Southern Engine Services

Avoid like the plague! I Had an engine rebuild BMW 318i E46 @£2,500. I got the car back with stiff brakes, no power steering, and a whirring/droning noise coming from intake manifold area (video available to listen to) when idling. The engine also hesitates and vibrates/stutters on idle. The website says after investigation they won’t carry on any work until written email agreements allowing you to make final decision. Nonsense! I called up after two weeks to find out what was happening, was told build was done, engine block/cylinder head needed skimming, Pistons fine but new rings, some camcover/valve cover bit and hose were glued together so that was replaced. What? I thought I would get email and final say?! Nope, car done come get it and PAY! I paid, oh yes I paid...I paid to get the car out of there. Now my car, which did have a failed head gasket is in a diagnosis mess. I have to check and replace vacuum/ brake system, find out if the ccv is causing droning in intake manifold area on idle...I’m left wondering, did Tony really skim the engine, do I really have new piston rings? Are they even my pistons? Is that my intake manifold? God, what if I’ve lost all my good bits? See, they may have done a proper job on cylinder head, gasket, block, but messed up assembly and damaged vacuum system by accident (remember brakes are fudgy). Tony was happy for me to drive it in that condition, he gave me an unsafe car! They seemed rushed. Engine rebuilds should never be rushed. It may have been an innocent bodge. But TRUST IS KEY! Would I take it BACK to them on their so called warranty? No no no! Don’t trust engine build warranty people, it’s a false security/assurance. I am going to start a campaign to pass a law that videos must be supplied on garage work and rebuilding of engines. Instead of warranty builders/garages should have to provide a video of all the work carried out on your car. By law they should HAVE to get your consent in writing before proceeding on any work and a full costing provided in writing! Your invoice should not state ‘full rebuild £1800’ but should state what exactly you paid for! This part/amount, this drilling/skimming/amount, this time labour/amount with video evidence! No dodgy warranty, but a properly regulated industry and video evidence is the future. At £2500 I should have got a better car. Trust is lost after this experience so I’m left wondering, is that even my engine? God help me, are there any honest tradesmen left in this country?

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY - They had one of our Citroen Relay vans (2015) for an engine rebuild and after keeping the van for over 6 weeks it was returned almost as bad as when it left. It went back to them 2-3 times and every time nothing was fixed yet they wanted to charge more money. Having taken the van to a reputable dealer since, they listed the dangerous works that had been carried out and proved what we thought all along, that we had actually been ripped off. Take your vehicle here at your own peril.

Southern Engines supplied a good quality renovated crankshaft for my 20 year old Opel Astra pretty much 'off the shelf' and got us the bearings too. Great service, reliable and really came through for us. What we found most reassuring was the details which they asked for to ensure beyond doubt we would be getting the right part for our engine. Excellent service !

If you want your engine ruined go here. Also forget your guarantee as they'll charge you again for the fact they've naffed it up, and naff it up again. The guy speaks the smarm attitude and thinks everyone buys his stories. Everyone else I know that have used southern engines, tell me stories of dropped engines and other horror stories.

Just want to say a big thanks to Tony, Alan and the team at Southern engines , They fitted a complete new head, rad,and water pump on my Pajero 2.8TD, AND SEAMS TO BE RUNNING LIKE A DREAM . Great service, great value fpr money , would recomend them anytime , bIG tHANKS AND WILL BE RECOMENDING THEM TO ALL. George Georgiou Co-Founder Swim Islington