Man put Alibaba engine from China in his Volkswagen GTI and 40 miles after installation he was in trouble

Published on Nov 20, 2025 at 8:20 PM (UTC+4)
by Jack Marsh

Last updated on Nov 20, 2025 at 8:20 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones

‘Buy cheap, buy twice’ has stung the YouTube personality of the same name as his Volkswagen GTI erupted after 40 miles – and it’s all down to a new Alibaba engine from China.

Alibaba is notorious for cheap alternative products, and even before the dawn of Temu and Shein, this Chinese site was the go-to for anything and everything at a discount.

That’s because you would knowingly be buying products that aren’t quite what they claim to be on the tin.

Sometimes, the gamble pays off. Sometimes, you blow up a Volkswagen GTI.

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Buying an Alibaba engine

Very few people have managed to get a product from the site and succeed – team Supercar Blondie has found that out the hard way.

Others have been more fortunate and have made light of the products.

However, this man was hoping to have hit the jackpot with a $2,000 Alibaba engine.

Having been quoted over $9,000 originally, it seemed like a bargain.

But, it turned out to be a familiar story as the engine was only fit for a few miles.

After fitting it and giving the Volkswagen GTI a spin, the Alibaba engine seized after 40 miles, and the creator was back to square one.

Upon closer inspection under the hood, the cut-price Chinese engine had cylinders full of fluid and metal shavings.

Getting the Volkswagen GTI back on track

In a recent upload, MSB Michael Schublacker gave his honest verdict on the Alibaba engine, and he didn’t hold back.

“At the end of the day, whether it was cheaper or not, an engine should not be failing after 40 miles,” he said.

“They’ve just taken the absolute p**s out of us. Absolutely. They’ve ripped us off. They bumped us for 17 tons [£1,700].

“Do not buy an engine from Alibaba. Plain and simple, mate.”

The Volkswagen GTI was fitted with a new (proper) engine in the video and is now drivable again after over two years of waiting.

Now, it can join other GTIs that have been given similar mods in being a real German boy racer.

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Jack Marsh is a journalist who started his media career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from the University of Chester. As an avid supercar and racing enthusiast, he has a passion for everything from Formula 1 to NASCAR. Whether it's highlighting the intricacies of McLaren’s anti-dive suspension revelations or recognizing celebrities’ multi-million-dollar rides, he has a keen eye for the faster things in life.