106 problems

[Peugeot 106 XN Petrol, R-reg, 103,000 miles]

My reliable mechanic informs me that:

The head gasket is going and will need to be replace sooner rather than
later
Clutch needs replacing
It's worth replacing gearbox too as it is quite loud and whiney

And that it could cost around £1000.

Until this, my car has been amazing. It has cost me virtually nothing in the
near-100,000 miles I've driven it, has been super-reliable and dependable. I
am erring towards paying the money and getting the work done, but don't want
to spend £1000 on it only to have to keep paying more and more as other
things go wrong.

My mechanic says other than these issues the car is in good nick. Body is in
great condition and I have no other problems.

Am I a fool for wanting to pay to keep the car running as opposed to running
for the hills and getting another car? I hate the fact I won't be able to
buy another Peugeot because they don't currently have a 106 model, and most
of their range seems very unreliable nowadays anyway so I could get rid of
my car, get a new one at quite an expense and end up with something
unreliable.

What other issues should I look out for on a Peugeot 106 with 103,000 on the
clock? If I get these things done, does that put the car in good stead for
the future?

Thanks.

Marcus

 

sounds expensive
price up a gearbox from the scrappies
clutch kit form eurocarparts or gsf and head set from the same
is this quote from a garage?
cos you would be better off doing it yourself if possible

 

Thanks for the warning. This wasn't a proper quote, probably more a
worst-case scenario. I know very little about cars, and my mechanic is very
good and I trust him, so this cost isn't much of an issue, but I am really
wondering in general whether it is worth spending this money? If the car is
going to give me a few more reliable years of service as it has done until
this point I am happy to spend.

Marcus

 

===================
Since you like this model it would make good sense to buy a similar car of
lower mileage. It would certainly cost less than £1000 and you would also
get a least a few hundred for the old car. However, as another poster said,
(or implied) your mechanic may not be as reliable as you think. Shop around
for other quotes for the work - you might be pleasantly surprised!

Cic.

 

price for a lower milage model of same year would be £700 ish
by lower milage i would think about 60k

 

That's about what we paid for the wife's 1.4 diesel version with a bit
higher mileage.

 

about right then mate
better life expectancy on a diesel

 

Thanks for the replies so far, but I would like to return to the main point
of my (admittedly rambling) first post.

The quote by my mechanic is irrelevant to me (although I will shop around as
suggested), my main point is: is it worth spending this money (~£1000) on my
car, or is it throwing money into a black hole?

What are the things to look out for on an R-reg 106 with 103,000 miles on
the clock? The bodywork is in good shape (no sign of rust or anything), but
what about things like the suspension etc?

I have had no other problems with it, so is it safe to say that if I pay
£1000 (for example) on getting the clutch done, the gearbox replaced and the
head-gasket done, is there much else that can go wrong?

I don't want to buy a new car just for the sake of it. My car has always
been dependable, and I would like to think that I can continue to rely on it
for the years to come.

Thanks,

Marcus

 

=====================
As I said in my earlier reply, my reservations were based on how much you
were going to pay - £1000. I would suggest that £500 would be a more
reasonable figure and certainly worth spending on a car which you definitely
intend keeping.

As far as the rest is concerned, brakes, suspension, steering and
driveshafts are basically simple to check and fairly cheap and easy to
replace where necessary - provided that you don't buy from Peugeot! If your
car has been reasonably maintained then it's unlikely to need major
replacements in one go. On a car of this age you should definitely look at
all the flexible hoses in the braking system which tend to perish from old
age.

The exception is the main rear suspension unit - the large bit carrying the
torsion bars. This is widely regarded as being very difficult or nearly
impossible to repair. Therefore have it checked very thoroughly as a new
unit will cost about £1500 from Peugeot according to one advertiser. Having
said that, a good second hand one can be bought for about £90-00 IF you can
find one.

Personally, I think it's worth maintaining an older car but not a rip-off
prices.

Cic.

 

Hi,

Provided it isn't the 1360, which is known to crack head gaskets as fast as
I burn fags (BTW, I've heard it was because of barrels going down into
the block, true ?).

 

[SNIP]

Thank you very much for your comprehensive reply. Certainly more for me to
mull over. I will get the car checked over thoroughly, and pay particular
attention to the aspects you have noted - especially the rear suspension
unit.

It has a full service history, and although high mileage has served me well.
I'd like to be fairly confident that if I pay to have these aspects dealt
with, I can be fairly comfortable in thinking that the car won't become a
financial black hole.

Marcus

 

Ah hmm oh bugger. Still if the worst happens I can always fit the larger
engine.

 

Hi,

Yup, excepted the possible reg. type changing. I have no clue about UK
rules, but in France it would require a new certification.

 

True but a whole 100cc difference is hardly worth informing anyone
about.

 

Hi,

True it's not a big difference... However, you may be in a terrible
situation if you cause an incident, esp. with somebody killed or badly
injured (spelling ?).

 

It sounds quite expensive. The clutch job is easy on a 106, and the head
gasket as well. I would not bother with the gear box if it works
acceptably. Indicative parts costs: BP 70 for clutch, 30 for gasket set.
Head gasket should be 2 hrs labor by the book. So I am not sure how
these add up to BP 1,000.

Just my 2c,

Nikolas

 

I'd like to see anyone do a head gasket on a petrol TU in 2 hours!
It's 1.3 to do a cambelt. The book time is around 4.5 to 5 hours. The
clutch is around 4 hours.