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[sgs1234]

Hi

I hope you can help? I looking to buy a 1996 omega. It has done 36000 miles and has an almost complete service history. I have spoken to the previous owner and he was very complimentary about it.

I am concerned about reliability issues with omegas? Are they generally quite reliable? Also should I get the timing belt changed? If so could anyone give me an estimate of the cost? I would really appreciate any advice on general maintenance to keep it running for a few years at least.

Regards

Steven

[Nick W]

Omegas are generally reliable if they've had regular, required maintenance.
My concern with the car you're looking at would be its lack of use; a 25 year old car with only 36k miles is likely to have most of the issues that lack of use normally causes - wiring problems, rubber degradation, partially seized components, rust etc - and that much of the required maintenance won't have been because it hasn't done enough miles. That makes it a project car in my opinion, and would only pay project money for it. Which would be £500max,  and that would require a smart interior and paint.

[Raeturbo]

It would help if you said what model it is👍

[sgs1234]

Thanks for the responses.

It is a 1997 2.0i 16v select.

It passed its MOT last month with no advisories. Is there anything I should check before buying?

[STEMO]

Thanks for the responses.

It is a 1997 2.0i 16v select.

It passed its MOT last month with no advisories. Is there anything I should check before buying?

How much does he want for it?

[ronnyd]

If it's the one on Auto Trader they want 2.5 grand.  Thought that the Select just had the 8 valve lump but not sure. 

[STEMO]

If it's the one on Auto Trader they want 2.5 grand.  Thought that the Select just had the 8 valve lump but not sure. 

The one in Peterborough? I'll have a nosey at the ad, then come back and slate it 

[STEMO]

Looks tidy enough, but I can never understand why dealers cover the reg plate so you can't check it's mot history. Puts me off straight away.

[ronnyd]

Looks tidy enough, but I can never understand why dealers cover the reg plate so you can't check it's mot history. Puts me off straight away.

My pet hate too.

[deviator]

Hello and welcome to the site.

As with all old cars, rust tends to be the killer. I've always thought the 2.0 was a bit small for a car as big as the Omega, even if it's the 16v x20xev engine. On that basis I'd want to drive it first.

If it is the 16v, it was about £45-50 for the belt kit. About another 30 for the water pump and about 2 hours labour. But it's been a few years since a ventured near a 2.0.

As mentioned above, because of the age, expect to spend some money replacing the usual items, suspension, bushes, gaskets etc; also because the age, I'd check the date stamp on the tyres, they might have lots of tread, but if they are 10 years, they aren't much good.

Overall, like any car, stay on top of rust and maintenance and it should last forever.

[sgs1234]

Thanks that's really useful.

[MonzaGSE]

I have done this. Bought a 1997 2,0 16v estate in 2018. Old man had it from new and had now passed away. Car had only done 60.000 km. Was registered but not well maintained. Both rear doors and rear arches are heavily corroded. Had to replace brake pads and free up the brakes. Also changed cam cover gasket due to the old one was like plastic and leaking. Cleaned up blocked breather system and cleaned idle control valve to fix uneven idling. 3 years later the car has been in pretty much daily use. At least in the winter. It was bought to avoid driving my v6 on Norways salted winter roads. Its done almost 100.000 kms now and the only time it really went wrong was when the cam sensor failed. But got me home even then and was easy to change. We have two other Omegas but this one you can actually feel when driving that its a low miler. Been very reliable and just passed a new MOT which in Norway gives it two more years on the road. After that i must decide to either get the rust fixed or scrap it. I dont think the 2,0 16v feels particulary slow. It certainly aint fast. But as a daily driver its powerful enough.

[Rangie]

If you are serious about buying a low mileage older vehicle why not have it inspected by a professional ? When I purchased my 30,000 mile E430 a few years back that's what I did cost me £60 and all he found was a drivers door mirror fault, ran the car for almost five years & sold it back to the Merc specialist I bought it from apart from two tyres & oil changes cost me nothing. Good luck with it .

[omegod]

That Omega has been advertised for a while, I think it was nearer 4 grand initially

[STEMO]

That Omega has been advertised for a while, I think it was nearer 4 grand initially

Jesus! The price of an Everton defender