Decisions, Decisions To Buy Or Not To Buy?

[beinet1]

Hi all,

I have to admit that my visit to this forum is less frequent after I replaced my tourer with a LR product a year ago, but I am still monitoring the market for the R75s on a weakly basis. Don`t ask why....
I have at the moment found an object close to me. Its a blue -02 tourer with a 2,5 KV6 and auto box. Full leather interior and all extras. A pretty rare combination to be found in Norway. The car has its issues and are sold as a repair object with the price listening at rock bottom. It has been parked up indoor for the last 4 years due to a failed MOt (rear brakes) and a leaking radiator due to a bird crash. The owner tried K-seal in it, but has clogged up the whole cooling system. No heat in the heater and cooling system gets pressurized. Basically, I think this could be a nice project. A new rad + complete cleanup of the cooling system might do the trick. The rest is probably new brake components to the rear, and a timing belt + service components. Always expect some more issues to be found, but it would be nice to "save" this car.

The issue is, I do not have time or space for it. My common sense tells me to walk away, but there is something with these cars that get under your skin. My V6 is parked away for the winter, so there is space for some 5-6 months available in my driveway. My wife would not be happy.... I have not looked at it yet, but are tempted to...

What to do..??

[Rev Jules]

Originally Posted by beinet1

Hi all,

I have to admit that my visit to this forum is less frequent after I replaced my tourer with a LR product a year ago, but I am still monitoring the market for the R75s on a weakly basis. Don`t ask why....
I have at the moment found an object close to me. Its a blue -02 tourer with a 2,5 KV6 and auto box. Full leather interior and all extras. A pretty rare combination to be found in Norway. The car has its issues and are sold as a repair object with the price listening at rock bottom. It has been parked up indoor for the last 4 years due to a failed MOt (rear brakes) and a leaking radiator due to a bird crash. The owner tried K-seal in it, but has clogged up the whole cooling system. No heat in the heater and cooling system gets pressurized. Basically, I think this could be a nice project. A new rad + complete cleanup of the cooling system might do the trick. The rest is probably new brake components to the rear, and a timing belt + service components. Always expect some more issues to be found, but it would be nice to "save" this car.

The issue is, I do not have time or space for it. My common sense tells me to walk away, but there is something with these cars that get under your skin. My V6 is parked away for the winter, so there is space for some 5-6 months available in my driveway. My wife would not be happy.... I have not looked at it yet, but are tempted to...

What to do..??

Hi.
We all get into that situation at some stage in the game with these cars, what I am reading into this it wont be cheap to get back on the road again, you probably don't have the back up with spares like we have in the UK,
My gut feeling is to walk away and save your money, it could turn out to be a money pit.

rev

[Mike Noc]

I take it you haven't seen our friend beinet's past projects then Rev?

[beinet1]

Originally Posted by Rev Jules

Hi.
We all get into that situation at some stage in the game with these cars, what I am reading into this it wont be cheap to get back on the road again, you probably don't have the back up with spares like we have in the UK,
My gut feeling is to walk away and save your money, it could turn out to be a money pit.

rev

A very wise answer!!

I have to admit that I am tempted. There is not that much needed in parts to get it going. I find a lot of pleasure to fix these cars. I can not say the same for my LandRover...

I have been in this situation before, but there has luckily been other buyers taken it.

P.S.

A link the advert: https://www.finn.no/car/used/ad.html?finnkode=111960063

Asking price is around £925. I would give him a bid of £450 as the general market for these cars are really bad over here. Local scrap value is £280

[vitesse]

Looks very nice except for the steering wheel and in the same town too (or is that your search location). Just a replacement radiator and some service parts, not expensive, and you’ve got the skills.

Is your MoT really called EU kontroll ?

Regards

[beinet1]

Originally Posted by vitesse

Looks very nice except for the steering wheel and in the same town too (or is that your search location). Just a replacement radiator and some service parts, not expensive, and you’ve got the skills.

Is your MoT really called EU kontroll ?

Regards

Yes, same area. I wouldn`t bother if I had to travel

The steering wheel is a bit worn, but I should be able to get a replacement wheel if it is the last bit to get it to shape up nicely.

Yes, our MOT is often called EU-kontroll, but there are several different names for it. I guess we are the only country which has introduced all EU directives without being a part of it :-O

[Jim Jamieson]

Go for it I say, you know deep down you want it.

I found myself in the same situation last summer when I purchased my project Connoisseur SE.
My current V6 has had loads of upgrades fitted, full suspension re done and new cam belts and some may think I’m crazy but I felt I just couldn’t resist the challenge to return this beauty to the road.
Thanks BTW for your very informative posts on the cambelt replacement which was very helpful when I did mine.

My project car is coming along nicely and will eventually replace my current V6 hopefully by the summer.

[vitesse]

You could always pacify the wife by saying you’ll sell the car once fixed, isn’t likely to work I know but they always seem to want a bit of extra money for their shopping hobbies.

I got a mail from a Norwegian eager to buy a lhd 75 in November but stopped looking as import duties were so high and prices in Norway hopelessly high. I could give you his email if you’re interested.

If you do buy the car and replace the belts many of us would be grateful for another of your excellent guides. I know you’ve done a lot of 1.8 work but can’t remember a V6 belt guide or did I miss it?

Norway might not be alone for so much longer as it seems that while Brexit is happening, the UK will still be under the EU’s yoke.

Regards

ps Reading Jim's post above I obviously missed your V6 belts guide, was it on here or the dark side, a link would be appreciated as I've got to do my belts quite soon.

[Rev Jules]

Originally Posted by Mike Noc

I take it you haven't seen our friend beinet's past projects then Rev?

No! I have not.

Rev

[beinet1]

Originally Posted by vitesse

You could always pacify the wife by saying you’ll sell the car once fixed, isn’t likely to work I know but they always seem to want a bit of extra money for their shopping hobbies.

I got a mail from a Norwegian eager to buy a lhd 75 in November but stopped looking as import duties were so high and prices in Norway hopelessly high. I could give you his email if you’re interested.

If you do buy the car and replace the belts many of us would be grateful for another of your excellent guides. I know you’ve done a lot of 1.8 work but can’t remember a V6 belt guide or did I miss it?

Norway might not be alone for so much longer as it seems that while Brexit is happening, the UK will still be under the EU’s yoke.

Regards

ps Reading Jim's post above I obviously missed your V6 belts guide, was it on here or the dark side, a link would be appreciated as I've got to do my belts quite soon.

Hi,

In this case buy-fix-enjoy and sell will be the way to go. If this is one of the worst things I can do, speaking generally, my wife should be happy

I think I have been in contact with the same guy as you describe above. He does actually live not to far from me, but he has quite high expectations for his object, so I guess he will be looking forever.

I did a write up for a KV6 belt change some years ago, but its pictures has gone down with the "photobucket" ship. I guess I should do some re-posting and fixes to some of my old threads, but time is a precious resource

Link here: https://the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/s...d.php?t=204919