Your Bangernomics successes

rev_henry

I may be about to embark on this bangernomics properly...

A friend's mother has a 1993 405 estate diesel, which tbh I've had my eye on for a few years and have always said I'll buy when she wants rid, for veg oil purposes!

Anyway the day may be nearing. Its currently parked up as she doesn't want to keep spending money on it as she has use of her mother's much newer car. Needless to say its far too good to scrap.

Had a look at it this evening while I was there. Has the dome thing therefore bosch pump YAY!

All that's currently wrong with it is no tax/MOT, front tyres are bald and the brakes have failed. Not sure exactly what's wrong with the brakes but can't be pricey?

Minor things - aircon doesn't work (just a regas I hope), one electric window doesn't work (meh) and the driver's door is, er, dodgy.

She's spent loads on it in the past couple of years - new clutch, cambelt, glow plugs, battery, off the top of my head. Its been owned by her for 10 years ish and her father before that since new. Always been serviced at a local independent Pug specialist. Incidentally the same garage my mother's car was serviced at by its previous owners.

I'm minded to do the following: get it towed to this Pug specialist at my expense, have him look it over and fix it. If it isn't too much (£300 max I'm thinking?) I'll get the work done then I'll buy it. If not then I'll just help her put it on ebay.

Thinking of giving her £300 just off the top of my head. Too much? Too little?

I know the general advice is not to buy off someone you know (least of all my best man's mother!), but given its low value I wouldn't hold it against her at all if it broke.

Didn't actually check the mileage - I think its about 130k but I'm not really that bothered as I know the car.

Thoughts?

worried_jim

scotsman4th wrote: »

Where did you get your regas kit from? Wifes new cars running a bit tepid and I'm hoping thats all it needs.

I am ashamed to say- Halfords. Easy to use and does the job. I have enough left over to do another car and I will get £10 back on the empty.

EZ Chill Auto Air Conditioning Recharge-

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_812353_langId_-1_categoryId_165632

Came with free- Free Comma Air Con Cleaner (normally £11.99) When You Buy Any Air Con Recharge, Discount Applied In Basket

And I also needed - EZ Chill Air Conditioning Extension Hose - 24 inch.

Got the lot for about £55, but in future now I have the equipment it will be about £13 per refill so over the next few years the investment will pay for it's self.

Weird_Nev

rev_henry wrote: »

Had a look at it this evening while I was there. Has the dome thing therefore bosch pump YAY!

All that's currently wrong with it is no tax/MOT, front tyres are bald and the brakes have failed. Not sure exactly what's wrong with the brakes but can't be pricey?

Minor things - aircon doesn't work (just a regas I hope), one electric window doesn't work (meh) and the driver's door is, er, dodgy.

She's spent loads on it in the past couple of years - new clutch, cambelt, glow plugs, battery, off the top of my head. Its been owned by her for 10 years ish and her father before that since new. Always been serviced at a local independent Pug specialist. Incidentally the same garage my mother's car was serviced at by its previous owners.

I'm minded to do the following: get it towed to this Pug specialist at my expense, have him look it over and fix it. If it isn't too much (£300 max I'm thinking?) I'll get the work done then I'll buy it. If not then I'll just help her put it on ebay.

Thinking of giving her £300 just off the top of my head. Too much? Too little?

I know the general advice is not to buy off someone you know (least of all my best man's mother!), but given its low value I wouldn't hold it against her at all if it broke.

Didn't actually check the mileage - I think its about 130k but I'm not really that bothered as I know the car.

Thoughts?

Forget about the air con and electric window. Door not opening is an MOT fail I think.
Get tyres, sort brakes, you can probably diagnose/fix brakes yourself. Bangernomics = do the work yourself.
IF the car passes it's first MOT easily, get the A/C fixed as a reward to yourself.
£300 seems about fair...

Rolandtheroadie

2 x tyres, mot, probably around £100 - £150

Getting it to the garage. Will it not need to be insured to be towed there? (back in the day this wouldnt have even entered my head).

