Am currently looking for a black magic VRS, have a budget of around £5k.

Have seen on Autotrader a 2003 car, 133k with FSH advertised with an 'oil pressure problem' for £2k. Which got me wondering..... how much do people think a] a replacement standard engine would be b] are there any options with fitting something a bit different? I know a superb mechanic who could fit either if available so that's not a problem....

Cheers ,:)Kev...........

You can pick up 1.8T engines pretty cheap especially with the invention of ebay. Given that most of the other stuff will be ok and your could resell if the new engine comes complete i'd offer a bit less that £2k for the oil pressure one, get your mate to have a look at it, might just need an oil pump. If not bag a salvage engine and lump it in. Could even go for a BAM conversion at the same time, use the K04 turbo and net yourself 260ish bhp with a remap for not a lot more effort.

I saw an Audi TT engine (225ps) with about 70k miles on ebay a month or two ago for £500 buy it now, can't remember if it came with the turbo and all the other bits and bobs or if it was just the block.

As the 1.8 20v T engine is used in all sorts of cars I would expect finding a low mileage one will be pretty easy, but 180 or 225ps ones are going to be harder to get than 150ps ones like the early Golf GTis, Octy 20v Turbo etc. The 225 ps ones have the intake facing the other way as well IIRC.

I'd guess at a few hundred quid labour to get it fitted unless you're brave enough to do it yourself.

I agree totally with Lummox, who's a Vw mechanic in real life.