[TeaCosy]

Hi All,

Hoping to get some opinions from you all on whether my i30 is worth repairing or not (or whether I'm being led astray by the dealership / mechanics)

My i30 has been mine since 85,000kms and is now at 196,000 kms. It's been driven on short trips during the week (25mins commuting) in addition to lots of longer journey's to the Sunshine Coast and Northern NSW (Brisbane based car). Over this time I've serviced it every 15000. Other than servicing, the things I've had to do is the steering coupling, battery, bulbs and brake pads - pretty good all in all.

HOWEVER, I've recently had an intermittent idling issue that has prompted me to go to the mechanics to get it diagnosed.

The first mechanic:
 - Unable to diagnose idling and recommended diesel specialist or Hyundai dealer diagnose (See below).
 - Said that the front ($380) and right hand ($320) engine mounts needed replacement.

The second mechanic (Hyundai Dealer) said that:
 - The glow plugs had an open circuit on all 4 glow plugs and needed replacement (cause of the idling issue): $260
The following needed replacement:
 - Engine Mount: $546
 - Automatic transmission mount: $519
 - Roll mount front: $414
 - Roll mount rear: $414
 - Front link pins: $282
 - Front/Rear lower control arm bushes: $849
 - Turbo hose: $387
 - Drive shaft seal on RHF on Transmission: $210
 - Idler: $155
Total - $4036

I'm obviously a little shocked that the car requires so much work and at the price of it. I saw a post by @duggy ( 2009 i30 wagon repairs. ) that suggested that I was being over quoted?


I have a few questions that I was hoping to have some help with. For context, the car quite suits my lifestyle and for waste reasons I would like to try keep it to 300,000 if possible but I don't want to waste $$.

Questions:

1) How important / urgent is this work?  / is there risk to leaving / postponing portions of the work?
2) Are the amounts I'm being quoted reasonable?
3) Is this amount of work to be expected on a car this age?
4) Does anyone have any suggestions for other mechanics in Brisbane to try? I'm inner north but willing to travel to save $ / go to someone trusted.

Any help is hugely appreciated!!




 
 

[Pnut]

I guess a lot of it depends on how much you can or want to do yourself, and how much is just "a bit worn" but still working fine (At that mileage you will have a few no doubt). From what i have seen the engine mounts for sure can cause vibrations especially at idle, and the fact both of them mention it tells me they need replacing. Glow plugs might be an offending article, I am no diesel expert but i thought they were mostly needed at start and idle. Is it hard to start?

I am guessing those prices include labour?

[The Gonz]

 
- glow plugs for getting your cylinders up to heat for starting
- engine mounts to reduce vibration

The rest I'd watch for performance, fluid leak and overheating problems to tell you it's time to act.

[mrexcitement]

If you are willing to get your hands dirty and have a bit of mechanical aptitude then you can do most of this yourself.
I try to do as much as I can myself and so far haven't needed a mechanic and I so far have changed the drive shafts , engine mount, shocks , springs , brake pads/disks , wheel bearings (front/rear) , sway bars , rear lower control arm (adjustable rear camber) and all fluids including the auto.
The oil filled engine mount is really easy to change yourself , I did it in less than 30 minutes.
Very similar to you  , I bought my i30 FD diesel at 80,000 kms and now it's at 215,000 kms and still going strong , runs well , I am hoping to get another 200,000kms out of her , actually I am probably going to keep her until she dies , I really like this car and it suits me perfectly.

[TeaCosy]

Hey Pnut, - I'm a little mechanically minded and have some interest in working on my car but living in an apartment with not much spare time outside of weekends is a bit of a barrier. If I was to do anything myself I think I would need some clear instructions from somewhere and to purchase all of my own tools to get it done so this cost would have to be factored in. You are bang on and I think I can trust that some of them do 'need' replacing as vibrations and a rattle at idle started today. Does this make it a critical thing that will mean that there could be permanent damage / expensive damage to other components coming up soon?


