Re-Manufactured Engines
- Thread starter Howard 22
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They couldn't provide one from stock so re-manufactured my own. I have been communicating with Tony Thomas and he has not been very forthcoming with what has been done. He originally said they had re-bored and re-ground but then changed tack and said that they hadn't needed to. It seemed too much of an effort for him to find out. I also asked about the oil pump, valves, guides etc and this was one of his his responses
" I would have to ask the head dept for more details on what work was required on your head as this is not something we are normally asked"
I had seen some good reviews about them on this forum and that reinforced my choice to use them. It was their reluctance to tell me what work had been carried out that set some alarm bells ringing, which is why I came on and asked the question.
tonyc280
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2.2 K is an absolute rip off.
Well I tried others. Prestige engines wanted £2,470 and Ivor Searle couldn't touch it for weeks. I could have shopped around more but I was also quoted £1500 for second hand with no guarantee on the mileage so it seemed in the right ball park. What do you think it should have cost?
grober
MB Master
I am still slightly in the dark as to the extent of the work. Was the head worked on also? what about the timing gear? I would have expected them to renew/recondition the oil pump if you had been experiencing bottom end problems? As others have said a hone and polish with new bearing shells will be fine and the engine will be good for another 100,000 but for that sort of money I would be expecting some form of warranty in writing??
Merc Owner 2B
MB Enthusiast
Write to the owner Alan Thomlinson. Their business has an excellent record that doesn't deserve to be tarnished by the treatment you have received. Every engine will have a job card/assembly/test record so details of what has been done will be easy to explain. Email the owner a link to this thread. I'm sure he won't be happy with his staff. I'm sure Tony Thomas is their sales manager.
Did you get a proper quote before they started?
Did you get a proper quote before they started?
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As we have no idea as to the extent of the work carried out, the hours of labour, the number and type of parts replaced this is hardly, at this stage, a helpful comment.
Hi Graeme, They re-work the whole thing but have been short on detail. Apparently no-one usually ask them questions like this! As far as the oil pump and top end is concerned this was their response
"The oil pump would have been re-used or replaced with an oil pump without any wear issues but we would only fit a brand new one if a perfectly good used one could not be found. In your case this is something I would have to check with the fitter. The guides, valves, etc would have been replaced if there was any wear issues that could not be addressed, again I would have to ask the head dept for more details on what work was required on your head as this is not something we are normally asked about. We always replace the timing chains with new ones of a high quality".
Bit like drawing hen's teeth really. I'm going to go back and demand a detailed breakdown of what they have done. They must have this for their own internal costing purposes anyway.
Hi,
First off I did get a quote but these are one liners i.e. Remanufactured engine @ £1795 +vat. Most of the detail of what they do is on their website (quite vague) and I was directed there when I asked for details of the work carried out. Yes Tony Thomas is the sales manager. Thanks for the info regarding the owner. Before I go up the tree however I'll try again with TT!
Yes, customers can be so irritating!! Seems to have forgotten that we pay their wages!!
E270 Owner
MB Enthusiast
There's a difference between re-manufactured and re-conditioned
Your engine was re-conditioned.
2.2k is a lot for a recon engine.
Your engine was re-conditioned.
2.2k is a lot for a recon engine.
flango
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Crewe usually replace oil pumps with reconditioned ones and same with timing gear, to be fair they do put a lot if work in and the quality is top notch, for that engine in the trade with 2 year warranty we were paying around £1500 also Crewe never quibble nothing is too much trouble and they are good engineers
Just ask Alan for an itemised report if what has been replaced and remanufactured on your engine and I think a few will be surprised
Sent from my iPhone using MBClub UK
Just ask Alan for an itemised report if what has been replaced and remanufactured on your engine and I think a few will be surprised
Sent from my iPhone using MBClub UK
Well, I agree and that is what I accused them of however it seems the difference is in the detail. I'm now happy with the endorsements I've received from others that have used them however they (Crewe) could be a bit more up front with telling me what has been done.
I've asked Tony T that question earlier this evening and I'll post the result just for everyone's info. The price was always a bit of an 'ouch' but if what they do is good them probably worth it in the long run.
E270 Owner
MB Enthusiast
More important would be a report on what had actually failed in the engine and the decision for it to be re-conditioned should be apparent instead of it being re-manufactured.
Re-manufacturing requires Sunnen process to allow the silica to be drawn back to the surface of the bores, its not a straight forward honing process and requires piston rings to suit and not normal ones.
Some companies simply re-bore and hone then use normal oversized pistons and rings with out using the Sunnen process.
.
Re-manufacturing requires Sunnen process to allow the silica to be drawn back to the surface of the bores, its not a straight forward honing process and requires piston rings to suit and not normal ones.
Some companies simply re-bore and hone then use normal oversized pistons and rings with out using the Sunnen process.
.
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Pretty sure I used that in the late 80's to make my hair go blonde on holiday. (It didn't just made it go slightly less dark brown).
rorf
Active Member
So why didn't you just go out and buy a second hand engine - and you have still not said what the original problem was. 
Expect to pay for high quality professional work.
Expect to pay for high quality professional work.
Just to clarify, Crewe say they have re-manufactured the engine, not reconditioned it. They say it has been returned to 'zero mileage' condition. They do not offer a 'reconditioning' service as far as I am aware. The Sunnen process is a new one on me. Totally unaware of this so I don't really know if they have done this to my engine.
This whole re-conditioning/re-manufacturing issue seems to contain a huge grey area. I spoke to a technical guy at Ivor Searle and he said they would re-bore and re-grind as a matter of course on a re-manufactured engine. Other websites I have seen say that they would only re-grind if the crank was out of limits. To confuse matters more, BSAU257 which covers re-manufacturing states that the block should be re-bored (or re-sleeved) and for the crank it states that it should be reground OR polished if within limits.
As far as the original fault goes, I agree it would have been good to know what went wrong but my own diagnosis (confirmed by the mechanic I use) was that I had a severe big end knock. I took the decision to have the engine remanufactured as from the descriptions I was given of this process it took the engine back to 'as new' condition. In that respect I was a little relaxed as to what went wrong as I knew the whole engine would be restored to more or less original.
