Classic advice needed for buying one

berg450 · Feb 11, 2020

Hi All
There is a MY91 Classic 2.5 td (VM engine?) for sale here in Hungary and I am really interested in to buy.
It is from Spain, so probably the rust is no issue (according to photos the frame is very nice). No modification on it but repainted.
Is the 2.5 td VM engine reliable one? What others should I check on it if I go to see it?
Thanks

Datatek · Feb 11, 2020

berg450 said:
Hi All
There is a MY91 Classic 2.5 td (VM engine?) for sale here in Hungary and I am really interested in to buy.
It is from Spain, so probably the rust is no issue (according to photos the frame is very nice). No modification on it but repainted.
Is the 2.5 td VM engine reliable one? What others should I check on it if I go to see it?
Thanks

The VM is not a bad engine, better than the V8 IMO but you can only really tell by having a good look and a test drive IMO.

Ratae · Feb 11, 2020

The chassis might be fine, but it's the rest of the underpanels that rot out so a thorough crawl underneath checking sills, floors, bulkhead, body mounts, inner wings, front panels is required.

Henry_b · Feb 11, 2020

The VM is a good unit..

Headgaskets usually don't go much farther than 80k though..
Fitting new ones thanks to it having 4 separate heads is a piece of Pish in reality, it takes around the same amount of time and labour to do a 2-300tdi timing belt, so to to those VM haters i throw that at them!! HA!!

being the 1991 2.5 it'll have 120hp and 340nm of torque which does make them shift, and it does pull 5th from 20mph, lovely engine!

It is required to re-torque the cylinder heads after 1000mi this is seldom done, and needs to be done..

again a piece of pish...

Being post 1989 rust in the body is your biggest concern..

tomcat59alan · Feb 11, 2020

Henry_b said:
The VM is a good unit..

Headgaskets usually don't go much farther than 80k though..
Fitting new ones thanks to it having 4 separate heads is a piece of Pish in reality, it takes around the same amount of time and labour to do a 2-300tdi timing belt, so to to those VM haters i throw that at them!! HA!!

being the 1991 2.5 it'll have 120hp and 340nm of torque which does make them shift, and it does pull 5th from 20mph, lovely engine!

It is required to re-torque the cylinder heads after 1000mi this is seldom done, and needs to be done..
again a piece of pish...

Being post 1989 rust in the body is your biggest concern..

As above, loved mine,pulled like a train.

Henry_b · Feb 11, 2020

tomcat59alan said:
As above, loved mine,pulled like a train.

Love 'em myself, i'd trade both my LR's for one, in decent nick

Mark Piercy · Feb 11, 2020

Get a P38......

norseman · Feb 11, 2020

Mark Piercy said:
Get a P38......

Over a Classic?

Mark Piercy · Feb 12, 2020

Yes, the classic is just a beautiful version of a series 3

Fires lit and running away.....

norseman · Feb 13, 2020

Mark Piercy said:
Yes, the classic is just a beautiful version of a series 3

That's what is so appealing for me, KISS is my byword for all things in life

Mark Piercy · Feb 13, 2020

KISS?..

Datatek · Feb 13, 2020

Mark Piercy said:
KISS?..

Keep It Simple Stupid.

A philosophy I followed with all my designs.

berg450 · Feb 13, 2020

Thanks for all of your feedback! I have not seen the car yet only the photos on the internet. Based on it the chassis looks very nice.
I will have a look during the weekend.

Mark Piercy · Feb 13, 2020

Datatek said:
Keep It Simple Stupid. A philosophy I followed with all my designs.

Cheers mate

Henry_b · Feb 13, 2020

berg450 said:
Thanks for all of your feedback! I have not seen the car yet only the photos on the internet. Based on it the chassis looks very nice.
I will have a look during the weekend.

View attachment 200540
View attachment 200541

the chassis don't usually suffer on the RRC, note the "usually"

check the rear crossmember as it rots from the inside out, so if it is showing corrosion give it a poke..

Inner and outer sills aswell,,

Is she a Vogue or just a standard Turbo D?

Henry_b · Feb 13, 2020

oh and check the bottom of all 4 doors..

norseman · Feb 14, 2020

Henry_b said:
the chassis don't usually suffer on the RRC, note the "usually"
Is she a Vogue or just a standard Turbo D?

To the best of my knowledge a Turbo D was just that, no Vogue version from the factory.

berg450 · Feb 17, 2020

Update! Unfortunately the car has sold before I could go and see. So probably it was good...(even it was around 6000 ponds).

jimllshiftit · Feb 17, 2020

You missed out.... but there will be others.....

Speaking from experience, i bought my 300tdi Disco (virtually the same shell as the classic) in Spain about fifteen years ago. Underneath is still rock solid, boot floor, rear arches, inner wings, all the usual places discos go are still rock solid...... but the effin' thing had gone rusty from the top down! The sun takes the paint of the A posts, moisture gets in under the windscreen trim and rots that part of the roof... easier to fix than a chassis or a floor but the rot still finds its way in.

www.vibbo.es if you want to see some private ads for Spanish cars for sale. VM engined two door Classics are everywhere in Spain.

Classic advice needed for buying one

berg450

Well-Known Member

Datatek

Well-Known Member

Ratae

Well-Known Member

Henry_b

Think outside, no box required.

tomcat59alan

Well-Known Member

Henry_b

Think outside, no box required.

Mark Piercy

Well fumbled member....

norseman

Well-Known Member

Mark Piercy

Well fumbled member....

norseman

Well-Known Member

Mark Piercy

Well fumbled member....

Datatek

Well-Known Member

berg450

Well-Known Member

Mark Piercy

Well fumbled member....

Henry_b

Think outside, no box required.

Henry_b

Think outside, no box required.

norseman

Well-Known Member

berg450

Well-Known Member

jimllshiftit

Active Member

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