my mgzr 1800cc car has a blown head gasket, so how much would a reputable mechanic charge to fix this car?

Question

mr mgzr is made by rover and it is 2002 on a b registration

could some reliable mechanics give some answers on this question please

Answer 1

Hi

The Autodata time for a head gasket on a 2002 MG ZR with aircon is around 5.3 hours (4.7 without aircon), so you can expect an average of between £250 and £300 labour, depending on how much the mech entrusted to do the job charges, onto which you need to add parts, which is a head set, new head bolts, oil, oil filter, and antifreeze.

The MG ZR has a Rover K series engine fitted and they are renowned for head gasket failure, which means that your average experienced mech will have replaced a fair few and will have it down to a fine art, and will probably be able to do it in a lot less time, but it is at his discretion as to whether he charges book time or real time. I personally can have the head stripped off a K series in less than 2 hours

The price however mounts up if the head requires a strip and rebuild and the cost could easily double as far as labour is concerned.

I also believe that the head set nowadays also consists of a modified bottom end bearing ladder which is fitted after removing the sump. Either way, the parts can turn out to be quite painful on the pocket, and then you add the labour!

Parts prices vary widely and you would have to ask for a price to get an idea, but look at around £100 to £200.

Prepare yourself for a big bill and if its not as much as I have said then you can breath a sigh of relief!!

Oh yes, and be prepared for the mech to advise a timing belt and tensioner kit which will cost around the £60 to £100 mark, because in general it is not a very good idea to retension an old belt. It can be done but it is not adviseable.

Bet you wish you'd never asked now!!

Cheers

Geordie

Answer 2

The k series engine in your car was a nightmare for popping head gaskets. Surmising you haven't warped the head and it will take a skim I'd of thought about £350-£450 would be right depending on where you are in the country. The head MUST be skimmed, your wasting your money otherwise.

Answer 3

It really depends on whats found when the head is removed, as the rover cylinder heads go soft when they overheat.
It also depends on whether you want it to go through the books, or get it done as a homer.
Expect no less than quotes of £350, and up to as much as £1000.

Answer 4

a head gasket kit cost about 180 euro,= 135 pounds, but finding a good Mechanic to fix it,with most MGs once the head goes you need to skim it before you repace the Gasket, price 4 / 500+

Answer 5

I had an MGTF with the same engine, fortunately I got rid before this problem occurred (a pretty frequent event apparently), anyway, according to the MG forums the TF comes in at around the £600 mark.

Answer 6

Being that this car isn't your every day car, it might cost a little more. I personally dont know these type of cares but you probably looking between $200 and $500. I wouldn't pay more then $500 without having gone to a large # of shops. Good Luck.

Answer 7

Read the answer given by grizz. That is an extremely accurate answer, and I couldn't have put it better myself.

By the way, your car is a 'B' registration?? How does that work? It's an 02 or 52 registration probably.

Answer 8

I paid £800 for a headgasket job for a 1995 Toyota Corolla Diesel at a Toyota garage in Warrington, Cheshire. Something tells me 400 would have been possible.

Answer 9

well in spain its about 500 euros
head shop and gasgets are not cheap