2003 Mk6 Transit 12 Seater Minibus (Level 99 Shed Content)
Discussion
It's been a while piston heads, I have a mk2 golf 16v project lurking in the depths of the archives within readers rides (still unfinished, not touched since 2020). Much has changed. I was made redundant from JLR, started a business which failed, then started another business which I did part time until recently as well as worked several other jobs. Had my 4th child and moved house. Those are the highlights anyway.
My business is now full time and I've recently moved into a 800sq ft unit and getting a van was long overdue. Several people attempted to rip me off by attempting to sell me utter rot boxes. Anyway I saw this former school minibus with 185,000 miles on it locally and I thought why not. It was up for £1800. Managed to buy it for £1500 - mot until November. No service history. The only thing wrong at first glance was the middle windows are stuck shut and the airbag light is on.
I buy, refurbish vintage tech and furniture and sell on for a profit so a van is essential at this point. The idea is to take out all but 6 seats, I can use it as a part time camper as well as a work van. I dont have to worry about buying a 7 seater too.
My trusty Mk1 VW Tiguan has been the daily since 2018, put 120k on it and never let me down. Just not big enough now. Also way too vanilla and uninteresting to warrant a thread on here.
(I did have a discovery 3 last year which bled me dry - never again).
Wife's first drive of the minibus (or any vehicle larger than a modern SUV for that matter).
My main complaint of this thing is the noise! Anything above 50 and it gets obscenely loud. I've just bought a decibel meter and I will upload what the reading is. (I know i could use an app but it was only a tenner and boubd to me more accurate) I've got dodomat already but I really need to get the noise level down.
Service itinerary : Oil and filters change inc fuel, cabin and air.
Timing belt and water pump
There is an occasional clunking on the passenger side front (most likely a control arm or drop link)
One other thing I need to look for is the brown stuff because it's a transit of course. Inner sills have been advisory for a few years. It was a school minibus for 14 years so I'm sure it's been maintained to a reasonable standard.
Front seat needs replacing, wonder if the mk7 seats are a straight swap?
Anyway. Good to be part of the community again. I only seem to have an interest in my cars if they more than 20 years old
My business is now full time and I've recently moved into a 800sq ft unit and getting a van was long overdue. Several people attempted to rip me off by attempting to sell me utter rot boxes. Anyway I saw this former school minibus with 185,000 miles on it locally and I thought why not. It was up for £1800. Managed to buy it for £1500 - mot until November. No service history. The only thing wrong at first glance was the middle windows are stuck shut and the airbag light is on.
I buy, refurbish vintage tech and furniture and sell on for a profit so a van is essential at this point. The idea is to take out all but 6 seats, I can use it as a part time camper as well as a work van. I dont have to worry about buying a 7 seater too.
My trusty Mk1 VW Tiguan has been the daily since 2018, put 120k on it and never let me down. Just not big enough now. Also way too vanilla and uninteresting to warrant a thread on here.
(I did have a discovery 3 last year which bled me dry - never again).
Wife's first drive of the minibus (or any vehicle larger than a modern SUV for that matter).
My main complaint of this thing is the noise! Anything above 50 and it gets obscenely loud. I've just bought a decibel meter and I will upload what the reading is. (I know i could use an app but it was only a tenner and boubd to me more accurate) I've got dodomat already but I really need to get the noise level down.
Service itinerary : Oil and filters change inc fuel, cabin and air.
Timing belt and water pump
There is an occasional clunking on the passenger side front (most likely a control arm or drop link)
One other thing I need to look for is the brown stuff because it's a transit of course. Inner sills have been advisory for a few years. It was a school minibus for 14 years so I'm sure it's been maintained to a reasonable standard.
Front seat needs replacing, wonder if the mk7 seats are a straight swap?
Anyway. Good to be part of the community again. I only seem to have an interest in my cars if they more than 20 years old
Thanks for the interest 
I wasn't expecting any to be honest 
First big run today. Around 200+ miles or so. First to Burnely to pick up auction lots then to York. A customer wanted a technics stack system dropped off in person (said he'd pay extra if we did) so made it a family day out.
Good roads up in the dales.
Also came across an old cold war bunker in York. Sadly the tours are only on weekends. Oh well maybe next time.
Time to discuss corrosion. When we got back I started poking around with a screw driver.
THE GOOD
THE BAD (passenger front and rear wheel wells)
The rear
Front.
The knotwheel will inevitably uncover a lot more when it meets the iron oxide. Ah well at least rust is lighter than carbon fibre?
THE UGLY
To be honest I'm reasonably happy. It's a £1500 22 year old transit so I'm not expecting anything mint. But its by far the best transit out of the several ive looked at and it turned out to be the cheapest too!
I wasn't expecting any to be honest First big run today. Around 200+ miles or so. First to Burnely to pick up auction lots then to York. A customer wanted a technics stack system dropped off in person (said he'd pay extra if we did) so made it a family day out.
Good roads up in the dales.
Also came across an old cold war bunker in York. Sadly the tours are only on weekends. Oh well maybe next time.
Time to discuss corrosion. When we got back I started poking around with a screw driver.
THE GOOD
THE BAD (passenger front and rear wheel wells)
The rear
Front.
The knotwheel will inevitably uncover a lot more when it meets the iron oxide. Ah well at least rust is lighter than carbon fibre?
THE UGLY
To be honest I'm reasonably happy. It's a £1500 22 year old transit so I'm not expecting anything mint. But its by far the best transit out of the several ive looked at and it turned out to be the cheapest too!
Remember when I said I'm reasonably happy? 
Both rear wheel arches are worse than I first thought.
Also Both sills have had welding in the past.. Just your standard dirty plates welded on top of the sill.
Soooo leaves me in a predicament. MOT runs out in November. It's either run into the ground and scrap it or put the money into making it road worthy and keep it for the long run. I will have to see what quotes I get back.
Mechanically it is very sound. I've recently done 1000 miles since owning it. Coped with challenging peak district roads well.
Does anyone know a reputable welder operating in Northwest England?
Both rear wheel arches are worse than I first thought.
Also Both sills have had welding in the past.. Just your standard dirty plates welded on top of the sill.
Soooo leaves me in a predicament. MOT runs out in November. It's either run into the ground and scrap it or put the money into making it road worthy and keep it for the long run. I will have to see what quotes I get back.
Mechanically it is very sound. I've recently done 1000 miles since owning it. Coped with challenging peak district roads well.
Does anyone know a reputable welder operating in Northwest England?
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