350i Wedge buying questions
Discussion
Hello everyone.
I'm very interested in a particular 350i for sale here. It was originally from Luxembourg and a 86.
It's got white leather plaques instead of the wood grain, was this original TVR?
The dashboard won't close, how hard/easy is this to fix?
Is it normal for the fuel gauge, to jump up and down a little when the engine is started?
What other important aspects should i look at?
Thanks for the help! Hope i can own one soon.
I'm very interested in a particular 350i for sale here. It was originally from Luxembourg and a 86.
It's got white leather plaques instead of the wood grain, was this original TVR?
The dashboard won't close, how hard/easy is this to fix?
Is it normal for the fuel gauge, to jump up and down a little when the engine is started?
What other important aspects should i look at?
Thanks for the help! Hope i can own one soon.
Hi Vampire222. 1) As far as I know all 350i left the factory with the wood grain dash. 2) when you say the dash will not close do you mean the glove compartment? if so. this should be quite easy to fix depending on what is wrong. It could be the catch that needs replacing or maybe the hinges or perhaps it just needs to be aligned into position, in any case it should not be very difficult to fix. 3) The fuel gauge is not very accurate on all Wedges. They tend to move as the car goes round corners and so on.
If you want to buy a TVR Wedge you have to be prepared to get your hands dirty and do some simple repairs. This is all part of the fun. There is no car in the world that sounds or drives like the Wedge. It is a very pleasurable car to own but if you want a reliable car then you should buy a Mazda MX5.
I hope this helps.
Tony. TCB.
If you want to buy a TVR Wedge you have to be prepared to get your hands dirty and do some simple repairs. This is all part of the fun. There is no car in the world that sounds or drives like the Wedge. It is a very pleasurable car to own but if you want a reliable car then you should buy a Mazda MX5.
I hope this helps.
Tony. TCB.
Lean Machine said:
Hi Vampire222. 1) As far as I know all 350i left the factory with the wood grain dash.
yes and it cracks eventually. Replacing it with leather isn't a bad idea.Lean Machine said:
2) when you say the dash will not close do you mean the glove compartment? if so. this should be quite easy to fix depending on what is wrong. It could be the catch that needs replacing or maybe the hinges or perhaps it just needs to be aligned into position, in any case it should not be very difficult to fix.
yes, they simply use a domestic loft hatch clipLean Machine said:
3) The fuel gauge is not very accurate on all Wedges. They tend to move as the car goes round corners and so on.
yes, sounds like the op is looking at a faulty one but don't let that put you off buying or you'll never own a TVR.Lean Machine said:
If you want to buy a TVR Wedge you have to be prepared to get your hands dirty and do some simple repairs. This is all part of the fun. There is no car in the world that sounds or drives like the Wedge. It is a very pleasurable car to own but if you want a reliable car then you should buy a Mazda MX5.
I hope this helps.
Smiles per mile is the 350i strong point.I hope this helps.
Also.
1)Check that the chassis is in good condition and not damaged or rusty. Especially the out riggers. To do this you need to get under the car. Out riggers are the two outer bars that run along the bottom of the sills on both sides. These tend to rust unless they have been looked after and treated or replaced. 2) Engine oil pressure. Check that it has good oil pressure and does not smoke when first started up, especially when the engine is warm, and make sure the engine does not overheat in traffic as the 350i and nearly all wedges suffer from cooling problems. 3) Check the condition of the body. Don't forget it is fibreglass. Make sure there are no cracks especially ones that have been repaired before caused by an accident. 4) Check for mechanical noises from gearbox and final drive such as whining when driven. To check this you need to drive the car. Listen out for other noises such as vibration and so on.
5) Ask to see the service history. A car with no service history could have problems and will be harder for you to sell when you want to. 6) Check for general leaks from under the car like water and oil. 7) Check all the electrics work such as windows and heater. 350i is a fibreglass car and so everything has to be earthed with an extra wire so there are more wires than on other cars.
8) Finally take a friend along and get his opinion of what he thinks of the car and stand back and take a good look at the guy selling the car and decide if he can be trusted. Generally use your common sense and good luck.
Tony. TCB.
