I have a 2005 Mazda 3 2.3L manual engine that needs to be replaced. I've been shopping around for prices and they all run around $2500. After the $1200 in labor I was quoted I'm looking at paying more than half the value of the car.

Any suggestions on what to do?
Replace the engine and try to do a private sale, or just sell the car and take the loss?
Either way I'm upside down on it and need to do something.

Any suggestions or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks

 

Don't expect any help here.....
I had a similar question and the silence was deafening.
Apparently not too many members here interested in helping others out.

FWIW, I ended up having my local mechanic install a used (70K miles) engine in my Mazda3. It cost me $ 4,400. The car now drives like new and, in my opinion, it was money well spent.
Good luck to you!

 

Thanks for the reply! I was beginning to wonder if my post didn't go through!

 

I bought an '06 Mz3 hatchback 104K miles with a rod thru the side of the block.
After searching quite a bit, there are used engines on eBay and at junk-yards accross the US for sale, but not that many.
I picked one up in MS for $1,400 with 55K miles.

Had a friend put it in and also put a new high end clutch, rear main seal, resurfaced clutch plate, plugs, wires, hoses and I was out about $2500 total. Car ran great then 1-week in had the thermostat stuck open. Bought new one and replaced in 1-hour with help from this site that made the job a breeze. (I'm very thankful for the tips under T-stat replacement.). Now the car runs great. Good gas mileage at 30 Hwy not exceeding 70 MPH. 27.5 Hwy at 75 MPH.

So good luck with the replacement engine. I bet if you do some leg work, you can save some money. But for what I've seen, don't pay much more than $1,700 for a used motor.

God bless you!

 

If you have a savvy mechanic, you could price out an engine from a 06+ ford fusion, swapping over the injectors, timing cover, harmonic balancer, and intake cam, with a little tweaking, it will be a mazda motor and for half the price of a mazda branded unit.