Citroen DS3 - Head gasket repair cost

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Fri 21 Aug 2015 18:19
Citroen DS3 - Head gasket repair cost - Waitwhat

My girlfriend's head gasket blew up a month ago and the dealership (not Citroen) have just got it repaired and given her the bill.

£1350 for head gasket repair and skimming!

This seems very steep, can someone enlighten me if this is overpriced?

She took it to the Ford dealership which is where she brought it from.

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Fri 21 Aug 2015 20:04
Citroen DS3 - Head gasket repair cost - elekie&a/c doctor

It depends how much work was involved and what engine is fitted.Is there any reason to take a citroen to a Ford dealer to be fixed?

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Sat 22 Aug 2015 11:26
Citroen DS3 - Head gasket repair cost - Andrew-T

Sounds a lot to me - did the engine have to be lifted?

My inclination would be to go to an independent who specialises in work like engine rebuilds. Franchised dealers are quite likely to send the car there anyway. Even then an indy will probably send the head to a specialist to be skimmed.

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Sat 22 Aug 2015 13:54
Citroen DS3 - Head gasket repair cost - RT

How much was the estimate before they did the work - she did get one?

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Sat 22 Aug 2015 22:45
Citroen DS3 - Head gasket repair cost - gordonbennet

Main dealer labour rates its probably not far out depending on how involved the job was, what caused the gasket failure and how long had it been damaged.

Skimming the head means fully stripping it out, then cleaning up reassembly valve reseating etc, full cooling system clean if oil was mixed with coolant.

Assuming its the 1.6 Diesel of Doom (Ford techs will be well used to this engine re mulitiple turbo failures etc) then injectors to be cleaned and re-seated and more in depth cleaning of the oilways and even inside the sump if they found evidence of serious carbonised oil issues.

Full gasket set, possibly a new cambelt kit, fresh coolant and oils, new glow plugs, new injector pipes, possible EGR valve, it all adds up.

Does the bill not explain what was involved and parts used, if it doesn't then a chat with the service manager (not the person doing admin on the desk) is on the cards for a full explanation.

Edited by gordonbennet on 22/08/2015 at 22:49

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