LDV Maxus

[the snooper]

That sound OK. This particular job was a 1993 Merc (will outlive any tranny by decades ) and it's a toss up between replacing the rot with new panels requiring spot welds and letting in cheap new metal with full welds.

I think you have to balance out how much rot there is and is it in a position where it will be back next year or a year after are there any voids that are also starting to rust internally ? welding vehicles up should be called the chase because once the rust starts you're always chasing it

 

[Bill Edwards]

I know the rot always extends at least 4x as far as it initially appears so always factor that in! I run from vehicle rust repairs at the best of times.

The old 308/310 (pre sprinter) Mercs are second to none. They're slow and noisy, and not easy to access the engine on, but aside from the glow plugs and propshaft center bearings they're indestructible and will just keep on running from a mechanical point of view.

The vehicle I mention was welded a couple of years ago on the front bumper area, apparently it now has a heavy piece of box in place which will last! The garage regretted pricing the work beforehand though, it took a lot longer than they thought! Then the apprentice mechanic swept up the wheel nuts by accident so a non profit job ended up even worse!
But the worst of the rot has probably now been dealt with, so a few year of rot (and trouble free) motoring should await.

 

[the snooper]

I know the rot always extends at least 4x as far as it initially appears so always factor that in! I run from vehicle rust repairs at the best of times.

The old 308/310 (pre sprinter) Mercs are second to none. They're slow and noisy, and not easy to access the engine on, but aside from the glow plugs and propshaft center bearings they're indestructible and will just keep on running from a mechanical point of view.

The vehicle I mention was welded a couple of years ago on the front bumper area, apparently it now has a heavy piece of box in place which will last! The garage regretted pricing the work beforehand though, it took a lot longer than they thought! Then the apprentice mechanic swept up the wheel nuts by accident so a non profit job ended up even worse!
But the worst of the rot has probably now been dealt with, so a few year of rot (and trouble free) motoring should await.

well at least you're an optimist

 

[Bill Edwards]

well at least you're an optimist

Yeah, guess I'm a slow learner!!!

 

[the snooper]

I went out to clear a blocked washer jet on my car, that's all it was, one side blocked, yeah until I went to clear it, pushed the button and the pump packed up

 

[baconbarm]

you can get the panels so no need to scrap it

I think the wheel arches were gone, sills and everything inbetween.

Given the fact that although the engine was sound, it had done over 250k so theres every chance it could have conked out at any time, plus the labour to do all that welding/paintwork I don't think he had any choice.

 

[the snooper]

I think the wheel arches were gone, sills and everything inbetween.

Given the fact that although the engine was sound, it had done over 250k so theres every chance it could have conked out at any time, plus the labour to do all that welding/paintwork I don't think he had any choice.

I did front wheel arches on one a few years ago, they had rotted through terrible for its age

 

[scotty-stoke]

Don't get the maxus quite a few parts are dealer only and very very expensive track rod ends are £230 EACH

 

[Bill Edwards]

Don't get the maxus quite a few parts are dealer only and very very expensive track rod ends are £230 EACH

That's frightening!!
At that price I think I'd quickly be finding ways to modify it to take something affordable!

 

[CompoSimmonite]

That's frightening!!
At that price I think I'd quickly be finding ways to modify it to take something affordable!

Plenty of new aftermarket TRE's for Maxus on eBay - around £54

 

[F.J.]

As it happens chaps, I was too busy to go for the test drive although I will give it swerve I think. Maybe my dad's convoy is a freak of nature but I don't fancy taking a chance on something that has to earn me money. I have some transits and Iveco daily's on my watch list on ebay to have a look at. I am also considering a disco 2 commercial, if I can get the petrol genny/wire feeder and hand tools in that may be an option too!!

