Volvo 480ES For Sale. £420ono needs to go!

[sporty-shite]

Right, needs to go pretty soon to make space and generate money!

 

Anyway, being exWatanabe, and now owned by me, I suppose there's potential for it becoming a bit of an AS bike.

 

Volvo 480ES, 1991 H reg, metallic grey, tidy interior, pretty tidy on the body, save for a few scabs on the bottom of the drivers door,and a bit of a crusty wheelarch.

 

Tested to Feb 13, taxed to end July 12. It's been a Cat C, but not for much, seeing as it was only about 2005 (IIRC). Had all new discs and pads last year. Slight blow on exhaust.

 

Car is in Bolton. Could do with it out of the way soon,as we're up to five cars here since I bought the Scirocco, and Mrs S got the Beetle.

 

Fresh pics here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Skizzer]

Sounds like a good deal, which might tempt me but for the usual space/wife excuses and not being anywhere near Bolton. Have a free bump though, so you don't drown in random Proton threads.

[pompei]

Sorry to be a thicko but what is a CEM?

[sporty-shite]

Sorry to be a thicko but what is a CEM?

 

Central Electric Module. It's the black box that controls the accesories (elec windows, C/locking, alarm, sunroof, pop ups etc) I think it may have got a bit damp whilst the car was standing over winter, and so it's now developed a level of awkwardness only usually seen in pre-menstrual women.*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Other sexist generalisations are available.

[sporty-shite]

Sounds like a good deal, which might tempt me but for the usual space/wife excuses and not being anywhere near Bolton. Have a free bump though, so you don't drown in random Proton threads.

 

Cheers, Skiz. Shipply is your friend, unless you have something interesting to deal, then we could meet up and distance wouldn't be so much of a problem.

 

Whereabouts are you, by the way?

[Skizzer]

Sounds like a good deal, which might tempt me but for the usual space/wife excuses and not being anywhere near Bolton. Have a free bump though, so you don't drown in random Proton threads.

 

Cheers, Skiz. Shipply is your friend, unless you have something interesting to deal, then we could meet up and distance wouldn't be so much of a problem.

 

Whereabouts are you, by the way?

 

That's a fair point about Shiply... I'm starting to run out of excuses, apart from the rather flimsy wife one* (and the obvious but irrelevant lack of need for more 20 year old cars).

 

Closest I've got to interesting for swapsies is the ex-Wuvvum Rover 75 2.0V6 (6 months tax and MOT until late July, needs new ABS sensors on the front and has recently come up with an airbag warning light but otherwise rolls well). See http://www.autoshite.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13089&p=341901#p341901 for details. I'm in South Wales, just west of Swansea, but travel up the M4 quite a bit.

 

Dilemma: always fancied a 480, this one's a good price and a known quantity from a trusted seller, it could live in the barn with the Dedra, the missus need never know... classic insurance... hmm...

 

Someone else please buy it before I do something dumb here.

 

 

 

*It's the excuse that's flimsy; the wife's reasonably sturdy, being German.

[sporty-shite]

Skiz, you say you go up the M4 a lot? Could we arrange a meet up in Reading? Just seen something I really like.

[Guest]

If I hadn't been temporarily banned* from the VOC forum I'd suggest asking 'glasgowjim' who has loads of CEMs for reasonable money.

This will need a CEM I and not a CEM III. And yeah, they hate being left for any amount of time where damp occurs. So all of the UK then.

 

This was a good old bus. Provided you make it watertight and keep the CEM high and dry, it'll give some good service.

 

Also Chris, can I buy the Haynes manual back off you? 460's clarting on and I need it back.

 

GLWTS.

[Skizzer]

After a flurry of PMs and in spite of Sporty-shite being generously accommodating on the collection arrangements, I'm regretfully dropping out of this one. It looks/sounds like a fine piece of shite transport, and I still want a 480 one day, but that day should realistically have to wait until I've made some progress with the many failings of the rest of my needy fleet. Head therefore wins over heart, in a departure from the Skizzer norm.

 

Someone please buy it quickly so I don't feel so shitty for dicking Sporty around.

[sporty-shite]

If I hadn't been temporarily banned* from the VOC forum I'd suggest asking 'glasgowjim' who has loads of CEMs for reasonable money.

This will need a CEM I and not a CEM III. And yeah, they hate being left for any amount of time where damp occurs. So all of the UK then.

 

This was a good old bus. Provided you make it watertight and keep the CEM high and dry, it'll give some good service.

 

Also Chris, can I buy the Haynes manual back off you? 460's clarting on and I need it back.

 

GLWTS.

 

Jon, you can have that HBOL if you want. Do you want me to post it? PM address if you do.

 

Tried Glasgowjim through 480 club europe but he only has a CEM3. There's a place in Nottingham got one, so I might just buy that, although I did think the thick end of £60 was a little strong. Or is that just me being tight?

 

Can't help but think I might like it more if everything works as it should. Maybe the sensible option would be to fix and keep. Then again,I want another Alfa, so sensible obviously isn't an option!

