t3 turbo unit servicing
Turbo Mini Forums

hi there, :)

I just got quote on my old t3 turbo unit full servicing and it was 290GBP!

Is it normal price for turbo unit repair??

I have no play, just needs to be change gaskets, wastegate and maybe balancing may be not- not sure they will do it :(


I think it is quit expensive, or Am I wrong??


Can someone suggest any turbo servicing ???:)

Nothing special!

That seems pretty extortionate and not even worth it.

Are you sure thats not the price for a remanufacture?

rebuild kit? cheep, so if it go's wrong 4000 miles later no big loss.

me and oneeyed rebuilt one in about two hours. works find when my oil drain works. there maybe a link for a step by step photo guide which i followed on tm or goggle it.

i'll see if i can find the link.

Edited by wintersurferuk on 8th Feb, 2011.

T3 can be picked up for next to nothing in good condition as they are now considered old hat. I still use the one I built from bits two Years ago and it's still going strong, when they smoke get another.

If it's just gaskets that need replacing it's not a big job. Nuts usually require some heat to be removed.

I am not sure,
These is replies what I've got

1)Hello Arturs Full Service Starts at 495.00 but will quote on anything else and a minimum of 5 weeks hope this helps you decide many thanks ian (http://owendevelopments.co.uk/)

2) We can supply a Metro T3 turbo on an exchange basis for £315 plus carriage plus VAT
Or we can look at repairing your own unit from £245 upto that exchange price.
We can, if required upgrade the T3 by fitting an uprated 360 thrust bearing and a larger compressor wheel.
If the turbo is lacking boost intermittantly it is unlikely to be the actuator, this would be more likely to cause an overboost problem. It maybe the wastegate itself or the bush becoming seized.

Hope this helps
Mark Arnold (www.crturbos.co.uk)


So it is from 245 to exchange price! But my turbo unit looks great not play at all :( only gaskets and wastegate needs to be changed!

Should I better go for exchange unit!! Is it repaired as well or brand new? :/

whats difference of full servicing and re-manufactured??

Nothing special!

Hi mate,
it would be very useful, however I need to change wastegate as well!!
Also I am not willing to break any nuts

was thinking to go for profesional help - however they are asking almost same price as for brand new :/

Where can I buy this kit???

Nothing special!

i would do it yourself mate, dont thinks its worth spending that on a t3...

paying a firm to service it for £290, that sounds about right IMO, as your payng for labour as well.

Best 1/4 mile 13.2 seconds @116 mph
First 5 port miniturbo to make over 200 bhp on a carb?
First 5 port miniturbo to make over 200 bhp on Injection?

http://www.mattwoodsphotography.com

Those prices look to be exchange prices. To be honest your better off buying a better turbo.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fusion-Fabri..._homepage_panel

www.fusionfabs.co.uk



1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

Yes you right, :)
I wanted to put GT17 or something like that, however I am living in flat and my mini is parked on the road, so I do not have any opportunity to modify anything :(

I would be more than happy if I would fined where to buy all kit to make straight swap for gt17 or any other turbo - better, and with quicker spool time! I tried to fined but no luck :(
And I need mini back on the road as it is my only car :):)

so I gave up and now thinking just to put back, but restored or new t3.

any advice where it is possible to order this kit?? As I understand it is not in sale :(

Nothing special!

hi mate I got mine from a uk ebayer. have a little look, theres quite alot on there

right i think this is the guide i used.
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-t...d-part-1-a.html

you my need to balance it, but i just marked it.

you may find vids on you tube ect...

Edited by wintersurferuk on 12th Feb, 2011.

Thank you,

where exactly I need to mark it, is it safe not to do balancing?? sounds crazy :)

Nothing special!

right, i cant copy they photos from the link.

when you take the turbo apart, theres two compressor wheels and a shaft, the shaft is stuck to one of the wheels, so only one comes off, if you look at the link futher down you can see this.

about a third of the way through the link, he says this" ***There is a controversy regarding whether or not to scribe the shaft and compressor wheel to mark alignment. Most of the time these turbos are component-balanced so their orientation during assembly isn't crucial. If the shaft and wheel are already scribed, you'll know the turbine shaft and wheel have been balanced as an assembly. If it makes you feel better to scribe your shaft and wheel, by all means do so.*** "

the photos top and bottom of that, is what your looking for. the wheel thats comming off needs to be marked and at the same time, the shaft, do this before un-doing the nut.

so when you put it back together, its in the same place. Im not the best at trying to explane this. try youtube , im sure there might be a vid or something, just to explane what gets balanced.

just dubble cheak im right !!!

dont mess up the thread, mark the top or something,

Edited by wintersurferuk on 12th Feb, 2011.

Right. You might need to mark the nut. Dont know. What's the harm

ok, do you think this is the only staff what needs to be marked?

ok thank you for help :) I will look more on youtube before I do it:))

I still need to find where to buy repairing kit, :)
also maybe will have more luck on searching at least used custom build kit for swaping to different turbo, as really wanted to go for something new :)

Nothing special!

Hi guys!

Is this servicing kit includes wastegate as well?

i had problem with boost before I striped my turbo unit.
The turbo unit did not turn on most of the time! I run it till 5k and no boost!, but sometimes run only till 3.5 and there were boost showing straight away, i could even feel that!!

So I've been told by turbo-technic that it might be wastegate??
However I striped my turbo unit now, took actuator and wastegate looks ok, opening and closing more than easy!

So how can i check if wastegate is ok or not??

Maybe it was actuator?? however turbo-technics said if it would be actuator it would be over boost other issue! is it??

Thank you

Nothing special!

Put a piece of pipe on the actuator and stick a foot pump on the end.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

you must have access to the internet.

go to "ebay" type in"t3 rebuild kit" and Bob's your uncle! you get this...

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=...-All-Categories

and a rebuild kit looks like this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/T3-T34-T35-T38-Turbo...=item4aa5f8679f

they do vary in price!

Id never go back to the T3. Its way too laggy, i couldnt believe the difference when i fitted my gt17!

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

Lag can be fun though. I love the vans nothing nothing kaboom attitude!

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

I know what you mean John, it feels as if the power doubles in the 500rpm from 4000 onwards.

I,m hoping though that I will see the difference that Mike mentioned above when I get the GT17 working.

I,ve decided that I must put the "new" engine in before fitting all the new turbo stuff, so its delayed even further now- I,ve just started rebuilding it.

Looking forward to seeing it Dave.

We were thinking of a GT17-ish turbo for the van but think we are gonna stick with the old school T3.

Wouldn't mind a hybrid T3 for it to be honest but money is the killer.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

yes sounds good, However I moved out of my house and lost garage, so now living in flat :(
Not much I can do here (modifications) and my t3 needs to be repaired :(

I found where to buy gt17, also more or less found who can make manifold for me, however still can not get someone to help me with down pipe and oil return :(

Also need car back on the road, as it is the only car I have, so do not have many options :( DO I??


I wish I could put gt1752, but no chance, I even broke my pink pig to get some cash
but what can I do with cash If I can not buy parts to do it

anyway will wait and see, hopefully will get garage back in the summer, can not wait that moment :)

Nothing special!