leaky oily smart car

[Vince70]

Well I don't know how I get myself in these situations on eBay but I've just won a very early smart car for £550 and have to pick it up on Tuesday and I'm having a few problems as it seems it doesn't exist on the insurance database so my insurance company won't touch it and when I type the data into car checker all I get is Daimler smart coupe rather than four two which I thought was the model designation..

 

I only want to insure it for the journey home and also when I type the details on the car tax gov site it just comes up with a phone number rather than the details.

 

I won't be using it much as it was bought on a whim and I doubt I could part with my lovely old BMWs anyway so I have another car I won't use so I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice on taxing and insuring it for the 200 odd mile journey home and anything I should look for on an early smart.

 

The car does sounds like a goodun and the seller seems a decent guy and it is a low mileage example with a full years ticket and I managed to get the train ticket to Corby for £17 so its not all bad so does anyone know of a cheap cab firm near Corby.

[loserone]

,,,,,,,,,,

 

 

Looks ace, good luck!

 

Were these early ones that were special imports when they were LHD?

[dollywobbler]

Ace. They were officially selling LHD ones here for a while I think. ForTwo only came in as a designation when they added the ForFour to the range. Prior to that, I think they were just Coupe or Convertibles. Despite the stupid gearboxes and engines that grenade after about 60k miles, I still love them.

 

EDIT - R-reg! That really is early. Surely an import.

[stripped fred]

£500! Are these that cheap now? Sorry i can't help on the insurance front other than asking the previous owner how they managed it? I like the idea of one of these as a 'fun' car especially if they are heading for shite territory!

[Timewaster]

I think Daimler Smart Coupe is the correct moniker for an early Smart car.

 

They are a giggle to drive in a masochistic way. Enjoy!

[mrbenn]

Nice one Vince! I was sorely tempted by this as its one of the earliest examples, certainly the earliest I've seen. Plus good spec and sensible miles = win.

 

The early ones were called City Coupes rather than Fortwo (that changed in 2003 IIRC). With a really early one like this the difference in name doesn't surprise me. The make may even be MCC with online sites.

 

Things to check include oil level - this is very important. Check with engine warm and switched off. Don't let it go over max either. The difference between min and max on the dipstick is only 0.7 litre so don't overfill. 5w/40 is a decent middle ground for oil, preferably fully synthetic. If it is using a lot of oil then check/replace the engine breather in the first instance.

 

I use this place for parts, very helpful and quick delivery:

 

http://www.smarttune.co.uk/

 

Don't be alarmed if the gearbox seems slow and clunky. They come in for a lot of criticism but you really do get to learn how to get the best of it. In my experience it revs itself rather hard in auto mode, particularly when cold.

 

My 2002 model has just ticked 60k last week and passed another MOT without issue. They have their haters but I feel like this car will have to be prised out of my cold dead hands.

 

This website is a god send, guy really knows his stuff and it is WELL worth the £10 per year subscription:

 

http://www.evilution.co.uk/

 

Enjoy!

[dollywobbler]

It was launched as the MCC City-Coupe in 1998, so that's mega-early by the looks of it. Could have been registered as anything when imported though. Daimler is a British company. Daimler-Benz would be correct. MCC also possible, as is plain Smart. On the government vehicle checker website, none of those seem to work.

[egg]

this is what ukvehicle says...

[tabact]

It shows up on the DVLA site if you type in Daimler Benz Smart for the make. It is on the MOT check site as Smart (MCC).

[dollywobbler]

How was it registered almost a year before production properly began?!

 

EDIT - I see it shows as built in 1998, first registered 1999, yet somehow it's ended up with a 97-98 number plate. Guess it demonstrates why HML is not always accurate!

[doobietoo]

mot history comes up with this...

 

Registration number: R671BVS

 

• Vehicle make SMART (MCC)
• Vehicle model FORTWO COUPE
• Date first used 31 December 1998
• Fuel type Petrol
• Colour Black

 

MOT history of this vehicle

• Test date 29 February 2016
• Expiry date 25 March 2017
• Test Result Pass
• Odometer reading 85,079 kms
• MOT test number 7775 6681 9105

[Vince70]

Cheers Mr Benn..

