Sorted 405 = happy bunny

[carlo]

Time for an update on my 405 capers.  

 

Sadly the lovely red hybrid GTX/Executive I had had for nearly three years without incident decided to blow its gearbox last October, which led to a considerable amount of car angst as I had got it exactly how I like it.  As luck would have it I had bought another blue one in the summer but was undecided whether to keep as a spare or sell on as the red one was going so well!  Came within a whisker of offloading it in September so that was close.

 

One of its last pics

 

 

Goodbye

 

 

So the dilemma was whether to swap the blue one's good box and lower mileage engine into the red one, where everything else was good.  After a few night's deliberating I decided to concentrate on making blue as good as I could, although the lack of a sunroof was and remains an ongoing frustration.

 

 

Further complicating matters was the impression that blue had a noticeably inferior ride, although I'm starting to think that might be in my head as it seems to be getting less and less of an issue.  Was also a bit sceptical about the colour, not being a fan of pearlescent paint, but I now thing it quite suits it.

 

Things done:

 

Harrier alloys removed in favour of the earlier ones

Replace back box

Sort the air con out, now working (no good without air con!)

Replace both mirrors (door trims need removing but have done this many times now)

Fix outside temperature gauge (comes with the working n/s mirror where the sensor is)

Fit the nice 605 steering wheel

Fit longer centre console with front armrest (Again quite a big job but have done it three times!)

Interior valet as it was a bit stinky

Full service

Sort leak coming through aeriel

Replace knackered door stay

Auto box oil & filter change

 

So now I am a happy bunny as it's going like a dream.  Only things I'm considering now is a cambelt change and I'd love to fit a sunroof but is a bit pricey.  

 

All 405s have beautiful steering, this one is probably the best yet.  Comfortable, fun to drive, cheap as chips, a bit different now, relatively simple mechanicals (good torquey engine in a fairly light body) - what more could you want?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HMC]

Sorry to hear your red one died! Really frustrating when you've got it running bob on. Is the replacement a top spec one? The interior looks lovely!

 

I share you love for the ride/ handling of the 405, my GLXDT estate was both really comfortable and handled well too!

At some point peugeot have forgotten this skill sadly.

 

I bought mine off a work colleague who'd had it since new, who raved about the handling and ride, and took it with a punch of salt. Only as I got to know the car did I realise it was no sales guff, it was true!

 

Hope you have better luck with the replacement Carlo.

 

Edit: have you checked the dampers of the new one? IIRC peugeot made their own at this time and if some pattern ones have been lobbed on it may make all the difference

[carlo]

Cheers jm, and good luck with the 504!

 

This one's definitely the GTX so no leather/heated seats/headlamp washers etc.  Prefer velour to leather anyway so that's a bonus.  Am doing everything possible to make sure it has as long a life as possible.

[Junkman]

How does one actually change the gearbox filter?

[Partridge]

It does look better with the alloy swop. It's a nice car, good work

 

What is the fate of the red one?

[carlo]

How does one actually change the gearbox filter?

 

I don't know actually, the gearbox company assured me they had changed the oil and filter, so presume it must have one somewhere.

 

Red one sadly squashed now, having provided a useful amount of spares.  Forgot to mention the fans kept going at full pelt in the blue one, remedied by fitting the fan temperature sensor out of t'other.

[Partridge]

That's a shame-but at last you got some spares from her...nothing worse then waste!

[meggersdog]

How does one actually change the gearbox filter?

 

You have to remove the tin pan at the bottom of the gearbox.There is a small element filter just above it.

It's a messy job unless you can find a drainplug or use one of those suction pumps that goes down the dipstick tube.

[Skizzer]

Sweet.  I think these look great with all the top spec jewellery, especially those alloys.  The interior looks rather sumptious too.  Never had the pleasure of driving one, but I did enjoy flinging a 309 around for a while many years ago.

 

I wonder if there's a low spec white one for sale near me?  Maybe with 20p stuck down the handbrake?

[stilo_active]

Lovely looking car, especially with those wheels. Really regret not buying one when I had the chance. Also, regret not buying the 406 Executive when I had the chance. That was chuffing lovely.

 

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

[carlo]

And I meant to ask while I was at it, what's the best way of sorting the black plastic door pillars which always seem to fade to light grey.  Have tried the 'back to black' stuff  but just seems to make it really patchy then fades again.  Perhaps it's best to respray them.

[Partridge]

Satin black paint is best for that IMO, make sure you rub them down first though or it looks bleedin' awful.

[Asimo]

Be glad you don't have a sunroof.

