leaky oily smart car

[dollywobbler]

Wow. That is properly early! Looks pretty retro already, especially on the delicious steelies. I can almost smell that interior. I spent so much time bouncing around Birmingham's various Smart dealers in the early noughties that I'm surprised they didn't ban me. I was just hooked on them. Gearbox aside. 

[RayMK]

When you do insure it, make sure that its import status (if it is definitely a grey) is declared and recheck the insurance documents when they make them available.  My son had a grey import Celica a few years ago.  This was declared on the 'phoned proposal question answer session and he asked them to double check the quote which seemed surprisingly reasonable.  They said "Yes, that's what the system is saying."  My son therefore bought the car.  Two or three years later, some numskull put a crease up the side of the car when it was parked in a public carpark - but did not own up.  To cut a long story short, the insurance company tried to wriggle out of fixing the car by saying that the standard size alloys with standard size tyres were 'aftermarket' i.e. undeclared (we did not know this - they looked standard and were on it when bought).  We argued this one away.  Then they said AHA!  It's an import.  You did not tell us.  You owe us 2 years back premium difference before we'll even consider a repair and threatened legal action if he did not pay-up.  He had to find £700, funded from selling the still damaged car for spares or repair.  Close inspection of the insurance documents showed 'Not an Import' as one of the clauses.  My son had not checked it on receiving, thinking that the 'phone session had covered that aspect. Sorry for the damper - we were probably unlucky having a bar steward insurance company. Every Little Helps.

 

Nice buy.  Progress reports eagerly awaited.

[mrbenn]

That looks spot on, glad you got back ok

 

I'll have £5 with you that the leak at the rear is the side windows:

 

http://www.evilution.co.uk/index.php?menu=panels&mod=447

 

Check under the front carpets as the door seals can leak when the get old, there is a hack you can do to get round that or new door seals are available for around £50 from Smart.

 

Have fun! I took ours out to Sainsburys last night and did 25 miles. Sainsburys is 1 mile away.....

[Vince70]

Thanks Ray I will do just that as I don't want to be taking any risks especially as driving LHD is all new to me..

 

From now on though it won't be going on anymore motorway escapades as that was a bit daunting so most of the time it just stayed in slow lane on the Motorway.

 

I also on the way back home had a horrid brake clutch smell occasionally (brakes and clutch work fine) but I wasn't sure if it was my car or the 58 plate Zafira in front as I couldn't see through the smog it was chucking out of the back of the poxhall but the father said when I showed Him the car that it smelt a bit hot but it had just driven about 200 miles so it might be another thing I will have to check on the too do list.

 

I've already looked up about the boot leak and that's a free fix with the removal of two small plastic window panels and a tube of silicon sorts the problem out but it came with a car cover so I will be using that for the time being.

 

I think he wants a go around the block in it sometime as he likes the little thing and was really surprised with the condition as I think he thought it would be a pile of crap for the money so he suggested we go halves on it and keep it in his garage when he moves next month which I think would be a great idea as that way it will at least get used once a week to visit the shops during the summer months and it means I get to keep my BMWs lol.

[mrbenn]

From now on though it won't be going on anymore motorway escapades as that was a bit daunting so most of the time it just stayed in slow lane on the Motorway.

 

I also on the way back home had a horrid brake clutch smell occasionally (brakes and clutch work fine) but I wasn't sure if it was my car or the 58 plate Zafira in front as I couldn't see through the smog it was chucking out of the back of the poxhall but the father said when I showed Him the car that it smelt a bit hot but it had just driven about 200 miles so it might be another thing I will have to check on the too do list.

 

 

Apparently these cars are limited to 84mph. However, you can remove this initial limiter then a secondary limiter kicks in at 95mph

 

The clutch can smell a bit in heavy traffic, were you queuing? I can get a whiff of mine having reversed up the steep drive and manouvered into position. It may need the actuator adjusting if its a bit slippy/grabby. I lubricated mine and changed the gearbox oil last week (both easy tasks) and its like night and day, much quicker and smoother gear changes now.

[purplebargeken]

I had a 2003 Passion. Looked bloody ace, had severe gearbox and dealer stupidity issues which turned me into a bit of a hater unfortunately. 

 

I am trying to overc ome this and still think that they are a great concept. Maybe one day I will risk another. Good luck with it. I remember getting a longer rear view mirror stalk from eBay. Made life much easier. 

[oldcars]

Get this for the wheels.

 

I did the Reliants with it over a year ago and they still look good.

 

http://www.poundland.co.uk/pro-driver-matt-silver-spray-paint-300ml

[Vince70]

I've had my first little problem with the car and I hope it's not much.. But it looks like I've a bit of an oil leak ..

I just looked at the mot history and it said it had a rusty sump back in 2013 so in someways I hope its that as it's less than £30 for a new one.. But it might be a hose or a breather pipe as it feels a bit wet under the turbo..

I just hope it's not much..

[Timewaster]

Amusingly the only Smart I ever drove was stickered up to look like an A1 Motorstores oil can.

[anonymous user]

The sumps do rust through regularly I think there is someone doing them now in stainless with a drain plug; also I'm pretty sure I don't need to say to keep a close check on the oil level they don't hold much and are prone to cooking the engine if it's low

[michael1703]

Crazy to think it's 20 years old, it feels like they've only been out a while, I don't see many where I live

[New POD]

That is Great. YELLOW and black FOR THE WIN (NNNNNNNNNNNARRRRRR)

[UmBongo]

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...

 

 

 

You must take responsibility for your actions!

[Vince70]

You must take responsibility for your actions!

I think your right I'm banning myself from the eBay motoring section from now on lol...

 

I've not made much progress so far apart from buying some bits and pieces from carparts4less and GSF..

 

So the bits I've ordered so far are a new sump and the top breather hose and 6x denso plugs plus some mahle oil and air filters but parts are quite cheap for the car as it only came in at about £50 for the lot by shopping about and juggling postage and packaging costs and using discount codes etc.

I was going to have a go at the sump myself as it looks straight forward but I just don't have the room to crawl under the motor and would need to buy a set of chocks for the front wheels plus axle stands before I started anyway so I've entrusted it to my local garage to do that job.. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed its the sump now and it's not too costly for a sump change.

 

Also I had some good news on the insurance as I declared it being a 98 LHD import on confused.com and it came in at £186 full comp and I declared it as a pulse model, so if my insurance company dont touch it I at least know now I can insure it.

[Vince70]

I've just splashed out another £20 on a cassette holder and a rubber sump gasket so its £70 in parts now lol..

[purplebargeken]

Good luck