"Francois" the Vel Satis 3.5 V6 Privilege Shed
Discussion
As a very long time lurker of Readers' Cars I finally have a car which is interesting enough to share.
So this is thread of my shed. A 2004 Renault Vel Satis with the Nissan 3.5 lump and a myriad of quirks/ faults.
My previous daily was a gen1 Mazda 6 with the 2.0 duratec motor, however many issues cropped up with it and a recent house move meant I had a garage to work on the car at my own pace in relative comfort.
Whilst the Mazda was off the road I needed a stop gap, something big enough for the 2.4 kids, with a high level of safety and possibly something interesting which I wouldn't normally own. As I knew the car was to be a short term ownership I started to browse at wilder and wilder cars until I happened across a Vel Satis which was owner by a chap who had 3 of them and was scaling back his car ownership. A few emails later and 2 hour train journey and it was mine for £850.
After 2 Mazda 6's an RX8 and a 1.6tdci Focus I have never experienced a car quite like it. It doesn't have the sat nav but it still has plenty of toys, I mean who needs an adjustable speed limiter? Really?
It's a very relaxing place to be and the engine is at home in a car like this, It wafts around and driving it at any sort of speed feels insulting. There's a natural hesitation with the auto box but it gives the impression it isn't all that pleased with you demanding excess.
When it finishes huffing at you the acceleration is surprising, probably not on the stop watch but when the car is the size of a modest cathedral it certainly raises the eyebrows!
The missus first impression was that it was a bit "Francey" and she immediately liked it's hideous appearance. Like my other cars she suggested it needed a name so despite my resistance in becoming too attached to it we named him Francois.
The more I drove the car the more I have fallen for it. The multiple moving, heated seats, the coffee cup holders (and coffee courtesy of waitrose) and an increase in my listening of Radio 3 has rapidly aged me from 28 to somewhere in the 60 bracket. God help me.
In my next post i'll discuss some of the "quirks" of this luxo barge. Thank you for reading
So this is thread of my shed. A 2004 Renault Vel Satis with the Nissan 3.5 lump and a myriad of quirks/ faults.
My previous daily was a gen1 Mazda 6 with the 2.0 duratec motor, however many issues cropped up with it and a recent house move meant I had a garage to work on the car at my own pace in relative comfort.
Whilst the Mazda was off the road I needed a stop gap, something big enough for the 2.4 kids, with a high level of safety and possibly something interesting which I wouldn't normally own. As I knew the car was to be a short term ownership I started to browse at wilder and wilder cars until I happened across a Vel Satis which was owner by a chap who had 3 of them and was scaling back his car ownership. A few emails later and 2 hour train journey and it was mine for £850.
After 2 Mazda 6's an RX8 and a 1.6tdci Focus I have never experienced a car quite like it. It doesn't have the sat nav but it still has plenty of toys, I mean who needs an adjustable speed limiter? Really?
It's a very relaxing place to be and the engine is at home in a car like this, It wafts around and driving it at any sort of speed feels insulting. There's a natural hesitation with the auto box but it gives the impression it isn't all that pleased with you demanding excess.
When it finishes huffing at you the acceleration is surprising, probably not on the stop watch but when the car is the size of a modest cathedral it certainly raises the eyebrows!
The missus first impression was that it was a bit "Francey" and she immediately liked it's hideous appearance. Like my other cars she suggested it needed a name so despite my resistance in becoming too attached to it we named him Francois.
The more I drove the car the more I have fallen for it. The multiple moving, heated seats, the coffee cup holders (and coffee courtesy of waitrose) and an increase in my listening of Radio 3 has rapidly aged me from 28 to somewhere in the 60 bracket. God help me.
In my next post i'll discuss some of the "quirks" of this luxo barge. Thank you for reading
I must say I was expecting around 5 replies for this, 31 was a surprise so thank you all!
The operation of the gearbox for some reason runs through the right rear light assembly. Basically it appears as a box stuck in 4th and selecting reverse gives an almighty thump! The bulbs were okay but on inspection I did notice that the wires were cable tied into the bulb holder!
Swapping the right with the left resulted in a working gearbox but now Francois says to me "Warning sidelights faulty"
A rummage through my spares has come up with another bulb holder. Earthing issue I believe but for now problem solved!
Dodgy holder in question.
Freds said:
God bless You, Francois and the local auto electrician. Stay strong my friend...... http://www.samaritans.org
Oh I've already had an electrical issue!The operation of the gearbox for some reason runs through the right rear light assembly. Basically it appears as a box stuck in 4th and selecting reverse gives an almighty thump! The bulbs were okay but on inspection I did notice that the wires were cable tied into the bulb holder!
