The super low-mile OMGa MmmV6 - being moved on

[rantingYoof]

Yes, I suck at collection threads. But this happened a bit spur-of-the-moment and even took me by surprise...

 

Earlier in the day I posted in the Grump thread about being effectively gazumped on a GS300 because I put off going to visit it for a day to save the seller an hour's trip each way to open up.

 

Faced with an afternoon off that I didn't wish to waste, I dutifully got on Autotrader and anger-searched through the Lexuses...but alas there was nothing worth investigating. I think I've concluded that what I actually want isn't yet really something I could afford with a comfortable contingency.

 

As I really need a car for work now, I became a bit derpy and did an extended search for all vehicles with an engine 3.0 in size or more, petrol, sorted by distance.

 

I was on page eleventy-eight and about to give in when I was drawn into an advert for quite a rare beast. I read the advert title and contents before I clocked the price, and my jaw dropped.

 

Two lovely phone calls later with the private seller, and I was at my dad's house cadging a lift. I took no photographs as I didn't dare think I could be collecting anything today - that surely doesn't happen to me, right? I was told the V5 was elsewhere but on its way back to the seller's house...I daren't be optimistic.

 

I arrive, meet the lovely chap selling it, sadly because of a bereavement. I am shown into the garage where it has been kept most of its life, and he starts it up and backs it out. I am awestruck, and immediately fall for it. I cannot drive it because it is SORNed, but I don't care. I'm buying it. Money is exchanged. Insurance is arranged (£30 cheaper than the S60).

 

As the car has an MOT until middle of August 2019 (!), all we needed to do was wait for the seller's son to bring what I thought was just going to be the V5 from Reading, so I could tax it and drive home 100% legal-beagle.

 

A bit of waiting ensued. A lot of waiting, but no matter. I was quite giddy, and I entertained myself by sending cryptic* context-free photographs to Supernaut and 17_Coffees in our Faceache chat...

 

Dealer plates...

 

WHAT SEATS....

 

Headlamp sprayers...

 

This last one wasn't so cryptic...

 

Anyway, the V5 arrived along with a wonderful bundle of service history documentation, including the original bill of sale in 1998 for around £23,000, and shortly after that I was off in convoy with my dad. First stop was a local petrol station to put some air in the driver's side tyre, which was 17PSi.

 

No pez shot though, because it had nearly 30 litres in it. So onwards to home, which took an hour. I averaged 30mpg.

 

Money shots? Oh, okay then.

 

This is a pre face-lift Omega 3.0 MV6 with Junkman-approved gearbox and desirable* interior. It has done just 45,000 miles which is fully backed up by its astonishing MOT history which I thoroughly encourage you to check and be in awe of.

 

All the gadgets work, including the freaking air-conditioning! I didn't use it though, and drove home with the sunroof fully open instead.

 

It has been fastidiously maintained and lovingly kept in a garage all its life. Here's some context: the nice gentleman who owned it changed his tyre pressures depending on how many people were travelling in his car. The PSIs he used are written down somewhere in the service book in hand writing. This is someone I regret never getting a chance to meet...

 

It does has the usual blebs on the arches and around the door. Underneath looks like it has some light surface corrosion, but nothing structural. I have no reason to doubt the lack of any such advisories on the MOTs; all the stamps/invoices are from either the supplying main dealer or a local specialist. Looks like the last cambelt change was in 2014, albeit only 3000 miles or so ago. As it's the tensioners that normally go first I'm taking the 3000 miles as a sign that the roulette game isn't likely to be terribly risky.

 

This is a stop-gap* car which I intend to have a wonderful time blatting around in for a time while hopefully saving more monies for a more substantial modern car purchase later on in the year. I intend to do the following...

• Blebs to hopefully be sanded back and treated to prevent further spread
• Investigate the spongey brakes - looks like the last brake fluid change was 2015
• Investigate a slight knocking from the driver's side front, particularly when turning right - maybe a CV joint?

 

Notwithstanding those snagging issues, I've not yet actually stopped grinning. It feels good to be playing around with bangernomics again.

[hairnet]

so out one slurpy beast for another

 

nutter

 

your cv joint front on a rwd car will be a ball joint or susp bush (its not a monza so no turret thru the bonnet)

 

stop gap

 

nah keep dis

[83C]

That looks stonking value for money. Will buy at least two tickets when the time comes.

 

Re. Knocking from front - no front CV joints on a RWD car...

[rantingYoof]

I'm glad you have allowed me to feel woefully ignorant re. the cv joint in the privacy of my own home . Otherwise I'd have mentioned it all casual and smart-like to my tame mechanic as if I've already got it sussed and looked like a right numpty.

 

Also, the asking price of this car in today's money would be £38,476. :shock:

[Lacquer Peel]

A top of the range Insignia is just shy of that figure.

[rantingYoof]

When I asked them both to guess the price he came in straight away at £750.

 

I don't know what he expected me to say, but when I told him he got it right first time he said 'fuck off'.

 

Supernaut hasn't experienced either pre-facelift non-idiotic climate control systems or this carbon-effect fascia which looks much* better than the faux wood trim.

 

The seats are deceptively comfy, even if they look terrible.

 

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

[Dave_Q]

The steering setup on these is a box with a bar linkage, could be that or a track rod end for your knocking.

