Prospective Owner, advice on getting dry stored car going..

[JAJ278]

Can't argue either point John. I still sometimes see some old school motors for MOT. Doesn't help much though.

Tony.

Always makes me laugh when my apprentices can't fix their own cars. Then I remember I can't fix mine anymore if it's anything more than spanner work. Modern electrics and electronics are beyond me.

Such a throw away world now. That's why I was glad to get the M back on the road and feel like a middle aged man who had paid for it and didn't need to look for another sports car anymore.

 

[t-tony]

We have a Vicar bring his Morris Minor in at work and the young lad at work (22) is lost on it, and that's no put down, just a sign of the times. I feel lost on modern cars that you have to "plug in" to see what's wrong. But, the other side of that is that sometimes people forget that the "infernal" fuel "infected" engines still have to work on the same old principals of, suck, squeeze, bang and blow, same as they always have and always will.

Tony.

 

[JAJ278]

We have a Vicar bring his Morris Minor in at work and the young lad at work (22) is lost on it, and that's no put down, just a sign of the times. I feel lost on modern cars that you have to "plug in" to see what's wrong. But, the other side of that is that sometimes people forget that the "infernal" fuel "infected" engines still have to work on the same old principals of, suck, squeeze, bang and blow, same as they always have and always will.

Tony.

True enough Tony. But the A series was such a lovely engine to work on back in the day. So simple and easy to deal with. I took a 1275 out to 1330 and rebuilt it so it was sweet as a nut. Dad and I used it as a great excuse to sup tea in the garage away from all the "women folk". Happy days.

 

[oldcarman]

Welcome from Canada!! Going off topic is epidemic on the forum! Sometimes good, sometimes bad! Hope you enjoy the car as well as the forum. JIM

 

[Nodzed]

Can't argue either point John. I still sometimes see some old school motors for MOT. Doesn't help much though.

Tony.

I remember the days when we lived in absolute fear of the MOT tester, old Cortinas, Escorts I even had a Marina once but that never made it through the second MOT.

 

[Nodzed]

Hi & Welcome from Gloucestershire....

 

[Shelly]

Hi and welcome from me too

 

[Bazza]

from sunny Dorset

 

[Gordon Farquhar]

I'd start off with a complete fluid change, engine oil, coolant, brake fluids, gearbox & differential. Worth draining the fuel tank and re-priming it with fresh fuel too along with a new fuel filter.

Look over all the rubber cooling & air induction pipes in the engine bay for deterioration.

If you don't have records for changes to things like the water pump/thermostat/belts I'd consider those too. Had a few people with water pumps failing due to age rather than mileage.

If it's been sat on the tyres in the same position for 3 years I'd consider them junk and in need of replacement.

I'm sure others will be along with the things I've missed.

Thanks very much to all for the welcomes and the advice. I had an MGB roadster before kids 20 years ago, and managed to find my way around with a spanner and a bit (a lot) of help from the specialists. It was part of the fun of ownership, in a masochistic kind of way. Unfortunately The owner of said Z3 is on reflection reluctant to sell. Hey ho, I'll keep looking. Had a bent rear arm, so was going to cost a bit to get shipshape.

 

[Gordon Farquhar]

Hi all. I am a prospective owner, been tracking cars etc, but have a great opportunity on a low mileage Z3 2.2 sport, that's been dry stored, not run for 3 years or so, fluids not drained, not on axle stands. What kind of issues should I expect? What should I be doing to get it sorted, and any pitfalls to avoid. Thanks a lot. Gordon.

At the risk of looking like someone who relies to his own posts, thanks all for the advice!