V6 406 exec/New member...Advise please please please

[Roan]

Hi all.....am a new member and have had my 406 for a few months and have fallen in love with this car. I was running this and a subaru imp and decided one had to go....the subaru lost as this Pug puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.
Just a few questions if anyone could help it would be great

1. Where can I obtain a service manual/repairs guide? I want to do a few things up (e.g washers dont work) and would like a manual to help out but all the ones on ebay (haynes 1995-1999) Do not cover V6 they say.

2. The car has no service history and is a 1998 model with 160,000 miles on the clock and was wanting to ask what I should get done to service and maintain its up to date (dont get me wrong it does not feel like its done that many miles at all) things like Cam belt changes I am not sure of.

3. Any advise on the best way to sport up the engine or body work? I dont want to go over body but just get the full potentail out the engine and make it look smart...I thought other people may have done things that they could advise (or even show of about) any pics for ideas will be welcome.

All in all the advise details from you guys sound great and I really have fallen for my 406 more then any car I have ever owned (and thats about 15 others) So thanks in advance to and help idea given.

[eoin27]

Go register at photobucket and throw some pics up. We could make some styling suggestions better then.

MJB is master of V6's on here, he should help you out with your engine query

[mjb]

1. Where can I obtain a service manual/repairs guide? I want to do a few things up (e.g washers dont work) and would like a manual to help out but all the ones on ebay (haynes 1995-1999) Do not cover V6 they say.

Grab the Haynes regardless; most of it is applicable.

2. The car has no service history and is a 1998 model with 160,000 miles on the clock and was wanting to ask what I should get done to service and maintain its up to date (dont get me wrong it does not feel like its done that many miles at all) things like Cam belt changes I am not sure of.

Service-wise, it's the usual stuff. The cambelt's not an easy proposition though. If you search on the forum, you'll find MartinV6's excellent HOWTO on the V6 coupe's belt, however the saloon+estate have considerably less room to work with between the belt and the body. Be very careful on oil changes (use a good funnel!) as it's easy to flood the sparkplug wells. Be aware that getting to the rear plugs means taking the inlet manifold off, so you'll want a new gasket from the dealer (about £3 iirc) before you start

3. Any advise on the best way to sport up the engine .... get the full potentail out the engine

How many other ~200bhp cars do you know that can reliably make it to this sort of mileage? It's only ever the "tweaked" engines which give up the ghost The only upgrade I'd recommend is a Powerflow exhaust, but the only sensible upgrade that does anything substantial is a re-map, which'll likely see you on the end of a tow truck before long - you have been warned!

[Roan]

Cheers Eoin27 I will get some pics on later.

Big thanks MJB I will take your sound advise and move foward with getting what you said. I dont want to make the car super fast and end up round a tree just making sure I am getting the best out of it without damaging the engine in any way.

Thanks again its been great advise from ya