Getting it uplifted will cost too. Conservative estimate of £50 assuming it's not far.

Thats you at £500 already and the brakes need fixed as a minimum for the MOT.

If you're ok with risking that amount of money just to get to a point where you make a final decision, (it may need a lot more for the MOT, it might not) go for it.

Personally I wouldnt.

westwood68

[QUOTE=rev_henry;62490663

Didn't actually check the mileage - I think its about 130k but I'm not really that bothered as I know the car.

Thoughts?[/QUOTE]

Good choice if it's been looked after. 405's are not usually as well built as citreons of that era but if they have been looked after and not abused, they'll last a long time. I had one and it was a dog but that was down to the previous owner and me not being fastidious when I bought it. I'm on my 2nd XUD engined car (Xantia) now and it's on 208k miles. 130k is nothing and if you don't get 200k out of an XUD engine, you're not really trying

Windows are normal and usually the regulator but you can get repair kits from eBay.

Do the RM filter mod to help with veg oil running:-
http://biopowered.co.uk/wiki/Filter_modification_for_Peugeot_and_Citroen

mattyprice4004

Weird_Nev wrote: »

I don't think the first generation of Honda diesel engines have been very reliable. I've been warned off them by mechanic mates.

That's a shame - in a move not many know about Honda actually used the Rover diesel engine in the Accord and Civic, between 1996 and 1999.

Rock solid, zero issues. A bit tractor-like though.

rev_henry

Weird_Nev wrote: »

Forget about the air con and electric window. Door not opening is an MOT fail I think.
Get tyres, sort brakes, you can probably diagnose/fix brakes yourself. Bangernomics = do the work yourself.
IF the car passes it's first MOT easily, get the A/C fixed as a reward to yourself.
£300 seems about fair...

Yeah that sounds sensible. The door opens and closes, its just dodgy - doesn't fit that well and doesn't always lock, I think.

scotsman4th wrote: »

2 x tyres, mot, probably around £100 - £150

Getting it to the garage. Will it not need to be insured to be towed there? (back in the day this wouldnt have even entered my head).

Getting it uplifted will cost too. Conservative estimate of £50 assuming it's not far.

Thats you at £500 already and the brakes need fixed as a minimum for the MOT.

If you're ok with risking that amount of money just to get to a point where you make a final decision, (it may need a lot more for the MOT, it might not) go for it.

Personally I wouldnt.

Yeah it would need to be uplifted if it has no insurance. Well actually she probably still has insurance on it so that's ok. Either way its being towed to the garage. I'm not intending to buy it until the garage has had a look and given a quote, so all I'd potentially lose would be the towing fee.

[Deleted User]

Took my 12 year old 206 to the garage yesterday for diagnosis of the oil leak and the random running on 3 cylinders problem.

Garage came back and confirmed it is the head gasket leaking and that I need all 4 injectors replaced. £350 for the injectors and £400 for the head gasket = £750 :eek:

Not sure how all the injectors need replacing, as it was running on 3 cylinders a year ago and the garage I took it to at the time said it was just 1 and replaced it.

Think I'll be taking it for a second opinion!

sabretoothtigger

Injectors maybe but head gasket can be done cheaper then that. Its a while ago now but my old rover was 40 quid a time at our local mechanic, no garage just a guy working in his garden gifted at these things.
With an older car you will need to find someone like that, most retail garages are setup to replace as many parts as there is an excuse for and charge the most they can get away with.
Ask the taxi rank where they go with their 200k cars

My sister gave up trying and just bought a newish bullet proof toyota as its far cheaper for her then trying negotiate a fair repair bill

motorguy

sabretoothtigger wrote: »

With an older car you will need to find someone like that, most retail garages are setup to replace as many parts as there is an excuse for and charge the most they can get away with.

Totally agree. Theres a mechanic works from home up the road from me - charges £10 an hour. Worth his weight in gold!