Engine prices vary by code, by condition and by what the strip-down reveals — so we publish real ranges rather than a headline number designed to get you on the phone. Every price below is fitted, at our Grays workshop, and VAT is included.
What an engine costs, fitted
| Option | Most popularTypical price, fitted | Lead time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reconditioned engine | £2,500–£5,000 | 3–5 days | Most owners — resets the engine’s life |
| Low-mileage used engine | £1,000–£2,500 | In stock: 2 days | Tighter budgets, shorter ownership |
| Full rebuild of your own engine | £2,000–£5,000 | 2–3 weeks | Classics, rare units, originality |
VAT included. Delta Engines is VAT registered (GB 502 3788 04), so every price already includes VAT and is the price you pay. We mention it because it’s a real difference to your final bill — not as a discount, and not as a comment on anyone else’s pricing.
Labour rates
| Work | Rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist engine labour | £125 per hour | Engine strip, rebuild, machining-related work |
| General labour | £75 per hour | Ancillary and general workshop work |
| Storage | £50 per day, from day 8 | Only if a vehicle isn’t collected within 7 days of being ready |
| Fuel for road testing | At cost | We road test up to 100 miles to confirm correct running |
All rates are final — VAT is included in all of them.
What actually moves the price
- Engine code and variant. A 306DT from a 2012 Sport isn’t identical to one from a 2015 Vogue. The variant sets the price.
- Condition. A tested low-mileage used unit costs less than a full recondition; a recondition resets the engine’s life.
- Ancillaries. Turbos, injectors, oil coolers and EGR components sometimes need replacing with the engine. We tell you before we start, not after — and we won’t fit anything chargeable without your approval.
- Core exchange. Whether your old unit comes back to us affects the price.
- Collection. If we collect the vehicle, the charge depends on distance and is agreed in your quote.
How you can pay
We accept debit cards, bank transfer and cash. Credit cards are accepted at our discretion. You can pay up to £1,000 of any invoice by card — any balance above that is by bank transfer, and we’ll send our account details with your invoice.
We never charge extra for paying by card.
Common questions
Why don’t you just publish one price?
Because it would be dishonest. The same engine code can carry different variants, and the ancillaries a job needs vary from car to car. A single headline price would only be a hook — a fixed written quote against your actual vehicle is worth more to you.
Do prices include VAT?
Yes — every price already includes VAT. Delta Engines is VAT registered (GB 502 3788 04), so the figure you see is the figure you pay. The number you’re quoted is the number you pay.
Can I buy the engine and fit it myself to save money?
We don’t supply engines on their own. We fit every engine we sell, because that’s the only way one warranty can cover both the unit and the workmanship.
What if it turns out to need more work than the quote?
We stop, explain what we’ve found, and give you a revised price. If you’d rather not proceed, you take the vehicle away and pay only for the work actually done to that point.
Diagnostics
| Service | What it is | What it costs |
|---|---|---|
| Initial diagnostic assessment | Fault-code scan, road test, visual and compression/leak checks — enough to say “yes, it’s the engine, and here’s the likely job.” | £75 flat Fully deducted from your invoice if the work goes ahead |
| Engine strip-down inspection | Only when a firm price genuinely requires opening the engine — hours of specialist labour. | Quoted in advance at £125/hour Also deducted if the rebuild proceeds |
You never pay twice to find out what is wrong. If you go ahead with the work, the diagnostic charge comes off the bill. If you decide not to, you have paid £75 for a straight answer and a written report — and you owe us nothing else. Both figures include VAT.
We will not open an engine on a hunch. If a fault-code scan and a road test are enough to price the job, that is where we stop.
A cheap price is only cheap if the engine is right. Our reconditioned engine buying guide sets out the questions worth asking any supplier, including us.