2008 CDTi vectra. Help needed please!!!

[123rado]

I have been offered a salvaged 2008 diesel 3.0L CDTi vectra 25k mileage which had water damaged engine. Engine has already been stripped and I have another engine on standby order which I planned to put in but someone told me that if the old engine computer is knackered (I have no clue), the new engine will not work on the car since the computer has been coded to work with the old engine only.

Also mentioned that even if the other ordered engine comes with its own computer, it will not work on the car.

Is this really true? If not true, what challenges will I likely face if I buy both the car and engine to fix?

I have done an estimate of cost of car + engine + labour + some chip repair and painting and arrived at £5,000-5,500. Is it really worth? Please advise. thanks.

[alanv6]

Yes that is true, if the engine comes complete with an ecu it will not work in yours unless its been reset from the car that it came from, but there is a lot of deletion involved in this as ive had to do it before, you also need to make sure that the engine you are fitting is a Z30DT and not the earlier Y30DT, (MADE UP TO THE LAST PRE FACELIFT SHAPE 2005 MY) as its bassically different apart from the block..

[m8internet]

I have done an estimate of cost of car + engine + labour + some chip repair and painting and arrived at £5,000-5,500. Is it really worth?

For £7000 you could get one from Network Q (albeit 2005/2007 about 60K miles = second service)
However they are very rare, especially on 25K miles
It depends on if the engine and EMS are new or used

The water damage may also have damaged other components
I would therefore include a third party warranty in your costings

[123rado]

Yes that is true, if the engine comes complete with an ecu it will not work in yours unless its been reset from the car that it came from, but there is a lot of deletion involved in this as ive had to do it before, you also need to make sure that the engine you are fitting is a Z30DT and not the earlier Y30DT, (MADE UP TO THE LAST PRE FACELIFT SHAPE 2005 MY) as its bassically different apart from the block..

Yeah, the engine is z30dt with 8k mileage. I have not asked the supplier about the ECU though. Should I ask that the ECU should be removed b4 sending the ordered engine and buy a new one if the old one on the car doesn't work? Have you got an idea how much a new ECU will cost to fit?

[123rado]

For £7000 you could get one from Network Q (albeit 2005/2007 about 60K miles = second service)
However they are very rare, especially on 25K miles
It depends on if the engine and EMS are new or used

The water damage may also have damaged other components
I would therefore include a third party warranty in your costings

The engine supplier is offering a 90days warranty. I have called vauxhall to ask if they will be willing to put everything together for me but they said they do not offer such a service.

[RobW]

The engine supplier is offering a 90days warranty. I have called vauxhall to ask if they will be willing to put everything together for me but they said they do not offer such a service.

[Hoping not to offend anyone!]

That is typical though, so many dealers do not employ mechanics now, just part fitters, people who know how to replace a certain part.

Anyways, good luck with the swap

[m8internet]

The engine supplier is offering a 90days warranty. I have called vauxhall to ask if they will be willing to put everything together for me but they said they do not offer such a service.

Vauxhall are just administrators now, you need to discuss the matter at the service department of a dealership
As above, they are just electricians and fitters; very few have actual mechanics skills

So much "major" work now gets sub-contracted out
A good example is the cylinder head, many dealerships send these to specialists for skimming and pressure testing

Therefore cut out the middle man and find a "real mechanic"

90 days / 3 months warranty is standard for labour, but the parts should have a 12 months warranty (even if used)

[123rado]

Vauxhall are just administrators now, you need to discuss the matter at the service department of a dealership
As above, they are just electricians and fitters; very few have actual mechanics skills

So much "major" work now gets sub-contracted out
A good example is the cylinder head, many dealerships send these to specialists for skimming and pressure testing

Therefore cut out the middle man and find a "real mechanic"

90 days / 3 months warranty is standard for labour, but the parts should have a 12 months warranty (even if used)

Ok. will cut out the middle man. Thanks
More opinions on this still needed please all.