36 replies to this topic

[kevo]

Hi guys.Just wondered if i could please share the total messing about and warn other members of this place.

I saw an add on one of the e-bay pages M&M-Warrington to which i rang becouse i was looking for a replacement engine and gearbox combo for our 1985 mini mayfair.The old engine is Ok(ish) but the gearbox is now past its sell by date and sometimes is very notchy and leaking oil from the driveshaft and gear selector seals..(Yes the usual mini area`s) she has covered now 80k miles in total with a rock solid bodywork..She has never been welded all origional sills and subframes ect and is our daily transport.

Anyway,As mentioned i rang Paul @ M&M`s Warrington who stated thay had a 29k engine and gearbox...Which i was obviously interested in..He said the engine would be all serviced and only thing i had to do was remove the old unit and replace it with the new item sent from them.

After waiting approx 12 days the engine arrived,When i get the engine at my garage it was then i noticed things did`nt tally and it did`nt look like a low milage engine at all.

Being a mechanic for over 38 years i`m quite aware of the places and things to look out for without even starting the engine..I took a look inside the oil filler cap firstly which was a disgrace black and not at all low milage looking (This is the place where the oil flows the slowest so usually leaves all the debris behind)  My own 80k engine becouse of regular oil changes is absolute spotless in this same area and easily able to see the yellow of the cylinder head and shiny valvegear.. which really tells me a lot of how the engine internals are....Anyway this was black and gooey...Next,Was the clutch area..i had to remove the starter motor to ease fitment into my car..This was all oily and cruddy..I do realise that the rear oil seal on mini`s do let a tad through under normal wear and tear...This was dripping which also told me it was`nt a 29k engine..The next thing was the oil pressure with the sparkplugs removed was just about impossable to achieve and flattened 2 good batteries...Once again i`m also aware that if the engine had been stood quite a while that almost all the microns of oil will have drained off but,I had the awful feeling at this point that i had been diddled.

I phoned up and reported my findings to paul the owner of M&M`s who just said dont worry just put the sparkplugs back in and fire up the engine..I could`nt do this..(I have built many engines in my time and know fine well the importance of lubrication before the tonnes of pressure from the engine running hits the shells)...So,I reverse primed the oil pump and even then the engine took ages to obtain oil pressure...So onward i thought,Obviously before the priming i put in brand new oil & filter.I managed to set everything up and got the engine running....The first thing i notice was the bottom end sounded like a machine gun and was trash..There was also plumes of a blue tinted smoke coming out of the oil filler cap (Worn rings and or bores)..This engine was absolute rubbish...I reported this to Paul @ M&M `s yet again who said he would forward me a replacement engine....I have made over 25 phone calls to this man and all he is doing is telling me nothing but lies,He has never once called me back even when he prommised me he would..I mentioned to him its cost me money to get help in both removing the old and putting in his duff engine becouse i have two frozen shoulders I`m 56...I also told him my wife had to make regular visits to the hospital with her hips she is 54 and that we were without a car now for 6 weeks..I have now writtedn him a letter stating i want my money back plus the cost of the help..He has took the complete mickey out of me from the start..Please guys do not deal with this person...I would`nt like the same thing to happen to you guys...I`m without either my mini or money to get a replacement unit now so i`m also stuffed.....

Attached Files

•  P1010001.JPG   111.94K   9 downloads

Edited by kevo, 03 July 2014 - 11:30 PM.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

That's a shame I just threw £90 at them for an exhaust for my Metro since they're the only people that sell them brand new. It was sent very quickly and was as described. Unfortunately it doesn't take a lot to send out parts... selling engines and describing them accurately is a totally different thing. Hopefully your problems with them can be resolved with you getting your money back at least. Maybe we can have a TMF get together to help you refit your engine, tea, cakes and an evening and we could save your shoulders! If this is something you think would help you, when you have an engine to put in, let me know via Inbox and I'll help you arrange it.

 

Best wishes and good luck!

Edited by Mini-Mad-Craig, 03 July 2014 - 11:47 PM.

[mister bridger]

I too have had appalling service from these people - too long and traumatic for me to be bothered detailing - and wouldnt touch them with a barge pole again.

[ibrooks]

I've bought bits in the past but again only new parts so no problems.

 

We did briefly have a guy come to our Mini club who had something to do with them and some of the stuff he talked about put me right off (cylinder head "skimming" with a belt sander for one).

[blackbelt1990]

I had so much trouble with them over a weather shield a few years ago, totaling about £10, that in the end I just sent their broken one back to them and went elsewhere. Wrote the loss off as experience. I'd never use them again!

