BANGERNOMICS (sub2k) of the week/day Part 6

kalkat2002 · 03-06-2020 04:36AM

Mad_Mike wrote: »

That seems decent value for a 07 diesel too. Looks like the owner has it for a couple of years at least
Only fear here is if it's the BXE engine fitted

I had in spain a new golf v with bxe engine re-mapped for 6 years and no issues so kind of lottery...

donalh087 · 03-06-2020 09:15AM

A bit of advice? Although I pretty much know the answer........

I bought a classic bangernomics car two months ago. 05 E200 Merc, 75,000 miles for €1,600. She drove beautifully and is the lap of luxury. Rock solid and feels so safe. I love it.

Yesterday she wouldn't start and had no compression. Got her to the garage and the mechanic just rang to say the timing chain had slipped. Repair will cost €2,000.

So, what to do now? Walk away from it and say it's a lesson learnt? Or take it on the chin because I will have to pay €2,00 for a replacement anyway?

Any thoughts?

bazz26 · 03-06-2020 09:40AM

Just buy another cheap car. No way I'd be spending 2k on repairing a 15 year old car which goes against the definition of bangernomics. Timing chains are common weaknesses on those Kompressor engines.

eamonnq · 03-06-2020 09:51AM

donalh087 wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/05-mercedes-e200-new-nct-01-21-low-miles-1-8/24249664

Quite tempted by this. Looks in good nick and a fair price. Any advice on what to look out for?

CharlieCroker wrote: »

They can be thirsty and make sure there's a timing chain replacement somewhere in that service history

donalh087 wrote: »

A bit of advice? Although I pretty much know the answer........

I bought a classic bangernomics car two months ago. 05 E200 Merc, 75,000 miles for €1,600. She drove beautifully and is the lap of luxury. Rock solid and feels so safe. I love it.

Yesterday she wouldn't start and had no compression. Got her to the garage and the mechanic just rang to say the timing chain had slipped. Repair will cost €2,000.

So, what to do now? Walk away from it and say it's a lesson learnt? Or take it on the chin because I will have to pay €2,00 for a replacement anyway?

Any thoughts?

Was it that one ?

donalh087 · 03-06-2020 10:06AM

Yes it was. With 75,000 miles I thought the chain was fine. Clearly not.

barry181091 · 03-06-2020 10:12AM

donalh087 wrote: »

Yes it was. With 75,000 miles I thought the chain was fine. Clearly not.

I wonder, would the previous owner have known? Not that you have any recourse, just as a matter of interest. I presume it gave no indication of failure before this!

26000 Elephants · 03-06-2020 10:23AM

There are many times where it's worth throwing a few quid to keep a decent banger going (I've even swapped a gearbox on a €350 car, but only because I had one) because you know the car and its gonna cost you money anyway to replace it.

But this is not one of them! No point in throwing €2k at a €1500 merc. I'd gladly spend €750 on the timing chain as a preventive measure, but not on a repair.

flexcon · 03-06-2020 10:27AM

donalh087 wrote: »

A bit of advice? Although I pretty much know the answer........

I bought a classic bangernomics car two months ago. 05 E200 Merc, 75,000 miles for €1,600. She drove beautifully and is the lap of luxury. Rock solid and feels so safe. I love it.

Yesterday she wouldn't start and had no compression. Got her to the garage and the mechanic just rang to say the timing chain had slipped. Repair will cost €2,000.

So, what to do now? Walk away from it and say it's a lesson learnt? Or take it on the chin because I will have to pay €2,00 for a replacement anyway?

Any thoughts?

I recently bought a Saab for really good money.

Like you, it felt great. Unfortunately - the balance shaft was kaput. Overall I spent 1300 fixing a few issues on the car

however, while I spent waaay more than I thought to fix it up, the car is now solid and will go for years.

If the rest of the car seems fine, (ask your mechanic to go over it) then pay the money and enjoy it

I know some people say it isnt worth it, but there is value to be hand in knowing that once that big bill is over - you should have a very reliable and solid car

aFlabbyPanda · 03-06-2020 11:17AM

^ what he says, I don't get the idea of taking 2k and gambling again on another car if the merc is solid other than repair suggested. I bought a 2k car before xmas and put about 1k in repairs into. At least now I know the state of the car and it should last me good few years.

bazz26 · 03-06-2020 11:19AM

donalh087 wrote: »

Yes it was. With 75,000 miles I thought the chain was fine. Clearly not.

