convenient way to claw back the reduction in the bill due to the fixed price previously agreed for the main job. > But I'm not one of those.

most if not all uk turbo refurb companies have had to buy some very expensive gear to balance and regulate turbo's and they are more aware of not having comebacks from duff cheap parts etc or bad workmanship so do their best to source the best parts they can,, ie say garret buy there parts from a company and some parts are only produced in a few factory's world wide so chances are the parts are as good as stock if not a tad better with extra time being spent on balancing etc, end of day a turbo is just a compressor it compresses air, i've put turbo's on all kinds of stuff in the past ie mig welder and pipe work and made stuff up then put bigger injectors in to increase fuel to air then a rolling road run to set it all up, sierra xr4i v6 with twin garrets on it that was soooo fast, mx5 done a few of them in th past, ever a e35 bmw stuck a turbo off a diesel 325tds on a petrol 2.5 that was fast as well would give a m3 a kicking in straight line, so upgrading a turbo with a ball bearing one twin scroll is the best upgrade anyone can do but does need a rolling road and a tuner with some brains cells to get it to play nice together all doable,, but more air you add the more fuel you will need,, hmm that is where the other issues start, ie more heat, more load, faster moving parts.. before big bang if get it wrong. someone needs to come up with a redesigned timing chain for prince engines,, ie twin sprocket duplex heavy duty, surprised that no one has yet within the track car engine builders

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