Advice on my brothers 2 Litre Ford Mondeo 1998 Zetec Petrol Estate

[Wayne]

Guys - my brothers motor is up for its MOT, and unlike me he hasn't looked after the bloody thing
its been sat on his drive for 12 months unused!
its had a recent new battery and starts first time

its done 149,510 miles on a 1998 S Registration, its the Mondeo Estate 16V Ghia Zetec Engine 2 litre petrol model
Some of the pictures in this album were when he did look after it 
http://s371.photobucket.com/albums/oo152/Bongioviwayne/DEANS%20CAR/

when should the cambelt be changed on these models? how often between oil changes etc?
or any other advice you can give would be most appreciated

it needs to get through the MOT and the rear bumper has a huge split and crack on it
anyone any good at repairs from Oxford or Swindon on here?

it needs TAX and 2 new tyres, been thinking is it all worth it on a car with this much mileage?

what can he expect mileage wise to get out of it after he gives it a full service aswell

i have been told the Zetecs are pretty decent engines?

[Darth Loo-knee]

I am pretty sure without checking that 10 years or 100,000 miles Ford reccommended cambelt intervals.
I personally would not leave it that long. I read somewhere 6 years or 60,000 miles was a better judgement call.
The same as oil changes what people dont realise is that changing your oil will help your engine no two ways about it, but they decide to change it every 20,000 miles then complain when their engine decides enough is enough...
Change your oil every 6 months or 5,000 miles I would suggest.
I change my own car or motorbike oil every 3,000 miles.

Everyone has different ideas though.

[tidla]

get it started and whack it in for mot. probably surprise you self at the lack of work reqd.

[Kevin Wood]

If it's sat for a year I'd change the cam belt regardless. My recollection is 100k or 7 years, but may be wrong. Either way, not worth trusting it now, IMHO, and the belt and tensioner kit is pretty cheap and easy to change on a Zetec.

Oil changes - 6k max, I would say, and beware that early Zetecs need 5w30 oil. A 1998 engine should be OK on 10w40 though, as they were solid lifters, IIRC.