I've driven a few before and must say I like the driving position and the chirpy little 3 pot engine.. I bought it on the condition that I would sell my old BMW compact or my lovely old Z3 as I've just been laid off and need cheaper transport to get me from A to B till I get another job but I've got to admit I just can't part with either cars..

 

I seem to have a habit of buying cars but can never get around to selling any and years ago had a nearly new smart roadster and every time it went in for warranty work I would get a fortwo and always said I would get one one day.

 

I was surprised that these little smarts are getting so cheap but I think it's a mixture of more expensive car tax on the early models and LHD which keeps the price down and hopefully I should get about another 10000 miles before it needs an engine rebuild and I will be giving it 3000 mile oil changes and using an engine flush to try and stop the piston rings from getting gummed up and burning out the valves.

 

I did see a full set of decent panels in white the other day on eBay for £70 and was thinking about doing a panel swap.

 

I'm going to try and talk my father into using it occasionally as that way I can park it over his place in the garage but he won't drive LHD.

[Tickman]

Here you go:

 

John

[mrbenn]

I will be giving it 3000 mile oil changes and using an engine flush to try and stop the piston rings from getting gummed up and burning out the valves.

 

I did see a full set of decent panels in white the other day on eBay for £70 and was thinking about doing a panel swap.

 

I'm not sure why it was so cheap either as prices on these seem to be starting to rise slowly. Time was you could get one needing an engine rebuild properly cheap, now you're looking at a few hundred. I suspect good/rare ones could be worth a few quid in the future.

 

If you do get different panels then consider keeping the yellow in storage. They didn't do that colour for very long IIRC so its fairly rare.

 

Good call on the oil changes but a word on oil flush - I wouldn't chance it. As standard, these cars have no sump plug so you won't get all the engine flush out. You have to suck the oil out of the dipstick hole. Many cars will have had a replacement sump fitted with a drain plug by now, otherwise you'll have to suck it out with a pump. I use the diesel hand primer from a Rover 400 with a couple of bits of hose because Autoshite. Many folks use a Pela 6000:

 

https://marinestore.co.uk/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=MTPELA6&Category_Code=oils-cleaning&Store_Code=mrst&gclid=CIeF7bnOlswCFcsp0wodj_ILZw

 

FYI difference in tax rates on the later models seems to be down to combination of gearbox mode and alloy wheels. The softouch (fully auto mode) carries a small penalty over a car just equipped with the softip mode (no auto option). If originally specced with alloy wheels this can also push the emissions up which can carry a VED penalty.

[Vince70]

I've managed to get one day insurance (I think) through the RAC as my company (swift) won't touch it but the problem is that the model designations are either pure, pulse or passion and my little car doesn't seem to have one so I'm not sure which one to plump for..

Also it comes up on the rac site as the smart car model range for a LHD 599cc is 2000 onwards when this one is 1999 so I don't know if I should just pretend it's a 2000 to make life easier.

I was thinking that I would just say it's a 2000 599cc LHD automatic in passion spec to save the hassle.

[mrbenn]

I'd get on the phone, Vince. An actual person should be able to sort it, best to insure it accurately just in case.

 

Could try MSM, not sure if they do day insurance but you could potentially cancel if within a cooling off period. Also HIC may be worth a look.

 

https://www.hertsinsurance.com/short-term-cover/

 

http://www.msminsurance.co.uk/personal-insurance/motor/smart-car

[Keymaster]

Looks like a Pulse to me: Earliest Pulse had steelies, sunroof, auto mode. Pure had solid roof and semi auto box only. Passion had all the toys: alloys, fogs, air con & optional leather. I *think* Pulse was the sporty* one, and was mapped for a few more horses.

