Buying high mileage diesels

thetoaster

I'm looking to buy a bigger car due to increasing family commitments and travelling, and have decided on a mondeo. I've seen an estate version with all the toys,full history and a recent clutch and dmf change. Only downside is the mileage of 135k. Am I mad for considering these sort of mileages?

nickcc

Diesels usually last for many more miles than petrols mainly due to being a lower revving engine. It's important that they have been serviced at the correct intervals especially oil changes. Turbo failure can be a problem if low sulphur engine oil hasn't been used especially on some of the Diesel engines that Ford have fitted. I would look in on some of the Ford Forums for more detailed assistance regards the specific model you intend to buy.

spacey2012

If it is a 130 version, leave it well alone, the 110 version can be ok.
If it's a 1.8 it is a French engine, which I doubt it would have got that far to 135k.
The DMF will have to have been done by a Ford garage, otherwise it needs avoiding, they are very delicate jobs and the genuine kit has balanced bolts fitted so the unit runs smooth, the after market ones generally do not and do not last very long.
The 130 had a slightly different injector system and does suffer really bad injector problems and the extra torque shreds the flywheel, so it is probally on it's third or fourth DMF .
The 110, was very much more robust and unnoticeable any slower, the injectors also do not play up.
IMO, if it's a 130 HP, leave it alone, if its a 110 and the DMF is the factory kit it could be OK.
Bare in mind that neither versions were that economical, 40-43mpg average is the norm, compared to 55 mpg on a similar sized passat.
Given the mark up on diesel, there is little advantage over the petrol version.
The other point, is they are just not a nice car to drive for some reason.

OddballJamie

Spacey I thought the 1.8 was the Ford engine and the 1.6 and one of the 2.0 was the French PSA unit?

wba31

My mate who works in the motor trade always says the PSA diesel engines are one of the best out there, hence why Ford wanted to use them?

forgotmyname

Perfect mileage to be buying at if the price is right and the servicing is upto scratch.

Ask about the clutch/ DPF if it has not been done recently then budget £800 for a replacement. You may get it cheaper but just in case. A dealer will charge half as much again.

Mines just gone past 170,000 miles now.

thetoaster

Interesting stuff, what I've got from the ad is it's got full history, and the clutch and dmf have just been done. It's to ghia x spec and is up for 2200 with tax and test with a dealer. I can't see any reference to a 110 or 130 though?

scheming_gypsy

thetoaster wrote: »

Interesting stuff, what I've got from the ad is it's got full history, and the clutch and dmf have just been done. It's to ghia x spec and is up for 2200 with tax and test with a dealer. I can't see any reference to a 110 or 130 though?

That's more important than mileage a lot of the time, but 135k on a modern diesel has barely got started.

spacey2012

Sorry they were know as the TDCI 115ps, but that is by a very long margin the most reliable, the TDCI 130 is the pig of the bunch for the injectors going.

The actual engines are indestructible, its the DMF and injector problems that kill them off.
A set of 4 injectors, fitting and ECU coding comes in around £1800 + Vat.

motorguy

wba31 wrote: »

My mate who works in the motor trade always says the PSA diesel engines are one of the best out there, hence why Ford wanted to use them?

Your mates wrong then.

The 1.6 engine is notoriously known for turbo failures, DPF problems, EGR valve issues, etc, etc.

Its a pig of an engine.

And sadly i know that from actual experience over 3 or 4 cars i had in the motor trade.

bigjl

Yup the 1.6 is a well known chocolate engine. The 1.4 was not much better but the issues with that engine are now repairable for sensible money if you know the right people to speak to in the trade.

I never had any issues with my 130tdci. Original dmf, clutch, injectors etc.

But i used to clean the egr every year and also once cleaned out the inlet manifold.

Only real common issue thst it had was occasionally slipping out of third on the over run. Which could usually be cured with some adjustment apparently. I just left my hand on the gearstick and problem solved.

130 had the 6speed box. I think the 115 had a 5 speed, did drive one once and it was sluggish compared to the 130.

Not sure if spacey had bad luck but last i heard my old 130tdci was well north of 250k and was heading to the auction after the mate i sold it to traded it in.

From what i have seen and been told the 130 was marginally better on fuel than the underpowered 115. I could get 60mpg on a motorway run at a steady 60odd if i was in no hurry.

Never got much under 45mpg in the three years i had it, even when driving it hard round town.

I personally think most issues were down to owner abuse. Not pressing the clutch down when starting and stopping the engine. Possibly clocking as mine had no signs of interior wear despite the huge mileage.

A nice mk3 Mondeo is a very underrated car IMHO.


Passat is overpriced compared to Mondeo. Ask any Passat owner whose car has failed the MOT due to worn suspension what he thinks of Passats. And ask a later Passat owner what they think of oil pump failure.

Personally i think the mk3 problems have been over egged by owners that have possibly bought a clocked wrong-un.

If i ever need a cheap load lugger it will be a toss up between a mk3 Mondeo estate in as nice a spec as possible or a Vectra.

Not heard about aftermarket dmf's breaking up as they are usually sold with new bolts.

Perhaps they were chinese knock offs as there isn't much you need to tell Sachs or similar about a dmf.