 

[scotty-stoke]

Plenty of new aftermarket TRE's for Maxus on eBay - around £54

only come out recently then because I checked ebay at the time and there was only a second hand one on for £90, no motor factors anywhere in stoke listed them, had to go imperial commercials the ldv dealer in cobridge

 

[the snooper]

they are still expensive at 54 quid

 

[baconbarm]

As it happens chaps, I was too busy to go for the test drive although I will give it swerve I think. Maybe my dad's convoy is a freak of nature but I don't fancy taking a chance on something that has to earn me money. I have some transits and Iveco daily's on my watch list on ebay to have a look at. I am also considering a disco 2 commercial, if I can get the petrol genny/wire feeder and hand tools in that may be an option too!!

Aaah, you've chickened out

Before I got the maxus, I had a bad experience with a transit which put me off buying another.

It was a 2001 lwb high top with 80k when I bought it. In the 3 years I had it there was barely a month went by before something went wrong.

Fuel pump went within a few months- £ cant remember exact figure to fix but well over a grand.

Water pump failed and seized up and snapped the belt, caused the power steering to stop working and I nearly ran a bloke over on his push bike.

Another pump went which caused oil empty out on the M6- twice (or was it also related to water pump-cant remember)

Belt tensioner went- I think I snapped another belt due to that.

It was about 7 years ago now and I cant remember the other stuff, but I spent over 3 grand in repairs over the course of 3 years.


So that's why im 'pro' maxus- ive put 100k on it and only spent 50 quid on a slave cylinder in 6 years

 

[F.J.]

@F.J. What about something like a Ford Ranger with a metal roller shutter type cover over the bed?

I did consider a pick up but the tubs are too small for what I need

Aaah, you've chickened out

Before I got the maxus, I had a bad experience with a transit which put me off buying another.

It was a 2001 lwb high top with 80k when I bought it. In the 3 years I had it there was barely a month went by before something went wrong.

Fuel pump went within a few months- £ cant remember exact figure to fix but well over a grand.

Water pump failed and seized up and snapped the belt, caused the power steering to stop working and I nearly ran a bloke over on his push bike.

Another pump went which caused oil empty out on the M6- twice (or was it also related to water pump-cant remember)

Belt tensioner went- I think I snapped another belt due to that.

It was about 7 years ago now and I cant remember the other stuff, but I spent over 3 grand in repairs over the course of 3 years.


So that's why im 'pro' maxus- ive put 100k on it and only spent 50 quid on a slave cylinder in 6 years

I had a 53 plate transit flat bed and a 54 plate LWB high top and both were amazing vans, wish I still had them both now although I do like my sprinter. What you say about your maxus sounds like my dads convoy, it's good to hear a good review for a change

 

[F.J.]

@F.J. - Project for you?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1979-FORD...755?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1c5243881b

Haha, that looks like most LDV's out on the road. Besides, ive just bought a 200tdi disco commercial for a project. Don't think the wife would appreciate another

 

[F.J.]

Too big possibly? lol

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-F350-American-pickup-/261850098240?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cf77b6a40

Now your talking, although I might struggle to turn it around in my cul-de-sac!!!

 

[HughF]

I've got 2 transits, mk6 and mk7. Both rwd 2.4's. The mk6 is slow and reliable, the mk7 is fast and unreliable. Both are rusty, the 2008 mk7 scarily so...

 

[dunk]

no matter what 2nd hand (or 3rd, 4th, 5th..... hand) van you go for you take a chance it will be a good one unless you know the owner and how its been looked after/driven, personally i would go for a common known make that i can get parts for that dont need a bank loan to repair for simple parts and possibly give you a fair return when time comes to sell it on,
if the vans you look at seem tired out walk away from it,
do the usual checks, rust, tyres, smoke emission, clutch judder or noise, g/box, odd knockings from engine, rev thing up, cracked screen, eml light, give the interior of cab a good check, if its clean tidy all their and things work as should and not bashed and ripped to pieces chances are the owner cared a bit about the van so good chance the mechs will be fairly sound,
if you go into london much make sure its lez compliant otherwise £££ a day charges for big vans (put reg into transport for london site) i believe manchester are/ were looking at this emission compliance as well