Annual maintenance

[Coben]

I was wondering if anyone here kept track of what they tend to spend/ replace on their car as they go. I’ve had my nb for 3 years now and I feel I’m replacing a lot more parts than I was expecting so I’m trying to get some context.

So far I’ve completed the following in 15000 miles

Power steering seals
Battery
Battery wiring loom
Front suspension arms
Clutch
Roof
Front brake pads and discs
Cam belt and water pump
All new tyres
Rear brake pads and discs
Rear nearside wheel bearing

I’d been hoping for a quiet year so that I could put my maintenance budget towards rusty sills but every time I think it’s going to be fine we seem to encounter another big bill!

Total cost for the three years including the above and any MOT work has been about £3000 and I don’t know whether I’m just being unrealistic about the costs that are involved in running one of these or if this is just par for course on a nearly 20 year old car.

[ecotec]

Looking at £1k a year I reckon that's pretty good but I notice there's noting relating to rust+paint?
Are the front chassis rails all OK or have they been done?

[Turbodicky]

DIY or paying a garage?

[Dave.]

Had mine 2yrs, other than consumables it's had cambelt/waterpump as I couldn't guarantee when it was last done, all 4 calipers, a couple of sets of plugs, and a set of leads.

Bought it on 104k, it's on 116k now iirc.

It's in for sills doing now, it's had numerous pads and disks, partly due to the sticky calipers and trackdays, two sets of tyres, about 4 oil changes, coilovers (they don't count )

Only thing I've not done myself were the cambelt (chickened out) sills, and front coilovers (couldn't get the bolts out, but I did do the rears )

[Planet Claire]

You have to remember that you've got a circa-20 year old car and some things will start to go. You don't say what milesage it is or the condition of the car when you got it, so it could be that things like tyres, cambelt and pads/discs were due for renewal anyway.

I have only just replaced the original clutch on mine at 188k miles - it didn't need doing but the spigot bearing needed replacing so it was done at the same time. Likewise with the original exhaust (back box) when I had a new one fitted before Christmas last year. It's been a costly year for me too but I can't complain about the exhaust and clutch when that's the first time they've been replaced in 20 years! I've had one wheel bearing replaced a couple of years ago.

Depending on how frequently you drive it I have found that my battery doesn't last as long when just used as a weekend car so I fitted the gadget that you turn like a tap to disconnect it, saving me having to spanner off the connector each time. I also got a proper Panasonic job and it's much better than the rubbish Westco one it had previously.

[tim-b]

Planet Claire said:

......it didn't need doing but the spigot bearing needed replacing so it was done at the same time......

When you say the spigot bearing needed replacing, was that for the whining transmission noise? If so, did it fix it? I've got a whine on mine that's gradually getting worse, it seems hard to pin down what causes it as there's several theories floating around various forums but very little in the way of confirmed fixes....

[Planet Claire]

tim-b said:

When you say the spigot bearing needed replacing, was that for the whining transmission noise? If so, did it fix it? I've got a whine on mine that's gradually getting worse, it seems hard to pin down what causes it as there's several theories floating around various forums but very little in the way of confirmed fixes....

It was when I initially put it into gear and was making a horrible crunching noise; I honestly thought a new gear box was required. Anyway, a £20 spigot bearing fixed it (just a shame the labour wasn't as cheap!).

[tim-b]

Planet Claire said:

It was when I initially put it into gear and was making a horrible crunching noise; I honestly thought a new gear box was required. Anyway, a £20 spigot bearing fixed it (just a shame the labour wasn't as cheap!).

Ah ok, I've heard of spigot bearings being one of several theories of the dreaded whine and was optimistically hoping for a cheap/easy answer to the issue.....thanks for replying though!

[Planet Claire]

After getting my car back on the road and fighting fit for another year I've been doing a lot of mileage. The other weekend I went down to Dorset and going back home on the M3 in slow-ish traffic I was suddenly aware of a high pitched whine. Slowing down, changing gear and braking didn't really make any difference, although I wasn't able to come to a stand still and take it out of gear. It didn't sound like the brake pad indicator and I knew that the pads were ok (the rears are new) and it didn't sound like a belt or from the engine bay. After a mile or so it stopped.

I really don't know what it was and it hasn't returned, but knowing my luck I suspect it will, so I have that to look forward to.

[Coben]

Site didn’t want me to be able to reply due to abuse of privileges by new members so a little delayed response.

In answer to the questions I’ve had - the car is a 2000, i got it with 59,000 on the clock and has now done 76,000. It’s driven every day but had been off the road for a year when I bought it.

I’ve not had a look at the chassis rails for fear of what I’d find since I was busy doing other things to the car.

My p/s 3/4 arch is rusty but the inner sill is ok, though required a small amount of welding about a year ago.

I suppose im trying to estimate costs based on other people’s experiences so that I can work out what level of work to commit to I suppose. I think I’m going to try and do a bit of remedial work and preventative maintenance for rust, but so far every time I try I get a bill for something else!