Best of the Bargain Basement Vol. 2

[Jimmy Recard]

The diesels in the 75 were BMW, yes. I don't know enough about that engine in particular but I gather they're fairly robust

[phil_cardiff]

Jimmy Recard said:

The diesels in the 75 were BMW, yes. I don't know enough about that engine in particular but I gather they're fairly robust

I vaguely recall something about swirl flaps.

[stevesuk]

phil_cardiff said:

I vaguely recall something about swirl flaps.

Not on the Rover version, or so Google tells me.

[Hainey]

stevesuk said:

phil_cardiff said:

I vaguely recall something about swirl flaps.

Not on the Rover version, or so Google tells me.

No swirl flaps and no variable vane turbo on the Rover. All part of the BMW attempt to hobble the 75 by strangling it of power. Early versions had 115hp and then revised upwards to 134hp. Look for a dealer sticker as this was done by dealers as time went on.

Ironically for BMW making the engine simpler made it bombproof, and 250k+ isn't unknown on them.

Very good units I think.

[phil_cardiff]

You live and learn. I must have researched the BMW unit, put 2+2 together and made 4.8

[Slow]

Done some internet stalking on my Mercedes which I wont see untill the new year.

Found its Vin by using its numberplate to enquire about a service with mercedes themselves.

Then used this to find its spec list. Anyone know what the bits in bold are?

- PARKTRONIC SYSTEM (PTS)
- INSIDE AND OUTSIDE MIRROR AUTOMATIC DIMMING
- MEMORY PACKAGE (DRIVER SEAT, STRG. COL., MIRROR)
- COMAND
- DELUXE FRONT SEATS WITH VENTILATION AND HEATING CO
- MULTI-CONTOUR SEAT, FRONT LEFT
- ELECTRIC TILT/SLIDE SUNROOF IN GLASS VERSION
- INSTRUMENT WITH MILES IND. AND ENGLISH LEGEND
- ANTI-THEFT/ANTI-BREAK-IN WARNING SYSTEM
- HEAT INSULATING+IR REFLECTG.SAFETY GLASS ALL-ROUND
- HEADLAMPS - CLEANING EQUIPMENT
- XENON HEADLAMPS, LEFT-HAND TRAFFIC
- LIGHT ALLOY 5-HOLE SPOKED WHEEL 8X18
- PACKAGING FOR SHIPPING VEHICLES W/ TIE-DOWN HOOKS
- HIGH-CAPACITY BATTERY
- WOOD TRIM BURRED WALNUT ROOT
- [113.9] - 19970516 - AEJ 06/1/M/X
- [220] - 19961211 -
- [722.6] - 19980310 -
- CD CHANGER
- INVALID/GREAT BRITAIN,ADDITIONAL PARTS
- HEATED SCREEN WASH SYSTEM
- INTERIOR SAFEGUARD
- POWER CLOSING SYSTEM
- KEYLESS - GO
- COC DOC., DELETION OF VEHICLE REGISTRATION DOC.
- LEATHER
- BRILLIANT SILVER METALLIC
- LEATHER BLACK
- V8-GASOLINE ENGINE M113

Eitherway I seem to have xenons, heated + cooled seats, double glazing, a v8 and keyless go for £750. I love the uk car market.

[phil_cardiff]

Slow said:

Done some internet stalking on my Mercedes which I wont see untill the new year.

Found its Vin by using its numberplate to enquire about a service with mercedes themselves.

Then used this to find its spec list. Anyone know what the bits in bold are?

- PARKTRONIC SYSTEM (PTS)
- INSIDE AND OUTSIDE MIRROR AUTOMATIC DIMMING
- MEMORY PACKAGE (DRIVER SEAT, STRG. COL., MIRROR)
- COMAND
- DELUXE FRONT SEATS WITH VENTILATION AND HEATING CO
- MULTI-CONTOUR SEAT, FRONT LEFT
- ELECTRIC TILT/SLIDE SUNROOF IN GLASS VERSION
- INSTRUMENT WITH MILES IND. AND ENGLISH LEGEND
- ANTI-THEFT/ANTI-BREAK-IN WARNING SYSTEM
- HEAT INSULATING+IR REFLECTG.SAFETY GLASS ALL-ROUND
- HEADLAMPS - CLEANING EQUIPMENT
- XENON HEADLAMPS, LEFT-HAND TRAFFIC
- LIGHT ALLOY 5-HOLE SPOKED WHEEL 8X18
- PACKAGING FOR SHIPPING VEHICLES W/ TIE-DOWN HOOKS
- HIGH-CAPACITY BATTERY
- WOOD TRIM BURRED WALNUT ROOT
- [113.9] - 19970516 - AEJ 06/1/M/X
- [220] - 19961211 -
- [722.6] - 19980310 -
- CD CHANGER
- INVALID/GREAT BRITAIN,ADDITIONAL PARTS
- HEATED SCREEN WASH SYSTEM
- INTERIOR SAFEGUARD
- POWER CLOSING SYSTEM
- KEYLESS - GO
- COC DOC., DELETION OF VEHICLE REGISTRATION DOC.
- LEATHER
- BRILLIANT SILVER METALLIC
- LEATHER BLACK
- V8-GASOLINE ENGINE M113

Eitherway I seem to have xenons, heated + cooled seats, double glazing, a v8 and keyless go for £750. I love the uk car market.