Very likely on it's original chain so it was probably a ticking time bomb that unfortunately went off under your ownership.

barry181091 · 03-06-2020 11:24AM

Mad_Mike wrote: »

That seems decent value for a 07 diesel too. Looks like the owner has it for a couple of years at least
Only fear here is if it's the BXE engine fitted

It's a BXE alright!

selectamatic · 03-06-2020 11:26AM

The problem is though what is a man to do if more issues arise after the 2 grand engine swap? Pump more money into it?

Theres a good long list of problems someone could encounter with a 2005 e class and plenty of costly maintenance to keep on top of too.

So the main thing to note is 2 grand is very unlikely to be the end of it.

26000 Elephants · 03-06-2020 11:38AM

aFlabbyPanda wrote: »

^ what he says, I don't get the idea of taking 2k and gambling again on another car if the merc is solid other than repair suggested. I bought a 2k car before xmas and put about 1k in repairs into. At least now I know the state of the car and it should last me good few years.

I agree, it's fine putting money into a car you know will be ok. But your example of putting a grand into a €2k car is nearly the opposite of what OP will need to do. That 2 grand is most likely a secondhand engine, so you are resetting the disaster timer, not removing it. Even if that bill is for full repair of existing engine, theres a load of other issues that could arise from the damage (OP mentioned loss of compression).
That's before you factor in all the other expensive gizmos to go wrong in a 15 year merc.

It's a worthy ideal to stick with it, but it's bad bangernomics.

almostover · 03-06-2020 12:20PM

donalh087 wrote: »

A bit of advice? Although I pretty much know the answer........

I bought a classic bangernomics car two months ago. 05 E200 Merc, 75,000 miles for €1,600. She drove beautifully and is the lap of luxury. Rock solid and feels so safe. I love it.

Yesterday she wouldn't start and had no compression. Got her to the garage and the mechanic just rang to say the timing chain had slipped. Repair will cost €2,000.

So, what to do now? Walk away from it and say it's a lesson learnt? Or take it on the chin because I will have to pay €2,00 for a replacement anyway?

Any thoughts?

Get another one, preferably with the chain fixed. Keep your own as a parts car.Did this with a car I'd a minor accident in before and had cheap motoring for a few years off it as a spares car.

Mad_Mike · 03-06-2020 12:28PM

My young lad did the same thing with 3 Puntos for his first few years of driving! Free parts forever

CoBo55 · 03-06-2020 12:37PM

almostover wrote: »

Get another one, preferably with the chain fixed. Keep your own as a parts car.Did this with a car I'd a minor accident in before and had cheap motoring for a few years off it as a spares car.

Not a bad idea if you have the space....and a patient partner. Hopefully you won't end up with two cars with broken chains!!

CoBo55 · 03-06-2020 12:38PM

Mad_Mike wrote: »

My young lad did the same thing with 3 Puntos for his first few years of driving! Free parts forever

A great aul starter banger for the up and coming spanner twirler.

younggalway · 03-06-2020 02:39PM

Folks is there any free way of checking the mileage on a car? From the NCT maybe similar to MOT check you can do online? Eyeing a car on DD but want to check the mileage before calling.

colm_mcm · 03-06-2020 03:32PM

Nope.

Googling the reg can sometimes throw stuff up.
Mileage at last NCT should be on the disc. Cert should show some previous test mileages too.

Link to the ad?

GavMan · 03-06-2020 03:40PM

Cant motorcheck, cartell, etc verify the mileage? Or are you looking to avoid paying the small. As Colm said, there's no public resource

CharlieCroker · 03-06-2020 05:54PM

donalh087 wrote: »

Yes it was. With 75,000 miles I thought the chain was fine. Clearly not.

Oh dear

johndaman66 · 03-06-2020 06:19PM

CoBo55 wrote: »

Not a bad idea if you have the space....and a patient partner. Hopefully you won't end up with two cars with broken chains!!

Agreed, and sometimes the neighbors could get a bit snooty about it too, especially in a built up area. Cars being stripped like that can attract rats and other such rodents too. If you have the space though and not for an eternity though its not a bad plan.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2008-audi-a3-1-9-tdi-long-nct/24938992
2008 Audi A3 1.9 TDI
UK import;
190k miles
NCT 09/2020 (I wouldn't agree with the seller thats a long NCT, - short I would say);
€200 p.a. motor tax;
4 new tyres and timing belt done were told;
Asking €1,999.

crasy dash · 03-06-2020 06:53PM

barry181091 wrote: »

It's a BXE alright!

Just a bit of a waffle so
I know the Bxe engine is a mare of a thing from all accounts but when it's banger money are they worth the gamble just throwing this out here for opinions.
Say if you bought a car for 1000-1200 and say got a bit of mileage out of it before it went bang.

