High Mileage (100K+) C5's. Anything to watch out for?
Discussion
Hi guys
I've seen a C5 that I quite fancy and it seems to have been looked after, but it's done £115K miles. High I know, but I've never been put off by high milers before if they look OK and the price is good. It's a '99 model so done above average for the year, but I'd probably only put 5K on it a year at the most.
Is there anything specific to the C5 that I should be looking at? It has a full main dealer up to 80K, and then plenty of receipts after that, but I haven't had a chance to wade through them yet. Isn't there a major service at £100K, and what's it likely to cost me if this hasn't been done? It's had 2 owners from new, so not bad on that score. Not too concerned about re-sale value with regards to the mileage.
I know there are a few about for sale but this one is a reasonable price (£12K) and in a colour combo that I like.
Cheers for any help you can give me. Ben
I've seen a C5 that I quite fancy and it seems to have been looked after, but it's done £115K miles. High I know, but I've never been put off by high milers before if they look OK and the price is good. It's a '99 model so done above average for the year, but I'd probably only put 5K on it a year at the most.
Is there anything specific to the C5 that I should be looking at? It has a full main dealer up to 80K, and then plenty of receipts after that, but I haven't had a chance to wade through them yet. Isn't there a major service at £100K, and what's it likely to cost me if this hasn't been done? It's had 2 owners from new, so not bad on that score. Not too concerned about re-sale value with regards to the mileage.
I know there are a few about for sale but this one is a reasonable price (£12K) and in a colour combo that I like.
Cheers for any help you can give me. Ben
Hi Ben
I have a 2000 C5 coupe, manual box from 30,000 miles and it now has about 112,000 after 3 years. Most of its time it lives on then motorway, so 6th gear means that it is doing nothing (about 1450 revs at 70mph) so nothing is too stressed mechanically in my case. These engines take quite a lot of punishment and I would not foresee any need for thinking about engine rebuilds till way the other side of 150,000 miles given a full service history. Oil services are done up to 100,000 miles (oil & filter about £60 every time the computer say so, but I do mine more frequently), and the major service was not much dearer including transmission fluid changes and chassis lube (which again I tend to do more frequetly).
The things I would look at apart from the obvious things you would check on any car (smoke, engine rattles, all gears, transmission clunks, steering etc) is that all electrical items work. The Vette is plastic so has to have an earth for each electrical item in the car, meaning a lot of wiring running all over the place to a selection of earth mounting points in the car. ABS and driver aids are sometimes affected at the wheel sensors by our winter roads, and whilst this does not sound like a problem, it would involve a new hub should one of them go. So if there are any warnings on the dash or computer in this area, negotiate.
Aircon can be expensive on any car - if it isn't working, the less scrupulous seller may say that it just requires gassing. Well, my condenser rad has just fallen apart, which is likely to be about £300 - compressors higher. So, if you do not see working aircon - negotiate, or get it professionally checked.
Other things are simply wear items - consumables. Suspension bushes, brakes tyres etc. Make sure it tracks straight and does not pull under beaking etc.
So far, in addition to service items, mine has cost me a set of disks, a set of plugs, a hub (abs sensor) and is about to cost me an aircon condenser in over 80,000 miles. My manual gearbox is up for a rebuild - 6th gear synchro is a bit slow these days. That's about it in my experience, but everyone I speak to tells me not to be afraid of high mileage on a C5 - in my experience of a C5 motorway tool in the week and fun at the weekend, I would agree.
Hopefully somebody can chip in on auto transmissions in case that is what you are looking at, but obviously, it needs to get all the gears and kick down at minimum I guess.
Here's a link to tell you how to get the error codes out of the Driver Information Centre (DIC)
http://corvetteclub.blogspot.com/2006/09/c5-comput...
Here a link to tell you what they mean - oh and have a pencil and paper ready to write them down as they scroll pretty quickly.
http://www.stengel.net/diccodes.htm
Whatever you do, do not drive it. If you do, you will buy it
And don't forget to join CCCUK (http://www.corvetteclub.org.uk/) to get some good insurance discounts and all sorts of other good stuff fully justifying the membership fee (I am not on the committee, I just recognise good value when it bites me in the leg).
Good luck with it.
Kev.
