£1000 Vectra SRI daily shed
Discussion
I am running around in a Y2K Beetle 2.0 that I bought for £300 while waiting for my GR Yaris and it is refreshing to drive a shed as like you say you can leave it anywhere and not worry.
138,000 miles under its wheels, a CatD/C Marker at some point in the past, no cambelt for a while but it runs and stops and passed an MOT in August with a few advisories (CV boot, ARB bushes etc.) that will probably cost more to fix than I paid for the car. Since getting it I have managed over 3,000 miles and done a few long runs (Bristol to Slough) and it makes me laugh on the motorway.
It owes me nothing and takes on the mundane stuff that will spoil the Yaris and if it breaks the RAC man will take it home and the scrap man will collect.
As someone has already said, shedding is the future....
138,000 miles under its wheels, a CatD/C Marker at some point in the past, no cambelt for a while but it runs and stops and passed an MOT in August with a few advisories (CV boot, ARB bushes etc.) that will probably cost more to fix than I paid for the car. Since getting it I have managed over 3,000 miles and done a few long runs (Bristol to Slough) and it makes me laugh on the motorway.
It owes me nothing and takes on the mundane stuff that will spoil the Yaris and if it breaks the RAC man will take it home and the scrap man will collect.
As someone has already said, shedding is the future....
I have decided to chuck timing chain kit on this MINI. It is way overdue at this mileage and the research I'm finding is it maybe be contributing to the 02 sensor playing up due to a stretched chain, tbh I'm surprised it's got this far on it original.
So will stick a Timing chain kit (minimum), found good kit from neoBros, the the sake of a few more hours labour I feel the car is worth it, as its still running for the moment so won't harm it I'm sure.
I have a limit of what to spend on it mind, but as I got it very cheap really considering, this outlay I can get over.
So will stick a Timing chain kit (minimum), found good kit from neoBros, the the sake of a few more hours labour I feel the car is worth it, as its still running for the moment so won't harm it I'm sure.
I have a limit of what to spend on it mind, but as I got it very cheap really considering, this outlay I can get over.
So new chain kit and tensioner is on, not my work but my very good mechanic mate who's looking at it for me.
Little bit of wear in its 143,000 miles, definitely wasn't broken anyway or in piece's as many tensioners are around 50k
Think the constant topping up of oil all its life has helped considerably.
Little bit of wear in its 143,000 miles, definitely wasn't broken anyway or in piece's as many tensioners are around 50k
Think the constant topping up of oil all its life has helped considerably.
chrismc1977 said:
Next job should be an O2 sensor.
That will likely be the running issue- especially if it’s thrown a code previously.
I don’t think a stretched/faulty timing chain issue will affect the sensor in any way personally.
I don’t know about these engines but on the Nissan chain driven engines in the Almera etc a failing chain starts off with O2 sensor codes. That will likely be the running issue- especially if it’s thrown a code previously.
I don’t think a stretched/faulty timing chain issue will affect the sensor in any way personally.
chrismc1977 said:
Next job should be an O2 sensor.
That will likely be the running issue- especially if it’s thrown a code previously.
I don’t think a stretched/faulty timing chain issue will affect the sensor in any way personally.
Apparently a strenched chain allows unburnt fuel passed the cylinders into the manifold, thus runs lean then triggers O2 sensor, as it tries to compensate - then you get bad running.That will likely be the running issue- especially if it’s thrown a code previously.
I don’t think a stretched/faulty timing chain issue will affect the sensor in any way personally.
Glad chain is done anyway, long overdue
MINI's back, been ran and all seems well (touch wood) - definitely a marked improvement in its drivability.
So, it's had:
- Timings chain and Tensioners
- Oil + Filter (engine flush and Lucas oil stabilizer also, wonderful stuff this use this on most my chain driven cars I've had)
- Oil Filter housing gasket and cam cover gasket replacement (apparently a pig of a job the oil housing gasket)
- Lambda exhaust sensor also for good measure as this was EML triggered even after timing chain.
