406oc.co.uk

Having just purchased my 406 estate Y reg load lugger 90 Hdi with 169000 on the clock I ain't expecting much, but to be honest I am pleasantly surprised. And with tax and MOT until next March for only £450 I think I have done OK. It has one owner, fully maintained as a British Legion car all it's life and feels really tight.

I would just like to ask if there is anything I should be looking out for. Cambelt has been done and just serviced. So I am thinking drive, maintain and enjoy until it goes bang, which it probably won't.

Any guru pointers for a newbie?

Sounds like you got yourself a good deal..... 169K is fine, no real concerns there.

The only main thing is the suspicious handbrake - its not a great design but can be made good with a few tips from the forum folk. Your car is pre-comms, so no issues with dodgy indicators...

Enjoy it, post up some pictures when you get the chance.

Hi & welcome,

Other than the cam belt -- as you've said -- there isn't really anything specific to panic about. I'd keep your ear open and let it tell you what it wants -- if anything.

I'd keep an eye out for leaks when it comes wetter. It's water in the driver's footwell you need to be scared of, but it's very uncommon.

The bottom pulley should let you know when it wants changing (although at that mileage it's probably already been replaced).
Consider drop links to be a service item.

Airbag faults are the connections under the front seats.

As already mentioned drop links and air bag light but that's common across most cars nowadays and simple fixes.
Just fitted new handbrake cables to mine and it's rock solid on 4/5 clicks, follow jasper's guide in the knowledge base and you can't go far wrong.

Regular oil and filter changes and she'll go for years.

I bought mine four years and nearly 40,000 miles ago, its now covered 226,000 miles and has been brilliant, the only real disappointment is the handbrake, I have changed the discs/drums, shoes and cables and it still only works well when you first adjust it, this gets it through the MOT alright so I'm not all that bothered.

Check that the drain holes are clear on the drivers side sill, if they block it can cause a water build up under the carpets which floods the multiplicity of connectors under the drivers carpet and cause a whole range of strange electrical problems.

I have had the dreaded air bag light problem since I had the car but fortunately my MOT testers sight is not all that good.

Overall its been a brilliant car, its needed drop links and tie rods but that's just normal maintenance, it averages over 50mpg with 60+ on a long journey so I'm very pleased with it. The ride is not as good as my XM and C5 but the handling is about perfect.

Peter

I never have problems with the handbrake!
Adjust it properly and it works fine!

I've just bought a 165k HDI 90 LX Estate and its got to be the best car i've ever owned. It feels and drives like a new car and the engine is so quiet opposed to the xud!
I only paid £400 for mine and it came with a full stack of history. I think its been a taxi for most of its life.

You have definitely made a great choice and you probably wont see much going wrong

PeterN wrote:Check that the drain holes are clear on the drivers side sill, if they block it can cause a water build up under the carpets which floods the multiplicity of connectors under the drivers carpet and cause a whole range of strange electrical problems.

Err, make that both sides, there is also the possibility of the sills rotting inside-out. Water only gets in if some of the clips holding the rubber seals are missing, so if anyone kicks them off (easily done) it's important to replace them.

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Very true!