[Guest]

 

Tried Glasgowjim through 480 club europe but he only has a CEM3. There's a place in Nottingham got one, so I might just buy that, although I did think the thick end of £60 was a little strong. Or is that just me being tight?

 

Can't help but think I might like it more if everything works as it should. Maybe the sensible option would be to fix and keep. Then again,I want another Alfa, so sensible obviously isn't an option!

 

Is it that bloke at NVRC breaking that mint 440 GLT?

 

I'm a bit mortified it's misbehaving really. It was fine with me - but I didn't lay it up. Then again, you had WAAAAAAAAAAAY more important stuff to be sorting out than the shit remains of my fleeting clart.

 

Let me make some enquiries.

[sporty-shite]

 

Tried Glasgowjim through 480 club europe but he only has a CEM3. There's a place in Nottingham got one, so I might just buy that, although I did think the thick end of £60 was a little strong. Or is that just me being tight?

 

Can't help but think I might like it more if everything works as it should. Maybe the sensible option would be to fix and keep. Then again,I want another Alfa, so sensible obviously isn't an option!

 

Is it that bloke at NVRC breaking that mint 440 GLT?

 

I'm a bit mortified it's misbehaving really. It was fine with me - but I didn't lay it up. Then again, you had WAAAAAAAAAAAY more important stuff to be sorting out than the shit remains of my fleeting clart.

 

Let me make some enquiries.

 

Jon, it's a place I found on ebay. Iknow it was fine with you, because it was fine with me before I parked it up. Anyway, your PM has been swiftly responded to!

[sporty-shite]

Right, I'm bringing this back from the dead, because it looks like we're epically skint at Sporty Towers. I have a CEM on it's way, so with a bit of luck, everything will work as it should.

 

Yes, the price has gone up a bit, but only to reflect what I've paid for the CEM. I might be interested in a PX,but it would need to be super cheap and preferably super economical.

 

Your comments, offers and other contributions are most welcome.

 

KTHXBAI

[Guest]

I have a CEM on it's way

 

Fantastic stuff. Are the CEM 1s and 2s backwards compatible then? The two places I tried didn't email back, and the one place I did find a CEM 1 was at a Welsh Volvo dealership. It was NOS and they wanted £300+ for it ......

[sporty-shite]

I have a CEM on it's way

 

Fantastic stuff. Are the CEM 1s and 2s backwards compatible then? The two places I tried didn't email back, and the one place I did find a CEM 1 was at a Welsh Volvo dealership. It was NOS and they wanted £300+ for it ......

 

Never needed to find out, the chap had the right one, matched by part numbers. Just hope it's a good 'un.

[sporty-shite]

Can I get a bump for Easter?

 

If only to publicise my sig, and the 156 for sale within it......

[scooters]

Always fancied a 480.... if a client pays me next week etc...... I owe skizz one chodling and I know he likes these babies!

[sporty-shite]

Always fancied a 480.... if a client pays me next week etc...... I owe skizz one chodling and I know he likes these babies!

 

Yes, Skizz came close, but common sense woke him in a cold sweat, so he decided against!!! Although I'msure he could be persuaded

[scooters]

Always fancied a 480.... if a client pays me next week etc...... I owe skizz one chodling and I know he likes these babies!

 

Yes, Skizz came close, but common sense woke him in a cold sweat, so he decided against!!! Although I'msure he could be persuaded

 

That and the sure knowledge that Mrs Skinner would remove his left teste with a soldering iron! Her teutonic vigilance on spotting a 'chod tale' is better than Mrs Scooters ......and skizz values his goolies!

[sporty-shite]

Always fancied a 480.... if a client pays me next week etc...... I owe skizz one chodling and I know he likes these babies!

 

Yes, Skizz came close, but common sense woke him in a cold sweat, so he decided against!!! Although I'msure he could be persuaded

 

That and the sure knowledge that Mrs Skinner would remove his left teste with a soldering iron! Her teutonic vigilance on spotting a 'chod tale' is better than Mrs Scooters ......and skizz values his goolies!

 

Meh. You can live with one!!

[Skizzer]

^ Besides which, if I had a WEAPON like that 480 then I wouldn't really need goolies

 

Frau Skizzer is actually pretty forgiving, on the basis that it's better I spend time thinking about tired and ropey 25-year-old cars than lively and attractive 25-year-old women.

 

I still reckon this is a nice motor and a good deal, Sporty. Volume of work means I can't do a chod buying expedition for another few weeks yet, but if it's still hanging around at the back end of May then the combination of you and Scooters may well be able to beat me into submission.

 

But don't let that stop anyone else buying it! Someone?

[sporty-shite]

Right, I'm bringing this back up to the top, mainly* because I can't seem to shift the 156, so it looks like I'll have to take it on for a bit. I've actually got fairly attached to it, especially since I got the Infocentre working and discovered it's doing nearly 40mpg.

 

 

 

 

 

 

*But also because there have been a couple of Alfas winking at me from Ebay!

[hhhugues]

Ah, the infocentre ! I always wondered how a company with a reputation for solid, trustworthy engineering could have let such a POS through the net. The one on my t4 was an endless source of amusement / confusion, especially when everything starts flashing after 2 minutes of spirited driving, only to get back to normal once you cool it a bit. That building block fuel gauge...