It's running all within it's timing tolerances now, so it's had a clean bill of health.
Let's see how we go, I am still quids in with what I wanted to spend on it, we all have a budget but I thought this MINI was definitely worth saving and carrying on with, and I still think £800 is a bargain tbh for a running MINI.
Will update in few weeks see how we go
So, it's had:
- Timings chain and Tensioners
- Oil + Filter (engine flush and Lucas oil stabilizer also, wonderful stuff this use this on most my chain driven cars I've had)
- Oil Filter housing gasket and cam cover gasket replacement (apparently a pig of a job the oil housing gasket)
- Lambda exhaust sensor also for good measure as this was EML triggered even after timing chain.
It's running all within it's timing tolerances now, so it's had a clean bill of health.
Let's see how we go, I am still quids in with what I wanted to spend on it, we all have a budget but I thought this MINI was definitely worth saving and carrying on with, and I still think £800 is a bargain tbh for a running MINI.
Will update in few weeks see how we go
Edited by 757 on Friday 3rd December 17:27
Cambs_Stuart said:
It's always good to catch up on the maintenance on older cars. Especially when it looks like you've got a good one.
How's the suspension?
Suspension is knocky in places, probably needs a refresh at this mileage - but I am not willing too put anything into it until it needs it i.e MOT or my mechanic tells me it needs doing.How's the suspension?
Nice job and has got my brain thinking as I like these Minis.
I was going to get rid of my family estate (8yrs old, owned since 6 mths old, good car) for an electric car but the thought of a run around mini and keeping my estate appeals and will surely cost a lot less.
What's the deal with engines - i think I'll avoid the 1.4 on reading the thread although you're doing a stirling job at maintaining the bits that need attention. Is the 1.6 petrol the best motor to go for in the minis?
I was going to get rid of my family estate (8yrs old, owned since 6 mths old, good car) for an electric car but the thought of a run around mini and keeping my estate appeals and will surely cost a lot less.
What's the deal with engines - i think I'll avoid the 1.4 on reading the thread although you're doing a stirling job at maintaining the bits that need attention. Is the 1.6 petrol the best motor to go for in the minis?
_Mja_ said:
Nice job and has got my brain thinking as I like these Minis.
I was going to get rid of my family estate (8yrs old, owned since 6 mths old, good car) for an electric car but the thought of a run around mini and keeping my estate appeals and will surely cost a lot less.
What's the deal with engines - i think I'll avoid the 1.4 on reading the thread although you're doing a stirling job at maintaining the bits that need attention. Is the 1.6 petrol the best motor to go for in the minis?
Cheers, yeah the 1.4 is not too bad, completely gutless tbh, coming from a 5 cylinder Volvo and a previous twin turbo SAAB it was quite a shock I was going to get rid of my family estate (8yrs old, owned since 6 mths old, good car) for an electric car but the thought of a run around mini and keeping my estate appeals and will surely cost a lot less.
What's the deal with engines - i think I'll avoid the 1.4 on reading the thread although you're doing a stirling job at maintaining the bits that need attention. Is the 1.6 petrol the best motor to go for in the minis?
1.4/1.6 use the same engine the PSA just different ECU tune...I believe in these R56 models, happy to be told differently?
A little more poke in the 1.6 would be nice, they do go quite well once up to speed, but that's not the point of a MINI, even this 1.4 can hustle the country lanes superbly, it's fun to drive.
shalmaneser said:
From memory the mini one only opens the throttle up to a maximum of 75% whereas the cooper opens the throttle 100% so a remap can be quite effective.
But that is a ten year old memory so it could be complete rubbish but might be worth looking in to
Possibly, I have read the 75bhp 1.4 'First', (this isn't a One, it has 20bhp less than a One) is actually quite tricky to bump up the power to the One let alone a Cooper, no idea why - doubt I will bother anyway, if it means spending money unessesarily, nah this is the shed game with this MINI But that is a ten year old memory so it could be complete rubbish but might be worth looking in to
It will get money spending on it if it requires it - only.
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