Ahhh but does it all work?

[V8RX7]

phil_cardiff said:

Ahhh but does it all work?

And for how long !

I know it was really cheap but zero service history rings alarm bells for me as everyone services a new Mercedes so why was it "lost"

[CharlesdeGaulle]

V8RX7 said:

phil_cardiff said:

Ahhh but does it all work?

And for how long !

I know it was really cheap but zero service history rings alarm bells for me as everyone services a new Mercedes so why was it "lost"

Of course it doesn't all work for ever - it's never expected to. If it does work at this price point that's a brucey. Sounds like a well-equipped car that will probably delight the owner. Good for him I say.

[phil_cardiff]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

V8RX7 said:

phil_cardiff said:

Ahhh but does it all work?

And for how long !

I know it was really cheap but zero service history rings alarm bells for me as everyone services a new Mercedes so why was it "lost"

Of course it doesn't all work for ever - it's never expected to. If it does work at this price point that's a brucey. Sounds like a well-equipped car that will probably delight the owner. Good for him I say.

Definitely. I wasn't weeing on anybody's chips.

[Slow]

phil_cardiff said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

V8RX7 said:

phil_cardiff said:

Ahhh but does it all work?

And for how long !

I know it was really cheap but zero service history rings alarm bells for me as everyone services a new Mercedes so why was it "lost"

Of course it doesn't all work for ever - it's never expected to. If it does work at this price point that's a brucey. Sounds like a well-equipped car that will probably delight the owner. Good for him I say.

Definitely. I wasn't weeing on anybody's chips.

I was thinking about actually typing I wonder which bits still work of that list haha.

I have never been one to give a crap about service history. You can generally tell how well a car has been looked after, history of the belt is nice to have however. Even my cheap L322 Range Rover came with no history prior to the stuff created by the previous owner so about 12 months worth.

If stuff breaks I just repair it and call it a running cost of a car. No one buys a sub 1k S class expecting no problems really.

[V8RX7]

Slow said:

I have never been one to give a crap about service history. You can generally tell how well a car has been looked after, history of the belt is nice to have however.

If stuff breaks I just repair it and call it a running cost of a car.

No one buys a sub 1k S class expecting no problems really.

You really can't - well built cars hide miles / abuse very well - right up to the point they break.

But the point is they could be very high if you're unlucky.

The average PHer does !

I regularly see people posting about buying a barge and "I'll sell it if something major goes wrong" then they spend a few hundred servicing, then a few more on tyres, then a few minor things go but the car now owes them £2k so they fix them, then something major goes but they're committed now so they fix that and on it goes.

Dad is a Classic car dealer and I used to be a dealer so I've seen it many times, if you and your car are the exceptions (and there are exceptions) then great.

[Slow]

V8RX7 said:

Slow said:

I have never been one to give a crap about service history. You can generally tell how well a car has been looked after, history of the belt is nice to have however.

If stuff breaks I just repair it and call it a running cost of a car.

No one buys a sub 1k S class expecting no problems really.

You really can't - well built cars hide miles / abuse very well - right up to the point they break.

But the point is they could be very high if you're unlucky.

The average PHer does !

I regularly see people posting about buying a barge and "I'll sell it if something major goes wrong" then they spend a few hundred servicing, then a few more on tyres, then a few minor things go but the car now owes them £2k so they fix them, then something major goes but they're committed now so they fix that and on it goes.

Dad is a Classic car dealer and I used to be a dealer so I've seen it many times, if you and your car are the exceptions (and there are exceptions) then great.

I have no problems shifting cars on sharpish. Only 22 and up to I think 17 cars owned now. Helps I do almost all the work bar timing belts/welding myself.

I dont get stuck into the whole making a car perfect, like the guy who bought a pretty cheap E60 530i and said its on a shoestring budget and has already spent half its cost on minor things - 4x wheel refurb because 1 was cracked I think comes to mind.

[Parabola]

Chaps. I've joined the club.

Feel like I'm cheating slightly, as I bought from a mate. He's been storing it, to use as a track car in the future.

He let me have it for what he paid... £350!

Fuel gauge isn't working & a bit of laquer is missing on the boot. That's about all that's wrong. 158K miles and the engine feels great!

MOD'd til April. Came with half a tank of juice.

Three different brand tyres on, so will sort that soon.


Very happy!

[Jimmy Recard]

Nice. Which engine?

[TonyRPH]

Jimmy Recard said:

Nice. Which engine?

Which makes it an i6

[Parabola]

TonyRPH said:

Which makes it an i6

Can't believe I forgot to mention which model it is! Is the i6 decent?!

[Slow]

Parabola said:

Can't believe I forgot to mention which model it is! Is the i6 decent?!

Yeh its a nice smooth engine, having had a 320 and a 330 your 323 wont be a rocket ship but it wont be slow either. 30 mpg on a run is easily done too. They do like to drink a wee bit of oil though so keep a eye on it.

[TonyRPH]

My 523 doesn't use a drop. A 330i I once did though, but I think a lot of that was lost due to leakage.

You need to check the cooling system though, that's a major weak spot with the sixes.

[gowmonster]

+1 on the cooling system, oil usage can be down to a blocked ccv (crank case breather)