406 2.2HDI when to sell ?

I run a 2.2HDI estate which has now done 72.000 in just over 3 years.
I like the car, it has not needed a lot of repairs but I wonder at
what age repairs will repairs start to become a regular matter. I have
already changed the cambelt, had the pollution filter topped up and
had new front disks. Do these cars run ok to 150,000 miles or is the
time approaching to sell it on to a low mileage motorist. Views
appreciated.

Frank B

 

I usually buy new vehicles and keep them until they start costing
significant money. My theory is that the engine/auto transmissions more
or less last for ever provided they are maintained by the book. The
repairs you start to get first are other things - brakes, suspension,
starters, alternators etc - which don't cost much to fix. My old
vehicle, when replaced, has often been passed down to a family member
and been operated economically for years.

So you can fairly safely play it by ear.

There are exceptions to the above - my 505 had to have the eingine
rebuilt early (because there was some design fault in the liner seals)
but Peugeot paid for that and the vehicle went on to have a long life.

I still regret trading in my 504 on the 505 - shortly afterwards I had
to buy a cheap car for my daughter (and bought a second-hand 500cc
Suzuki which also served various members of the family until it was
written off in a collision - the 505 had a similar fate).

That is the sum of my 55 years experience and more than ten vehicles
(and for half of that period I have had more than one - currently three
- four if you count the Saab I passed to my son). Incidentally I have
found buying used cars OK too provided you have them checked out by
experts and then look after them.

 

My last 405 ran to 120k miles when I sold it with nothing but brakes and
tyres needed.
My sons 406hdi has now done 100k miles with nothing but brakes and tyres
needed.
My current 306 is at 85k miles with only small weld to exhaust needed.
If you are happy with the car, I say keep running it until things start to
go wrong.

Alec

 

Additional to my earlier comment, the Saab I mentioned (which I bought
second-hand) is still around and has notched up 240k. Second gear in
the automatic does not work but the vehicle works fine. My 406 will
have its 120k service soon and I expect to have it around for quite a
few years.

One interesting point - all my cars are petrol. My tractors are diesel.
I have a strong impression that diesel engines last longer than petrol.
My neighbour suggests this is because diesel fuel is a lubricant wheras
petrol is the opposite. Whatever the explanation, I swapped a petrol
Ferguson about 30 years ago for a Ford 2000 tractor which was already
showing signs of a hard life. Today it is even more battered but it
continues to perform faultlessly.

Does what seems to apply to diesel tractors apply to diesel cars?
Diesel engines achieve mileages which make petrol owners weep in envy.
I wonder whether engine life shows a similar pattern ?

 

Thats a new one on me - I never knew Peugeot sold/manufactured a 2.2
HDI

 

I would suggest 80000. After this time you normaly need a new radiator,
clutch, electrics(windows), ball joints, ignition locks, wheel bearings and
generally things start to drop off.
I have owned four peugeots and a couple of citreons, they all keep going
well passed 100k, however you do start to notice that things start to wear
out after the 80k mark. Really depends how it has been used I had a high
mileage 405 that had been used for motorway miles upto 120k and I ran it for
220K.

The engines as a general rule don't let you down it is the peripherals that
seem to give up after 80K.
Just what I have found, yours may be better or worse. The newer HDI engines
may also be a lot better.

Regards
G

 

You must have bad luck with your vehicles. I have had two radiator
failures in a total of about 20 vehicles over 50 years. About two ball
joint failures (both Fords), no ignition locks, only one whee bearing
9and that was in a tractor).

I would change your 80k to 150k. And there is a good chance that, apart
from consumables like tyres, batteries, starters, you can think of 200k
(assuming you look after your vehicles).

I have never had window problems - even when they were manual and never
in the current era (though I consider motorised windows perhaps the
most unnecessary 'improvement' in motor vehicles). Motorised seats -
and memories for at least two users - must, in contrast, be one of the
major improvements in vehicle technology since the self-starter.

 

I've had three fail - on a 106, a 205 and a 405. Plus a leaky one on a
Xantia. It's not a problem in the grand scheme of things; all those cars
were very reliable, and under £100 to replace a radiator in several
years of high mileage motoring isn't a major expense or hassle.

I had a 1976 Opel Kadett that ate wheel bearings every few thousand
miles, but that was a dodgy front hub which would cost more than the car
was worth to replace, so a tenner for bearings and fifteen minutes work
every few months wasn't too much of a problem (being a cash-strapped
student at the time). My last Jaguar XJ8 had a front wheel bearing fail
at speed, which was fun - but those cars are heavy and have a lot of
stress placed on the bearings when driven enthusiastically, so I fully
expect the same to happen on my current one at some point. I've not had
a wheel bearing fail on a Pug.

I have to agree; generally modern vehicles are easily good for that
mileage with a little care. If you have a reasonably reliable vehicle it
really doesn't make sense to even think about replacing it before 6
years or 150K - the savings in depreciation easily pay for whatever
maintenance is needed (even a "big" job like a clutch replacement is
only one or two months typical finance payments on a new car).

Our (hopefully soon to be ex-)807 has had seven replacement window
motors. Every one has been replaced, one door has had three failures in
the last year. But this car is a complete heap of junk.

When they work - which isn't a given on the 807 (wiring looms too short,
so the wires pull out as the seat moves, all the switches replaced, I
think the controller has been replaced on that too, but I lose track).
My wife is significantly shorter than I am, so it does make life _much_
easier. I'm not overweight, just reasonably tall; she has the seat so
close to the steering wheel that I can't get in without a real squeeze
on her setting. Having the seat move back with a single button press or
when the car is unlocked with my key is a real knee-saver (though the
Jag is even easier - when you pull the ignition key the driver's seat
moves fully back and the steering wheel retracts and moves up out of the
way).

Matt
http://www.807faults.co.uk

 

<When they work (motorised seats) - which isn't a given on the 807
(wiring looms too short,
so the wires pull out as the seat moves, all the switches replaced, I
think the controller has been replaced on that too, but I lose track).

The 807 is not offered in Australia. Probably just as well!

 

My 97 diesel 406 est has done 148,000 and has needed nothing except
for regular servicing and the parts you might expect to need replacing
, brakes , tyres , radiator at 110,000 ,cambelt at 70,000 and 140,000
..It still performs faultlessly and drives like a car with a much lower
mileage ( did somebody say something about tempting fate ? ;P ).
I previously had a petrol engined 405 est and when I traded it in
against the 406 it had done 236,000 miles and had never had any major
mechanical failures.

 

I got a 405 and 248,876 on the clock and it has done me very well, all i had to replace is two front tyres, rear shoes and cyls. and had the deisel pump seals replaced, so aslong as you keep the oil change and filters it should keep going and going.
from chris Addlestone Surrey


On 31 Mar 2006 01:24:50 -0800

 

Having test driven a Mondeo 130 diesel, an X Trail 2.2DCi and a new
Passat136 diesel estate none of them seemed better, quieter or
smoother than my Pug. The Pug is also paid for and has already done
most of its depreciating so I will carry on with it for a good while
longer.


Many thanks for your views

Frank B

 

Rose coloured glasses?

 

The four door and estate had the 2.2 since at least 2001.