Head vs heart dilemma
 

Hi,

I have something of a dilemma with "Big Blue", my Trophy Blue ZT 190.

After nearly 18 months of ownership, it is showing all the signs of HGF.
"It's a V6, it can't be HGF" I hear you say....

But the symptoms are as follows:
Mayo in the filler cap
Using coolant.
When coolant level goes down, oil level goes up - some oil blowing out of the dipstick.
Mayo in the breather pipes.
Pink staining on the front bank spark plugs. (rear bank not inspected)

None of this appears to be affecting performance, but the coolant usage and visible mayo is increasing, so it's only a matter of time until it gets worse.

The back story to this is that when I got the car MOT'd in January 2013 (3 months after buying it), I got a call to say it had overheated during the test. The cooling fan had failed (seized). It had previously been cutting in on at least the 3rd speed prior to the test. (Bad luck or negligence by the garage? your call...). I then sourced a replacement (2nd hand) fan and radiator assembly which was fitted - which in turn caused a coolant leak from the top hose to radiator o-ring. I have then used the car for a year since - the symptoms have manifested themselves over the last 3-4 months, getting progressively worse.

I am now faced with the decision as to whether to repair the car or not - I would estimate repairs to be at least £800 for x2 head gaskets, head bolts, head skim (x2) and labour.

My head says it's simply not worth pouring £800 into a car not worth much more than that - it'd be more financially sound to scrap it, and I car share with 3 other people, who rely on me having a reliable car to get to work but...

Every time I drive it, I get out thinking "This is far too good to scrap"

The car has the following going for it:
Full Service History
11 months MOT (Passed no advisories despite the signs of impending doom)
All 4 tyres less than a year old
All 3 cambelts replaced last year
55k Miles
No rust

However, ideally, it needs the following, as well as the engine issues sorting:
Scuffs on both bumpers
Alloy wheels starting to corrode (all 4 plus spare)
New radio needed
Exhaust keeps hitting underbody over big bumps
Gold resistor needs fitting to fan
A/C needs a regas
(Let's call that another £500ish all in)

Alternatively, I have the means to buy something a lot newer (approx 4 years old), in excellent condition, that would meet my needs and cost half as much to tax, and save £1k a year in fuel bills.
Much as I like the ZT, that's a compelling argument.

So, I have two questions:
1: Could it be anything other than HGF?
and
2: What would you do?

Apologies for the rambling post!

I would get an estimated repair bill from an sctual diagnosis then think practically...

Are you in a position to do the HG yourself? if you have an alternate car it may be worth a couple of weekends work to do?

Sadly not - I'll have a go at most jobs, but don't have the timing tools, (or the time!) to do the HG :(

I have seen some members who offer to lend the timing tools?;)

That says it all really ...........

You know a bit about the history, you have a passion for it.

What will £1300 buy you? (I Know you are talking more than that for a 4 year old car, but that is what this will cost to 'sort' it - or at least make it as good as this 4 year old car). After spending the £1300, how much do you think you will spend annually to run. Then how much will it cost to run the four year old car annually? I would suggest too, that at four years old, you will start to notice niggling things failing, how much is parts and labour for these potential jobs? Or perhaps have to spend the same £500 making the 4 year old car 'just so' .

The fuel and to a lesser extent tax is a little harder to argue against. How much would a CDTi cost to buy (from a member) , keeping the trophy blue either as a spares car, or project/weekend car, if space permitted? Maybe put the Trophy Blue back on the road after completing the work, over a period of time, and sell the CDTi again recouping some of the money again.

Of course the second car option could lead to another dilemma in the future lol

I'm sorry my rambling only adds more questions to your dilemma, but my heart drives me, space doesnt permit it
:shrug:

Thread moved to appropriate forum. Re-direct left in old.

Dedication is what you need..... ;)

Could this be caused by an internal leak in the oil cooler?? Could it be worth a try?? This one or similar: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rover-75-M...item3a7f018175

If the oil hoses connected to the cooler have the same connector in both ends, you can try to bypass the cooler by connecting the oil outlet directly to the oil inlet on the engine side with one of the hoses to see if the problem disappears.

This is what I think:

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...d.php?t=170341

It's well worth doing, I love my ZT and it's obvious you love yours.

The way I looked at it was I paid £1000 for the car and £1200 for repairs that's £2200 for a car that is well built, individual and always puts a smile on my face and makes me feel special.

That makes it a bargain in my eyes.

Good luck with it, I know it's a struggle financially but to save one of these wonderful cars from the scrappy is a very rewarding feeling, you'll be doing your bit for British motoring heritage!!

:D:bowdown:

I suppose what it boils down to is this for what my penny is worth
If you spend the money you have a car with no faults runs well and you know it pretty much inside out. You also have class and a presence on the road.
Other coin......bog standard euro box most probably pretty standard trim...............and you may still pay another £1000 on repairs that you yet dont know about!
My car is not the best connie V6 2001 there is, it needs the bodywork t cutting, maybe looking at a new thermostat, 1st stage fan U/s................but only 59.000 on the clock, so I will be looking to spend a few hundred pounds on it pretty soon. But I did only pay £450 for it.
So for a little over a grand I will have a low mileage car in good mech running order and (fingers crossed) no big bill for some time to come.
I also will have a car that turn heads, looks smart and stands out from the crowd.
For me Simples, no brainer.
However only you can make that final decision which really is no help at all. :shrug:
Kenny