X plate 406 hdi, opinions and help please

306blondie · Post by **306blondie** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 7:14 pm

Hi, i'm looking at buying a 406 hdi lx with 115k for £2100.

Just wondered whats the good and bad points to this car, also what to look for when buying them. I've never really had much experience of 406s or the hdi engine.

Any information would be much appreciated

trem1 · Post by **trem1** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 7:15 pm

first i would check all electrics

jameslxdt · Post by **jameslxdt** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 7:42 pm

is it a HDi 110 or 90, for most people the 90 is too slow, but it doesnt have a dual mass flywheel, which is a bonus, the siemens 90 is a bit better but i would always go for the 110 as it even has better fuel economy, make sure the a/c works, if it has it, make sure the suspension dosent knock or clunk over bumps, and make sure the handbrake works, that price to me is a bit high for an lx on that mileage, for that price you could get a lower mileage executive hdi on the same year

Blue406 · Post by **Blue406** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:51 pm

trem1 wrote:first i would check all electrics

doesn't help, and you know it. The D9 is programmed to develop leccy gremlins a week after purchase

Post by **Welly** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:25 am

Perhaps I could assist by listing all the things that have gone wrong with my 1999 HDi110 in 12 months/7000 miles:

Broken Road Spring (rear) £95.00
Air Con condenser perished/degassed itself £300.00
Radiator fan/ECU fault (many hours) £300.00
Further ECU fault (suspected throttle position sensor)
Rear engine mount torn through (excessive engine movement, not fixed)
Clutch slipping (not fixed yet but could cost £650.00 with a new Dual Mass Fly)
Bottom Pulley Failure (pending)
Soooooo many rattles and squeeks I have given up locating the sources.
Air bag light on intermitantly
Heated seat didn't work for a bit, then did.
Massive pops and bangs from stereo speakers.

Would I buy one again?......NO.

Well I might, but it would have to be as new as possible maybe a 2003/4 model with 50,000 miles, and a remap, that would be ok I suppose.

Or I would by a D8 and save myself a tidy sum

Captain Jack · Post by **Captain Jack** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:41 am

Welty, my boy... I think you have just been plain unlucky. I'd have a hard time finding anyone with so many problems on such a relatively new-ish car. Most people on here will testify that 406's are quite reliable mechanically wise... not so electrical wise, but D8s don't seem to suffer such problems as they as sophisticated as wood burning stoves. My 2.1TD D8 is on 120k now (had it since 74k) and these are the problems I had:

Siezed rear brake caliper: £320
Faulty injector resulting in loss of power: £150

Erm.. that's it as far as "faults" are concerned. Then there's the usual servicing costs, which are unavoidable on any car:

Last service including cam belt/water pump/drive belt/track rod end/oil change: £500

Normally service it every 8-10 months with usual oil/filter changes for £100 a pop.

And then there's me being a twat and crashing the thing:

Bumper: £40
Respray of bumper: £130
+ other bits and bobs

And of course the usual 'bling it up' bits:

Leather seats: £240
Wooden look ashtray: £30
Chipping: £350 (~140 bhp, ~230 lb torque)
Front fog lights (that are still not working) + stalk: £80
Sound system: £lost count

I have a few more things to replace like a wheel arch liner and the fog light undercover tray (damaged in an accident).

So yes, it does look expensive but it's all worth it. Not much to knock it in way of reliability

Post by **Welly** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:55 am

Sounds like I bought a right nail doesn't it

The fact is I bought it because it had been very well looked after (FSH) and was (is) in very good condition inside and out with minimal dings in the body etc. it was well priced and drove well. It just happened to start going wrong on me

I don't suppose it helped when I found out it used to be used for international caravan towing

jameslxdt · Post by **jameslxdt** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:06 pm

its what we, in the motor trade, call a friday car

mjb · Post by **mjb** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:18 pm

I got mine cos it was cheap on ebay

Worked out really well though, especially for an ex-taxi (which the sod failed to mention in the ad...

)

jameslxdt · Post by **jameslxdt** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:20 pm

mine was an ex-taxi too also not mentioned in the ebay ad
it hasnt been toooo bad

Captain Jack · Post by **Captain Jack** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:36 pm

Welton wrote:I don't suppose it helped when I found out it used to be used for international caravan towing

Mine has a towbar, but not sure whether it's ever been used, though!

robconnors1977 · Post by **robconnors1977** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:18 am

mmm well i have a 2001 hdi 90 which i have run as a taxi for the last 3 years. Bought it with 33k on the clock now has 143k on it.
It has never broke down, always returns 40 mpg and goes well as i had it remapped to 120bhp, apart from services every 10k. the only thinhs to have gone wrong are, clutch, bottom pulley, front+rear drop links, front pads and discs, rear pads, and a drivers window switch panel. It is still running on the original rear discs!!. Not bad i think - and the a/c still works!.

Admitadley its only ever driven by me, and i dont hack it. But on our firm we have a mixture of 90 and 110bhp and its always the 110's that seem to go wrong!!.

turbolag · Post by **turbolag** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 6:22 pm

If it's a '90 then there isn't much to check, beyond history and cabin electrics. Behind the wheel there is not much difference ion performance and a well cared for 90 will feel as peppy as a ragged 110. No official UK '90s had Siemens injection.

check timing belt intervals as its a potentially pricy job - £600+ ag a pug stealer for belt, rollers and a new bottom pulley (which must be replaced at the same time as it's a harmonic balancer and is near guaranteed to fail if you leave it).

All can suffer slipping clutch, but its more common on the 110 which has a touch more power and a different clutch/flyweel arrangement.

Make the checks for DMF failure on the 110 - not a problem on the '90 with the solid flywheel.

110s have rear discs whereas virtually all '90s have drum. The disc is a nasty arrangement and brings nothing to the party in terms of stopping power, but loses loads to reliability.

all in all, buy well and both will give years of economical, reliable and involving motoring. Enjoy.

jameslxdt · Post by **jameslxdt** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 9:03 pm

turbolag wrote: No official UK '90s had Siemens injection.

i dont know where you got that information from but ive seen loads of siemens '90s in the 406