 

That being said, this 480 is tempting me. Is the exhaust still blowing ?

[sporty-shite]

Ah, the infocentre ! I always wondered how a company with a reputation for solid, trustworthy engineering could have let such a POS through the net. The one on my t4 was an endless source of amusement / confusion, especially when everything starts flashing after 2 minutes of spirited driving, only to get back to normal once you cool it a bit. That building block fuel gauge...

 

That being said, this 480 is tempting me. Is the exhaust still blowing ?

 

Exhaust still blows, although I'm fairly sure it's from a join rather than a pipe, as it tends to blow more on acceleration (ie when the engine "takes up" on the mounts a bit) although to my shame, I haen't bothered to look at it. Wat may know, as he may hae had a look when he owned the car.

 

Oh, and that building block pez gauge was well ahead of it's time. Just look at what a lot of the moderns have now

[Guest]

It may well have got worse from when I owned it, but the blow was coming from one of the central clamps and a small pin hole near the middle silencer box. Only really noticeable when you get going.

 

It's not a bad little car if you want to scratch the 480 itch.

[hhhugues]

Fair enough, I suppose the infocentre was already quite an old toy when it found its way onto my T4. I can see that it's a sort of primitive - and therefore cooler - version of nowadays hi-tech dashes.

 

Damn, I've realised that this car isn't that far from me, either. I've always had a soft spot for these. I'm really looking for a diesel wagon, but it does look way cooler than most things i've considered picking up so far !

[Guest]

Fair enough, I suppose the infocentre was already quite an old toy when it found its way onto my T4. I can see that it's a sort of primitive - and therefore cooler - version of nowadays hi-tech dashes.

 

Damn, I've realised that this car isn't that far from me, either. I've always had a soft spot for these. I'm really looking for a diesel wagon, but it does look way cooler than most things i've considered picking up so far !

 

As I said, it's a sound little car. Not the mintest, but solid where it needs to be and it had a timing belt not long before I bought it. The only grotty bit is the bottom of the driver's door - but they're available cheaply enough on eBay. The running gear is strong and piss cheap to maintain.

 

 

Chris has sorted the CEM out - the thing that hurts these cars the most is being sat around. Even the 100% reliable CEM in my 460 Turbo goes off if it's parked for anything over two or three days. Classic insurance, 4 x 100 stud pattern, Lotus tuned suspension (no messin')....it's a good way to get an 80's 'classic' for not much dosh. If it's regularly used, they're reliable.

 

Shortly before I flogged it I had SCTSH_ANDY fit new discs all round, too. They're plenty quick without being properly rapid, and there's some cool OEM tuning goodies available for them - see the Momo Daytona 3 spoke steering wheel as a good example. I have a spare one of those available, with a boss if it helps.............

 

 

 

 

Momo Daytona. This is the one I sold.

[hhhugues]

Cool write up and cool photos !! That wheel looks nice. Definitely sounds like a nice little car to have fun with. But see, that's partly the problem. Whatever car I end up buying will be driven down to France to stay there for the foreseeable future, and used by me when I'm there (which is increasingly often). The car will also get some use from my family and I'm sure it will be used pretty much daily, but I'm just worried that :

a) It won't be "appreciated" as much as it should be.

Considering the utilitarian use it'll mostly see, a diesel bus still makes more sense. Especially in France where diesel is considerably cheaper to the litre than unleaded...

 

Basically it's about finding the balance between a car that interests me and I'd actually want to own and something that someone who isn't me would happily use too

[sporty-shite]

Interesting diesel bus, you say?

 

There's a link down in my sig........

[hhhugues]

Ha, I actually really like 156's ! But I should precise : sub £500 diesel shite bus for me please !! Not that easy to find...

 

If I just wanted to go for the economy / practical side of it, there's plenty of 106 / saxos to be had (even diesel) around £400 in a 10 mile radius from my house, but, apart from the fact that they're likely to be pretty beat, they just don't excite me as something to drive around in. Besides France is full of them, LHD and sometimes for not that much more money (although anything less than 800 euros is unlikely to come with a CT in France - and at today's rate, that's already well over £600)

 

I'm actually kind of considering revising my plans and getting something that I could use for a bit and then sell on in France for more money, and repeat until I've got a good practical runabout for my parents AND something that I like for myself to leave there. For example a 10+ year old petrol luxobarge such as this:

on sale here for £495 with a very reasonable 115000 on the clock (mind you that probably means the timing belt or other key stuff needs doing), would probably go with a price tag of anything between 2500 to 6000 euros in France (no joke, look in LBC), depending on mileage or condition.

"Prestige" cars just don't devalue half as much as there. I actually went to see this particular one yesterday and even though the bodywork is spot on and it seems to run ok, it's a bit of a dog electrics wise, so i'll probably pass. But still, even considering it's RHD, I'm almost certain I could shift it for 1000+ euros no sweat, maybe even without going through the French plates kerfufle. Basically twice the money I'd paid for it, without trying to be greedy. Now I don't have an entrepreneur bone in me, but you got to admit, it's tempting...