I have a 2000 C5 coupe, manual box from 30,000 miles and it now has about 112,000 after 3 years. Most of its time it lives on then motorway, so 6th gear means that it is doing nothing (about 1450 revs at 70mph) so nothing is too stressed mechanically in my case. These engines take quite a lot of punishment and I would not foresee any need for thinking about engine rebuilds till way the other side of 150,000 miles given a full service history. Oil services are done up to 100,000 miles (oil & filter about £60 every time the computer say so, but I do mine more frequently), and the major service was not much dearer including transmission fluid changes and chassis lube (which again I tend to do more frequetly).
The things I would look at apart from the obvious things you would check on any car (smoke, engine rattles, all gears, transmission clunks, steering etc) is that all electrical items work. The Vette is plastic so has to have an earth for each electrical item in the car, meaning a lot of wiring running all over the place to a selection of earth mounting points in the car. ABS and driver aids are sometimes affected at the wheel sensors by our winter roads, and whilst this does not sound like a problem, it would involve a new hub should one of them go. So if there are any warnings on the dash or computer in this area, negotiate.
Aircon can be expensive on any car - if it isn't working, the less scrupulous seller may say that it just requires gassing. Well, my condenser rad has just fallen apart, which is likely to be about £300 - compressors higher. So, if you do not see working aircon - negotiate, or get it professionally checked.
Other things are simply wear items - consumables. Suspension bushes, brakes tyres etc. Make sure it tracks straight and does not pull under beaking etc.
So far, in addition to service items, mine has cost me a set of disks, a set of plugs, a hub (abs sensor) and is about to cost me an aircon condenser in over 80,000 miles. My manual gearbox is up for a rebuild - 6th gear synchro is a bit slow these days. That's about it in my experience, but everyone I speak to tells me not to be afraid of high mileage on a C5 - in my experience of a C5 motorway tool in the week and fun at the weekend, I would agree.
Hopefully somebody can chip in on auto transmissions in case that is what you are looking at, but obviously, it needs to get all the gears and kick down at minimum I guess.
Here's a link to tell you how to get the error codes out of the Driver Information Centre (DIC)
http://corvetteclub.blogspot.com/2006/09/c5-comput...
Here a link to tell you what they mean - oh and have a pencil and paper ready to write them down as they scroll pretty quickly.
http://www.stengel.net/diccodes.htm
Whatever you do, do not drive it. If you do, you will buy it
And don't forget to join CCCUK (http://www.corvetteclub.org.uk/) to get some good insurance discounts and all sorts of other good stuff fully justifying the membership fee (I am not on the committee, I just recognise good value when it bites me in the leg).
Good luck with it.
Kev.
Thanks for taking the time to post that comprehensive reply Kev 
That all sounds good and what I was hoping to hear. I have been looking at classic 911's at about the same price range but I can't help thinking they would be a huge money pit. I'd be using the car as my daily driver, and my wife would be using it at the weekends and occasionally for work. She's not keen on LHD but then she's only driven my Mustang for a few minutes. I'm keen to get an auto for this reason, as it'll give her one less thing to think about and hopefully mean she'll enjoy driving the car.
The car I was looking at sounded fine at tick over, no rattles etc, and there was no crap coming from the exhaust. I did notice that the dash was reading "low tyre pressure" on one wheel. That wouldn't be related to the ABS sensor though would it? The dash also read "gauge check", but I can't remember if that was just when I started it.
Anyway, thanks for your advice. I'm not going to be able to test drive it for a few weeks but that gives me a little time to convince my wife that we need it
Cheers, Ben
That all sounds good and what I was hoping to hear. I have been looking at classic 911's at about the same price range but I can't help thinking they would be a huge money pit. I'd be using the car as my daily driver, and my wife would be using it at the weekends and occasionally for work. She's not keen on LHD but then she's only driven my Mustang for a few minutes. I'm keen to get an auto for this reason, as it'll give her one less thing to think about and hopefully mean she'll enjoy driving the car.
The car I was looking at sounded fine at tick over, no rattles etc, and there was no crap coming from the exhaust. I did notice that the dash was reading "low tyre pressure" on one wheel. That wouldn't be related to the ABS sensor though would it? The dash also read "gauge check", but I can't remember if that was just when I started it.
Anyway, thanks for your advice. I'm not going to be able to test drive it for a few weeks but that gives me a little time to convince my wife that we need it
Cheers, Ben
benny.c said:
Thanks for taking the time to post that comprehensive reply Kev
That all sounds good and what I was hoping to hear. I have been looking at classic 911's at about the same price range but I can't help thinking they would be a huge money pit. I'd be using the car as my daily driver, and my wife would be using it at the weekends and occasionally for work. She's not keen on LHD but then she's only driven my Mustang for a few minutes. I'm keen to get an auto for this reason, as it'll give her one less thing to think about and hopefully mean she'll enjoy driving the car.
