The Joy of Running an Old Shed

[greenarrow]

STIfree said:

E91 shed went this afternoon.

After picking up the Lexus the other day I realised I had 3 sheds that all did the same job. So it was a choice between the Mondeo and the 318 as to which to go. I've done more miles and put more effort into the Mondeo and feel confident that it will continue to reward me in the future so it was time for the BMW to go.

Put it on FB & Gumtree about 6pm at £1250. Had about 5 or 6 messages and by 1pm today a chap asked to come view. Turns out he was the father of an old school friend. Anyway, he wasn't phased by any of its shed flaws such as the misfire etc. Took about 7 seconds of negotiating to settle on £900.

Totted up the total costs. £350 purchase price, £35 in parts. £385 total.

Sold for £900, leaving a profit of £515 to subtract from the cost of buying the Lexus, bringing that to £485. Happy days!

Some times this shedding thing works rather well.

One last pic of the E91 before she went (literally around the corner so I'll still see it on a near daily basis )

That's an impressive profit. In regard to the mis-fire, was it one of the four cylinder petrol E91s? In which case you probably did make the right choice in ditching rather than the trusty Mondeo. I've often fancied an E90 with one of the smaller petrol engines as I imagine they're probably some of the best balanced RWD handling cars BMW make, but the internet stories of coil pack failure, cam chain failure and other failures really rather puts me off!

[Monkeylegend]

Salmonofdoubt said:

I'm definitely not touching my own glow plugs after following this.

That's what the maid is for.

[vikingaero]

My friend and I joke that the SL trim level on my Daihatsu Charade "Shed" 1.0 SL stands for SuperLeggera. It is a light nimble Shed:



Et volia! 100bhp added!

[magpie215]

vikingaero said:

My friend and I joke that the SL trim level on my Daihatsu Charade "Shed" 1.0 SL stands for SuperLeggera. It is a light nimble Shed:



Et volia! 100bhp added!

One of my colleagues said my micra was rough as fk...looked like a stubble racer....if the cap fits.

A few years later it ended its days oval racing lol

[rider73]

another 2.5 weeks between shed driving, first time its struggled to start today, was wondering about cig lighter solar charger - how do i know my car can charge via the lighter?

its a skoda octavia mk2 btw.

[aaron_2000]

I saw my old S320 up for sale a while ago, it's been sat so long he was about to strip it for parts. I sold it to him last year for £2500, I bought it back the other day with an extra 90 miles on the clock for £850. It needs air suspension work which I believe is the compressor so a rebuild kit is on it's way. Gave it a thorough clean today, I always wished I'd kept it, but now it's firmly in shed territory. Can't wait to get some miles on it, I'll have to upload some current pics of it on the CLS wheels it now sits on. Not as good a buy as that Lexus, but I'm very chuffed with it.

[STIfree]

greenarrow said:

That's an impressive profit. In regard to the mis-fire, was it one of the four cylinder petrol E91s? In which case you probably did make the right choice in ditching rather than the trusty Mondeo. I've often fancied an E90 with one of the smaller petrol engines as I imagine they're probably some of the best balanced RWD handling cars BMW make, but the internet stories of coil pack failure, cam chain failure and other failures really rather puts me off!

It was a 2.0 four-cylinder yes. Fairly certain it was an injector, or so the buyer of the car was anyway, as he said you can hear it tapping (I couldn't hear a thing but then I've untrained ears).

The E91 was actually a shed replacement (well second replacement, C2 bought originally died within a month) for a 2008 Z4 that was on 30k miles with the same engine. Neither car gave any issue, but then neither car did more that 5-6000 miles

aaron_2000 said:

I saw my old S320 up for sale a while ago, it's been sat so long he was about to strip it for parts. I sold it to him last year for £2500, I bought it back the other day with an extra 90 miles on the clock for £850. It needs air suspension work which I believe is the compressor so a rebuild kit is on it's way. Gave it a thorough clean today, I always wished I'd kept it, but now it's firmly in shed territory. Can't wait to get some miles on it, I'll have to upload some current pics of it on the CLS wheels it now sits on. Not as good a buy as that Lexus, but I'm very chuffed with it.

I don't know, ya know, that looks a bloody good buy! For the bloke to loose £1650 in 90 miles, that's £18.33 in my maths Do you know why he just left it?

Look a lot more modern than the Lexus. Top purchase, let's just hope the parts for the air doesn't bankrupt you!

[Davie]

I'm still running two shed territory Volvo's and oddly, it's the one that is regarded as shed nirvana by some that I'm struggling with... namely a 2005 face-lifted V70 D5 but with the earlier 163bhp engine and a manual box. It's also silver on black so in theory, should be a great car and ideally suited and that's pretty much why I bought it after mulling over what to get for weeks. However, I've had it since November and it rarely gets used and when it does, it's second car duties or the Pistonheads favourite hobby of going to the tip.

