Right...MkII 130k L&K 56 Plate....

Can't really afford to replace or change... so trying to keep the car going. It's an L&K and got a few bits on it that I really like.. and I'm just "comfy" in my car, so I'd like to try and keep it going for as long as possible.

I was rear-ended by a van about a year ago. Rear end damage, but also, after doing quite a few miles, realised that the engine mount had broken at the front (the air con bracket e.t.c.). Got this fixed. Drove around a bit...

Noticed car was very noisy, lots of people said it was the DMF, but then all of a sudden...

Bang clunk, same thing happened again, but this time it was a different mount, and a bit had broken from the engine.

So... imported one of these Van Gogh brackets from Diesel Geek http://www.dieselgeek.com/VW_Engine_Block_Bracket_for_BRM_TDI_p/vg-brm.htm Fantastic fix, saved junking the engine... job done. Really great little solution.

Anyways... job done... still noisy DMF... friend said drive around until it gets noticeably worse... which it has.

So... he's done a whole list of things. Rear brake discs, rear wheel bearing, (this car is getting like Trigger's Broom)... Cam Belt change, water pump e.t.c. and converted the DMF to a SMF with a new clutch.... and he's been mega cheap and lovely as he knows I'm trying best to keep it on the road!

Only problem is, now the gearbox seems really noisy... after having a good listen, it seems like there are bearing issues....

Now... questions...

I read about noises and engine mounts e.t.c. and I'm wondering if gearbox problems might have been caused by / exacerbated by engine mount problems e.t.c. Is there anything I should bear in mind?

Does anyone know of a good gearbox specialist.. we are in Mid Wales, but anywhere on the route from here to Milton Keynes would be helpful. Is it worth taking in gearbox? Am I likely to save over just buying a box from a breakers... any advice?

Smf does tend to be noisier, is it driving fine?