In my experience every French sunroof becomes a rainroof and all sunroofs have bouts of rattling and whistling. Additionally, they mostly block their drains from time to time, enhancing the rusting process.

[Junkman]

You have to remove the tin pan at the bottom of the gearbox.There is a small element filter just above it.

It's a messy job unless you can find a drainplug or use one of those suction pumps that goes down the dipstick tube.

 

There are two drainplugs, one for the gearbox itself, one for the differential.

But there is no tinpan, or sump.

[Talbotman]

As partridge has suggested black satin acrylic paint is the best for getting the colour back on to those trim areas...however as they are on textured stick on film..I'd prep them with either a good pre paint panel wipe,or acetone to decontaminate them rather than run the risk of rubbing any texture off.

[Vince70]

405s are absolutely stunning cars and I always thought were a cut above a Sierra or a Cavalier and to me seemed more like a generation ahead of the game than anything that ford and Vauxhall could achieve back then.

 

My father had two early model 2 litre petrol GTX estates one manual and one Auto and both were in that metallic burgundy which seems to be the standard 405 colour.

 

He never had a single issue with either car and would have one again in an instant..

 

It's such a shame that Peugeot can't build cars like this anymore.

[Junkman]

He never had a single issue with either car and would have one again in an instant.

 

That could be arranged in an instant.

 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/1994-peugeot-405-gtx-20-auto-estate/1046187195

[carlo]

The two real issues with the Series 1 405s were the premature smoky petrol engines and the poor build quality, things which were put right with the Series 2 which had a much more solid feel and the more modern engines.  They were supposed to be a tad softer but it was worth it for the overall improved quality I think.  It was only until the early Primeras and Mondeos came along that it seemed to meet its match.  I haven't driven either but I would doubt whether they had a better ride/handling compromise than the 405, even if the handling may have been as good.

[Partridge]

As partridge has suggested black satin acrylic paint is the best for getting the colour back on to those trim areas...however as they are on textured stick on film..I'd prep them with either a good pre paint panel wipe,or acetone to decontaminate them rather than run the risk of rubbing any texture off.

Decontaminating them is a good idea.

[Vince70]

That could be arranged in an instant.

 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/1994-peugeot-405-gtx-20-auto-estate/1046187195

That's identical it even has the lost centre cap look about it which seems to be the norm on those alloys..

 

I always used a bit of no nails on the back of the centre caps as it was hard to get cheap replacements...

 

My parents first 405 had a couple of new spare centre caps in the boot as the previous owner said the car had a habit of losing them so he bought a couple of spares.

[dollywobbler]

Be glad you don't have a sunroof.

In my experience every French sunroof becomes a rainroof and all sunroofs have bouts of rattling and whistling. Additionally, they mostly block their drains from time to time, enhancing the rusting process.

 

My experience of French sunroofs is entirely against yours. Have never had a problem apart from the Renner 21, where you had to push the glass backwards yourself (it still closed properly). Only sunroof leak issue I've encountered was on a Volvo. My wife was most unimpressed...

 

I've very briefly had a drive of a 405 NA dizzler than Warren TC had a while back. Would like to spend more time with one so I can see how it compares with a BX. Should money woes have not got in the way, I'd have been beating a path to Junkman Manors by now.

[r.welfare]

I ended up drilling small holes through the cap into the wheelface and locating with a small self tapper.

 

405s are ace. There is nothing else I have driven that has such a good driving position, steering feel, ride and handling compromise and level of seating comfort.

[Junkman]

Would like to spend more time with one so I can see how it compares with a BX.

I had both simultaneously and if you can look past the addictive pointlessness of the BX, the 405 is the superior car in every aspect.

[dugong]

I had both simultaneously and if you can look past the addictive pointlessness of the BX, the 405 is the superior car in every aspect.

Yes, because the BX's 'perfect' suspension that gets confused with kerbs and transverse ridges is absent. 

Plus you don't have the old Citroen brigade to deal with [present company excepted]. 

[dollywobbler]

I had both simultaneously and if you can look past the addictive pointlessness of the BX, the 405 is the superior car in every aspect.

 

That's the thing. I suspect I can't.

[Junkman]

It's difficult, I agree.

[carlo]

I've driven them for the last nine years and honestly think I'll be driving one for the next nine years.

[oldford]

GTX automatic on a RW Coventry registration number, that's Europcar spec for a SDAR group rental.

[carlo]

SDAR?

[oldford]

It's the SIPP code used by the car rental companies.  Each letter describes an attribute of the vehicle, in this case:

 

S = standard size

D = 4/5 door

A = automatic

R = it has air conditioning

 

In the good old days before SIPP codes, it would have been in rental group F.