I have had a similar problem this week.

I went to Cornwall on Wednesday to pivk up my step daughter. An hour from home (midlands) I noticed a metalic sound like a knocking around the engine.
My car is scheduled to go for a service tomorrow - unfortunatelybefore my journey.

I returned home and not used the car since accept for twice to my lical shop a mile away. I had hoped that the knocking was the heat shield - I noticed it was loose a couple of weeks ago when I had tyres replaced and an oil change. Unfortunately that mechanic was unable to tighten this up for.

Anyway, my second little journey to the shop was today - I didn't make it!!

Half a mile from home there was an almighty noise - I half expected to leave my exhaust behind as blavk smoke started to come from the back. I was on a roundabout at the time I managed to pull over as the oil light came on and the within seconds the battery light amy steering locked as I lost power.

The recovery bloke said that my engine is dead - as it had blown a hole in the bottom of the engine.

He also said it was one of those things ypu can't predict or prevent.

I had no warning lights prior to it going bang!

It's a 2009 model and only 61,000 miles.

I guess my question is for advice. Is there anything I can do now? my car was out of warranty in June 2012.

Is this an issue that could be a fault or just really bad luck and I need to foot the cost for engine replacement?

I purchased diesel for the durability and feel quite sick that spending £17,000 pounds after 3.5 years of agey in effect I only have scrap on my drive right now.

I had several pronlems with it in 2011 with the injectors. It stalled on me several times witjout warning once just after I came off the motorway.

It went back three times with the same issue.

Many thanks for any advice
Louise