Headgasket repair / Northstar

[stefank]

Fellow Enthusiasts,

some of you have gone through the headgasket repair experience. I could get a car ('99 SLS) with a blown headgasket for a decent amount of money, and I'm calculating right now how much I would have to spend on parts. I know I would have to buy the timesert tool and the inserts themselves, as well as gaskets and fluids, and perhaps some hoses and minor stuff.

How much did you spend on parts approximateley?

Thanks and kindest regards

Stefan

[BodybyFisher]

Stefan, jhall put together a nice cost listing that is in this thread, Mike

http://caddyinfo.ipbhost.com/index.php?sho...ic=6616&hl=

If I recall, he replaced a lot more than he needed to but I am sure that you can get a good idea from his thread.

[stefank]

Hi Mike,

thanks for pointing me towards that thread. Seems there is some serious amount of money involved, especially b/c I have to add shipping cost and import duties. The car is a '99 SLS w/ 100,000 mls on the clock, one owner. It still runs but gets hot after a while. Dealer has checked the engine and diagnosed bad headgasket on front cylinder head. Car is in nice shape, they are asking € 4,000 (US$ 5,000). Reading about the parts cost and considering labour (by myself) I don't know if that's a good deal. I'll think about it.

Thanks again

Stefan

PS looked at a 2000 Jaguar XJ8 last weekend. One owner car with perfect service history, never in an accident. I was disappointed by the amount of rust I found on that car, like body seams on door sills, trunk lid lower edge and so on. My Cadillac being four years older shows not a sign of rust anywhere. The Jag's interior was very nice, thou.

[BodybyFisher]

Stefan, is there no way to buy the parts in Germany? Can you buy the parts through a GM subsidiary (Vauxhall, Saab, etc), or is that route too expensive?

If you decide to do this, you know we will help you anyway we can. Good Luck with your decision. Mike

[epricedright]

Hi Stefank! Considering the cost for timeserting (big labor for you), $5000 for a '99 SLS with blown head gaskets seems a little high to me. What does it book out at there in Germany? The NADA value here in Indiana is $5975 low retail, $7400 clean retail, and $8575 high retail.

[stefank]

Hi,

a typical '98 to '99 SLS or STS is usually in the 8,000 to 10,000 € price range, if the mileage isn't outrageous.

That's about 10,500 to 13,000 $.

Don't forget that a new Seville is much more expensive here than in the US.

Parts are very expensive here, about twice as much as in the US. For example, the trans fluid gasket and strainers set is about 60 $ in the US, and 200 € here, that is 260 $! Parts availability is not bad, just expensive. Thanks heavens that I didn't need much for my '96 as of yet.

I really don't know what to do right now with my SLS. Keep it or sell it? It runs very well and there are no signs that a malfunction is lurking. OTOH I've driven it for three years now and would like a change. Seen rationally, I think I should keep it as long as it runs without giving major trouble.

Thanks for your comments,

Stefan