The car I was looking at sounded fine at tick over, no rattles etc, and there was no crap coming from the exhaust. I did notice that the dash was reading "low tyre pressure" on one wheel. That wouldn't be related to the ABS sensor though would it? The dash also read "gauge check", but I can't remember if that was just when I started it.
Anyway, thanks for your advice. I'm not going to be able to test drive it for a few weeks but that gives me a little time to convince my wife that we need it
Cheers, Ben
He heh... <bernard_manning> yeah, wives eh </bernard_manning>. When I went to buy my C5, she said "don't come back with a yellow or red one". Got that a bit wrong didn't I. She also will not touch it - gearbox is quite heavy with the short shifter I have, and LHD just confuses her completely. Quite a result really That all sounds good and what I was hoping to hear. I have been looking at classic 911's at about the same price range but I can't help thinking they would be a huge money pit. I'd be using the car as my daily driver, and my wife would be using it at the weekends and occasionally for work. She's not keen on LHD but then she's only driven my Mustang for a few minutes. I'm keen to get an auto for this reason, as it'll give her one less thing to think about and hopefully mean she'll enjoy driving the car.
The car I was looking at sounded fine at tick over, no rattles etc, and there was no crap coming from the exhaust. I did notice that the dash was reading "low tyre pressure" on one wheel. That wouldn't be related to the ABS sensor though would it? The dash also read "gauge check", but I can't remember if that was just when I started it.
Anyway, thanks for your advice. I'm not going to be able to test drive it for a few weeks but that gives me a little time to convince my wife that we need it
Cheers, Ben
That reply isn't really chapter and verse, just my personal experience. Hopefully others will chip in too.
The tyre pressure sensors are built into the wheel, typically on the valves, so that would not be related to ABS or TC hub sensors. Maybe that wheel is a bit down on pressure, or the sensor is having a head fit. I think they are about £60 a pop if it is a sensor. Mine have been removed with the fitting of aftermarket wheels, so I get all sorts of errors on those. No problem interfering with any other systems though, so should not be an expensive issue for you.
It's worth a run through the DIC using the process I sent links for when you are next in front of the car. Any code with a C is a current fault, and any code with an H is historical and no longer current (unless an identical one exists - then shown as HC). This can give you a clue at that moment in time how the bits are all talking to the computer.
There were quite a few spec options on the Vette - head up display, suspension variations etc. It would be worth making sure your target car has the desirables on it and perhaps comparing the spec to some of the others on the market. High spec lower mileage C5s are not hugely outside of the price you are looking at right now, and if you can stand the Euro rear foglights that many complain about on here, you get a 300mph speedo on the Euro spec cars - impresses the hell out of the kids !! Actually it is useful if you spend any time travelling in Euroland, you can also flip the instruments between Mile and Kilo on the touch of a button on a Euro car. Personally, I would also say sod the wife and get a manual - but that is just personal preference.
So what is your preferred colour combination and the year of the car your are considering? There are some minor differences between the years on spec and power outputs too which are worth being aware of.
911s.... hmmm. Never had one, nice, practical and supposed low TCO but there's a lot of them about on UK roads which puts me off a bit. Many mates have them, but they are quite recent models at megadosh prices. Not sure what 12k will put on the drive from Porsche - but my guess is a slightly older steel Porker and a lot more rust than in a later, plastic Vette.
Anyway, better have a work break now.... enjoy.
SeeFive said:
Personally, I would also say sod the wife and get a manual - but that is just personal preference.
I would never usually get a auto but for this to be "approved", my wife is going to have to like it. Plus it's going to be a daily for me and I quite fancy the idea of an auto (must be getting old).SeeFive said:
So what is your preferred colour combination and the year of the car your are considering? There are some minor differences between the years on spec and power outputs too which are worth being aware of.
Don't laugh but...white 
I know it's not the most popular colour but I think it looks great. It's a '99 and has the head-up display, and Bose sound system I think. I've actually found a few near my price range with much lower mileage so I'm not going to rush into it. They look pretty good in all colours really but silver stands out for me. The only colour I wouldn't have is yellow. Looks great on the C5 but just not my thing.I've popped a post up at CCC to get some opinion from over there.
bobfrance said:
Sorry to ask such a dull question, but what kind of MPG do you get from a C5?
