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The end of an Era

1K views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  PURPLE_2L_LX 
#1 ·
Back in December 2011, I bought a Mondeo MK3 with a damaged engine(broken exhaust valve). I then bought a donor car which I used to practically rebuild my 1.8LX into a nice shinny 2.0 Ghia. I swapped engine, wheels, interior, dash, grill, chrome trims, even the 6CD radio.

I created a thread on this forum to basically catalogue my quest. It can be found here:-https://talkford.com/community/topic/191992-mondeo-mk3-18lx/

I had no idea back then that I'd still have this car almost 10 years later. It has never once let me down, never once not started at the first turn of the key other than when warm after a visit to a shop etc, you know the usual, fuel evaporation so starts on the second try.

I also can't believe that in all that time, I have only clocked up 25K....I feel I really must get out more :)

In all that time the biggest problem I have had is springs, I've had to change individual springs five times, I think the near side front twice and all other legs once. I've had to replace the windscreen, brake pads, brake pipes and both rear bearings....oh and the rear subframe bushes. Other than that, just oil and filter changes every couple of years. Oh I almost forgot, I had to rebuild the drivers window actuator twice.

One thing I probably haven't done enough of, is give it the care and attention I should have and it has now become quite tatty looking. Not enough washes, no cleaning of MAF's EGR's or any breathers and the engine light came on just before xmas. I reset to check continuity and it stayed off for 2 or 3 weeks but came on again after xmas, probably due to not being run. I reset it again but it came back on the same day.

The car has become a bit of a bone shaker over the past couple of years and with a load of work to do for the MOT at the end of March, I finally decided it's time to move on. I did think long and hard about giving the engine a good overall and then rebuilding the suspension etc but in the end, I decided it's time to move to a Mk4. I've had a MK1, MK2, MK3 and was looking at jumping to a MK5 but I found a really good MK4 1.6 TDCI, lovely and clean with a genuine 109K on a 61 plate.

So I just decided to post this thread to say goodbye to my beautiful Mk3 as I move to the MK4 section of the forum. I started cleaning windows for a living back in Feb 2013 and my Mondeo has been my office ever since. I should have kept my office cleaner and have perhaps used my MK3 as a bit of a workhorse but, we had so much fun along the way.

Inccidently, I'll be sadly looking to retire her to the metal man in a few days time(the coming weekend) so if anyone is looking for a decent 2.0L engine with a genuine 113K, please let me know ASAP. The car itself has probably clocked up anything over 170K as the original clock had clearly been wound back or swapped out(it was at 123K on last mot before I had it but clocks showed 75K), but the engine and every other part I took from the donor were at a genuine 88K back in 2011, I know this from the mot checks at the time, I used the clocks from the donor because I wanted the trip computer and as I say, those parts are now at 113K.

I always grow attached to my cars, I always feel a sense of betrayal on my half when I change cars and saying goodbye to my Mk3 is gonna be the hardest yet.
 
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#2 ·
I was looking at MK4's for a while and jumped across in 2018.

2013 2L TDCI Business.

After the MK3 2.2L though its slow.. Looks nice and drives nice but the

lack of power... The MK4 2.2's were still pricey though.

Low mileage user also so a high mileage car is not an issue for me and

helped put me in the 2013 car rather than a 2007/2008 car.
 
#3 · (Edited by Moderator)
My brother has just got a mk4 2.2 and it's really nice. Got to be the smartest car he's had. They are very solid cars.

I looked at Mk4s when I bought my mk3. Early high milers were just coming into budget back then.

The main reason the mk4 wasn't for me is that it's near impossible to find petrol ones. While the Mk3 had a roughly 50/50 diesel/petrol split, the Mk4 is like 90/10. Even if I found one, what's that going to mean for parts availablity? Diesel really isn't going to do me any favours with the kind of usage I have...
 
#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
Short journeys for me and I have a diesel. OK this one does have the DPF and it did fail a

regen once which needed to be reset using the OBD reader, partially my fault as I had

just joined the motorway and carried on for over 100 miles in which time it must have

increased to its 300% value where it stops trying to regen.

Odd though because its has never done it since, maybe due to lots of sub 1 mile journeys

the previous day helping someone move, start the car and drive less than 1/2 mile with

a busy junction in the middle and then back again.. repeat many times over.

If your journeys are like that then get a petrol but dont be scared of a diesel, just takes

a little thought into can you give it a little extra run every now and then.

Due to being a low mileage user a high mileage MK4.5 (late 2013) bought for £3k

in 2018 was a bargain. I wanted a 2.2L Diesel but too rich for me.

Old and forgetful repeating myself a bit... :)
 
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