 

I had a X plate LHD Pulse many years ago. The gearbox was horrible but as mentioned by someone else you learn to drive around it. I loved the 3 pot thrum & living in the city at the time I never struggled park it.

 

Interesting to see how many different ways these seem to have been registered with dvla. Mine was on V5 as manufactured by MCC. Model was Smart Pulse Coupe.

[Vince70]

Cheers for that keymaster I've not had any luck contacting the seller to find out which model it is but I've got in touch with RAC insurance and even though I got a quote online for a LHD model in their pull down menu and got the quote online I've now been told in person on the phone that they don't cover LHD cars.

 

I've also tried the other insurance company's that Mr Benn suggested and hope to hear back from them soon.

[BorniteIdentity]

If you haven't, call a proper old school broker.  They will want your business, and will get it insured.  It has to be possible.

 

I'm not very far from Corby if you need any logistical help.

 

Good luck.

[tabact]

Give Aviva a try. There is nothing in their general exclusions for left hand drive cars and they only exclude cars that are actually being personally imported. I've used them in the past because most day insurance companies won't cover cars without a MOT. Not a lot of use if you want to take a car for a MOT.

[scruff]

Another offer of a lift from me, not far at all. 

[Vince70]

Cheers Scruff much appreciated.. I would rather go with a fellow shiter than get a cab... But please let me give you the cab fare at least..

Would £20 cover it ok...

[Vince70]

The cab is all booked from the station and ive got the train tickets so it looks like a collection thread is on for tomorrow..

This is my 3rd car which I've bought from the Peterborough area and the other two were great cars so it's fingers crossed its as good as the last two.

So if anyone sees an elderly bright yellow LHD drive smart car on your travels tomorrow (hopefully not on the hard shoulder) give us a wave.

The first thing I'm doing when I get it back home is strip the back off the car and change the filters and breather pipe plus the 6 plugs and then treat it to some 5/40 synthetic oil which I bought the other month while it was on special offer in halfords.

[mrbenn]

I'll look forward to this

 

If you haven't already done so, check the section on changing the plugs on the Evilution site, particularly about removing the plug leads. Some folks manage with suitable pliers, I bought the "proper" tool from Merc.

 

One little "hack" I employ when changing the oil: you can remove the dipstick tube (2 bolts) which allows you to put the oil extractor tube straight into the sump and maybe get a bit more out. Just watch out for the seal on the bottom of said tube and make sure to pump some out before removing it, obviously!

 

ETA: apologies if this is teaching you to suck eggs but let it idle for a minute when you stop before you switch off to allow the turbo to cool down.

[scruff]

Sorry Vince had to pop out this afternoon. Happy to meet you if you get stuck

[Vince70]

The journey begins..

[Vince70]

Andy from Little Britain is on the platform and walking

[mrbenn]

Any updates? Hope the collection was successful.

[skattrd]

Another one saying speak to an actual person to get it insured.

 

I had my first kei insured by FJ. When I phoned they couldn't find it on their database, so they said we'll charge the same as the UK equivalent, which was grp1 insurance. No complaints from me.

[Vince70]

Cheers once I start using the car I will phone a broker up and get the insurance sorted but I managed to get home ok in the end without any dramas apart from a sticky speedo needle everything on the car works perfect and the engine is a real gem.

So in the next couple of weeks I'm going to be replacing the 6 plugs and top breather and give it a good service before anything else and the car also needs a real good polish as the yellow has gone a bit dull in places and maybe a rear seal as the rear boot carpet is a bit wet..

 

The car should come up as good as new when finished I was thinking about buying some second hand alloys but the car has a nearly new set of continental tyres all round so I might give them a coat of black smoothrite or poundlands eqvilant.

 

Also the car really is an early one as the car had its first service in September 1998 so it must of been one of the first off the production line and the car was a grey import by the looks of it and was bought over from Spain originally before making its way to the Milton Keynes area for most of its life as its first British stamp in the the service book was in 2000.

Also apparently it has factory fitted front and rear parking sensors which I thought owning a smart car is one thing you wouldn't need lol.