[320touring]

Oh my.

 

#latenintiescopfantacies

[Ghosty]

That's really quite nice, a rare beast indeed.

[Brodders]

Ooooh, that is utter filth, I love it. That is the spitting image of the one my my dad had about 10 years ago (the 3rd Omega out of 6 so far).

 

Well bought anyway, I am very jealous. Please drop me a message when you have had enough of it in a few months and want to sell it, I would love to own a high spec pre facelift Omega at some point.

[Ohdearme]

Lovely thing, they are incredible value for money for a barge, that mileage and condition is a steal though. I was looking for an estate v6 as the thought of going Alfa to Omega amused me but there wasn’t anything nearby by the time I had to get something.

[BorniteIdentity]

Superb buy. These really do make a terribly pleasing noise in this tune, so enjoy!

 

Oh, and I agree entirely about the chairs. They’re not much to look at, but are supremely comfortable.

 

Hope it does you well!

[Jim Bell]

That looks class. Well done.

[Snipes]

Usual suspects for suspension knocking; top mounts, ARB links, steering idler arm, wishbone bushes (these especially). Give the front and rear track adjusters a soaking as they will be seized, probably seized solid.

[New POD]

The amount of information over at the Omega owners forum is erm amazing.

Tell them new POD sent you and always mention autoshite.

 

That loooks great.

 

Does is break in a straight line ?

 

I replaced the drop links last night on my 3.2 MV6. That has stopped the clonks, but noticed a tiny amount of play in a steering arm. But didnt have access to a ball joint splitter.

 

Those seats. Theres a 2.6 MV6 in scrap yard with those seats. in wrexham missing a rear passenger side door.

[r.welfare]

Make sure your first job is to check the breathers aren't blocked, and clean 'em out if they are. I had a manual 3-litre years ago, surprisingly it was not painted white. Went well. I concur with NEW POD that the Omega Owners Forum are very knowledgeable. They used to sell a DVD showing you how to do the cambelt change.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

That's lovely, must be the lowest mileage Omega in existence, especially a V6 . Most of them had done more than that in the first year!

Were these the first normal* cars with HID headlights? I well remember the days when if you saw some super bright white headlamps behind you on the motorway you just assumed it was the Old Bill.

[oldcars]

That is brilliant, history is spot on as well.

[Supernaut]

Does SoupOrNowt approve?

Yes I do. Very very very much so.

 

I'd almost be tempted to say I'll buy it when the time comes. It would make a nice replacement to the E36 (sorry Tayne!)

[eddyramrod]

This is a stop-gap* car which I intend to have a wonderful time blatting around in for a time while hopefully saving more monies for a more substantial modern car purchase later on in the year. I intend to do the following...

• Blebs to hopefully be sanded back and treated to prevent further spread
• Investigate the spongey brakes - looks like the last brake fluid change was 2015
• Investigate a slight knocking from the driver's side front, particularly when turning right - maybe a CV joint?
• Deliver to Eddyramrod

FTFY

 

Junkman won't want it, it's much too young.  I'm not quite so snobby.

[taxi paul]

Really nice. A car with style. Well done.

[rantingYoof]

Couple of other quirks...No cruise control fitted to this particular MV6.

 

The sales invoice, however, shows 'Police auto' as an optional extra. Does this mean it was reinforced or gifted with another cooler to take the abuse of high speed pursuits?

 

It's certainly the silky smoothest Omega four speed box of the three I've driven.

 

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

[Supernaut]

Has it got a cop motor and cop shocks, too?

[New POD]

Make sure your first job is to check the breathers aren't blocked, and clean 'em out if they are. I had a manual 3-litre years ago, surprisingly it was not painted white. Went well. I concur with NEW POD that the Omega Owners Forum are very knowledgeable. They used to sell a DVD showing you how to do the cambelt change.

they still do.

[New POD]

Couple of other quirks...No cruise control fitted to this particular MV6.

 

The sales invoice, however, shows 'Police auto' as an optional extra. Does this mean it was reinforced or gifted with another cooler to take the abuse of high speed pursuits?

 

It's certainly the silky smoothest Omega four speed box of the three I've driven.

 

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

i understand that police spec cars would have had more metal in the roof.

Most would be manual.

[rantingYoof]

Has it got a cop motor and cop shocks, too?

It's certainly got MV6 suspension and not Elite suspension!

 

But the tyres do a good job of soaking up bumps. Certainly doesn't crash over everything like the Volvo did.

[Schaefft]

I know that feel of being so close to buying an absolute bargain only to get screwed over by the seller (typically a gumtree retard). It happened to me 4 times in the last few days, and the most devastating thing is that all of these people are allowed to vote...

 

This seems to be a very nice purchase though! I love the look of these pre-fl Omega Bs and the V6 is definitely the way to go. Looking forward to seeing more of it!

[Guest Hooli]

That is fantastic, well bought!

 

 

I'd second the droplink idea, I think it's heritage* they carried over from Carltons that always destroyed them.

[Captain Furious]

Wow, just YES to that for £750!

 

Excellently bought.

[LoftyvRS]

Now that is a nice example! I wafted about briefly in a 2.0 CDX and the front seats were a thing of velour beauty!!!