Second hand car - MOT Fail

izools

And I'm going to treat her to all the new OEM parts she needs that the dealer doesn't rectify prior to sale. She'll be a beaut for the next owner

I'll even get her up and sort out the front wiring loom so that the front PDCs work, just on the off chance it ends up in the hands of someone with poor depth perception.

I know a guy who can sort out the minor bodywork issues as if they'd never happened for surprisingly little, too.

On the subject of boy-racer-ish-ness I found myself at Exmouth Tesco Car Park late one saturday night - which it transpires is an absolute chav-fest with all the 20-something year old Golfs, Polos, and Civics (driven by people younger than the cars themselves) with their massive wheels and cheap tyres, and exhaust sounding like they have rotted through - they weren't interested in my motor and frankly I'm very grateful for that!

When I spend money on my car it will be to make sure it's comfortable, safe, and relaxing to drive, not make it sound like a Dixon's store that's been taken over by ravey pillheads

colino

You can check the individual parking sensors by putting the ignition on and listening very closely to each of them. You will hear them, "chirping" very quietly. If one is dead, no harm trying a replacement off ebay. Very easy to change and more likely one has been killed by a pressure washer than anything else.

motorguy

izools wrote: »

Pity about the attitude with which they were portrayed.

I think you'll find you received the attitude that you were giving out.

Great cars the e39.

I'd a 2002 530d M Sport Touring last year and it was just amazing. Sold it to a guy from Glasgow who came over by ferry for it.

motorguy

colino wrote: »

You can check the individual parking sensors by putting the ignition on and listening very closely to each of them. You will hear them, "chirping" very quietly. If one is dead, no harm trying a replacement off ebay. Very easy to change and more likely one has been killed by a pressure washer than anything else.

Do they not have to be programmed in?

colino

No, at that age they're plug and play.

motorguy

fivetide wrote: »

Not entirely sure the wee chavs round here are driving round the local car parks in oil burning BMWs.

Generally somethign tinny you can put a big exhaust on not a smoker so I'm not sure you can describe the OP's car as being a "classic" boy racer car.

At 120k it's not enterprise miles either really. It's below average for the age and well below average for a soot chucker I'd say. The issue is servicing, if it has been looked after then it shouldn't have an issue in terms of the motor or transmission.

I wouldnt say they are classic boy racer but they are getting a bit council estate.

120K miles is a lot of wear on any car, and sadly big bills seem to come with that.

I've an 03 e60 BMW 530d at the moment that i took as a trade in with 161K miles, so far its had a new block at 98K miles (£7500 fitted, by main dealer), new turbo 20,000 miles ago and i could spend an easy £800 on it at the moment sorting out a couple of annoying (but on any other car relatively minor) bits and bobs.

tedted

one thing that you are missing is the fact that the mot laws changed on march the 20th,did your car have its mot before or after this date.
the reason being that split gaiters were not part of the test then and s/abs ,play in bushes would have to be very bad to be a failure

izools

colino wrote: »

You can check the individual parking sensors by putting the ignition on and listening very closely to each of them. You will hear them, "chirping" very quietly. If one is dead, no harm trying a replacement off ebay. Very easy to change and more likely one has been killed by a pressure washer than anything else.

Yeah a chap I met with off the BMW forums showed that to me - all the four rear ones click but none of the fronts hence me thinking its the loom.

E39s are lovely cars and I look forward to getting it back and treating it to what it needs

musicboy

Bloody hell there's five minutes of my life I won't get back reading all this ... affidavit indeed ...

fivetide

motorguy wrote: »

I wouldnt say they are classic boy racer but they are getting a bit council estate.

120K miles is a lot of wear on any car, and sadly big bills seem to come with that.

I've an 03 e60 BMW 530d at the moment that i took as a trade in with 161K miles, so far its had a new block at 98K miles (£7500 fitted, by main dealer), new turbo 20,000 miles ago and i could spend an easy £800 on it at the moment sorting out a couple of annoying (but on any other car relatively minor) bits and bobs.

A bit lower end of the market maybe, give you that.

However, a chain driven motor like this that is hardly stressed should be more than capable of 100k miles easy.

As said, it needs to be maintained but if it is, there is no reason to be put off by the miles.

for example, here's a lovely Merc (sold) that's got well over 200k on it and looks fresh as a daisy http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-MERCEDES-E320-CDI-AVANTGARDE-AUTO-FACELIFT-MODEL-LEATHER-CLIMATE-WOOD-/171049159744?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item27d3530c40&clk_rvr_id=489990639726&afsrc=1