Swapping the right with the left resulted in a working gearbox but now Francois says to me "Warning sidelights faulty"
A rummage through my spares has come up with another bulb holder. Earthing issue I believe but for now problem solved!
Dodgy holder in question.
muhnkee2 said:
I applaud your choice, i owned an avantime for 3 years and it still my favourite ever car - i loved it more than E60 M5 that replaced it!!
Keep on cruising...
The avantime is my true favourite, apparently they were Matra build and the build quality can be patchy but the Vel Satis was Renault built so they are supposedly more sturdy... Keep on cruising...
Twoshoe said:
Gosh, the Vel Satis - I'd completely forgotten about these! Can't remember the last time I saw one, but fair play to you for taking this one on.
Does it have the 'dotted' wooden trim bits inside? (Or am I thinking of something else?)
Sorry sir but this comes with wooden trim with an unnecessary level of orange tinting.Does it have the 'dotted' wooden trim bits inside? (Or am I thinking of something else?)
Jeenyus161 said:
there is only one avantime available on autotrader in the whole country!
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
There's 3 on eBay toohttp://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
dom9 said:
Won't pass the MOT because of some electrical things, I believe (though nothing major).
This is the key phrase whenever I explain a new fault to Mrs Kringle! Whatever you do don't send it to the big crusher in the sky, there's fewer and fewer on the roads and if it gets too much there will always be someone out there looking for a project.80quattro said:
Your car has a HV prefix plate
It's HN, does that still apply? tr3a said:
The Vel Satis was based on the Renault Laguna II platform. The first series of those were among the least reliable Renaults ever built. I owned one for eleven years, experiencing, I'm relieved to say, very little problems. Sold it to a friend of mine and he's still driving it, with intergalactic mileage.
One thing that did go wrong on mine pretty soon was the heating and A/C control unit in the dash. It was replaced under warranty (which I had thankfully extended to four years when I bought it). When the display lighting on the new one went dodgy after a few years (as they all did), I took out the unit to investigate and found 'Vel Satis' printed on the side of it.
So largely speaking, the Vel Satis is just a Renault Laguna II, but extended a bit vertically.
You are very much correct! My key has Laguna written on it and I found out today that the front drop links are also for the Renault Trafic van. One thing that did go wrong on mine pretty soon was the heating and A/C control unit in the dash. It was replaced under warranty (which I had thankfully extended to four years when I bought it). When the display lighting on the new one went dodgy after a few years (as they all did), I took out the unit to investigate and found 'Vel Satis' printed on the side of it.
So largely speaking, the Vel Satis is just a Renault Laguna II, but extended a bit vertically.
Hopefully this will keep costs down and parts readily availableThe A/C control from what I've read is just some dodgy soldering. My light panel flickers some times and changes depending on where i push on it. A job for the list.
Sludgey Bungs
The other day I needed to borrow the battery from the car to get my other project running and in doing so I noticed a lot of wet mulch tucked away deep in the bay under the air filter box.
Upon removing the filter box and relevant pipework I thought I would check the filter. Ladies and gents what is wrong with this picture?
That's right, it doesn't fit! No seal is created meaning that outside air and all the vermin that comes with it is sucked straight into the bowels of the engine, the filter might as well not even be there.This raises alarm bells because if a simple item is bodged what is the more complex stuff like?
Anyway back to the mulch. From what I can gather leaves which creep their way into the engine bay find this particularly dark corner a fine resting place and right next to it are the rubber bungs in which the air filter box sits. Now these rubber bungs are push-fit into the wheel arches of the car meaning that water from the wheels can get through these points and trickle down into the pocket of leaves. Multiply this by 12 years and it becomes the perfect breeding ground for rust. (Cue MSpaint diagram to insult your intelligence)
My very own remedy/bodge is to clean the area and seal the bung/arch interface with a sealant I used for the oil pan of my other car. However rust appears to have already started so this is something to watch very very closely. I do have some deox gel on the way which may be useful should I be brave enough to tackle it.
In other news I blindly followed some advice from Wheeler Dealers.
It was a smoke test to check the door and boot seals with a smoke machine. Should have been done in the dark with a torch I know but the smoke has an odour and none appeared to be leaking which was a nice success story (I'm clinging on to them as there's headaches to come!)
The other day I needed to borrow the battery from the car to get my other project running and in doing so I noticed a lot of wet mulch tucked away deep in the bay under the air filter box.
Upon removing the filter box and relevant pipework I thought I would check the filter. Ladies and gents what is wrong with this picture?
