306 - What to look out for?!

numnutz · 24 Oct 2007 at 09:22

Hi Guys,

Thinking of taking my beloved Volvo off the road this winter, needs some serious work on the Engine, so im looking to pick one of these up with a budget of around £1000.

I've seen quite a few different engines around (esp diesel) and im not sure what to go for. I like the idea of a diesel economy as im averaging 500miles a week at the moment, which on my volvo that does 30mpg at a push would certainly save the pennies.

So what do i need to look out for when looking over one, cambelt servicing issues at all etc.

Can someone in the know explain the different diesel models, is it just a 1.9 non turbo, 1.9turbo, and a hdi block?!

Cheers in advance

Ross

P.S. If i do get the volvo off the road expect plenty of forum reading!

digitalwolf · 24 Oct 2007 at 09:42

A HDi for a grand will be a not worth having.

I'd be looking at a 306 d turbo or XRDT personally. You can pick up some reasonable Xantia's for under a grand or even a mondy.

Problem with 306's and most older french cars is electrics. The electrics do go on them so test that literally everything electrical works.

After that it's basically normal checks you would do on a turbo derv. Blue smoke etc = turbo on it's way out.

The straight 1.9d is really not worth having!

fonzee · 24 Oct 2007 at 09:43

yes the 1.9 non turbo... avoid.

the 1.9 turbo... although dated, a solid nippy lump.

the HDI... practically same performance as the 1.9DT however more refined/modern with better economy.

i believe cambelts are listed in the 70k region, however many decide every 50k is more ideal

you wont get a HDI for 1k, but should be able to pick up a nice 1.9DT for that.

digitalwolf · 24 Oct 2007 at 09:52

For a grand, it'll be a phase 1 DT with probably 100k+ miles.

Don't worry though, if it has FSH, recent cambelt change it SHOULD last till atleast 250k miles.

A very solid engine. Like all of Peugeot's derv lumps!

Dublove · 24 Oct 2007 at 10:03

I don't get the electric's.

Never had a prob when I had my 306, connectors were good quality, looms all protected etc.

Sone · 24 Oct 2007 at 10:33

seems a bit strange to spend £1000 on a temp car when your main car can be worth £500 at the most?

Could you not get another 480 turbo and save the hastle?

Gaverick · 24 Oct 2007 at 11:33

Dublove said:
I don't get the electric's.

Never had a prob when I had my 306, connectors were good quality, looms all protected etc.

You must be the lucky one

The list of dead electrical items in my 306 are:

Offside Wing Mirror
Passenger Door Speaker
Passenger Electric Window
Radio Took a wobbler, although now fixed
Intermittent side light
Cigarette Lighter
I've also had problems with the STOP light coming on for no apparent reason, even Peugeot couldn't work out what it was
Rear window demister button light has failed

I'm sure there are more I've forgotten!

Gaverick · 24 Oct 2007 at 11:34

Oops double post

Malachy · 24 Oct 2007 at 11:38

Gaverick said:
You must be the lucky one

The list of dead electrical items in my 306 are:

Offside Wing Mirror
Passenger Door Speaker
Passenger Electric Window
!

those are the door loom wiring failure which is a common fault, pug made the dor looms to short so they wear when opening and shutting the door causing wires to break, this can affect anything from central locking failure to electric windows etc etc.
regards
Andy

Gaverick · 24 Oct 2007 at 11:41

Malachy said:
those are the door loom wiring failure which is a common fault, pug made the dor looms to short so they wear when opening and shutting the door causing wires to break, this can affect anything from central locking failure to electric windows etc etc.
regards
Andy

Yep, but have you seen the cost to get it fixed :eek:

Malachy · 24 Oct 2007 at 11:59

Gaverick said:
Yep, but have you seen the cost to get it fixed

yep about 30 mins with a soldering iron and a snipped of door loom from a donor scrap car.just make sure you cut the donor loom longer so the wires can move now and wont streach and snap as they do originally.
so about £5
regards
Andy

Stonedofmoo · 24 Oct 2007 at 12:18

aye what he said, soldering iron and wire. Job done.

AndrewP · 24 Oct 2007 at 12:31

You might get a Xsara HDi for a grand, I sold my 99T one earlier this year for £1300, 108k miles. The HDi is a fair bit more economical, quieter and smoother and has a 10k service interval rather than 6k, cambelt is 72k. The basic oil/filters servicing is straightforward and parts are cheap

. Airbag warning light is a fairly common gremlin, but it's usually just the under-seat connectors.

numnutz · 24 Oct 2007 at 13:16

Thanks for input so far, im having a look over at some on autotrader now and might post up.

Sone said:
seems a bit strange to spend £1000 on a temp car when your main car can be worth £500 at the most?

Could you not get another 480 turbo and save the hastle?

480 Turbos are few and far to come by (esp good ones) , the last thing i need is another one to give me issues with. Plan is to shift this temp car on in 6 months time and hopefully not loose too much money. My current car is worth more than £500 owing to the extras that it has such as modified ecu, full leather, etc.

numnutz · 24 Oct 2007 at 13:23

Any opinions on the following cars:

Ad 1

Ad 2

Cheers!

Stonedofmoo · 24 Oct 2007 at 13:26

First car is much better specced than the latter, but 60 mpg is nonsense unless you drive no faster than 60mph everywhere. 45mpg in more realistic for all 1.9DT's

numnutz · 24 Oct 2007 at 13:37

Stonedofmoo said:
First car is much better specced than the latter, but 60 mpg is nonsense unless you drive no faster than 60mph everywhere. 45mpg in more realistic for all 1.9DT's

Hows the whole veg oil thing working out in your 306, would love to ask you a few questions about that!

Im not expecting 60mpg dont worry, 45 on a motorway would be far better than the 25 - 30 my volvo currently gives!