Hi guys. Due to becoming a family it looks like I'm going to have to sell my Focus ST
However.... I like the 406's and would like to get a diesel now. I have found a 1999 T reg, 406, HDi 110, LX and just wandered what sort of things I should be looking at.
*Are there any common problems?
*Are they reliable?
*Do injectors etc need coding in if changed?
*Are they DMF clutches?
*According to what car you can get 63mpg ona motorway run? How close is that as usually they are completely wrong lol
*Are they cambelt or chain? What mileage do they need changing?
Your HDi is a turbocharged car (though it isn't a high-pressure turbo delivering high performance) - so you'll want to make sure the turbo works correctly. You'll want to get the car into 3rd gear along a straight bit of road, and build the revs up - you should feel the turbo boosting around the 1500 RPM mark. If the car feels slow and heavy, you may have turbo problems.
The HDi 110 is equipped with a dual-mass flywheel, I think. Not sure about the injector question.
MPG is obviously dependent on your driving style, but an HDi 110 in good condition can get that kind of MPG rating. I hear the diesel 406s can get 1000 miles.
The 406 is cambelt driven. I must confess I don't know much about diesels, never having owned one, so I don't know the cambelt change periods. I do seem to remember it is more often than petrol-driven cars though. Check the service history to see if it's been done - if it's not present in there, and you plan on keeping the car for a couple of years, haggle them down a bit on price, then get the cambelt, tensioner kit, and water pump replaced.
As long as they are well-maintained, they are very reliable cars. The car you're looking at is probably the face-lifted model (though some very late pre-facelift 406s were given the newer HDi engines); the face-lifted 406 seems to be less prone to rust than the pre-facelift versions.
When looking at any 406, the main thing to check for is water ingress - check the spare wheel well, rear light clusters, and boot carpet for dampness or standing water (the spare wheel well sometimes becomes a swimming pool). Also, the driver and front passenger footwells are where you need to check for water - if the carpet is soaking, there's a leak. Walk away if there's any sign of that, as it can cause all manner of electrical issues.
You'll find the 406 to be a good solid car; maintain it well and it will last you a long time. And if you miss your Focus performance, you can get the HDi 110 remapped to give around 136 HP - this will also give you more torque, and can also improve your fuel economy.
2002 (D9) Peugeot 406 Coupe SE, 2.2 litre Petrol. Scarlet Red/Rouge Ecarlate/Rosso Scarlatto. Black Leather interior. SOLD
2008 (E60 LCI) BMW 525i M-Sport, 3.0 litre Petrol. Carbonschwarz Metallic. Black Dakota Leather and Myrtlewood interior.
So far ive found that electrics can be an issue well id never employ a french electrician!! check everything works when viewing
My first hdi was an 02 plate with 180k+ on it and averaged 45 mpg i do mainly motorway miles
My current one is a 01 Y plate with 164k and before the bad weather i was getting 50mpg majority of the time, has slipped to 47-48 mpg of late
The std of spec for the 406s is always good first been a glx and the current one a gtx.
As the other post suggestions check for water ingress. my first one had a blocked drivers front sill which leaked into the footwell. Under the drivers carpet runs the wires from rear to front with some handy connections where the water will sit!!!! Caught early you wont suffer the problems i did!!
History as with all cars is important shows if it has been looked after or not. As an aside i paid less than 950 for both of the above cars so plenty of cheap bargains out there if you look