That's right, it doesn't fit! No seal is created meaning that outside air and all the vermin that comes with it is sucked straight into the bowels of the engine, the filter might as well not even be there.This raises alarm bells because if a simple item is bodged what is the more complex stuff like?
Anyway back to the mulch. From what I can gather leaves which creep their way into the engine bay find this particularly dark corner a fine resting place and right next to it are the rubber bungs in which the air filter box sits. Now these rubber bungs are push-fit into the wheel arches of the car meaning that water from the wheels can get through these points and trickle down into the pocket of leaves. Multiply this by 12 years and it becomes the perfect breeding ground for rust. (Cue MSpaint diagram to insult your intelligence)
My very own remedy/bodge is to clean the area and seal the bung/arch interface with a sealant I used for the oil pan of my other car. However rust appears to have already started so this is something to watch very very closely. I do have some deox gel on the way which may be useful should I be brave enough to tackle it.
In other news I blindly followed some advice from Wheeler Dealers.
It was a smoke test to check the door and boot seals with a smoke machine. Should have been done in the dark with a torch I know but the smoke has an odour and none appeared to be leaking which was a nice success story (I'm clinging on to them as there's headaches to come!)Pop pop pop
Problem list as of 14th August:
further investigation led to below.
All in all I can thoroughly recommend a Renault Vel Satis to anyone. Friends, family, neighbours and children the Vel Satis is sure to pull your pants down and show you a real good time if Swarfega and Swearing is your idea of a fun night in.
If you have a partner however I strongly recommend you buy a 1.8 VW Passat or Toyota Carina.
Problem list as of 14th August:
- Rear light connector intermittent fault, poor connection to bulbs followed by "Warning, right brake light faulty. Consult your Renault Dealer"
- Previous issue causes gearbox to stick into 4th/5th and putting it into reverse produces a massive shunt sound (and mild whiplash) followed by "Warning Automatic Gearbox faulty. Consult your Renault Dealer."
- Poor connection between battery and wiring, now fully cleaned and tightened with liberal use of battery terminal grease but every now and then informs me "Warning, battery charge fault. Consult your Renault Dealer"
- Air conditioning blows cold air at the driver, regardless of digital setting. "You would like 26 degrees sir? Certainly, have 6 degrees." (Disclaimer: Does not actually say this)
- Constantly displays "Automatic Parking Brake Faulty" Brake works perfectly fine, was assured this needed resetting with a CLIP (anyone local?)
- Air conditioning panel illumination varies depending on how you tap it...
- Gearbox gets the hump once it's warm and offers whiplash when changing down from 3rd to 2nd.
- Once gearbox has hump all other subsequent gearchanges are slow and lumpy.
- Timing chain is rattling. I believe this to be the Nissan weakspot where the timing chain guide snaps and slides down resulting in poor tension. I cannot remove the inspection covers to check as the sealant is s
t strong and will not let go of the caps... Any hints will be most appreciated.
- Bottom seals of doors are slowly peeling away from plastic, this appears to have been
bodgedprofessionally repaired at some point. Renault only sell the plastic trims complete with seals. I intend on actually sourcing the seals and provide a ray of light for owners everywhere.
- Left rear lower arm has perished bushings meaning that they move in a forward/rearward direction relative to the car. Recognised by a popping sound at the back following a humph from the gearbox (This forced me to check that it wasn't RWD as it sounded related like a diff
)
- There is a series of oil leaks from the under side of the engine. Could be the sump, could be something higher up, seems to be from multiple places. The level isn't dropping and it was all hidden nicely by the giant floor pan but it's definitely there.
- Fans seem to make a horrendous clicking sound every time they kick in and switch off. The entire assembly appears to be made of Chad Valley plastic so it could be anything...
- Steering started a pop pop popping sound when turning, did a visual check on the floor and noticed the front left drop link had seen better days
further investigation led to below.
- L/H Driveshaft boot has completely blown away into the mists of time resulting in the world entering into shiny moving parts. This appears to be expensive.
- L/H Shock has no boot shield preventing the elements from making love to it.
- Thought I would check the right hand side... R/H shock has protective sleeve floating around in the middle, contributing sod all to the shock. Plus this shock is leaking.
- R/H drop link dead.
All in all I can thoroughly recommend a Renault Vel Satis to anyone. Friends, family, neighbours and children the Vel Satis is sure to pull your pants down and show you a real good time if Swarfega and Swearing is your idea of a fun night in.
If you have a partner however I strongly recommend you buy a 1.8 VW Passat or Toyota Carina.
Edited by Kringle on Sunday 14th August 21:33
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