Recently came across a car with a Bxe engine and that put me off it even though the car looked clean for a 07 it managed to last 13years that's not bad in fairness I know of a lot of recent stuff that has gone bang well before that.

Toyotafanboi · 03-06-2020 06:54PM

I know it is 12 years old but I think the inside of those A3's has dated terribly. They still feel very German but ****ing hell, dull as ditchwater, you wouldnt get it as bad in a jap car.

jmreire · 03-06-2020 07:17PM

donalh087 wrote: »

A bit of advice? Although I pretty much know the answer........

I bought a classic bangernomics car two months ago. 05 E200 Merc, 75,000 miles for €1,600. She drove beautifully and is the lap of luxury. Rock solid and feels so safe. I love it.

Yesterday she wouldn't start and had no compression. Got her to the garage and the mechanic just rang to say the timing chain had slipped. Repair will cost €2,000.

So, what to do now? Walk away from it and say it's a lesson learnt? Or take it on the chin because I will have to pay €2,00 for a replacement anyway?

Any thoughts?

The chains can be checked for wear and tear, in situ, and its well worth getting it done, but on the other hand, 75'000 Miles seems to be a bit early, but not impossible. If you are going down the road of a replacement engine, it would be something to get done first before fitting it. They are a lovely car, exactly as you describe.

Chickennuggets · 03-06-2020 07:24PM

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/saab-93-1-9-tdi-linear-sport/24937196

2010 1.9 Diesel
125k miles.
Nct 09/20 and only €280 tax. Beautiful car.

Although the pictures it does look like the front bumper is slightly out of place.

jmreire · 03-06-2020 07:27PM

26000 Elephants wrote: »

I agree, it's fine putting money into a car you know will be ok. But your example of putting a grand into a €2k car is nearly the opposite of what OP will need to do. That 2 grand is most likely a secondhand engine, so you are resetting the disaster timer, not removing it. Even if that bill is for full repair of existing engine, theres a load of other issues that could arise from the damage (OP mentioned loss of compression).
That's before you factor in all the other expensive gizmos to go wrong in a 15 year merc.

It's a worthy ideal to stick with it, but it's bad bangernomics.

That applys to ALL bangernomics. After all, they are cheap for a reason, and that reason is people want to get rid of them because they are afraid that they are about to become money pits...you pays your money, and you takes your chance's was never so true.Having said that, there are lots of bangernomic owners out there with success story's. R & D has given us cars that are long lasting and relatively trouble free, compared to cars manufactured in the 60's 70's,80's etc. ( not to mention earlier years... )

cadaliac · 03-06-2020 08:35PM

26000 Elephants wrote: »

I agree, it's fine putting money into a car you know will be ok. But your example of putting a grand into a €2k car is nearly the opposite of what OP will need to do. That 2 grand is most likely a secondhand engine, so you are resetting the disaster timer, not removing it. Even if that bill is for full repair of existing engine, theres a load of other issues that could arise from the damage (OP mentioned loss of compression).
That's before you factor in all the other expensive gizmos to go wrong in a 15 year merc.

It's a worthy ideal to stick with it, but it's bad bangernomics.

This - it makes no bangernomic sense to spend 150% of the value of the car to get it back to where you were when you bought it.
As also mentioned, it's like Russian roulette with a second hand engine - and that is just teh engine repaired. That vintage of merc are not renowned for their rust free bodies or sterling electronics. Quite the opposite in fact.

Sam Russell · 03-06-2020 08:44PM

donalh087 wrote: »

A bit of advice? Although I pretty much know the answer........

I bought a classic bangernomics car two months ago. 05 E200 Merc, 75,000 miles for €1,600. She drove beautifully and is the lap of luxury. Rock solid and feels so safe. I love it.

Yesterday she wouldn't start and had no compression. Got her to the garage and the mechanic just rang to say the timing chain had slipped. Repair will cost €2,000.

So, what to do now? Walk away from it and say it's a lesson learnt? Or take it on the chin because I will have to pay €2,00 for a replacement anyway?

Any thoughts?

Is there any chance the mileage was a bit more than that on the odometer?

It would be unusual for 15 year old car to only do 5,000 miles a year. also did the service record check out?

Sounds too bad to be true. Sorry for your troubles.

jmreire · 03-06-2020 08:50PM

Chickennuggets wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/saab-93-1-9-tdi-linear-sport/24937196

2010 1.9 Diesel
125k miles.
Nct 09/20 and only €280 tax. Beautiful car.

Although the pictures it does look like the front bumper is slightly out of place.

That's one very nice car.....the front bumper looks a bit scuffed on the N/S, but does not look too bad. Looks a very clean example, and the price is OK too.

BANGERNOMICS (sub2k) of the week/day Part 6

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