Is it hard to start?

 - For the vast majority of the time it starts just fine. Every now and then (monthly or greater) there will be a harder start but it just needs a second more to crank (could be the battery @ 42% too?)

I am guessing those prices include labour?

 - Yes, i think they include labour with both quotes

[TeaCosy]

Thanks Gonz,


Can I conclude from what you've said about the glow plugs that this is not a critical issue?


Re: performance, fluid leak and overheating problems to tell you it's time to act.

 - No performance changes noticed. No overheating noted - Good news I take it!
 - Noticed some dried residue on carpark floor over the last couple of days. Will be taking it over to a friends who knows a little more to check things out Tomorrow.

[TeaCosy]

Thanks MrExcitement,

That's an impressive list, fancy a trip up to Brissy? hahaha

For the engine mounts can you do this without having something to hold the engine and just propped up on some jack stands?



" I am hoping to get another 200,000kms out of her , actually I am probably going to keep her until she dies , I really like this car and it suits me perfectly." - I have said the same (except I was only hoping for another 100,000, lets hope I'm wrong).

"The oil filled engine mount is really easy to change yourself , I did it in less than 30 minutes." - That sounds promising

Where do you find the parts that you need? I don't imagine the local supercheap would be the way to go!

[josh1990]

Supercheap won't have it on the shelf, but they can order it in for you. If you go to the website and plug in your vehicle details, then click the vehicle it will open up the orderable parts. Or head in store and order through spare parts. Currently 30% (today, Sat June 5 2021) sitewide if you're a club member. Today's the day if you're gunna do it.

[Pnut]

For the engine mounts can you do this without having something to hold the engine and just propped up on some jack stands?

No you really need a jack under the motor supporting it to raise and lower off the mounts. Could always do it ant you mechanically minded mates place?

[sundiz]

There is a place for dealer service, but not probably with these old beaters. Glow plugs and engine mounts from smaller shop, should not break the bank. Some of those would be DIY jobs, if you have tools and a place to do it.

At least here the dealer service vs smaller shop, the price is almost douple in the dealer. Higher hour rate and more expensive parts. I was once quoted 120 for a part that I ended up buing with 20...

I just asked a quote from dealer to front stabilizer bushings change. They refused to give price, but offered suspension checking service. Did not even bother to ask how much that would have cost. Went to a local shop, and they quote 100€ including parts and 1 hour labour. I told that it will take probably more than 1 hour as subframe needs to be loosen or taken out to get access. They told that in that case it would be 300€ including parts and labour removing the subframe (if needed) and a wheel alingment.
I ended up paying 160€. They managed to wiggle the pushings out after loosing the subframe and no alingment was needed. Only took 1.5 hours...

[BrendanP]

I'm pretty sure that some or all of the glow plugs have failed on my partners car, which is 2011 diesel, 217,000 miles. None have ever been replaced. In colder weather it takes more cranking for the engine to start, but it does always start. It runs rough for a minute or so but is fine once there's a bit of heat in the cylinders. I'm reluctant to change them because of the accounts I've read of them seizing in the cylinder head and snapping off when trying to remove them. Even if they come out, they seem to take some of the thread in the head with them. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[mrexcitement]

Yep definitely will need a jack to support the weight of the engine while replacing the engine mounts and it makes it easier to adjust the height of the engine while fitting the mounts.

Searching the internet I found the parts from various places , Supercheap actually aren't too bad for some parts and I have purchased from them for the I30 but most of the parts came from overseas as they were cheaper.
KORAPS - KORea Auto Parts Service - HYUNDAI KIA GM SSANGYONG RENAULT Genuine Parts! Low Price!
PartSouq Auto Parts Around the World
I have ordered parts from both of the above with no problems and reasonable shipping/cost.

[TeaCosy]

Thank you all for the advice. Some other things have come up that I need to deal with and then I might see if I can do some more reading about doing the engine mounts diy and getting any of the leaks fixed by the mech (unless I get carried away hahah)