Updated April 2026 · Diesel Automotive workshop notes
If your diesel engine is finished — bottom end gone, snapped cambelt destruction, hydrolocked — you have three options: rebuild the engine you've got, fit a recon long block, or fit a complete replacement engine. Here's how we help customers choose.
Cost: short engine rebuild from £499; long engine rebuild from £1,200; cylinder head overhaul from £499 (final cost depends on machining and parts).
Time: 1–3 weeks from booking in to handover.
Best when: the bottom end is recoverable, parts are available, and the car is worth the spend (sentimental value, classic, low overall mileage on the rest of the car).
Cost: typically £2,500–£5,500 fitted depending on engine.
Time: usually 5–10 working days subject to availability.
Best when: a known good recon unit is available off the shelf and your existing engine is too damaged to rebuild cost-effectively.
Cost: £4,000–£8,000+ depending on engine.
Time: driven by parts lead time — sometimes weeks.
Best when: the car is high-value, low-mileage on body and chassis, and you want manufacturer warranty backing.
We strip and inspect the engine first. The state of the block, crank, head and turbo tells us how much can be saved. Then we map your costs:
"I've had an engine rebuild on another car before so I make a direct comparison and say these guys are a proper professional outfit. The quality of their work is excellent, and they managed to turn around a rebuild on a 26-year-old motor that most other places won't touch on a tight timescale." — Andrew Knight, Google review
That car was uneconomical to replace and the engine was no longer in production. A full strip, machine and rebuild gave it another decade of useful life for less than the cost of a clean used replacement.
Got an engine on its way out? Send us your reg, mileage and a description of the symptoms. We'll diagnose properly and lay out your options. Engine reconditioning page · Contact.
Diagnostic from £59 — comes off the bill if you proceed.