elite vw?

hi guys just wondering if anyone has any dealings with a company called elite vw based in Basildon Essex. i suppose i should of asked this before handing over £900 for a new engine, but live and learn.

having to wait nearly 3 weeks longer than i was quoted because they had smashed all the push rod tubes with a forklift, should of set some bells ringing but we all make mistakes.

when it did arrive all seamed to be well until i stared to attach the other components to it, when i started to notice the old seals had been left in and just painted over now i know I'm not a engine builder so is this common practice?

once i had got the engine fitted the problems started oil PX light and buzzer tracked it down to having the wrong sensor fitted that changed engine running in starts.

after the engine got up to temp for the first time a loud tapping noise developed so i straight away rang elite vw for advice i was told it was air in the tappets and not to worry and was assured that after running it in it would be fine, 600 miles later much louder and an oil leak had developed from a push rod tube on the same cylinder that the tapping was coming from coincidence?

another phone call to elite again i was told not to worry and it was just air but to there credit they have sent me 3 new extendable push rod tubes and allegedly 3 NEW tappets however judging by the oil thick oil i found when i took them apart to bleed before fitting they were far from new again standard practice?

having bled them and fitted the new push rod tubes the oil leak had stopped for now but again once the temp had got up tapping back again.

elite vw have said if i get the van to them they will sort it but as I'm in Dundee an there in Essex its a long way to go and i don't really want to do any more damage.

am i in the right in thinking they have not done a good job re coning the engine or am i just being picky?

Tradesize wrote: type elite vw into volks moan (zone) search facility on old threads and see the info. thats all i will say

That's when/if it works

shapey wrote: might be worth having a look over on 80-90 as i think quite a few people there have used elite.

Quite a few peeps on 80-90 have had recon engines from Elite VW. They seem to have a good reputation. Steve Shaw at Gasure in north Wales is an agent for Elite & can do the first service as required under the terms of the warranty. I think he also fits Elite engines from time to time. Maybe he would also be allowed to sort out problems with engines fitted by Elite. Maybe worth looking into.

Hi dubbajim,

I was thinking about the bit about the old gaskets painted over on the engine.  We used to do this to mask the gasket surfaces when we used to get outboard motor crankcases stove-enamelled.  They survive better than masking tape.  Just a thought?

PaulG