bloody expensive c6

[robert_e_smart]

Nah, they repair them to use... on UK plates.

[DHallworth]

Well, as we thought, it looks like there's more wrong with it then the seller is letting on. A big thank you to DickieG for going and taking the time to have a look.

I was quite seriously considering this car and was prepared to spend up to £2000 or maybe £2500 max but after hearing this I'm not convinced it's even worth that. If rebuilding the engine would suffice it might not be to bad however with the other bits and pieces thrown into the equation it's not worth it.

A set of Michelin tyres for that car is over £1000 before you've even looked at doing the brakes (which are HUGE!!) or sorting the electrical issues out.

As they say on Dragon's Den.... I'm out!

David.

[GB]

This strikes me as odd.
I work with a Polish guy who regularly drives back there. He had a Picasso and now has a C4 Grand Picasso.
I thought he had bought them to sell there and make a bob or two but he says it is illegal to sell RHD cars there (OK for him to use one there though).

Perhaps they just cannibalise them for parts?

I remember reading a Newsweek article about this a couple of years ago.

Along Poland's western border with Germany there is a whole cottage industry specialising in converting RHD cars to LHD for Eastern Europe and Russia (that is a huge used car market now). Their favourites are VW, Audi, Merc and BMW. Some of them operate 24/7: a truck load of UK-sourced cars arrives at a specialist garage in the evening, and by the next morning the whole load is ready converted to LHD. They simply buy all necessary parts from German and French scrap yards and convert the cars very quickly, working in teams of 2-3 on each car (they are getting paid like £3 per hour). Apparently most VW-group cars are very easy to convert.

They made a killing during the old £2000 scrap bonus - people were trading in cars in perfect condition, and most UK companies in charge of the scrapping scheme (or more like scam) simply outsourced the "scrapping" to foreign companies: the cars were loaded on trucks, headlights/taillights removed to make them look like scrap, and then shipped to Eastern Europe.

So it really would not surprise me to find this particular C6 ending up in Russia next month.

[Timmo]

Is a similar thing to what happens to a lot of the stolen mercedes that get sent to african countries, they have what they call a 'super mechanic' that can piece all the bits together and make a full car with in hours of its arrival! Quite impressive!
Almost goes back to the steeling and stripping phase that went about in. The 9o's, and hour after the car arrived the shell was ready for disposal!
The docks at the local port (fowey, South cornish coast) used to export Clay to a lot of the european countries,when rhe russian and polish ships etc. Came in theuy used to Load the decks up with old cars, they'd put as many as they could get on there, saw them up around the bridge platforms!! The harbour commisioners put a stop to it when the amount of dtolen cars in the area peaked when certain ships were in! Some were taking 30+ cars back! All lined up on the deck!

[cachaciero]

Hmm..... do wonder if the "attempt to re-clock" theory might not have a lot of merit, cabs do high miles 80K isn't that high and any attempt to change /alter the injection ECU with respect to the BSI will likely cause instant lockout.
At least I don't have to keep reminding myself that I REALLY REALLY don't want a C6. Mind if it was a re-engine job I would be inclined to find an ex C5 173Bhp 2.2 to fit, the price of diesel is only going one way.

cachaciero

[dieselnutjob]

Perhaps they just cannibalise them for parts?

This.

In most of Europe used cars cost a lot more than here, so are worth fixing where us Brits just discard them. In order to fix them they need parts.

[zipdip]

yes it is cheap you need to ask is it turning over I suspect it is,don't forget if it is a diesel pump they are about 300-500 sovs but it is not just a matter of putting on and away you go it has to be matched with the ecu which unless you are a tec laddy will come out to some money,I suggest you have a chat with the guy his phone munber is on the advert see where he is coming from,see what he has done apart from turning the key and scratching his head,it's around 1300 now so I would make the call and go and see it .

[Citroenmad]

Nice findings Richard

There is a C6 advertised in the back of the CCC this month for £6500 with 80K, in working condition. Makes this car look good for breaking only.

Their values are certainly heading the right way.

[DickieG]

I suggest you have a chat with the guy his phone munber is on the advert see where he is coming from,see what he has done apart from turning the key and scratching his head,it's around 1300 now so I would make the call and go and see it .

No point in going there as I've told you all the info he has/is willing to offer.

[dieselnutjob]

if you had just crashed a light blue C6 and needed bumper, front wings, bonnet, headlamps etc etc and a respray then this would probably be worth buying

[DHallworth]

I got a phone call from a different friend today who was looking at this C6 as well...

Apparently the seller has told him that it's got plenty oil and it's full of coolant and he's 100% sure the engine hasn't seized. He claims that he's sure it's an electrical problem.

He didn't mention any of the points Richard made about the rodent infestation around the engine ECU.

I think someone needs to report this guy to eBay for not describing the car accurately as if I went on what the seller said and travelled from Glasgow to Slough to collect it I'd be mightily pissed off!

David.

[DickieG]

Apparently the seller has told him that it's got plenty oil and it's full of coolant and he's 100% sure the engine hasn't seized. He claims that he's sure it's an electrical problem.

Oh yes it had plenty of oil, in fact so much that if it was mine I'd drain some of it out to avoid the big ends frothing it up, as for coolant well he could have topped it up after I left, but when I was there is was bone dry. As for whether the engine is siezed I can't say for the reasons I mentioned earlier.

He didn't mention any of the points Richard made about the rodent infestation around the engine ECU.

I think someone needs to report this guy to eBay for not describing the car accurately as if I went on what the seller said and travelled from Glasgow to Slough to collect it I'd be mightily pissed off!

To be fair to the seller he claims it's not his car and has little knowledge of it's background, he doesn't appear to be the most knowledgeable of people as regards technical matters, was polite and helpful to me, the other cars he sells really are bangers for the 'local market' so a C6 is the opposite end of the spectrum.

Having said that I totally agree with you David in that I'd be ever so slightly peed off if I'd travelled a long way to buy it as it is.

[DickieG]

One day to go with the top bid at £3,600, ouch

[Deanxm]

Indeed, do we need to edit the title of this thread now do you think?

D

[DickieG]

Indeed, do we need to edit the title of this thread now do you think?

What do you suggest? "The perils of eBay" or "Always look before you bid"