I'VE GOT A V2 555 WAGON WITH A BLOWN ENGINE- 3WEEKS AFTER BUYING IT!!!!
I CANT AFFORD A 3GRAND REPAIR BILL SO AM TRYING TO SOURCE A RE-CON ENGINE BUT WITH THIS BEING MY FIRST SCOOBY DONT KNOW WHO TO TRUST WITH MY MONEY. THERE ARE COMPANIES ON EBAY THAT OFFER A DRIVE IN DRIVE OUT SERVICE OF £1500 BUT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.
TO KEEP COSTS DOWN MY BROTHER AND I ARE GOING TO ATTEMPT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE OURSELVES, HE IS A MECHANIC SO SHOULDN'T BE TOO DIFFICULT FOR HIM.
DOES ANYONE KNOW THE BEST PLACE TO BUY AN ENGINE?
OR AM I ASKING FOR TROUBLE GETTING A RE CON ENGINE?
WOULD I BE BETTER OFF BUYING AN ENGINE FROM AN ACCIDENT DAMAGED OR SCOOB BEING BROKEN?

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO
ANY ADVICE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED

 

Can't help you mate but would love to see some pics of your wagon, a rare beast indeed

 

If you're going the re-con route make sure you don't get a WRX engine with some fancy red paint on it ( like my friend nearly did ) and check the warranty and mileage if possible. The good thing about buying out of a breaker or private is that you have a better chance to hear it running/or drive it, and a better idea of the mileage, as you can check the vehicle documents ( mot etc ) to verify the mileage, but you have very little comeback if it goes bang soon after purchasing!.

Buying engines like this can be a bit of a gamble

At least with a re-build you know what you're getting!!

Good luck and keep us posted how you get on.

Oh and some pictures of your wagon would be of great interest as I've got a V2 555 saloon

 

Give API engines a call,

A guy called David should be able to sort you out, very genuine guy too.

Oh did you buy your car from a trader? if so your engine may be covered by the 30 day warranty.

 

my wagon had a genuine 60k miles and went without warning, so i really don't fancy buying private. what a nightmare!!!
will post some pictures soon as i work out how to...

 

david @ APi is the dogs danglys and will get ya sorted but you have stated you dont want to be spending 3k!!

your in the same predicament i was in a few weeks ago. so sorced a "stolen recoverd" scoob that had been written off like so... ,
so i got to hear it running, and checked it all over.

i payed £500 quid for the whole car, got the bits i wanted and im £100 short of making my money back in parts!!

it was hard work but well worth it! quite easy to do really now i know how. i have changed the enginge in several Audi turbos and id say the scoob was alot easyer!!

good luck mate hope ya get it sorted! mines cost me £100 and £33.60 on gaskits!

 

Seconded

 

I bought a MY96 Sti V3 Wagon with ~65K miles. Dropped its crank after 3 weeks

I put it down to poor previous maintenance after exploring all the possibilities.

I don't think i would buy an older Impreza now if it hadn't had a new crank fitted! Unless there was an exceptional history with the car or I knew the owner etc.

Anyway, I considered what to do (rebuild or used) and decided rebuild. I just thought what's to say the same thing wont happen again on a used one. You just don't know the history of it? Plus your rebuild will be warranted so you know it's safe.

Got mine recovered from my house to to local engine builder, removal, rebuild (crank, one rod, head refurb) and refit £1700

Hope this gives you some cheer. This was my 5th Impreza and had no probs with any till then, but I see it's worse as this is your first. Best of luck

 

Don't seem to be recieving the pictures!

 

No pics mate

 

 

sorry for poor quality, taken from rubbish camera phone!!!

 

Be VERY careful where you source an engine from: lots of cowboys out there who sell dodgy engines then simply start a new company when the heat gets turned up on them! A lot of them trade on Ebay.

As others on this thread have suggested, I suggest you speak to David at APi he can advise you.

Remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

Ns04

 

Find out the reason it went in the first place too, running on unleaded instead of v power and a ks3 knock sensor is a very good idea.

Tony

 

thanks for all your advice, im going to save up some more money and give the guys at api a ring, its so frustrating not knowing where to turn im so glad i found this forum!!!

 

Consider also....£1500 for a genuine broken 555 ? + £3k rebuild...£4500 buys a good late classic these days!

 

that has crossed my mind, i've only just brought it so want to get it back on the road. my previous car was a 2004 astra gsi turbo running 287bhp and 321lb, i got rid of it because i wanted reliable power i could use. now my only means of transport is my push bike!!!