anyone know this R500?
Discussion
Hedgetrimmer said:
I love the internet. When you read the posts I don't think we would sit around the table and have the same conversation. It is such a cold place to have a debate.
Good advice would be to have the engine rebuilt pretty soon.
I'd sooner be in the pub talking nonsense but the mrs has put her foot down lol. So i find my self sat here typing all sorts of nonsense. Stroll on spring time when the nights draw out and we can switch off the computer and do something more interesting instead.(hmmm wasn't that the theme tune from why don't you lol??) Good advice would be to have the engine rebuilt pretty soon.
Martin
Edited by martin thomas on Tuesday 10th February 20:01
mic said:
The ECU won't tell you that much. The 967 does not have very much in the way of logging. Be far better to get it properly checked with a leakdown test etc.
Mick, I'm surprised you say that. When I bought my R500, David interrogated the ECU whilst I waited. He was able to tell me that the engine had run low oil pressure for a extended period of time, that it had overheated, that the rev limit had been breached. In fact the only thing I didn't know was what the driver had had for breakfast that morning. As you can guess, the engine we pretty much buggered anyway - I bought the car knowing I'd need to rebuild the engine.As to this car (now sold), I'd be happy buying it with the mileage on it - I like Mick's idea about having a leakdown done - also worth having the coolant analysed for hydrocarbons too.
BertBert said:
martin thomas said:
Granted all this caterham stuff is new to me. So being diplomatic about things if you managed to chip 3-4k off of the asking price of said car that would maybe pay for a good refresh of the engine, would you consider the car in question as being a good buy? It is ultra low miles after all.Even so If that discount was asked for i still wouldn't say it was because i thought something might go wrong in the future lol. More about being over valued in the 1st place.
Martin.
The specific problem with the R500 is that as with any highly tuned engine it has a relatively short life. There was a recommendation from Caterham about how many track day miles to do before a rebuild. Thus if the engine is near its track day life and hasn't been refreshed, then you'd need to take that into account when buying. Martin.
Bert
Forget Minister's prices. They are very expensive for the quality of work they offer. IMHO
Gudday all,
I have bought said car.
The car required a bit of sorting insofar as the seller contacted Minister and was recommended that the cam belt is changed as I think the car has been sitting a while. Also he found out that it has been back to Caterham for all the upgrade work when about 800 miles were on the engine.
It has been to Caterham for a few oil changes and most recently to Raceline, also for an oil change but I guess there may be a bit more to it than that, but at very least the oil has been taked care of.
I have not had any invasive checks done as until I read this thread I did not know they existed.
There is a problem with the immobiliser which he has told me is not linked to the ECU so he suggested that I get a new one fitted at his expense but not a Caterham one, just a replacement. Caterham apparantly told him the ones they fitted have not lasted well.
I knocked off 2K.with a new MOT and 12mths tax, so I guess that is expensive but it is also the cheapest I have seen for cars with this milage. If I owned the car and had caterham and raceline do the oil changes I would not be planning on rebuilding the engine for a while especially as the upgrades were done at 800 miles
1) How do I know when the engine needs a rebuild? According to what I got from Blatchat some have gone to 12k and beyond track miles and when checked needed very little done. Once the changes were made I had thought they can be reliable if looked after. The phrase 'grenade' nature has reawakened that worry!!
2) When the engines go wrong, couldn't you just look at it as a good indicator that a rebuild is required?? Or do rods explode through the block??
3)Is the immobiliser considered for insurance quotes?
Please do not sigh at my ignorance, I am viewing this as the start of my learning curve with Caterham. I may be unlucky and get a duff car, but I may be lucky.
I have bought said car.
The car required a bit of sorting insofar as the seller contacted Minister and was recommended that the cam belt is changed as I think the car has been sitting a while. Also he found out that it has been back to Caterham for all the upgrade work when about 800 miles were on the engine.
It has been to Caterham for a few oil changes and most recently to Raceline, also for an oil change but I guess there may be a bit more to it than that, but at very least the oil has been taked care of.
I have not had any invasive checks done as until I read this thread I did not know they existed.
There is a problem with the immobiliser which he has told me is not linked to the ECU so he suggested that I get a new one fitted at his expense but not a Caterham one, just a replacement. Caterham apparantly told him the ones they fitted have not lasted well.
I knocked off 2K.with a new MOT and 12mths tax, so I guess that is expensive but it is also the cheapest I have seen for cars with this milage. If I owned the car and had caterham and raceline do the oil changes I would not be planning on rebuilding the engine for a while especially as the upgrades were done at 800 miles
1) How do I know when the engine needs a rebuild? According to what I got from Blatchat some have gone to 12k and beyond track miles and when checked needed very little done. Once the changes were made I had thought they can be reliable if looked after. The phrase 'grenade' nature has reawakened that worry!!
