ST220

[edwardw]

Hi All,
Im looking at buying an ST220.
Now i understand with a diesel, you can easily get 1-30000k out of a good engine.

What goes for the 3.0 V6 petrol in the ST220?

Im seeing quite a few examples of cars that have 160k on them, and it just makes me wonder how much more life they have left in, bearing in mind thats probably 160k of thrashing!
Thanks
Ed

[Podie]

Critical thing on the V6 is the oil changes.

Mine just seems to get better with mileage... creeping over 75k now.

[edwardw]

So on that basis, (as with any car i guess) a car with no history would be a no no?

[mr_fibuli]

I got rid of mine at 120k. The engine never missed a beat and was the least of my worries.

I'd be more concerned about rust - the bottoms of my doors were all on the verge of rusting through. Suspension was the other problem - bad knocking front and back, it was nothing obvious like bushes, ball joints or droplinks. After reading of similar cases I suspect it needed new shocks all round.

[edwardw]

mr_fibuli said:

I got rid of mine at 120k. The engine never missed a beat and was the least of my worries.

I'd be more concerned about rust - the bottoms of my doors were all on the verge of rusting through. Suspension was the other problem - bad knocking front and back, it was nothing obvious like bushes, ball joints or droplinks. After reading of similar cases I suspect it needed new shocks all round.

Guessing that wasnt cheap, i had a mate who had one who said it cost him aruond £800 to replace some shocks..


Anything else id need to look out for?

[Podie]

Alloys corode - so make sure they're refurbed or budget accordingly.

Generally they're pretty solid if cared for... had mine 4 years, which is the longest I've ever owned a car.

[edwardw]

So @ 160k, the engine should be fine? Would it get to 200k if maintained correctly?

[mr_fibuli]

edwardw said:

Guessing that wasnt cheap, i had a mate who had one who said it cost him around £800 to replace some shocks..

Anything else id need to look out for?

That's why I got rid, along with another horrible grinding noise that had just begun. I traded it in for £800, as the bills to fix all that stuff, on top of £300 a month in fuel had got a bit silly.

On the plus side though for anyone looking to get one, I really miss it, especially the engine!

[edwardw]

mr_fibuli said:

That's why I got rid, along with another horrible grinding noise that had just begun. I traded it in for £800, as the bills to fix all that stuff, on top of £300 a month in fuel had got a bit silly.

On the plus side though for anyone looking to get one, I really miss it, especially the engine!

Out of interest, how many miles did you do?

[Podie]

What's your budget?

[GaryST220]

My ST220 was a very durable car, right up to its instant and sudden death at 132,000 miles

If your car starts to get faster and more economical then its time to pack up shop.

[edwardw]

Podie said:

What's your budget?

at the moment 2k seems about a good price on ebay for an 04...

[edwardw]

GaryST220 said:

My ST220 was a very durable car, right up to its instant and sudden death at 132,000 miles

If your car starts to get faster and more economical then its time to pack up shop.

Oh dear :/
ive seen some with 160k!
What was wrong with it?
Ed

[mr_fibuli]

edwardw said:

Out of interest, how many miles did you do?

I had mine from 55000 miles up to 125000, over about 4 years. Mine was an early 02 plate 5-speed.

[Howard-]

GaryST220 said:

My ST220 was a very durable car, right up to its instant and sudden death at 132,000 miles

Do tell!

[GaryST220]

Howard- said:

Do tell!

I don't know for sure, but I can tell you one of the pistons has had it. Funnily enough the engine still works if you keep replacing the spark plug, but after a few miles another piece of the piston seperates and then you're back to running on five cylinders.

I will get to the bottom of it when I have the time.

[Howard-]

Yikes.

Dunno what I'd do if that happened to mine :/

[Podie]

Well that's 50k miles off mine (he says hopefully).

Thinking of changing the car this year, but really struggling to find something that offers the same level of comfort, equipment and practicality for sensible money.

[edwardw]

Podie said:

Well that's 50k miles off mine (he says hopefully).

Thinking of changing the car this year, but really struggling to find something that offers the same level of comfort, equipment and practicality for sensible money.

fancy selling?

[Howard-]

Mine's done 92k and apart from a few dashboard rattles that I'm determined to get to the bottom of, and that the handbrake has gone a bit slack, mine's in fine fettle. I keep thinking of changing it but I can't afford enough on top of what I'd be able to sell it for to be able to better it, so I'd be much better off just keeping it and looking after it.


Do they need any common "high mileage" maintenance or anything? Are the timing chains lifetime items?