I only ask because I used to own a 6.0l V12 Jag and nearly bought a high mileage C5 as my next car,however it sold before I got the chance to view it.
Always liked them and I still fancy giving one a go.
In day-to-day driving, I used to get ~25mpg (based on the British gallon) on my commute of 70% Motorway, 30% town driving (driving normally/sensibly). That was in an automatic C5.I only ask because I used to own a 6.0l V12 Jag and nearly bought a high mileage C5 as my next car,however it sold before I got the chance to view it.
Always liked them and I still fancy giving one a go.
Edited by ian_uk1975 on Tuesday 20th May 15:15
benny.c said:
SeeFive said:
Personally, I would also say sod the wife and get a manual - but that is just personal preference.
I would never usually get a auto but for this to be "approved", my wife is going to have to like it. Plus it's going to be a daily for me and I quite fancy the idea of an auto (must be getting old).SeeFive said:
So what is your preferred colour combination and the year of the car your are considering? There are some minor differences between the years on spec and power outputs too which are worth being aware of.
Don't laugh but...white I know it's not the most popular colour but I think it looks great. It's a '99 and has the head-up display, and Bose sound system I think. I've actually found a few near my price range with much lower mileage so I'm not going to rush into it. They look pretty good in all colours really but silver stands out for me. The only colour I wouldn't have is yellow. Looks great on the C5 but just not my thing.I've popped a post up at CCC to get some opinion from over there.
HUD is a really good option (may have been standard in '99 cant remember exactly). Having those digits in your eyeline at the same time as a speed camera helps.
Well, I hope the rest of the people chip in on CCCUK and wish you luck with your research.
Nice Muzzie by the way....
bobfrance said:
Sorry to ask such a dull question, but what kind of MPG do you get from a C5?
I only ask because I used to own a 6.0l V12 Jag and nearly bought a high mileage C5 as my next car,however it sold before I got the chance to view it.
Always liked them and I still fancy giving one a go.
Few believe the Vette MPG figures till they see the readout. My average - about 27 US MPG = about 32 UK MPG. I do quite a lot of motorway miles which with the 6 speed manual ticks up the averages nicely.I only ask because I used to own a 6.0l V12 Jag and nearly bought a high mileage C5 as my next car,however it sold before I got the chance to view it.
Always liked them and I still fancy giving one a go.
Motorway miles - expect around 30, maybe a shade better.
Around town - 18-22 depending on your town
On track - low single figures !!!
That doesn't sound too bad.
Used to get 14+mpg in heavy town traffic and max 25mpg (on the motorway) out of the XJR-S
I now get 23mpg in heavy town traffic and about 35mpg (motorway) out of the Boxster. I expected to get more from a measly 2.5 6 pot.
Makes the C5 sound quite reasonable.
Used to get 14+mpg in heavy town traffic and max 25mpg (on the motorway) out of the XJR-S
I now get 23mpg in heavy town traffic and about 35mpg (motorway) out of the Boxster. I expected to get more from a measly 2.5 6 pot.
Makes the C5 sound quite reasonable.
Edited by bobfrance on Tuesday 20th May 17:05
benny.c said:
I've seen a C5 that I quite fancy and it seems to have been looked after, but it's done £115K miles.
Welcome to the (happy) nightmare of C5 selection!I might be wrong here, but the early c5's are all US imports. Most is the US are/were built to order from a (longish) list of options, so if you are confused by options available for the year, or may be fitted to your target car, then I firmly recommend that you invest in the "Corvette Black Book", which is a list of data showing all options for each model year. I did and found it invaluable in my search for "the one" About £15 from Amazon, will get you one (IMO worth the wait and the cost)
After that, check for jacking damage on the underbody - try to get it up in the air, or get your scruffs on and have a good feel - right under the body (arms length). Also, I was told on here to check for leaking batteries - you may have to ask for it to be removed.
Join CCCUK. Mandatory, I'm afraid! But, worth 10 times the subs just of the network of info and offers
OT about MPG:-
3 cars in my household
2008 YARIS SRI - 4000RPM at 80mph (VVTI) 33MPG - mostly round town, a little motorway use.
2003 V6 Mondeo - 29MPG, 75% on motorways (at 80ish)
2002 Vette - 20-30MPG round town and on longer runs (the "fun factor" keeps me in the low 20's
)Happy searching!
Bowler said:
benny.c said:
I've seen a C5 that I quite fancy and it seems to have been looked after, but it's done £115K miles.
