Whoa guys, I didn't have any email notifications, so I completely missed your replies! It's been a while and after pouring over the service manual, I decided to pay someone to do it. I just paid 620 quid to have all the drive belts, the cambelt including balancer shaft belt, water pump, engine and transmission oil, fuel and oil filters, spark plugs, rocker cover gasket (it was sweating oil) and finally a new radiator - done!
Since July when I got the car, she's put on 7k miles, (that's before the epic service unfortunately), it has 107k in total and Iove it. Usual niggles include 4ws warning coming on intermittently, although it has worked for the last month without a glitch and is good fun taking sharp corners. I can feel slight play in front suspension and I have minute vibrations coming through steering at 60mph. I had 4 new (part worn) tires put on and all 4 wheels balanced. The guy spent half an hour balancing the rear wheels, which are the stock 15 inch alloys, all could do with a refurb.
Yes, she was the nice looking one on auto trader for £695, but she's not so pretty upfront. Rear arches already touched up, and bubbling, the touch-up having been a horrendous job. More touch-ups up front and most notably the sunroof has seen things coming down from the sky and has been painted (with what looks like a paintbrush) and is rusting. Still up for doing her up and perhaps a colour change.
On the TODO list is a new exhaust system (perhaps all the way from manifold to back box), current one already blowing somewhere midway between the wheels, brake pads (disks?) and then I would love to do something about the suspension. She's a project all right
I am slightly concerned with what may be a very slight tappet in the valve train, the mechanic did confirm that there is something there, but we decided to first see how she gets on with fresh oil. I asked him to also sort out the valves, but I have heard that them shimmed valves are a lengthy and thus very expensive mission. Then I heard that when doing the cambelt you're halfway there.
I will end with a puzzling question - yesterday under the glovebox I noticed a dangling PCB board! What the hell, no cover what so ever, quite complicated looking thing. Also some two other connectors with pins shorted with jumper cables. I looked into the service manuals again, but the only thing I can figure is that the connectors are for service, but the pcb - could it be alarm, or SRS airbag?
I'm in Dalston, east London.
Peace!
And the 2.3 is a good (and relatively rare) engine, as well.
