AIBU car repairs £1800

[Dopplerineffect]

Bought a mini last year for 2k 10 years old.

Just coming up to its MOT so we book it in for a service. Garage calls says exhaust is shot needs replacing snd a few other things. Should be £500. Ok.

Three hours later they call back say the coolant is leaking it maybe the head Gasket but until they get deep into the engine it maybe something else.

They say a new engine maybe better it would be 325 plus 600 labour, a new radiator etc. Quote all in £1800.

Nearly as much as the car.
My AIBU is should the garage not have done the £500 work until the diagnosed the coolant leak? Oh says not and it may have noticed after. Hmm

My family use the garage and are usually quite good and not rip offs.

So do we repair it having cost us £500 no matter what or risk it on a different car that may have the same problem.

Aghhh

I understand PCP HP now!

What is wrong with the car exactly? If the engine really needed replacing you would have known before you took it for a service.

£500 to replace and exhaust is ridiculous on that car - unless it's a diesel and needs to DPF. I'd want to see the exhaust and would be asking why they couldn't weld it. if it was really gone you'd have heard it blowing.

Mechanics don't inspect the whole car when they do a job, I wish they did because like you I would have saved myself the bother of having the first repair.

MOTs have just got a hell of a lot tougher, ask them what the chances of your car passing next year are? Is there anything which will fail it next year?

Once my car fails I think I'm going to just buy a car for £500 which has 12 months MOT and be prepared to buy a car each year 🙄

The 500 was for New exhaust system needed, track rod MOT and service

They are now investigating the coolant leak . A head gasket could be £800 and they said there may something once they get deeper into the engine.

Maybe we should pay the £500 and get a second opinion

Once my car fails I think I'm going to just buy a car for £500 which has 12 months MOT and be prepared to buy a car each year 🙄

That is not a bad idea!

They don't do a full inspection even during a full service. Audi charge close to £200 just to do an inspection.

Thanks.

If its fair its fair its just the same price as what the car cost. So we are a bit aghhhh

Was it leaking or overheating before you took it in to the garage? Any warning lights on (I'd expect to see the temp light and oil light on)? Loss of power? White smoke?

A blown head gasket shouldn't mean a new engine unless it's been run hot and warped the heads. A car with a blown head gasket would run worse than a three-legged dog, you couldn't miss that it had happened and you'd driven it (or tried to).

It seems odd that it should have gone all of a sudden while in the garage, and I'm wondering if they left it running to do the emission test, the gasket blew, they didn't notice and continued to run it, making the damage far worse. A blown head gasket would normally be replaced, if it was spotted quickly and before the engine was damaged.

I blew a head gasket once (in an old Escort van) and it was unmistakable that something was very, very wrong.

Was it leaking or overheating before you took it in to the garage? Any warning lights on (I'd expect to see the temp light and oil light on)? Loss of power? White smoke?

I think the only thing that oh noticed was a leak on the road prior to test.
But may not have been out car as parking is horrendous.