Buying a high mileage diesel - Advice please

[Grimspoon]

Thanks jp

 

[HapticSimian]

Disregard for diesels stems from ignorance...

 

[Grimspoon]

Ok well I am seeing the car tonight and hopefully have time to take it for a spin so will make up my mind. Thanks for the input.

 

[Gaz{M}]

You know what really annoys me - people come onto this forum and ask for advice on cars they consider buying. We give our advice and then they tell us we are talking s**t and do what they wanted to in the first place anyway.

 

[Grimspoon]

You know what really annoys me - people come onto this forum and ask for advice on cars they consider buying. We give our advice and then they tell us we are talking s**t and do what they wanted to in the first place anyway.

Um when did I say anyone was talking s**t? I asked for advice and I have got some very valuable comments all of which I value.

 

[Naks]

Diesels can and do run forever. Turbo diesels... Not so much.

Really? Acquaintance of mine has a 1999 Defender Td5. Recently reached 300Kkm on it and not a single major problem. Every now and then he drives from JHB to Zanzibar.

 

[Stokstert]

You know what really annoys me - people come onto this forum and ask for advice on cars they consider buying. We give our advice and then they tell us we are talking s**t and do what they wanted to in the first place anyway.

I think you are unreasonable with your above comment. The OP has never said that the advice he got is sh*t, he thanked the posters for every reply he got.

 

[Grimspoon]

I think you are unreasonable with your above comment. The OP has never said that the advice he got is sh*t, he thanked the posters for every reply he got.

Yeah I must have missed something?

 

[Grimspoon]

I guess Gaz{M} doesn't feel like responding to his moronic comment.

 

[UtterNutter]

You know what really annoys me - people come onto this forum and ask for advice on cars they consider buying. We give our advice and then they tell us we are talking s**t and do what they wanted to in the first place anyway.

I think you are confusing a poster and the OP...

 

[Gaz{M}]

Yes, you are right. I was reading too fast, apologies.

 

[Grimspoon]

All good

Took the car for a spin last night, goes very well. Very neat car.

 

[Fazda]

All good

Took the car for a spin last night, goes very well. Very neat car.

Nice going!! Hope it's a goodie!!

 

[prox]

I am in the market for a car and have got my eye on a diesel, I am particularly looking at the Golf 4 Tdi. I can get one for a decent price but the mileage is about +- 200 000 Km's. I know the person who owns it and he has been meticulous in maintaining it as he is a car nut. He has recently replaced almost everything that was worn out on the car including all pipes, clutch, bearings and some other things I cant remember, but they were pretty major parts. I trust the guy and I know the car is in good nick and was well looked after.

Obviously there is a risk to buying any high mileage vehicle, but what would your advice be to me regarding buying a high mileage diesel, I have heard that a well maintained diesel can go forever.

Thanks

Grim

I drove a Golf IV 2.0 petrol so I can't comment on a diesel, but generally speaking Golf IV is an expensive car to maintain. Even the simplest of things, like electric window motors (Golf IVs have this problem) are expensive to replace (not even talking genuine VW parts). I was very relieved to get rid of mine @ 130 000km. Don't get me wrong - great car...but expensive in the long run. Water pump + cam belt cost me > R11k @ 110 000km and the car never missed a service at a VW dealer.

 

[MadMailMan]

Really? Acquaintance of mine has a 1999 Defender Td5. Recently reached 300Kkm on it and not a single major problem. Every now and then he drives from JHB to Zanzibar.

Friend's wife in Zim drives a 1981 Merc 300 D with around 1.6 mil Kms under the hood. I've also seen a Landcruiser 80 series diesel which had been around it's ODO twice (2 mil. Ks), so 300Kms is not really a milestone for diesels. Maybe for turbo diesels but not unturboed (is that a word? ) diesels.

 

[Amida]

The general consensus is that diesel motors don't take as much strain as petrol, as they're not high reving engines.
But at 200k, I'm not sure if I personally would be getting into that.
But an AA test, should help to make the decision easier

Though my last petrol car had higher mileage than that and was very good.

Diesel motors take more strain then petrol cars because of the high compression that's in the engine. The engine also needs to be a lot stronger because of this reason which makes the parts very expensive.

 

[Fazda]

Diesel motors take more strain then petrol cars because of the high compression that's in the engine. The engine also needs to be a lot stronger because of this reason which makes the parts very expensive.

Sorry, but you are really talking nonsense now!!

Don't base what you say on the way you personally feel about diesels which are used world wide BECAUSE of the fact that they last so long.

Why do you think all London Taxis are diesel, and all of your big trucks.....?

L O N G E V I T Y!!

 

[TJFASA]

Buying a high Mileage Diesel is ok but check the following:

Get an engine compression test done. If low you are heading for an overhaul.

Check the colour of the oil. Ask when last serviced. If thick then diesel is mixing with oil. You are heading for pump and injector overhaul soon.

Get someone to put their foot flat on the accelerator. The engine must run smooth no misfiring or sudden jets of black or grey smoke. If so you are heading for a pump and injector overhaul soon.

Does the car start when it's cold like in the morning. If not you need to change glow plugs, battery, service pump and injectors, hope your compresion is not to low or you are heading for an engine overhaul.

Check inside the air filter. There must be no oil inside. If so you are heading towards - I'm not going to say.

IF ALL OK BUY THAT CAR

 

[upup]

Stay away from a AA test.
My car, I drove it before the AA test, then when I got it, dealer gave me spare screws for panels that aa did not tighten.

Did he said the guy also replace catalisator?

Do diesel engines have that?

 

[upup]

O yes I think he has replaced the turbo, he also removed the catalytic converter and replaced it with something else, he explained the whole reason behind this and have heard it before. Apparently our diesel in SA is not up to European standards?

It is a 2001.

do diesel engines have that?