I think the issue may be that I've always balanced shed motoring with something either newer / faster / better / more interesting and now that I'm running two sheddy diesel estates, which in some ways is great... I think I'm finding having two of basically the same thing a bit grim plus with child #2 en route, I think I'd like something a little less sheddy as the main family car / something to clean / not abuse and then keep one of said sheddy cars for going to work and generally not caring about.

The really odd thing is the "other" one is an 07 Volvo V50 2.0D... a car which Volvo bores will immediately point out is a Focus with a French engine and they'd be right. "It's not a PROPER Volvo" they'd wail and well, that's subjective but despite all of that and it's not inconsiderable 223,000 miles... it's the car I just prefer. Granted, it's not been flawless but it's been better than the long line of "proper" Volvos I've had during it's time with me. It's not that the V70 has issues, I just find myself liking it... but loving the V50... like you'd love a lame, smelly, old and yet dependable and faithful dog.

So, bucking the spirit of the thread... I find myself more and more inclined to sell the V70 (anybody interested?) and replace it with something similar but newer (ie, diesel estatey and not highly strung) and then keep the V50 for as long as it keeps soldiering on and even then, I'll probably try and keep it going and will eventually mourn the day it finally dies. I find myself drawn between an XC70 as AWD and more clearance may last longer in Mrs Davie's hands but also like the V70 D-Design but I suspect 18's and a bodykit will last seconds. Or I should just keep shedding with no worries, especially given the situation but... I'm getting fed up...

[mercedeslimos]

STIfree said:

I still wonder that too. The seller did say he had plenty of messages in the 2 hours he had it online but as I was the first one who contacted I got first offer.

Oh just to add a cherry on top of the Lexus, I got 2 rear air struts and a compressor with the sale. A quick Google and eBay shows I could get 2-300 back by selling those on, making the total investment for the Lexus, bugger all!

I'm a serial bargain hunter though. Doesn't matter what it is, if its a bargain I can't help buying it and working out what I'm going to do with it later. It usually works out but then I do have 12 BMW wheels in the shed but no BMW

But you'll buy a BMW right?!

I have certainly 10+ full sets of wheels not currently fitted to any car. Could even have 20 sets, haven't counted...

Really need to sell some, often buy wheels but rarely sell!

[mercedeslimos]

rider73 said:

another 2.5 weeks between shed driving, first time its struggled to start today, was wondering about cig lighter solar charger - how do i know my car can charge via the lighter?

its a skoda octavia mk2 btw.

Check if the cigarette lighter works with the ignition off. If it does, fire away! VW seems to be very random in whether a lighter is permanent or ignition live. Our 06 Passat has switched live, our 05 Passat has permanent.

[STIfree]

mercedeslimos said:

But you'll buy a BMW right?!

I have certainly 10+ full sets of wheels not currently fitted to any car. Could even have 20 sets, haven't counted...

Really need to sell some, often buy wheels but rarely sell!

That's true. Younger, more stupider (but only slightly) me would have just taken the car out on an evening and chucked it round roundabouts until they were all worn out.

Here's an old picture of a 520i that has nothing to do with me.

Edited by STIfree on Monday 18th May 20:24

[aaron_2000]

STIfree said:

greenarrow said:

That's an impressive profit. In regard to the mis-fire, was it one of the four cylinder petrol E91s? In which case you probably did make the right choice in ditching rather than the trusty Mondeo. I've often fancied an E90 with one of the smaller petrol engines as I imagine they're probably some of the best balanced RWD handling cars BMW make, but the internet stories of coil pack failure, cam chain failure and other failures really rather puts me off!

It was a 2.0 four-cylinder yes. Fairly certain it was an injector, or so the buyer of the car was anyway, as he said you can hear it tapping (I couldn't hear a thing but then I've untrained ears).

The E91 was actually a shed replacement (well second replacement, C2 bought originally died within a month) for a 2008 Z4 that was on 30k miles with the same engine. Neither car gave any issue, but then neither car did more that 5-6000 miles

aaron_2000 said:

I saw my old S320 up for sale a while ago, it's been sat so long he was about to strip it for parts. I sold it to him last year for £2500, I bought it back the other day with an extra 90 miles on the clock for £850. It needs air suspension work which I believe is the compressor so a rebuild kit is on it's way. Gave it a thorough clean today, I always wished I'd kept it, but now it's firmly in shed territory. Can't wait to get some miles on it, I'll have to upload some current pics of it on the CLS wheels it now sits on. Not as good a buy as that Lexus, but I'm very chuffed with it.

