General: 850: Buying an 850 Tdi

[gmcgrillan]

Folks,

Not strictly a technical question - But couldn't get the search facility to work using the above phrase!!

Any advice when looking into buying an 850 Tdi. There one one locally to me with approx. 130,000 on the clock and has history to 110,000 with the last 4 years locally serviced. It is a 1996 estate - I won't be able to see it till Thursday. So any advice in the meantime is much appreciated.

Many thanks,

Gareth...

[DieselDoNicely]

Originally Posted by gmcgrillan

Folks,

Not strictly a technical question - But couldn't get the search facility to work using the above phrase!!

Any advice when looking into buying an 850 Tdi. There one one locally to me with approx. 130,000 on the clock and has history to 110,000 with the last 4 years locally serviced. It is a 1996 estate - I won't be able to see it till Thursday. So any advice in the meantime is much appreciated.

Many thanks,

Gareth...

Oils leaks.
Fuel flap works.
Odd tyre wear.
Clicks when you open the doors.
Clunks from the suspension.
Dry front foot wells.
Glove compartment locks/unlocks & opens.
Heavy smoking when you accelerate, diesel pump timing.
Groans from the power steering.
Your coming up to a cam belt change @ 160K - £500
Aircon should be cold.

DDN

[st5ve]

The biggy on these is make sure the cam belt and water pump have been done at the appropriate time and done by a reliable garage as they can be a bit of a pain.

Is that 130k miles or Km?

[Volvophile]

Originally Posted by gmcgrillan

Folks,

Not strictly a technical question - But couldn't get the search facility to work using the above phrase!!

Any advice when looking into buying an 850 Tdi. There one one locally to me with approx. 130,000 on the clock and has history to 110,000 with the last 4 years locally serviced. It is a 1996 estate - I won't be able to see it till Thursday. So any advice in the meantime is much appreciated.

Many thanks,

Gareth...

It uses an Audi A6 diesel engine kicking out 140 bhp. It's supposed to be quite a torquey motor.

[gmcgrillan]

Folks,

Thanks for the replies.
Its 130,000 Miles on the clock

Cheers,

Gareth...

[BillB]

This may be too late but don't worry about the mileage - it's just run-in. As already said, cambelt change essential every 80k. My water pump is original at 130k. Although many insist it should be changed with each belt change my main dealer insists they've never had a pump seizure on cars THEY have done the cambelt on. The tensioner adjustment is important - it can be too tight as well as too slack. If the 850 is a minter, buy it. You'll get up to 50mpg and that engine is very torquey. Regards.

[PaulFraBroxburn]

I recently moved up from my 760 turbo (Petrol) to a 1996 (P) 850 TDI CD with 200,000 on the clock.
I paid around £2,300 for this, having assessed it as reasonable, and drove it back from the dealers with increasing pleasure.
I knew the timing belt needed doing. I have found a local dealer (Arnold Clark Livingston) to do a full service (including the timing belt) for £420, and fit a new Air Con Condenser (£130 + the part - at about the same price from Dundalk Motors - London).
I've had the car for 3 weeks and so far haven't found anything alarming. The suspension does make noises, and I'm resigned to the fact that Suspension components will need replacing at some point soon, but I'm off-setting the cost of these expensive repairs against the fact that I don't have large losses from depreciation, and the car is a powerful, fuel efficient (about 44MPG), luxury car.

[gmcgrillan]

Folks,

Thanks for all the replies and info. I decided not to go for the 850 tdi - It didn't have Air con, Roof rails or a tow bar. So I am going to keep my eyes peeled for other example in Northern Ireland.

Thanks again for all the contributions.


Gareth...