1)Check that the chassis is in good condition and not damaged or rusty. Especially the out riggers. To do this you need to get under the car. Out riggers are the two outer bars that run along the bottom of the sills on both sides. These tend to rust unless they have been looked after and treated or replaced. 2) Engine oil pressure. Check that it has good oil pressure and does not smoke when first started up, especially when the engine is warm, and make sure the engine does not overheat in traffic as the 350i and nearly all wedges suffer from cooling problems. 3) Check the condition of the body. Don't forget it is fibreglass. Make sure there are no cracks especially ones that have been repaired before caused by an accident. 4) Check for mechanical noises from gearbox and final drive such as whining when driven. To check this you need to drive the car. Listen out for other noises such as vibration and so on.
5) Ask to see the service history. A car with no service history could have problems and will be harder for you to sell when you want to. 6) Check for general leaks from under the car like water and oil. 7) Check all the electrics work such as windows and heater. 350i is a fibreglass car and so everything has to be earthed with an extra wire so there are more wires than on other cars.
8) Finally take a friend along and get his opinion of what he thinks of the car and stand back and take a good look at the guy selling the car and decide if he can be trusted. Generally use your common sense and good luck.
Tony. TCB.
Thanks for the help so far. Glad to hear the glovebox (yeah i meant that!) is a pretty easy fix.
I've already driven it but not checked the bodywork / chassis rust yet. The engine seems to work well and no gearbox noises. I did have a hard time getting it in 1st gear and Reverse, is that normal because they're close together in the shift pattern?
Fan came on and the coolant gauge stayed at operating temp throughout a small traffic jam. Electrical stuff all worked, which was surprising!
The service history was complete from day 1 on. Even the original TVR invoice and such were there.
Now that i've driven it it's hard for me not to go to my bank and run to the guy to buy it straight away, what a BRILLIANT car it is to drive!
I've already driven it but not checked the bodywork / chassis rust yet. The engine seems to work well and no gearbox noises. I did have a hard time getting it in 1st gear and Reverse, is that normal because they're close together in the shift pattern?
Fan came on and the coolant gauge stayed at operating temp throughout a small traffic jam. Electrical stuff all worked, which was surprising!
The service history was complete from day 1 on. Even the original TVR invoice and such were there.
Now that i've driven it it's hard for me not to go to my bank and run to the guy to buy it straight away, what a BRILLIANT car it is to drive!
If I remember rightly, the trouble with getting into 1st/reverse is the bushes on the remote linkage wearing out.
If you gently lift the gearstick you should be able to get it into gear easy enough. Replacing the bushes isn't the nicest of jobs, and I think I paid a couple of hundred for a garage to do the work. But it's nothing terminal or anything to be worried about.
If you gently lift the gearstick you should be able to get it into gear easy enough. Replacing the bushes isn't the nicest of jobs, and I think I paid a couple of hundred for a garage to do the work. But it's nothing terminal or anything to be worried about.
If you love the car, just buy it. The 350i and all the Wedges are easy to love because they are like a woman. Beautiful to look at, unreliable but desirable. Don't worry about anything going wrong. At the end of the day it is a machine and whatever goes wrong with it can be fixed. Just enjoy.
Tony. TCB.
Tony. TCB.
Dont worry if you buy a shed you just need a shed load of money otherwise if its broke you can fix it but as said by others you will need to get your hands dirty or you will be in the shed for some of that money just buy it and enjoy it we all have differing conceptions of what it should be like when i bought mine it was full of water carpets were not able to soak up any more this and that didnt work as it should but a couple week ends and around £500 later it came up very well. Moral collected a Maxda RX8(new) £28000 wife hated it sold 7 weeks later £23400 no money in shed, had it been a wedge well who knows but this one did come for just over a £1100 plus the new carpet seems i would get my money back if i parted with it now only a v6 but very happy there are a lot of cars out there at the right money so chose well
http://www.tvr-car-club.co.uk/images/picturethis/t...
http://www.tvr-car-club.co.uk/images/picturethis/t...
..They are very infectious..Mine is a V6 and although ive always wanted a V8 it still makes me smile every time i drive it..They really do get under your skin..I must confess that its the only car that ive actually ever loved..In a manly kind of way of course..
..Besides them pipes can get rather hot!!..
..Most of the time you will experience positive feedback from other road users and the general public, Of course there will always be the odd a
hole but they soon get put in their place with a burst of octane....Also you have the added smiles with the burble of that lush V8 popping and banging..The neighbours are going to love you..Enjoy and hopefully we will see you at next years BBWF..ZigaPS: Pics..Pics..Pics...
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