I don't know, ya know, that looks a bloody good buy! For the bloke to loose £1650 in 90 miles, that's £18.33 in my maths Do you know why he just left it?

Look a lot more modern than the Lexus. Top purchase, let's just hope the parts for the air doesn't bankrupt you!

I swapped for his Range Rover which was up at £2500, I sold that after I saw the MPG figures below 10. He used the S Class, then it dropped on one side and he parked it. Somehow it wasn't selling and I eventually bought it back at £850 to save it from being broken. If the £13 rebuild kit doesn't fix it, it's a £30 valve block next, then a £60 strut. It doesn't seem like the air suspension is as costly as it used to be on the used market, unfortunately he didn't look after it so the spotless interior was filthy when I got it back, rectified that today. It was pretty funny picking it up, pressing the memory button and my seat going back to the setting I saved a year ago, then pressing the CD button and finding my old CDs still in it. It's essentially just been in storage for a year

[Steve91]

New caliper, pads and a wheel bearing on my Mk1 Focus, total cost of £240. It's at best about 40% of the cars value, but I'm hoping it'll keep going long enough to make me not regret it. More tin worm than tin at the moment and every bill makes me question keeping it. I really like it, it does everything I need and there's nothing mechanically wrong with it so maybe it's worth it.

Nearly drove from Essex to the north west during the week for an £800 MG ZR, but it didn't have air conditioning, and having had a ZR without it in the past, I said never again!

[greenarrow]

Steve91 said:

New caliper, pads and a wheel bearing on my Mk1 Focus, total cost of £240. It's at best about 40% of the cars value, but I'm hoping it'll keep going long enough to make me not regret it. More tin worm than tin at the moment and every bill makes me question keeping it. I really like it, it does everything I need and there's nothing mechanically wrong with it so maybe it's worth it.

Nearly drove from Essex to the north west during the week for an £800 MG ZR, but it didn't have air conditioning, and having had a ZR without it in the past, I said never again!

I know what you mean about your Mk1 Focus. Mine has some tin worm on one of the rear doors, but no MOT rust advisories. It has a worn driveshaft bearing which I haven't replaced in 4500 miles driving the car as I have been quoted £300 and that's more than 50% what I paid for the car. On the other hand, I look at the car as depreciation free, so on that basis, spending a few pounds here and there on issues isn't so bad. I'm so smitten with my Focus that when I come to replace it, another Mk1 Focus could well be the route forward, this time one with service history, cam-belt done and no rust on the doors. Oh and a Zetec, not a Ghia as they're a bit sharper on the fast switchback corners I love to throw my car around... ..

[V6todayEVmanana]

greenarrow said:

.... Oh and a Zetec, not a Ghia as they're a bit sharper on the fast switchback corners I love to throw my car around... ..

I'm assuming the only handling difference between the Zetec and Ghia is the springs and maybe dampers.

With the age of them probably could do with a refresh if not done already. hence could get Zetec equivalent setup with the Ghia luxury.

There is a LX 1.6 in my family (12years) which I drive/enjoy sometimes, I guess that's setup like a Ghia?

It's a 2001 75k with zero signs of rust although I think the ignition lock barrel is starting to wear. Amazing running costs.

[Salmonofdoubt]

Davie said:

So, bucking the spirit of the thread... I find myself more and more inclined to sell the V70 (anybody interested?) and replace it with something similar but newer (ie, diesel estatey and not highly strung) and then keep the V50 for as long as it keeps soldiering on and even then, I'll probably try and keep it going and will eventually mourn the day it finally dies. I find myself drawn between an XC70 as AWD and more clearance may last longer in Mrs Davie's hands but also like the V70 D-Design but I suspect 18's and a bodykit will last seconds. Or I should just keep shedding with no worries, especially given the situation but... I'm getting fed up...

In theory the V70 should be the perfect shed for everything. But I'd suspect that the reality of one is of constant worries about something expensive breaking and wondering what you need to replace to make it better than it is.

I keep looking at V70/S60s as a replacement for my shed. But the last Volvo of that generation I owned was a mint 12k miler which was still fresh everywhere and felt as good as a nearly new car should, I suspect a 12+ year old one would be a massive let down.

With my current Ceed estate I can see your V50 situation. I've grown very attached to it because it just keeps going and I'm actually tempted to keep fixing little things that make it better to live with and keep it safe forever and eventually buy something newer but interesting to sit alongside it.

[greenarrow]

V6todayEVmanana said:

greenarrow said:

.... Oh and a Zetec, not a Ghia as they're a bit sharper on the fast switchback corners I love to throw my car around... ..

