LOW Mileage

Dave40 · Unread post by **Dave40** » 21 May 2004, 04:41

[?]Sounds a bit perverse for a forum which frequently debates the merits of diesel longevity, but what the hell! I've just bought a one owner, December '95 ZX TD with only (for a diesel) 47,800 miles on the clock [:D] (will be 'running in' over the next few weeks).
Who can do/knows less?

Unread post by **RichardW** » 21 May 2004, 12:41

My sister is running what was my Grandad's 1987 BX 19RD Estate, which to date has covered only about 60,000 miles (mind you it has need new front / rear pipes, new clutch and cable, 2 new CV joints in the last year or so).
My 1984 Visa Convertible has only got 45k on the clock, but then it's only done about 250 miles in the last 5 years, and none of that in the last 3 since it failed its MOT on serious tin worm. One day I will get it welded up!

uhn113x · Unread post by **uhn113x** » 21 May 2004, 12:51

Recently sold my Series 1 BX with 59,000
GSA has 63,000
Dyane has just come up to 36,000
However, all the paranoia about high mileage is ill-founded, at least with petrol engines - if we could record the number of cold starts and journeys of less than 10 miles, it would mean more in terms of engine wear. The service light computer on a BigMoneyWorries does something like that.

TomH · Unread post by **TomH** » 21 May 2004, 14:09

yeah, surely very low mileage is no advantage on a diesel... shows lots of town trips and short cold journeys! Engine could need a good blasting/cleanout!
Its like all these Japanese 4x4 and people carrier imports that are knackered and smoke like a chimney because they've been stuck in traffic all their lives so far and never been above 30mph!

Dave40 · Unread post by **Dave40** » 21 May 2004, 18:55

Tom, I understand what you mean. The car feels 'tight' when driven & will probably benefit from a 'good blasting'. All the same, the emissions report with it's last MOT had good readings.
I've been advised by the 'diesel expert' in my local that I should seriously consider changing the oil every 1,000 miles for the next 3,000 or 4,000 and that plenty of right foot will do no harm. He has a 250,000 mile Pug 405 so may know his stuff.

oilyspanner · Unread post by **oilyspanner** » 21 May 2004, 23:16

My 1993 BX TZD had 42,600 on it when purchased earlier this year, it seems to be getting all of the early life faults! both front wheel bearings have failed and the HG was gone when I bought it. spleased with it though, especialy since I popped a later 1.9 TD in.
Stewart

MW · Unread post by MW » 21 May 2004, 23:28

Biggest lesson I ever learned was the time when I bought a genuine little-old-lady car. Mmy first set of wheels. Eight years old with 26,000 on the clock.
It took me 3,000 miles to get it going properly. It didn't need retuning or anything - it had simply never been driven at more than 35 mph in its life, and it didn't see why it should start going any faster now. Basically, it had never been run in, and I had to do it all over again.
I got that sorted eventually, but worse was to come. I was tooling down the M4 one day when the MOVEMENT of the temperature gauge caught my eye. I dived between two juggernauts and slammed it over onto the hard shoulder just as it seized.
Basically, a lump of eight-year-old sediment has come loose from somewhere deep in the cooling system, blocking the water pump and blowing all my hoses. I got the car running again eventually, but it was never really the same again.
Give me a 70,000 repmobile that's had a proper life, anyday.

gjb02 · Unread post by **gjb02** » 21 May 2004, 23:28

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave40
All the same, the emissions report with it's last MOT had good readings.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
My ZX has done 184,000 miles and had a Fast Pass emmissions reading of 0.38 1/m. Is that good??

Sl4yer · Unread post by **Sl4yer** » 22 May 2004, 04:04

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by MW

Biggest lesson I ever learned was the time when I bought a genuine little-old-lady car. Mmy first set of wheels. Eight years old with 26,000 on the clock.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
A university housemate of mine (older than me [:D] ) lived in Eastbourne, and was used to buying such motors. He always said the first thing do to was to change all the hoses! Maybe he was right.