Well, about 2 weeks ago I was driving on the Interstate (at night) and ran over something that damaged the lower part of the engine (oil pan, oil bleedout, etc.) to the point where the engine is going to have to be replaced. There's no body damage, no tire/suspension damage. This is for a '98 A4 2.8L Quattro (around 55K miles). This is in Raleigh, NC.

The insurance company wants to replace the engine with a used engine with 15K fewer miles for an amount estimated around $10K (incl. labor). The local Audi dealership (Leith Audi, in Cary, NC), whom I've dealt with for the last 3 years since moving here, absolutely refuse to put this used engine in, saying that putting a used engine (presumably from a damaged/salvaged A4) is a very bad idea that will cost more to install than the insurance company says and will probably give me lots of trouble after installation. The dealership wants to put in a factory remanufactured engine, whose estimated cost (incl. labor) is over $14K.

The insurance company doesn't want to do this "New Engine Option". They also don't want to "total" the car, even though even their estimate seems to be getting close the the 75% of NADA book value which is the threshold for totalling a car in NC.

My options seem to be limited (and all bad):

A. (The "Used Engine Option") Go to some other Audi repair place, whom I've never dealt with before, and get the used engine from the insurance company put in. The cost seems OK (I just pay the deductable), but I might get a car that doesn't run well (although the insurance company does provide a 12 month/12,000 mile warranty on the parts).

B. (The "New Engine Option") Have Leith Audi put in the new engine and pay $4000+ out-of-pocket (in addtion to the deductable).

So my questions are:
1. Are there any other options anyone can think of? What are their pluses/minuses?
2. Anybody have any experience with engine replacements like I'm possibly doing? i.e., with a used engine? (or even with a factory remanufactured engine?)
3. Anybody have any Audi repair places in the greater Raleigh area (other than Leith) you could recommend that could do an engine replacement well?
4. (Bonus Question) What are the pros and cons of having a car considered "totalled" by the insurance company? I'm told my car would be considered totalled even if I go with the "New Engine Option", and that I'd have to get a Salvage Title to replace my normal NC Title. But what about resale value and other considerations?

Thanks for the help.

Mike Holder
'98 A4 2.8L Quattro Santorin Blue (RIP?)

 

I'm having trouble with an engine swap, new or used, being that much. I have a 2.8 as well and am interested in how a 2.8 is worth as much as it seems to be in both cases.

 

3700$ .. many of these with less than 40k miles.
Strikes me that the labor to swap ought not be 100 hours even at an Audi dealer ....<ul><li><a href="http://www.car-part.com/">http://www.car-part.com/</a</li></ul>

 

Agreed. Way too much labor. Have insurance pay you cash, then go do it yourself for cheaper.

 

You just have to explain it when you sell the car.

I think the dealer cannot buy them back after that, if you are thinking about trade in.

I would take the cash and find a rebuild or used one and have an independent audi mechanic install it.

 

take $10k, put in S4 engine.

 

Because it was an accident while moving? Seems to me running an engine out of oil would also be accidental and moving ...

 

A 98 Avant with 45K miles that rear-ended another car. Needed new front sheetmetal, radiator, etc, and motor.

His insurance company wanted to replace the motor with a used one, and with the rest of the stuff, valued the damage at 13K.

He argued with the insurance company, got a little more money, sold the car to me for what the salvage companies were offering ($1700), paid off the loan, and washed his hands of the whole thing.

So I've got the car, with a clean title.

You've got a decision to make. If you absolutely love the car, then get it fixed. Otherwise, you may want to consider taking the insurance money (argue with them to see if you can get more) and selling the car.

I could always use another A4 if you want to get rid of it

 

for 10k i install a factory remanufactured engine including labor
labor is only 18 hours at the dealer including charging the a/c
new motor is about $7800.00
for 10 k i even wash your car

 

Well, it gets a little complicated, but here's a very brief breakdown (numbers rounded):

Used Engine Opt. New Engine Opt.
---------------- ---------------
Engine only $3500 $8300
Other Parts+tax $3400 $3500
Labor $2800 $2300
---------------- ---------------
TOTAL $9700 $14100

These numbers are very preliminary, not cast in stone, but these are what I've got to work with right now.