Welcome to the (happy) nightmare of C5 selection!I might be wrong here, but the early c5's are all US imports. Most is the US are/were built to order from a (longish) list of options, so if you are confused by options available for the year, or may be fitted to your target car, then I firmly recommend that you invest in the "Corvette Black Book", which is a list of data showing all options for each model year. I did and found it invaluable in my search for "the one" About £15 from Amazon, will get you one (IMO worth the wait and the cost)
After that, check for jacking damage on the underbody - try to get it up in the air, or get your scruffs on and have a good feel - right under the body (arms length). Also, I was told on here to check for leaking batteries - you may have to ask for it to be removed.
Join CCCUK. Mandatory, I'm afraid! But, worth 10 times the subs just of the network of info and offers
OT about MPG:-
3 cars in my household
2008 YARIS SRI - 4000RPM at 80mph (VVTI) 33MPG - mostly round town, a little motorway use.
2003 V6 Mondeo - 3350RPM at 80mph. 29MPG, 75% on motorways (at 80ish)
2002 Vette - ~2000RPM at 80mph. 20-30MPG round town and on longer runs (the "fun factor" keeps me in the low 20's
)Happy searching!
Older C5s were officially sold through franchised dealers in UK from 1998 until some time after 2000.
"Euro" cars (including UK) all have 300 mph speedo. Also a black tow hook poking through the right hand slot next to front number plate and another by the exhaust tips at the centre of rear. Plus red fog lamps cut into rear fascia of car. Radio will correctly tune FM stations (even digit decimals).
"UK" official cars have a number of detail differences from other Euro cars including correct UK headlamps (dip left) and the mpg readout is calibrated in UK gallons. The VIN code will tell you the exact market the car was built for.
"US" cars have a 200 mph speedo and reversing lamps next to the rear numberplate.
HUD is well worth having. In a Euro car with the 300 mph speedo the increments are so small it's hard to tell how fast you're going in these days of speed cameras etc. HUD gives a clear digital readout right in your line of sight.
C5 is a great car!
"Euro" cars (including UK) all have 300 mph speedo. Also a black tow hook poking through the right hand slot next to front number plate and another by the exhaust tips at the centre of rear. Plus red fog lamps cut into rear fascia of car. Radio will correctly tune FM stations (even digit decimals).
"UK" official cars have a number of detail differences from other Euro cars including correct UK headlamps (dip left) and the mpg readout is calibrated in UK gallons. The VIN code will tell you the exact market the car was built for.
"US" cars have a 200 mph speedo and reversing lamps next to the rear numberplate.
HUD is well worth having. In a Euro car with the 300 mph speedo the increments are so small it's hard to tell how fast you're going in these days of speed cameras etc. HUD gives a clear digital readout right in your line of sight.
C5 is a great car!
benny.c said:
Cheers boys, loads of good info there 
Going to get cracking properly with my search in about 2-3 weeks time so I'll let you know how I get on.
I guess as one Corvette owner moves over to a Mustang so a 'Stang over crosses over to a 'Vette! Going to get cracking properly with my search in about 2-3 weeks time so I'll let you know how I get on.P.S. Ben, you're not selling your Mustang are you......?
bobfrance said:
That doesn't sound too bad.
Used to get 14+mpg in heavy town traffic and max 25mpg (on the motorway) out of the XJR-S
Quite a bit better than I used to get out of either of my 5.3 V12 XJ-S autos with GM TH400 sludgebox...what a car for the money an XJ-S is, or for any money for that matter...Used to get 14+mpg in heavy town traffic and max 25mpg (on the motorway) out of the XJR-S
malc350 said:
bobfrance said:
That doesn't sound too bad.
Used to get 14+mpg in heavy town traffic and max 25mpg (on the motorway) out of the XJR-S
Quite a bit better than I used to get out of either of my 5.3 V12 XJ-S autos with GM TH400 sludgebox...what a car for the money an XJ-S is, or for any money for that matter...Used to get 14+mpg in heavy town traffic and max 25mpg (on the motorway) out of the XJR-S
malc350 said:
I guess as one Corvette owner moves over to a Mustang so a 'Stang over crosses over to a 'Vette!
P.S. Ben, you're not selling your Mustang are you......?
No, the Mustangs a keeper. I'm just looking for something fun and reliable as a daily driver which my wife can use at the weekends. For the money, I can't see anything better than a C5 at the moment P.S. Ben, you're not selling your Mustang are you......?
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