Quick Tips on What to look for - 850 T-5

**massivewangers** · Thursday 16th October 2014, 16:31

Been a good while since I've looked at one, and I'm viewing a T-5 in a couple of hours that has popped up local to me.

It's low mileage and an auto. Any areas I should particularly look at? I've not sat in one for about five years!

**T5frankie** · Thursday 16th October 2014, 16:58

it should boost to halfway into the white part of the gauge, pull dipstick out check for excess puffin' clunking noises from suspension, drop links, top mounts, brake hard if steering shakes probably wishbones need changing

**Sweep** · Thursday 16th October 2014, 17:26

Originally Posted by T5frankie

it should boost to halfway into the white part of the gauge, pull dipstick out check for excess puffin' clunking noises from suspension, drop links, top mounts, brake hard if steering shakes probably wishbones need changing

What's the clunking? I've got that on mine.

**T5frankie** · Thursday 16th October 2014, 17:28

Originally Posted by Sweep

What's the clunking? I've got that on mine.

clunking on front at low speed turning? usually drop links, knocking/rattling at speed over bumpy ground usually top mounts

**Sweep** · Thursday 16th October 2014, 18:23

Originally Posted by T5frankie

clunking on front at low speed turning? usually drop links, knocking/rattling at speed over bumpy ground usually top mounts

It's the latter for me, I'll be changing the springs soon so can get them done too. Is it worth going polyurethane?

Sorry for clogging the thread, although I guess it helps a bit too!

**T5frankie** · Thursday 16th October 2014, 18:23

Originally Posted by Sweep

It's the latter for me, I'll be changing the springs soon so can get them done too. Is it worth going polyurethane?

Sorry for clogging the thread, although I guess it helps a bit too!

i dont think you can get ploy top mounts mate

**massivewangers** · Thursday 16th October 2014, 21:06

Thanks for the info. This is the car I saw, hopefully the link will work ok: http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/251679658721?nav=SEARCH

Sadly it wasn't really as nice as the ad suggests. The right rear arch was in primer with blobs of filler on it, the right front arch had been painted quite badly, the roof had lost quite a bit of lacquer, and the paint on the spoiler was very bad.

The interior was fairly good, though there was what looked like a cigarette burn in the drivers seat, and the load cover was tatty.

He did the driving, but the car appeared to pull ok and change gear well enough. There was a knocking from the left front. The top mount was shot but he had a replacement to fit. The radiator looked very new. After we'd been out, I was poking around under the bonnet and you could hear air escaping from the header tank. Perhaps I'm just being over-cautious, but it did raise a question in my mind.

It looked an honest enough car, but the body work put me off as I'm not really looking to get involved with something like that. The hunt continues...

**Saaamon** · Thursday 16th October 2014, 22:40

I think you'll do well to find a T5 with good bodywork. Main points are rear main seal and power steering rack for leaks, both expensive, the rest is easy and only what you'd expect to do on cars of this age.

**stribo** · Friday 17th October 2014, 00:10

Originally Posted by T5frankie

it should boost to halfway into the white part of the gauge, pull dipstick out check for excess puffin' clunking noises from suspension, drop links, top mounts, brake hard if steering shakes probably wishbones need changing

Originally Posted by T5frankie

clunking on front at low speed turning? usually drop links, knocking/rattling at speed over bumpy ground usually top mounts

Originally Posted by T5frankie

i dont think you can get ploy top mounts mate

O.K., am I in an alternative universe, or did Frankie actually post useful advise? At this rate JamesT5 will be part of the Mercedes F1 pit crew.

**T5frankie** · Friday 17th October 2014, 04:34

Originally Posted by stribo

O.K., am I in an alternative universe, or did Frankie actually post useful advise? At this rate JamesT5 will be part of the Mercedes F1 pit crew.

I usually leave the boring stuff to others to write

**massivewangers** · Friday 17th October 2014, 07:56

Originally Posted by Saaamon

I think you'll do well to find a T5 with good bodywork. Main points are rear main seal and power steering rack for leaks, both expensive, the rest is easy and only what you'd expect to do on cars of this age.

I don't expect it to be mint, they're all around twenty years old, so there's going to be bits here and there that aren't perfect, but there are limits.

I think he probably should have mentioned the fact there was primer on one wheel arch in the ad, and that the roof needed paint at the very least. The listing suggests that the car is in mint condition. Even when I spoke to him on the phone he said that there was "just a scuff" on the rear arch, no mention of primer or filler, or the rust you could see underneath it for that matter.

I'm sure someone will buy it, but it's not for me. I just didn't get that good feeling

**Biff** · Friday 17th October 2014, 17:37

Originally Posted by massivewangers

I don't expect it to be mint, they're all around twenty years old, so there's going to be bits here and there that aren't perfect, but there are limits.

I think he probably should have mentioned the fact there was primer on one wheel arch in the ad, and that the roof needed paint at the very least. The listing suggests that the car is in mint condition. Even when I spoke to him on the phone he said that there was "just a scuff" on the rear arch, no mention of primer or filler, or the rust you could see underneath it for that matter.

I'm sure someone will buy it, but it's not for me. I just didn't get that good feeling

Looks like someone bought it. Is it me or are prices going up a tad?
That's pretty expensive compared to some I've seen.

**Jamest5r** · Friday 17th October 2014, 17:47

Originally Posted by Biff

Looks like someone bought it. Is it me or are prices going up a tad?
That's pretty expensive compared to some I've seen.

That is a.500 quid car, prices ain't going up that much, I sold a decent 850 for 650 not long ago,

**Ettienne** · Friday 17th October 2014, 17:57

R's are definitely going up in price. But good 850s seem to not so much the v70s yet.

**Harvey** · Friday 17th October 2014, 17:59

Originally Posted by stribo

O.K., am I in an alternative universe, or did Frankie actually post useful advise? At this rate JamesT5 will be part of the Mercedes F1 pit crew.

I thought it was Ilmor-Mercedes developed cars power plant,James specialist knowledge of turbos could be a real advantage for that team,he could get a call,but I guess he would have to go on gardening leave just to keep the other teams happy.....

**massivewangers** · Friday 17th October 2014, 18:13

Wish I could find a decent one for £650. Or £1000 for that matter...

**Saaamon** · Friday 17th October 2014, 18:18

I think 850 prices are going up.

**Jamest5r** · Friday 17th October 2014, 18:23

Originally Posted by massivewangers

Wish I could find a decent one for £650. Or £1000 for that matter...

Just a waiting game I'm afraid got to watch the forums and get lucky,i've always bought forum car's you generally know where you stand with them, Frankie might be selling that teal r he has worth asking him

**Sweep** · Friday 17th October 2014, 18:55

Took me a good 10 months to come across mine, and other than the common minor bubbling on the front wing, it's as clean as you like. A little more than I'd liked to of payed but I couldn't fault the condition.

**massivewangers** · Friday 17th October 2014, 19:12

Originally Posted by Jamest5r

Just a waiting game I'm afraid got to watch the forums and get lucky,i've always bought forum car's you generally know where you stand with them, Frankie might be selling that teal r he has worth asking him

Just seen some pictures of that. It looks well on it's way to selling.

I'm quite taken by the colour I must say!