I'm assuming the only handling difference between the Zetec and Ghia is the springs and maybe dampers.

With the age of them probably could do with a refresh if not done already. hence could get Zetec equivalent setup with the Ghia luxury.

There is a LX 1.6 in my family (12years) which I drive/enjoy sometimes, I guess that's setup like a Ghia?

It's a 2001 75k with zero signs of rust although I think the ignition lock barrel is starting to wear. Amazing running costs.

Yes you're right, the Zetec has lower springs (but same dampers). Your LX will be like my Ghia. Still brilliant, but with the higher ride height I mainly notice the increased lean when I carry passengers in the back. My old Zetec didnt seem to do this, but as you've suggested 20 year old dampers and springs will be a big factor. Its all marginal and wouldn't be enough to persuade me chop in a reliable car for an unknown one, just yet.

Yep, amazing running costs. I've just had to add a tiny amount of oil for the first time since I bought mine. I think the 420 round trip to Staffordshire before lockdown was probably the reason. I've no idea though when it last had an oil change and I've put just under 4500 miles on it, so it may have gone 12-15,000 miles on the same oil as I don't think the previous owner had it serviced having spoken to her garage.

[Bonefish Blues]

Salmonofdoubt said:

Davie said:

So, bucking the spirit of the thread... I find myself more and more inclined to sell the V70 (anybody interested?) and replace it with something similar but newer (ie, diesel estatey and not highly strung) and then keep the V50 for as long as it keeps soldiering on and even then, I'll probably try and keep it going and will eventually mourn the day it finally dies. I find myself drawn between an XC70 as AWD and more clearance may last longer in Mrs Davie's hands but also like the V70 D-Design but I suspect 18's and a bodykit will last seconds. Or I should just keep shedding with no worries, especially given the situation but... I'm getting fed up...

In theory the V70 should be the perfect shed for everything. But I'd suspect that the reality of one is of constant worries about something expensive breaking and wondering what you need to replace to make it better than it is.

I keep looking at V70/S60s as a replacement for my shed. But the last Volvo of that generation I owned was a mint 12k miler which was still fresh everywhere and felt as good as a nearly new car should, I suspect a 12+ year old one would be a massive let down.

With my current Ceed estate I can see your V50 situation. I've grown very attached to it because it just keeps going and I'm actually tempted to keep fixing little things that make it better to live with and keep it safe forever and eventually buy something newer but interesting to sit alongside it.

My 2005 S60 is on 168K and you really wouldn't know. They wear it well if maintained.

[V6todayEVmanana]

Davie said:

....

I think the issue may be that I've always balanced shed motoring with something either newer / faster / better / more interesting and now that I'm running two sheddy diesel estates, which in some ways is great... I think I'm finding having two of basically the same thing a bit grim plus with child #2 en route, I think I'd like something a little less sheddy as the main family car / something to clean / not abuse and then keep one of said sheddy cars for going to work and generally not caring about.

...

I think you need more diversity in your collection, I had 2 estates, I would trouble my mind, even if one if newer you'd end up with a favorite and one being used less, older cars don't like sitting and in my experience then start throwing bills.

I went for a newer ( 3 year old car ) to give my thirsty and loud 20 year old car a rest from the commute, about 30k later the modern complex engine went boom (few physical parts were broken) and had to spend about 1.8k to put it right. As I had invested about 3 times that in buying it I felt I had little choice. If it was a cheap shed I would have waved good bye.

Couple of years later, I've saved a few thousand pounds in fuel, its nice and comfortable, the other half happier to travel long distances in it and it has hatchback practicality. Quite different to it's stable mate.

I guess I was unlucky with the engine but then it could have been worse.

It's nice to switch between cars although part of my brain is still sometimes unsatisfied ( keep both, sell one, no sell the other, both are great, how about an estate, maybe a roadster, my 2 cars are great .... )

In your case sounds like you should sell of the estate you don't love and then see if you need to replace it with a non-estate

[W00DY]

mercedeslimos said:

Oh bks...

Is there any protrusion beyond the head?

Good to know that the plugs are at fault, but bad times.

Send a pic, might be able to figure out a solution

It's actually slightly below the head so no protrusion. Decided to book it in to a specialist near me that gets good reviews. so hopefully that'll get done tomorrow. Thanks for your help.


In other shed news I pressed the jazz back into service after probably 6 months of hibernation. Battery was very flat, but is holding a charge well now and one front caliper was sticking, but I've persuaded it to free up nicely. Did 180 miles yesterday happy as anything. It's a fantastic car that needs nothing and has parts prices that are tiny, just not much fun on long trips being rather uncomfortable and loud with no cruise or AC.