Advice on re-comissioning car prior to sale

[monty_estates]

Hi Guys,

Need some advice. My low mileage (35k) 1993 Montego LXi Estate has been off the road for about 8 years (dry stored), and i'd like to get it MOT'd with the thought of selling it. How far would you go with the re-commissioning?

My plan was this:

1. Fit new cambelt
2. insure for the day and take for MOT (also get a chance to test for any issues on the road).
3. All being well, if it passes MOT I would then do the following:
- Oil & filter change
- Fuel filter
- Brake fluid
- Maybe spark plugs and dizzy cap.

I moved it to my drive from my garage which is 400 meters away recently and it started first turn of the key which was nice.

Lastly, Monty prices seem to be so fickle, what would be a reasonable price for a 1 previous owner car, 35k miles, very clean (few bubbles in rear of sills) car. Its BRG. I know the diesels sell for alot more, but this is a good solid car.

[H48HPE]

I think I'd do the cam belt, then a basic service - just do oil and filters, check and clean the plugs etc (might not need replacing) for what it costs i'd do the fan belt too.

then the brakes will want at least dismatling and cleaning up. on both mine the pads had become stuck in their runners leading to a slight bind. same with the drums, take them apart, clean up and free up the self adjuster. replace pads and shoes if required, bleed through and replace all the brake fluid.

then take it for an MOT.

you can get carried away, replacing brake cylinder seals, flex hoses etc but really if they aren't leaking i wouldn't bother... if it passes it's MOT let the new owner know what you have and haven't done and let them decide. same for stuff like replacing antifreeze.

Without seeing it - prices for good examples range between £500 & £2000 but you have to have a very very good one to get the top end price... off the top of my head i'd say aim for £800 (providing its a good honest car with some history, no MOT standard welding and no rusty arches / door bottoms etc) going against it will be the stupid tax bracket these cars are in...

[monty_estates]

Cheers. Its never been welded, I bought it in 2004, it had been owned by an old guy from new before me.
Once this weather is a bit more bearable I need to get up close to it and see exactly whats what with the body work, what I will say is that its one of the better ones out there.
It had history up to the point I dry stored it. Don't really want to sell, but I haven't got the space to keep it undercover anymore as I have just put my trailer and ZS race car in the garage..

[Jeff Turbo]

Montego prices are on the up at the moment but I would have thought your car would be better sold in the spring time when the weather improves as that would improve the chances of punters taking a drive to view the car in warmer days.
A complete service, cambelt, tensioner change, new MOT, grease around doors etc, and valet/polish should do the trick I would have thought. You may have to change the tyres though as they haven't moved for years

[Captain Slow]

Without seeing it - prices for good examples range between £500 & £2000 but you have to have a very very good one to get the top end price... off the top of my head i'd say aim for £800 (providing its a good honest car with some history, no MOT standard welding and no rusty arches / door bottoms etc) going against it will be the stupid tax bracket these cars are in...

Andy's doing it down in my opinion. I've seen one pic and read the description here. It IS a very very good one by the look of it. And I reckon we're looking at a four figure price here.

Wait til the weather gets warmer and people start wanting classics, and you will get £1200 all day long I reckon. Get loads of photos on here and we can make a better stab of value.

[H48HPE]

I'd have agreed with you if it was a saloon Sam, but I don't think estates have got the same appeal.

As I said, I've not seen pictures so I was just going on whats been said, it sounds very good - i still think £800 maybe up to a grand if its good and you wait for the right buyer to come

[matthewsemple]

I'd have agreed with you if it was a saloon Sam, but I don't think estates have got the same appeal.

For the non-enthusiast estates are worth much more than saloons.

The most desirable Montego is probably a Countryman Turbo Diesel. A few estates have been sold on eBay recently and fetched good money. 7-seaters are particularly popular.

In terms of the VED costs, all cars with engine sizes over 1549cc are the same price if they are registered before March 2001. The cost is currently £220 which is much cheaper than it would be if these cars were subject to the emissions-based bands. Large pre-2001 cars are usually more desirable because the rate is not based on emissions.

[H48HPE]

For the non-enthusiast estates are worth much more than saloons.

The most desirable Montego is probably a Countryman Turbo Diesel. A few estates have been sold on eBay recently and fetched good money. 7-seaters are particularly popular.

In terms of the VED costs, all cars with engine sizes over 1549cc are the same price if they are registered before March 2001. The cost is currently £220 which is much cheaper than it would be if these cars were subject to the emissions-based bands. Large pre-2001 cars are usually more desirable because the rate is not based on emissions.

I cant see a lot of non-enthusiasts being interested in this motor for anything more than banger money, most non-ethusiats would be looking towards a Mondeo Estate, Rover 75 Estate, Vectra Estate etc. Montegos are now viewed by many as a classic. if this was a diesel estate then maybe it would be highly sought after, but its a petrol and in that form most enthusiasts would probably go for the saloon.

[matthewsemple]

Recently a 1.6 LX estate was up for sale on eBay and I think it went for over £600. It wasn't in top condition and it didn't have the seven seats. I don't think a similar saloon would fetch that much.

The MOT is the crucial bit though. It could cost more to MOT than the car is worth. When I last put tax and test on my MG Maestro 1600, it cost over £500 even though it passed first time with no advisories. Why? I put a couple of new tyres and an exhaust before the test because I knew it would fail on that if I didn't. Then add the tax disc, cost of the MOT and the insurance and before you know it, you've spent more than the car is worth.

That is why so many cars are sold without tax and test and offered as spares/repairs.