Turbo Refurbishment/replacement

She's not had a lot of mechanical love for a year or two, so planning some work prior to the Frolic in August.  There's an oil leak from the turbo area and as the turbo has done well more than 100K I think it's near the end of life.  Intended to buy a new VXR unit, but they've increased from £300+ to £500+ since I last looked, so, do I;

1, Stop being tight and pay the £520

2, Send mine to Courtenay for a new core (£150 odd)

3, send it somewhere else for refurb

4, fit an alternative

5, be informed 100K is nothing for a modern turbo and send it back to work?

Your thoughts please

Also need heatshields is anyone has any, before I have to make my own

1. 

When you take it out why not give it a quick inspection to see how tired it really is?

Specifically look at how much play there is back and forth on the shaft, 1mm is fine, but 2+ mm means the thrust bearing is worn a fair bit.

Also check the compressor and turbine blades, are they in good order? If your compressor blade tips are chipped then you need to find out why debris is getting into your inlet...

hard to check play without the oil in the bearing

fitting a new core is a basic tools job and some patience.

I did a new core into a BMW drv turbo, piece of cake.... well that bit was

If you choose the 1st option, don't you need to take into account the cost of a remap as well?

No 1 gets my vote, because it's a better unit

You say near end of life, but do you have any boost problems?

Thanks all, I should have said it already has the VXR turbo, which takes me back to a new core.  It may not be that worn Nev, but I don't want to remove the turbo again, so when anything comes off, it goes back on in good order.

I don't have boost problems, but am aware that performance may have deteriorated over time.

did you fit an oil supply restriction bolt , the new vxr turbos have this already as part of the chra, so fit a normal banjo bolt on the new turbo.