After a replacement engine for my '98 748 bp. I'd imagine a 748 engine might be the cheapest option but might consider others.. I'd like a working one as I've already got a broken one...
A rebuild is best but a replacement engine is a cheaper alternative. The only problem is that it could go again the same way in course of time. I had a 748R engine main bearing go after just 4,000 miles from new. The rough cost of new parts to replace main and big end bearings would be about £900 - £1000. Mine was £1400.
Always a bit of a catch 22 situation at times like this. When I blew the gearbox up on my R1, I was looking at a small fortune to have it rebuilt. In the end I bought an entire engine/gearbox 2nd hand off ebay for £500 and swapped the complete lot over one Sunday morning. 4 hours work. Although I was assured it was a good engine, you never know until you start running it. Fortunately it was a very good engine and actually made more power than my old one. As a bonus I sold my old engine/gearbox for £250 to a racer who wanted some spares. So for £250 and 4 hours work I was well pleased. But it could have equally gone the other way and I could have ended up with a lemon.
My 1098 suffered main bearing failure, I took the gamble and picked up a doner engine. The gamble paid off as it was a good low mileage engine. I bought it from a breaker in Arizona, and even after shipping and import duty it still worked out around £600 - £800 cheaper than buying here.