2) When the engines go wrong, couldn't you just look at it as a good indicator that a rebuild is required?? Or do rods explode through the block??
3)Is the immobiliser considered for insurance quotes?
Please do not sigh at my ignorance, I am viewing this as the start of my learning curve with Caterham. I may be unlucky and get a duff car, but I may be lucky.
bitsilly said:
Gudday all,
I have bought said car.
The car required a bit of sorting insofar as the seller contacted Minister and was recommended that the cam belt is changed as I think the car has been sitting a while. Also he found out that it has been back to Caterham for all the upgrade work when about 800 miles were on the engine.
It has been to Caterham for a few oil changes and most recently to Raceline, also for an oil change but I guess there may be a bit more to it than that, but at very least the oil has been taked care of.
I have not had any invasive checks done as until I read this thread I did not know they existed.
There is a problem with the immobiliser which he has told me is not linked to the ECU so he suggested that I get a new one fitted at his expense but not a Caterham one, just a replacement. Caterham apparantly told him the ones they fitted have not lasted well.
I knocked off 2K.with a new MOT and 12mths tax, so I guess that is expensive but it is also the cheapest I have seen for cars with this milage. If I owned the car and had caterham and raceline do the oil changes I would not be planning on rebuilding the engine for a while especially as the upgrades were done at 800 miles
1) How do I know when the engine needs a rebuild? According to what I got from Blatchat some have gone to 12k and beyond track miles and when checked needed very little done. Once the changes were made I had thought they can be reliable if looked after. The phrase 'grenade' nature has reawakened that worry!!
2) When the engines go wrong, couldn't you just look at it as a good indicator that a rebuild is required?? Or do rods explode through the block??
3)Is the immobiliser considered for insurance quotes?
Please do not sigh at my ignorance, I am viewing this as the start of my learning curve with Caterham. I may be unlucky and get a duff car, but I may be lucky.
try and find out what 'upgrades' were done at 800 miles. Depending on how the engine has been used within those 800 miles (warmed up, etc) could depend upon whether it would benefit from a rebuild. Some of the original engines did not have some mods made to them to allow more longevity (floating little end for example).... See if you can find out whether it has had upgrades to the big end bearings?I have bought said car.
The car required a bit of sorting insofar as the seller contacted Minister and was recommended that the cam belt is changed as I think the car has been sitting a while. Also he found out that it has been back to Caterham for all the upgrade work when about 800 miles were on the engine.
It has been to Caterham for a few oil changes and most recently to Raceline, also for an oil change but I guess there may be a bit more to it than that, but at very least the oil has been taked care of.
I have not had any invasive checks done as until I read this thread I did not know they existed.
There is a problem with the immobiliser which he has told me is not linked to the ECU so he suggested that I get a new one fitted at his expense but not a Caterham one, just a replacement. Caterham apparantly told him the ones they fitted have not lasted well.
I knocked off 2K.with a new MOT and 12mths tax, so I guess that is expensive but it is also the cheapest I have seen for cars with this milage. If I owned the car and had caterham and raceline do the oil changes I would not be planning on rebuilding the engine for a while especially as the upgrades were done at 800 miles
1) How do I know when the engine needs a rebuild? According to what I got from Blatchat some have gone to 12k and beyond track miles and when checked needed very little done. Once the changes were made I had thought they can be reliable if looked after. The phrase 'grenade' nature has reawakened that worry!!
2) When the engines go wrong, couldn't you just look at it as a good indicator that a rebuild is required?? Or do rods explode through the block??
3)Is the immobiliser considered for insurance quotes?
Please do not sigh at my ignorance, I am viewing this as the start of my learning curve with Caterham. I may be unlucky and get a duff car, but I may be lucky.
Cheers for getting back on that,
I was read a list of the things done, it did include bearings but I will ask exactly what else as I thought it was either done or not done, rather than a package of options if you see what I mean.
Also having a (cold and hot engine)compression test done but only really to see if each cylinder is within 5% and to give an indication of whether a rebuild is urgent.
I was then planning on later taking it to Dave Andrews as there is enough budget left to pay for a pretty comprehensive rebuild with him. Just didn't want to do this straight away!
I was read a list of the things done, it did include bearings but I will ask exactly what else as I thought it was either done or not done, rather than a package of options if you see what I mean.
Also having a (cold and hot engine)compression test done but only really to see if each cylinder is within 5% and to give an indication of whether a rebuild is urgent.
I was then planning on later taking it to Dave Andrews as there is enough budget left to pay for a pretty comprehensive rebuild with him. Just didn't want to do this straight away!
bitsilly said:
Cheers for getting back on that,
I was read a list of the things done, it did include bearings but I will ask exactly what else as I thought it was either done or not done, rather than a package of options if you see what I mean.
