9 replies to this topic

[deanc]

Hi guys i know this seller has been reviewed before but i though i would share my experience.

 

Unfortunately i was daft enough to buy an engine without doing my research.

I was looking for a rebuilt mini engine, wanting something for Fast Road/Track Days.

I Paid just shy of £2200 for a lovely shiny engine which looked pretty good. (Picture Attached)

 

After running it in for 500 miles i did an oil change, it was finally time to remove the rev limiter. I took it for a little run to get it up to temperature before i took it above 4k rpm. 

And then the first time it went to 4500/5000 the oil pressure dropped and engine started pinching then stalled.

So it was time for a 3 hour wait for the rac.

 

after getting home i tried the potential "easy fixes" like the oil pressure regulator stuck or the oil pick up loose but no luck. do i had to take the engine out. 

here is a list of the problems with it

 

the water jacket was seriously rusty and clogged up-

here is a lot of bearing material/peices of metal in the oil and turned the engine oil completely black within less than 50 miles

the crank seal is leaking at the flywheel side

the engine leaked oil from the crank case

the core plugs were filled incorrectly with sub standard parts and leaked

the paint has faded near the exhaust due to poor paint being used

the clutch was a second hand unit which had just been spray painted whilst on the engine in order to make it look new

none of the bolts holding the flywheel housing were torqued up correctly

The cylinder head gasket had been leaking between the bores

The flywheel was standard and not lightened

The cylinder head was completely standard, which wasn't ported and didn't have double valve springs like advertised 

I think there is even more but i cant remember off the top of my head.

The crank was completely standard and had not been reground.

Oil pump was knackered

 

However i would like to end on a positive.

After sending multiple emails the guy didn't want to respond so i had to resort to Paypal.

I opened a dispute and the seller didn't respond so i changed it to a claim, he didn't want to respond to this either.

So after 10 days of him not responding Paypal decided in my favour. 

 

On the plus side, as he didn't reply they took the money straight out of his account, gave it to me and didn't ask me to send the engine back.

 

So i ended up with my money back

A 1380 block

Brand new pistons and con rods

A crankshaft which has never been ground 

An sw22 cam which looks to be in good condition

A gearbox with central oil pickup which looks to be rebuilt and in good condition with a cross pin diff.

A big valve cylinder head which just needs porting and double valve springs.

Swiftune duplex timing gear 

and a shiny rocker cover.

 

 

So if you want some free parts and a sort of but not really rebuilt engine for the cost of a little bit of hassle and headache he is still listing engines.

 

http://www.ebay.co.u...=p2047675.l2559

 

 

So now its time for me to stay in the garage and learn how to build an engine myself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attached Files

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[Pingu]

Good out come for you thankfully! Glad you got your money back.

[Tommyboy12]

I wouldn't assume you've just gained the engine. When he realises what has happened he may ask for it back and you will be obliged to return it.

Just a side note, I would never buy a 'rebuilt' engine on eBay without assuming it needs at least stripping down and inspecting first. There's a few cowboys out there unfortunately

[deanc]

I wouldn't assume you've just gained the engine. When he realises what has happened he may ask for it back and you will be obliged to return it.

Just a side note, I would never buy a 'rebuilt' engine on eBay without assuming it needs at least stripping down and inspecting first. There's a few cowboys out there unfortunately

Yeahh unfortunately I have learnt the hard way. And I thought that too, however I've rang up PayPal to check.
They said as he didn't reply in the time specified even though they know he has read the messages the case is closed and he can bot get the engine or money back.

[jeebz]

Thats a shame. I was seriously thinking about buying an engine off him before deciding to give it a go myself. 

 

Glad you got your money back. 

 

Good luck in your next build. 

[deanc]

Thats a shame. I was seriously thinking about buying an engine off him before deciding to give it a go myself. 
 
Glad you got your money back. 
 
Good luck in your next build. 

Just be glad you haven't mate. to be honest after having a good read on the forum and a good trawl through vizards book building one up seems much less daunting. How is your rebuild going?

[JCP]

I've always been wary of buying prebuilt engines from unknown sources, always bought ones that clearly need rebuilding and tinkered away myself, although it helps being in the trade.
Good to hear you got your money back, now you can rebuild the engine yourself and know it's done right, and you'll have a massive sense of achievement when it's up and running.

[Mini Manannán]

 

the case is closed and he can bot get the engine or money back.

 

What does this mean?  I'd be wary of calling the engine your own yet.

[matty...]

Yeah I wouldn't be spending lots of time and money on it quite yet, as he may ask for it back. Saying that I wouldn't make it easy for him either to get it back, it seems that not responding to messages is his tact. People like this need to lose money at some point to know how it feels!

[deanc]

Just an update/warning
This guy has listed some engines again so hopefully none of you get caught out. On the plus side he never got his engine back off me.

Also he is on Gumtree under a different name so beware

Edited by deanc, 18 August 2016 - 01:18 PM.