I've bought a wrong'un - a 2004 2.2HDi exec

[Shuvitupyerars]

Hi guys! only just found this forum!

I recently bought an 04 reg 2.2 HDi exec Estate, in black, from an advert at the roadside, like a lay-by (I know, I know)

I needed a car and had seen this one on my way to work for a few days so called the guy up to look at it. He met me over there as he was out working elsewhere - he said he put the car there to get more attention for the sale.

It was advertised as low mileage (52,000) and looks and drives very nicely. There was quite a few stone chips touched-in on the front and the guy said it happened last winter by following a grit lorry and some grit fell onto the road.

I was pleased overall with the car and we shook on £6,150.00 and off I went apart from he said the service books were at his girlfriends house and he'd post them on as he forgot to bring them but he said there was only 4 stamps in the books anyway because of low mileage but I had the reg document ok.

A few weeks went by and a fella pulled into Asda's car park next to me and was looking at the car. When he got out he approached me and said it used to be his an how was it running now? I said it's ok but why ask? he said he used to run it as an Airport car for his taxi firm which he closed down last year. He said when he sold it on it was showing 160,000 miles and a local guy bought it but sold it because his wife had put Petrol in it twice!.

It seems this guy I bought it from is a trader and hadn't registered it himself so left the last keeper on the form. The mobile number I had for this guy now doesn't work.

I had the car valued by 2 places with the correct miles (we guessed now about 170,000) and they both said about £3,000.00 I'm also having trouble with an "ANTI POLUTION" message and haven't got a clue if it needs a cambelt yet or what? also the key for the doors is different to the ignition key? is that right? the guy said Peugeot do this to make it harder to steal?

I also don't know what to do about the mileage and whether I can sell it knowing the mileage is wrong? can it be changed? but what to? I'm thinking of asking Peugeot to quote for bringing the car up to date with services.

Any advice welcome.

[mjb]

Oh dear god don't you watch tv? Side of the road = bad. Mobile number only = bad. Loads of chips on 50k car = bad. Different keys = bad. Obviously BS excuse about the stone chips = bad

£6150 for a 406... Just look on ebay!

Still, guess you've learned your lesson now!

I'm also having trouble with an "ANTI POLUTION" message

Quick search using the box at the top right of the page will explain all...

haven't got a clue if it needs a cambelt yet or what?

Get a new one on there. Last thing you need is to have to fit a new head, valves, etc

also the key for the doors is different to the ignition key? is that right? the guy said Peugeot do this to make it harder to steal?

Oh christ... In case you ain't already worked it out, the guy was full of sh*t. It's likely had a new ignition barrel or the central locking setup's been replaced - what part of the door key works - the central locking and/or the actual key-in-the-lock bit?

I also don't know what to do about the mileage and whether I can sell it knowing the mileage is wrong?

I'm fairly sure you can sell a car like that as long as you make it absolutely clear it's been clocked.

can it be changed?

Dealers can do that, but It'd make more sense to ask them to put it at 500k or something silly, so it's obvious the clock's wrong and the cambelt change is aligned with a nice round number.

Actually, check with VOSA - the MOTs for the past couple of years should have the mileage on. Don't take it as gospel though!

[neildavies]

I won't say anything about buying the car as you did, you don't need salt rubbing into a wound. Spilt milk and all that.

To me, you have 2 choices
1) Learn to live with the car as it is, they can do mileage OK. First thing then would be to change the cam belt and get a service on it. Then run the car into the ground. Antipollution fault is quite common on Peugeots in general for many different faults.

2) Ignore the fact that you've met up with the old owner and learned the mileage and part ex the car for something else.

[Doggy]

I nearly bought a Y reg. 2.2 GTX estate, which showed 277,000, but was reputed to have done only about 110,000.
Previous owner parked it one night with 60k on the clock, next morning it had jumped to 230k or thereabouts.
Checked out the story & it seemed geniune, spoke to the guy's garage, checked the service records, old MOT's and it all seemed OK. Looked into resetting mileage correct value, but heard it's stored in 2 places, (clock & BSI, I think) & can change itself back or even add the totals together, decided not to bother. I put a deposit on it, but the clutch failed the day before I was due to pick it up! This put me off so I got my money back & walked away.
Over the next 3 months I covered hundreds of miles viewing just about every 2.2 GTX or Exec estate for sale nationally & tried at least 5 that didn't compare to the first. Several had 'Anti Polution fault', 'Unblock diesel filter', FAP blocked warning light on, or just masses of turbo lag.
Finally found a reasonable example, felt I paid a bit more than I should, but just wanted to end the search.

Point of all this is that if yours is a nice example, albeit one that's done a lot of miles (and probably mostly been well cared for most of the time), it may still give you years of luxury motoring. I'd definetly get the timing belt done staright away, change the oil & all the filters, go from there. You'll find plenty of info on this site regarding the 'Anti Polution fault' and there's a really good write up on the 406 coupe site. May even clear itself with a decent run.

Hope you get on OK if you decide to keep it - let us know how it pans out.

[steve_earwig]

2) Ignore the fact that you've met up with the old owner and learned the mileage and part ex the car for something else.

I was wondering about that but then the stonechips and two keys would be a bit of a give-away.

Besides, that would make him almost as bad as the guy who ripped him off in the first place.

The aunty-pollution fault could be something simple or it could just be the eolys (additive) tank's empty. I'm not sure about getting the services done, it'd be nice to get the book stamped but it would probably cost a fair bit and I doubt Peugeot would be willing to stamp it for all the missed services so it'd be a bit pointless. Just get it a full service and change the belts and waterpump (and crank sprocket? Are they the same as the 2.0 HDis?) The clocks might take some explaining to anyone that knows anything about it so maybe that would be worth sorting out.