3.1 TD, Service is going to cost R38 000 what should i do!!!???

Jeep_lonehill · 2010/01/22, 01:32 PM

History: Jeep Grand Cherokee 2001 3.1 TD Laredo.
Full service history. The last service was done at 190 000 kms by the stealers and cost R20 000. The car has been driven 99% of time on road by my father. Now i have been driving the car for the past year and a half. The car has not been driven hard and has been in my family since new.

Current: Now I have taken the Jeep to a mechanic in randburg (i'm not going to mention the company name for now until I make a decision). It's not a 'stealer'. He has worked on the car before and seems to be quite honest.

The car is now sitting at 200 000kms and has major mechanical issues.

List:
Engine mountings worn
Gearbox oil is leaking
Rear diff needs to be overhauled
200 000 kms Service
Brake booster needs to be replaced.
Coolant sensor faulty.

Attached is the quote. (sorry the quality is very low).The jeep is sitting in the workshop now waiting for the go-ahead.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...bryanjeep1.jpg

So an overview: (these are rounded off values, please see the quote)

the diff is R16 000
repair brakes and boosters R5000
Repair gearbox leak R2000
Engine mountings R4000
Propshaft R3000
Coolant sensor and small things R500
Labour R5000

Total R38 000

N.B.
I'm NOT questioning the prices here. I want to find out what choice to make!!

I need some advice please.....!!!!

Do I completely fix the Jeep for R40 000 and then sell it for book value? What would book value be??

Do I partly fix it and then sell it for a reduced price? What can I get? What should I fix?

Do I trade it in? I was told I would only get R25 000 if I traded in at current state.

Do I try find some of the parts in scrap yards and do the work myself? I don't really have the time but I want to save money.

Your advice is greatly appreciated

Thanks
Bryan

**Christo Davids** · 2010/01/22, 01:37 PM

fix it yourself then keep it
Go to a private workshop for the diff, etc, you'll get a much better deal anyway and they can still provide a guarantee

Jeep_lonehill · 2010/01/22, 01:43 PM

Have you got any names for a private workshop that will do the rear diff?

What kind of price and I looking at?

R15 000 seems a bit steep.

The problem with the diff is the carrier bearings are pitted and need to be replaced.

4ePajero · 2010/01/22, 01:44 PM

I did not think you could actually drive vehicle to the workshop (it's not 'broken') and have to fork out that kind of money to drive it out again.

Take eg the diff (40% of the cost).
What's wrong with it? CW & pinion?
Bearings?

Edit: While I typed you posted that it's the carrier bearings.
Are they gold plated or what?

**RedLineR** · 2010/01/22, 01:45 PM

I can only add that the 14.5k for the rear diff is exactly what my old man paid to have his reconned at www.sparklight.co.za

That was new bearings, new crown wheel and pinion, new spider gears.

**Christo Davids** · 2010/01/22, 01:50 PM

Venter gearboxes can fix it - 012 545 0590
I paid R14k for the hilux front diff overhaul - new crownwheel, pinion, sideshafts, spider gears, discs, calipers, bearings... you get the picture. rough guestimate they could fix your bearings for less than half price that Jeep quoted - while they're fixing the diff, have them fix the gearbox oil leak as well - should save you on the labour...

Jeep_lonehill · 2010/01/22, 01:50 PM

Haha! I can't believe that parts could actually cost this much!!!

Maybe they are gold plated..

I'm not questioning the price, I know that it's going to cost alot to fix.

I just want to weigh up my options and find the best outcome. At this rate I'm leaning towards trying to sell the car with the best overall cash in hand.

**Edgy** · 2010/01/22, 01:56 PM

Maybe simply leave it parked at said mechanic......and sneak away!

**Christo Davids** · 2010/01/22, 02:07 PM

You have a couple of scenarios, but I would say you have 2 choices:
1 - Fix it properly and keep it, you won't get back what you've spent on it by selling
2 - Sell it as is, mention to the seller that it needs a good service

you can fix it properly and then sell, but you won't get R38k more by doing this
you can fix it partially, but then you might as well sell it as is, rather take R20k less for it
That's just my opinion

Jeep_lonehill · 2010/01/22, 02:11 PM

Thanks Christo

That is my thinking at the moment also

What do you think I could get for the Jeep as is?
After doing the basics and service.

The car runs just fine at the moment. No serious noises or vibrations.

The car is in otherwise very good condition. Leather seats and tow bar. BFGoodrich all round.

It's neat car but has run into a serious amount of mechanical problems. I'm starting to believe that this is a 'friday car'

**Christo Davids** · 2010/01/22, 02:15 PM

No idea what you can get for it - make a price and start advertising...
The dealers will give you very little, try a private sale rather

Jeep_lonehill · 2010/01/22, 02:24 PM

Can anyone give me an estimate?

I advertised the car a year ago and got good response.

The vehicle was priced at R110 000

Now with all the issues I would be selling a lemon...

Do i price it at say book value - service costs?

R90 000 - R38 000

R52 000?

**stochmal** · 2010/01/22, 02:35 PM

that will be fair to the buyer as he needs to invest up to R38 000 to make it reliable daily transaport

**RoelfleRoux** · 2010/01/22, 02:46 PM

I agree with Stochmal,

Book value minus repair costs.

We all like to be reasonable and fair.

If you are uncertain about book value, then have a look at the Autotrader and find a similar Jeep in EXELLENT condition. Keep in mind that your Jeep has been in your family since new and has been regularly serviced. Surely, after the quoted repairs, this car will be like new again.

Just my humble opinion.
Roelf

**Ced** · 2010/01/22, 02:52 PM

The problem with trying to sell it privately is that you are going to struggle to find a buyer. The car has high mileage and the 3.1 Jeeps are not the most popular on the market. Trade it in - I recently got R55 000 when I traded mine in with 210 000km on the clock.

**Winston** · 2010/01/22, 03:08 PM

Mmm... Like some of the trade-in prices in this thread.

There is a Jeep WJ in town (Vereeniging) for R59 999 so doing a tradein / selling it out of hand is maybe an option without fixing it.

Jeep_lonehill · 2010/01/22, 03:13 PM

What kind of bargaining power to I have as the seller in a trade-in?

If I'm planing on going to a normal car dealer.... how do I ensure I get the right price out?

**Damdan** · 2010/01/22, 03:21 PM

Face the facts, with that vehicle you have no bargaining powers.
Shop around and either take the best trade in price or the best replacement vehicle. No use getting R10 000 more but having to take a Tata in its place.
Thanks for reminding me again why I didnt buy the Jeep, although I was (still am) totally in love with the looks.

**Andre** · 2010/01/22, 04:49 PM

I had a Jeep GC 3.1 TD with leather sets. In 2007 Mutsibishi Motors offered me R70000 as a trade in. So I reckon anything near R50000 will be a fair price.

**VanZan** · 2010/01/22, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by Jeep_lonehill

The problem with the diff is the carrier bearings are pitted and need to be replaced.

I'm not familiar with that diff but carrier bearings @ R14k sounds scary to me. And how does he know unless the diff has been stripped and if it wasn't noisy before why would he have stripped it? And it is unusual for ALL diff components to be stuffed simultaneously AND not be very noisy?!

And things such as the propshaft. Normally the workshops farm these out but they add a mark-up on the out-sourcing as well as the fitment. Might save a few rand if you do it yourself.

Good luck