Searching for a cheap C Max

Searching for a cheap C Max

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Discussion

woodypup59

Original Poster:

612 posts

151 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
The son-and-heir is looking for a cheap Cmax.

I see lots of TDCi deisel cars for sale with lots of miles on, but very few petrol powered.

Is that because the TDCi's are a load of trouble when they're old ?

Do people hang on to the petrol ones because they're so good ?

Or were the petrol ones not popular for some reason ?

Any tips to watch out for ?

I assume they're all belt cam so will need to check for the last belt change ?

shoehorn

686 posts

142 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
We have a 2005 petrol C max ghia 2 litre that has never once given any trouble,it has just reached 120k and I need to fit new rear shocks that have been in the boot for 3 weekssmile and a 2008 2 litre petrol c max ghia that has also been trouble free,I would not touch a dv6 engined one (1.6 d).

Pantherfocus

29 posts

113 months

Saturday 1st November 2014
quotequote all
My parents have had two; a 1.6 TDCI and face lift 1.8 petrol. They've both been good cars but the diesel have more trouble. By the time they got rid of it at around 55k miles it was suffering infrequent, but noticeable power loss and a couple of other issues that I can't fully recall. Our local, very reliable, garage indicated this was fairly common and I've read of issues on this engine at around 70k. That said, It was a punchy and economical car.

Facelifts arguably look better and are nicer inside if you/he can stretch. I've seen one or two around five grand. Watch the air con if it matters to you or he, though. I've had issues in my Focus and there are apparently similar reports on the C MAX.

Also noticed a buyer's guide when I flicked through Auto Express this week.

Pantherfocus

29 posts

113 months

Saturday 1st November 2014
quotequote all
Sorry, to add, Cambelts on petrols are 100k or 8-10 years. Only place I could find a definitive answer for mine was the local dealer. Worth a quick call.

Edited by Pantherfocus on Saturday 1st November 18:21

shoehorn

686 posts

142 months

Saturday 1st November 2014
quotequote all
Pantherfocus said:
Sorry, to add, Cambelts on petrols are 100k or 8-10 years. Only place I could find a definitive answer for mine was the local dealer. Worth a quick call.

Edited by Pantherfocus on Saturday 1st November 18:21
only the 1.6 petrol which is under-powered and to be avoided,has a belt the 1.8 and 2 litre are Duratec engines with chain drive.

SpamDisco

319 posts

123 months

Saturday 1st November 2014
quotequote all
I had a 2.0tdci cmax for 6 years (4-10yo), only needed breakdown recovery once for the alternator failing. Over its time it's had a egr valve, battery, starter motor, alternator, dmf & clutch and servicing/consumables.

If I was buying a 10 year old tdci cmax I'd want to see that the dmf/clutch has been replaced (£800-1000) and timing belt done, check all the electrics/central locking work correctly on all doors, not turning over excessively to start up (both warm and cold).

I think DPFs were fitted from 2005.
Electric handbrakes on the ghia were supposed to be problematic.

shoehorn

686 posts

142 months

Saturday 1st November 2014
quotequote all
2 litre diesel is chain drive also.

SpamDisco

319 posts

123 months

Saturday 1st November 2014
quotequote all
shoehorn said:
2 litre diesel is chain drive also.
Nope, cmax 1.6 and 2.0 tdci are PSA engines that have cambelts.

https://www.etis.ford.com/fordservice/serviceSched...
http://www.mytimingbelt.com/Results.aspx?ModelId=2...

shoehorn

686 posts

142 months

Sunday 2nd November 2014
quotequote all
SpamDisco said:
yes,sorry for some reason I had pictures of the Mondeo/transit 2 litre in my head at the time,probably due to the alchohol it was sharing space withbiggrin
Op if you want a cheap c-max diesel is probably not the way to go.
The only real issues that I know from the petrol engines is that with poor servicing(cheap oil) abuse or misuse the powdered metal rods can `oval` and spin a bearing.
The face-lift trim is a bit nicer,but they suffer more electrical faults in comparison with instrument clusters and throttle bodies being weak points.
Some of the later models I have seen have paint/body/corrosion issues,like sill ends,door bottoms etc. that don`t seem present on earlier models.
I must say that our earlier model feels better put together than our facelift,nicer to drive,better equipped and more economical also,despite being slightly heavier.
And unless you like seat covers avoid the Ghia with velour trim,we had one once and the velour is a magnet for hair,fluff and fibre and needs daily grooming.


woodypup59

Original Poster:

612 posts

151 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
Thnaks for the advice people.

We've bought a 2.0tdci C Max, 2004 with new DMF & clutch at 96k miles.

That makes it pre-DPF.

Just over £2k with a tank of fuel and delivery to his house.

Everything works (save a side light and rear cabin light). Ordinary handbrake so thats good.

No evidence of timing belt change so thats one we'll need to look at that soon. Change at 10 years / 150k miles according to Ford-Etis.

The word seems to be the two cams are linked by a chain, but the drive from the crank is a belt.



Edited by woodypup59 on Tuesday 4th November 07:25

SpamDisco

319 posts

123 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
Good luck with the car, http://www.cmaxownersclub.co.uk/forum/#mark-i-focu... is a good source of info.