Also having a (cold and hot engine)compression test done but only really to see if each cylinder is within 5% and to give an indication of whether a rebuild is urgent.
I was then planning on later taking it to Dave Andrews as there is enough budget left to pay for a pretty comprehensive rebuild with him. Just didn't want to do this straight away!
You're better off with a leakdown, rather than comp test...I was read a list of the things done, it did include bearings but I will ask exactly what else as I thought it was either done or not done, rather than a package of options if you see what I mean.
Also having a (cold and hot engine)compression test done but only really to see if each cylinder is within 5% and to give an indication of whether a rebuild is urgent.
I was then planning on later taking it to Dave Andrews as there is enough budget left to pay for a pretty comprehensive rebuild with him. Just didn't want to do this straight away!
DVA will be able to do you a complete rebuild (excl. the bottom end) for less than £1500 (assuming you don't need too many machining mods), and will rebuild your engine in such a way it will be (almost) bulletproof providing it's warmed up correctly before ragging it!
Seek Dave's advice before allowing Mr. Minister to build a bigger swimming pool, etc.
Just make sure you warm it thru then get it on a track and rag it, if she pops get it rebuilt............it's simple.
Last time I looked a minister refresh was in the region of 3500, independents will be cheaper.
Great car, get in there and stop worrying.......
PS, No engine is bulletproof.
Last time I looked a minister refresh was in the region of 3500, independents will be cheaper.
Great car, get in there and stop worrying.......
PS, No engine is bulletproof.
bitsilly said:
Cheers,
The ad doesn't mention that it has an airbox. Also as it has been used mostly on track I'm hoping the exhaust isn't too noisey though it looks standard issue.
That said my local is Llandow which never checks noise.
Mine is stock, without an airbox, and passes the static test at Outlon, recording 102-103dB.The ad doesn't mention that it has an airbox. Also as it has been used mostly on track I'm hoping the exhaust isn't too noisey though it looks standard issue.
That said my local is Llandow which never checks noise.
But, when I've stood on the pitwall watching mates take the car out its v.loud, and its mostly induction noise. In fact I haven't seen much that has been louder!
James.S said:
Just make sure you warm it thru then get it on a track and rag it, if she pops get it rebuilt............it's simple.
Last time I looked a minister refresh was in the region of 3500, independents will be cheaper.
Great car, get in there and stop worrying.......
PS, No engine is bulletproof.
A "post-pop" rebuild is rather more expensive that a "pre-pop rebuild"! I had a pretty comprehensive rebuild at Minister for 7500+VAT! I'd get someone like DVA to to some tests and give you a view! Great car though! And indeed not an intimidating monster on road or track. Just intimidating on the wallet if it pops!Last time I looked a minister refresh was in the region of 3500, independents will be cheaper.
Great car, get in there and stop worrying.......
PS, No engine is bulletproof.
Bert
My engine was built by Minister from new. It was rebuilt twice by a bunch of monkeys before I bought the car. I had it rebuilt by Minster and it's back to how it should be. When my SLR engine failed Minister rebuilt it for nearly half of the price Ratrace wanted to charge me.
Minister expensive? Depends on the price you put on quality. I'd compare a Minister rebuild to a Ferrari V12 rebuild by Terry Hoyle - it actually adds value to the car.
Minister expensive? Depends on the price you put on quality. I'd compare a Minister rebuild to a Ferrari V12 rebuild by Terry Hoyle - it actually adds value to the car.
rubystone said:
My engine was built by Minister from new. It was rebuilt twice by a bunch of monkeys before I bought the car. I had it rebuilt by Minster and it's back to how it should be. When my SLR engine failed Minister rebuilt it for nearly half of the price Ratrace wanted to charge me.
Minister expensive? Depends on the price you put on quality. I'd compare a Minister rebuild to a Ferrari V12 rebuild by Terry Hoyle - it actually adds value to the car.
Ruby, when you've seen some of the Minister work up close compared to others, it does seem expensive for what it is. I don't necesserily think it adds provenance, however, do agree that Minister do have a cult following amongst R500 owners....Minister expensive? Depends on the price you put on quality. I'd compare a Minister rebuild to a Ferrari V12 rebuild by Terry Hoyle - it actually adds value to the car.
[quote=Tango7]If Llandow is your local circuit, there is a trackday organised by the Taffia on 28/03 with some spaces still. £70 for OPL and only Caterhams allowed. A good introduction to your new car.
quote]
Will see if I have enough brownie points left and hopefully come along. I'll be the nervous looking one!
quote]
Will see if I have enough brownie points left and hopefully come along. I'll be the nervous looking one!
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