[kevo]

That's a shame I just threw £90 at them for an exhaust for my Metro since they're the only people that sell them brand new. It was sent very quickly and was as described. Unfortunately it doesn't take a lot to send out parts... selling engines and describing them accurately is a totally different thing. Hopefully your problems with them can be resolved with you getting your money back at least. Maybe we can have a TMF get together to help you refit your engine, tea, cakes and an evening and we could save your shoulders! If this is something you think would help you, when you have an engine to put in, let me know via Inbox and I'll help you arrange it.

 

Best wishes and good luck!

Thank you sooo much for the offer of help Craig..But,I live quite aways up north near Redcar / Whitby. I`m going to have to put back in my old engine so i can at least use my car over this weekend... Thank you very much for all the replies/Answers given...I`m just hoping paul @ M&M will refund me my money so i can seek out another unit to replace the duff one he origionally sent me..At the minute i`m sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place....

Edited by kevo, 04 July 2014 - 11:22 AM.

[Ethel]

You have the distance selling regs on your side, and should be entitled to a full refund, including carriage. I can't see you getting any more than that though.

 

All of these 2nd hand parts places will be finding it ever harder to get enough stock to stay in business, the temptation to sell what they have, regardless of condition must be immense. I don't think I'd buy anything major without seeing it first.

[alicetheauto]

There are letters online which you can modify and send to m&m, stating they have 14 days to refund or replace your item (including reimbursement of any courier fees both ways) or you shall be filing a small claims court claim against them. Send it signed for, then they have no way of wriggling out of it. I've been screwed over before (by a car dealer who pretended he wasn't) and lost out by £1500. Wish I'd been more confrontational and pushed it.

[Anthony30]

I have used M&M Warrington for a couple of parts. Had trouble once with ordering braided brake hose kit, Needed to nag them for weeks. After waiting all that time they referred us to Minimine, who sent the wrong kit, but to be fair they apologised for the mistake and sent me a badge for free. I would always use Mini Sport or Mini Spares for new parts.

[kevo]

Thank you for the info guys......The biggest problem with paul @ M&M is he will not respond to any phone messages..The last time i caught him in he told me he would personnaly se to it the engine was loaded onto the currier and would phone me to inform me with a tracking number.Once again Nothing at all and i have phoned the spot another 8 times since with no joy whatsoever...I just wish i had never clapped eyes on this guy or M&M`s at all...I have never been treat like this from anywhere before this...You would think the guy would be falling over himself to get this replacement engine to me but he just is`nt bothered all....

[kevo]

I have now replaced the old engine back into my mini..But now have yet another problem..At the same time i changed over the end cover (Clutch) Becouse i had wear in the shaft that goes through the alloy cover and wobbled when the engine was run..Infact it chattered and you could see the shaft with the two large adjuster nuts on wobbling up and down,So i changed the whole end cover over for a used verto one i already had along with a new clutch master cylinder...The problem i have now is the clutch will not fully disengage the clutch and drags in all the gears..Also the clutch foot pedal dosent seem to travel far..I have bled the system several times and adjusted the nuts all to no avail.

Any of you guys had this problem before at all please..????.

A rapid responce would be excellent guys..Thanks again....Kev.

[Ethel]

You are using all one type of clutch - either Verto or pre-verto all the way to the slave cylinder. Is the throw out stop adjusted, that's those 2 big nuts you mentioned.

[kevo]

You are using all one type of clutch - either Verto or pre-verto all the way to the slave cylinder. Is the throw out stop adjusted, that's those 2 big nuts you mentioned.

Thank you for your rapid responce ETHEL...Yes,Sir..All the components are from a verto clutch,The only diffrence i can see is the slave cylinder has a circlip in the end to stop the piston over throwing but mine has`nt...I even tried my own slave cylinder back on and i still did`nt get the required throw to disengage the clutch...I`m just wondering if the master cylinder has become faulty with letting air into the system enev though i have bled the thing several times..?????.

[kevo]

Just noticed,For some reason the clutch pedal is stopping short of its old full travel (IE-Half inch before the carpet)Where as the old pedal with the SAME master cylinder went all the way to the carpet But also when i looked the piston on the slave cylinder is also NOT doing its full travel.So ,It looks like an internal fault with the master cylinder OR Something is getting caught between the master cylinder and the pedal..Took a quick look tonight and cannot see anything stopping the pedal from going its full throw.So it looks like its out with the master cylinder Sadly....  

[kevo]

Looks like i will have to take the arsehole to a smalls claim court becouse i have sent the final notice before legal action and the seven days are up on thursday and not a jot so far from him...PLEASE,PLEASE GUYS BEWARE WITH THIS CREEP......