Nabbed a beauty

gkkes · April 20, 2017

Just collected yesterday a 2000 Mk IV, 74,317 miles. Thats 153,000 less than my current beauty. I'm going from blue to green (it's growing on me!) 3 prior owners. Previous owner passed on, grandson selling for his grandmother. I'm awaiting the service history, and second key. It's a well-loved car.

There are a few "knowns" but for £1950 I'm certainly not complaining. It was only 15 miles from home.

Windscreen wash icon lit, bonnet struts, boot doesn't spring up, front splitter incomplete, headlamps hazy (both cars).

Satnav is asking me to check the disc. In the interim I can't access the menu to switch off the screen (I may swap between cars).

Steering wheel extend works, but doesn't tilt. Gear selector knob slightly cracked. Wheels need attention (I may swap too).

Everything else in wonderful nick, and working. It's nice to feel a smooth unblemished steering wheel. Seats supportive. Suspension is perfect. Exhaust doesn't blow. It does have the odd scrape!

When I first went to see it, I said Oh, I see the aerial is stuck in the up position, he said, it goes down when you turn off the engine! Doh! I hadn't spotted it was running.....

Pics to follow.

Spacewagon52 · April 20, 2017

Regarding the winds creen wash light - try blasting some water into the reservoir with a hose, it might shift the float. I did mine with hard braking!

gkkes · April 20, 2017

Yep, I beg it's pardon. Just filled greenies reservoir and lights out. Thank you.

I've swapped SatNav units, and everythings good. It's remembered all my recent destinations so I guess theres some memory in the unit. I've opened the case and the load/spin mechanism works fine, everything looks good. If the unit has ROM onboard, it may just need a new Battery.

Bodywork has a few scars if you look real close, but nothing like old bluey (her bonnet colour looks thin). There's a small ding in the nsf corner, which happened in the sellers woodyard. He was keen for me to take it out of harms way. AC is nice and cold. Old bluey has a couple of silver coins in the black windscreen surround, but greenie has one on the drivers door pillar, so it's a reminder every time you climb in. Anyone know of a fix? Hambrol? (Not hammerite). Has anyone changed the gear knob?

Discovered the cars history left in the first aid box under the passenger seat, the seller was going to look for paperwork and spare keys at his grandmothers, so I guess he was unaware of that hidey hole. It's great news, 7 stamps. 5 Lex dealers, 2 from Manchester (supplier), Doncaster and 2 at Twickenham, followed by 2 independents. Last A service stamp Jan 07, 17,000 miles ago. Even has the original Welcome CD and '99 satnav disc in the box.

I'll factor in the timing belt based on 10 year longevity, but it's still a cracker for the money.

Bluesman · April 20, 2017

3 hours ago, gkkes said:

Yep, I beg it's pardon. Just filled greenies reservoir and lights out. Thank you.

I've swapped SatNav units, and everythings good. It's remembered all my recent destinations so I guess theres some memory in the unit. I've opened the case and the load/spin mechanism works fine, everything looks good. If the unit has ROM onboard, it may just need a new battery.

Bodywork has a few scars if you look real close, but nothing like old bluey (her bonnet colour looks thin). There's a small ding in the nsf corner, which happened in the sellers woodyard. He was keen for me to take it out of harms way. AC is nice and cold. Old bluey has a couple of silver coins in the black windscreen surround, but greenie has one on the drivers door pillar, so it's a reminder every time you climb in. Anyone know of a fix? Hambrol? (Not hammerite). Has anyone changed the gear knob?

Discovered the cars history left in the first aid box under the passenger seat, the seller was going to look for paperwork and spare keys at his grandmothers, so I guess he was unaware of that hidey hole. It's great news, 7 stamps. 5 Lex dealers, 2 from Manchester (supplier), Doncaster and 2 at Twickenham, followed by 2 independents. Last A service stamp Jan 07, 17,000 miles ago. Even has the original Welcome CD and '99 satnav disc in the box.

I'll factor in the timing belt based on 10 year longevity, but it's still a cracker for the money.

When I was looking for mine many years ago now after much looking I came across what is now my pride & joy but in the green colour which was on the bottom of my favourite colours but it soon grew on me and when shes washed and brushed up she looks a stuuner. Enjoy Greenie.

