essential maintenance? or something that you can wait until it

AdrianC

Stoke wrote: »

The thing is what's the first sign of deterioration? A shock absorber can weep a little bit of fluid and still last for many thousands of miles without failure.

If a damper's leaking, it'd be an MOT fail. Unfortunately, that's all the MOT man looks for in dampers - other countries use shaker plates to actually check for damping.

motorguy

AdrianC wrote: »

If a damper's leaking, it'd be an MOT fail. Unfortunately, that's all the MOT man looks for in dampers - other countries use shaker plates to actually check for damping.

Really?

Here in NI they have shaker plates which test each shock - if theres more than a certain percentage of variance OR the shock is clearly shot then its an automatic fail.

Surprised there is such a variance in standards between here and the mainland.

motorguy

arcon5 wrote: »

This all depends on the car, age, mileage you do and your intentions with it. I wouldn't bother with a cambelt of a £500 car I see as disposable. I wouldn't dare not change it on a 2 year old BMW.

On a banger you could probably get away with replacing nearly nothing.

As per the O/P's post, hes talking about a £500 banger.

Clearly on a new(er) car you would view things differently.

AdrianC

motorguy wrote: »

Really?

Here in NI they have shaker plates which test each shock - if theres more than a certain percentage of variance OR the shock is clearly shot then its an automatic fail.

Really...
http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4s02000701.htm

Surprised there is such a variance in standards between here and the mainland.

Just one of the glaring omissions...

motorguy

arcon5 wrote: »

On a banger you could probably get away with replacing nearly nothing.

Hmmm..

I personally would see the timing belt as being essential. Not much point in putting a car through MOT ready for the year ahead and the timing belt snapping two weeks later?

motorguy

One thing i would say about running a banger is not to let the maintenance build up.

I sold a mate of mine a Peugeot 406, with 350,000 miles on it and 7 months MOT. It had had one owner, and came with a file thick with receipts for work done - car was mechanically perfect and the bodywork good. Smoke free engine and easy to start, averaging 50mpg. Almost the "perfect" banger motoring at £450.

So, he just drove it. I spoke to him 8 months later and asked how as the 406 going. He said "oh i had to scrap it". Why? i asked. Turns out he took to his mechanic to get MOT prepped and it needed 4 tyres, an exhaust and brake pads and discs, so he declared it uneconomical to repair as it was going to need £350 spent on it. So he bought a car at £1500 to replace it and spent £500 in it in maintenance in the first three months of ownership.

The 406 would have lasted him years if he'd just kept up with basic maintenance

Netwizard

I run a "banger" (cost £800 3.5 years ago) and my car gets whatever it needs.


Generally its pretty bomb proof anyway (Old Volvo!) but service parts for it are £60 a year so why not if it prolongs the cars life


Had the cambelt done a few years ago for £150, Had the aircon sorted a few years ago (needed new condenser, some pipework and a regas) for £200 and that's been fine until now (the pulley on the compressor is seizing up and making the belt squeal. Second hand compressor and new belt sourced for £50)

I don't really think about what the car cost me initially, but I do know that if I look after it, it will look after me. I've done 3,000 miles in it around Europe in the past few months and it never put a foot wrong.

The car might only be worth £4-500 odd now if I sold it, but to me its worth a lot more, because I know mechanically, it is sound. All cars need servicing and consumables, so the fact its a banger really makes no difference, I get it done and the car serves me well

Squarehead76

This question should start when buying the car. As a result I bought one without a cam belt, a wise move IMO

chrisw

Squarehead76 wrote: »

As a result I bought one without a cam belt, a wise move IMO

Let's hope it wasn't a BMW with the N47 chain driven engine...

motorguy

chrisw wrote: »

Let's hope it wasn't a BMW with the N47 chain driven engine...

Or a 1.0 Corsa

Or a Skoda 1.2

Or a Vauxhall 2.2

Or a Brera 2.2

Or a Vauxhall 1.4

Or

Or

Or