Spacewagon52 · April 20, 2017

You sound really pleased - well done. They are getting hard to find in really good condition.

gkkes · April 20, 2017

To renew timing belt, tensioners, roller bearings, water pump, re-fill fluids and serpentine belt quote from the Brighton mob came in at £550 incl, so reasonably happy.

dendonc · April 20, 2017

12 hours ago, gkkes said:

2000 Mk IV, 74,317 miles.

Thats a good buy by the sound of it, the 400's seem to be getting very scarce these days..than say only 5 years ago

dendonc · April 20, 2017

40 minutes ago, gkkes said:

To renew timing belt, tensioners, roller bearings, water pump, re-fill fluids and serpentine belt quote from the Brighton mob came in at £550 incl, so reasonably happy.

Tell me something (Im no mechi) is the 'serpantine belt' the same thing as the fan belt? & when was that quote?

Malc · April 20, 2017

and who is the Brighton mob ? that price seems very good

Malc

dendonc · April 20, 2017

Grove garage brighton, i was quoted 569 Dec last, they have a v good reputation on here

gkkes · April 21, 2017

dendonc is correct. Fixed quote yesterday, booked in soon to suit my work schedule, I'm about 45 miles away. They have a Lex trained specialist mechanic who did many of the LS400 dealer acceptances 25 years back.

They quote just 3 hours labour would you believe?

The serpentine belt is indeed the fan belt. It encompasses not only the fan and crank cog, but also generator, water pump, aircon, power steering etc etc, so it snakes it's way round. Bluey threw one a couple of months back which ended with me on the M25 shoulder. I heard a unusual short squeal as I left home, lasted maybe 1 second. The AA picked me up on a lowloader and dropped me at a garage behind Heathrow. Service engineer arrived after 90 minutes, didn't have one onboard, couple of hours later the same guy in the lowloader took me home. 7 hours lost. The unusual thing is the dashboard warning. No notifications until 50 miles into the journey the Battery light came on and "Headlamp Leveller" in the display. I'm sure if I'd pressed the mode buttons there would have been all sorts.... I bet you it was the original belt !

You can make out the front wing damage on greenie there.

Hahah, just though that pictures title VW,V,W. ☺️

gkkes · April 21, 2017

Interestingly, Lexus Guildford have also quoted £545 incl and will also provide a loan car for the day.....

dendonc · April 21, 2017

1 hour ago, gkkes said:

Interestingly, Lexus Guildford have also quoted £545 incl and will also provide a loan car for the day.....

What exactly do they do for that? I mean is it just the cambelt change & nothing else? its much nearer to me than brighton

dendonc · April 21, 2017

2 hours ago, gkkes said:

gkkes The serpentine belt is indeed the fan belt. It encompasses not only the fan and crank cog, but also generator, water pump, aircon, power steering etc etc, so it snakes it's way round.

Good grief, I am told that should be done with the cambelt change, never seen it mentioned before when cambelts & grove have come up on here.........hm, or is this ere serpantine belt really the blasted cambelt?

gkkes · April 24, 2017

To replace the timing belt is quite a major job, involving a strip down of the front of the engine. Advice here suggests it makes sense to replace the water pump to avoid paying to do it all again. The pump is over £100, plus fluids etc so if you don't need this, the price quoted just for timing belt change was £295 I think. 80,000 miles or 10 years is the Lexus suggested regime, although bluey has had only one replacement at 103,000 in 2003. She's still going strong on this belt after 14 years and 122,000 but it's a gamble.

dendonc · April 24, 2017

Thanks gkkes, below is what grove garage says they do,the £569 I quote I gave is for things they do below, water pump, tensioners, pulleys etc and includes VAT.

I just wondering if the serpantine belt was included in all that, probably not, I think I'll call them this next day or so & get a quote for that, it makes sense to change it with the timing belt & rollers etc stuff whilst they can get at it easy enough, I note the £295 you quoted for lexus guildford but I want rollers etc done as well, which is what the grove quote is for & not mentioned in your post.

Grove wrote

I have attached two estimates, one for just replacing the timing belt, the other if you also want to replace the pulleys, tensioners and water pump as this is driven by the timing belt.