Anyone a mechanic? Looking for advice on potential Horsebox (mot advisories)

BlairandAzria

BlairandAzria

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Ok so I am not a mechanic, in fact I know very very little about cars in general (hilighted by the fact I almost drove 300miles back from burghley with no oil in my car engine - luckily another hho'er saved the day- doh I felt like such a wally)

Anyway on my quest to find a new Horsebox I have come across a Renault master coachbuilt box which I've taken for a test drive and like, however, it's old (J-reg 91) its low mileage and doesn't appear to have been clocked although like all of them, there is the definite possibility it could have been at some point in its life. Anyway the seller gave me the MOT details so i could check the miles but it also gives the comments- so the current advisories, they are as follows :
1.Vehicle structure slight corrosion
2.(rear leaf spring area) slight corrosion
3.(both front inner wings) slight corrosion
4.oil leak
5.play in steering rack inner joint(s)
6. Offside front c.v. Boot slightly leaking grease
7.bith front brake discs slightly rusty
8.battery tray corroded

It's passed it's not until march 2013 but obviously with all the above advisories it's in need of a bit if work?

I don't really understand the above (I undestand the words!) so if anyone can offer any advise as to the above I'd be very grateful.
As in, are these problems serious? Can they be fixed? Are they indicative of more extensive issues? Any general idea of cost to put right? Would the words 'barge pole' come into mind when you see those probs?

As you can tell I'm a total embarassment to all females everywhere...all advice very very gratefully received!!
 
The bodywork corrosion is the main problem. It is very hard to give estimates on welding as you really can't tell how much it is going to cost until you start the job. We own a garage & mot test station and no longer give estimates for any welding work as it so hard to put a figure on the number of hours it would take to do job properly. Personally I would be very cautious as could end up costing an arm & leg to get through test next year.
 
Not a mechanic but have bought a few lorries in my time.

I would say those things (apart from the oil leak) are what you would expect. The corrosion might be treatable without replacing elements of it and dont panic at suspension word - we had a 7,5T suspension renewed and it was a few hundred - a 3.5T one should be less(in theory...) and thats if it does need doing wholly or partly. 3.5Ts can be dealt with by normal garages whereas 7,5Ts need high roofed heavy duty facilities to lift them to inspect/mend.

Realistically you might have to spend up to 1k on it if the suspension needs doing but it probably doesnt immediately - and it depends on what the purchase price as to whether the spending is acceptable. It is serious if the corrosion becomes serious but it is certainly treatable and perhaps preventable and can certainly be solved.

A good sweet running engine and gearbox much more of an issue - the oil leak is the thing that would be ringing slight alarm bells for me and which I would be getting checked out before purchase

I would say that if you are needing a Master type low ramped box then they are mainly newer so quite hard to find older/cheaper so I wouldnt dismiss it but I would be getting the oil leak checked out.

We recently bought a 3.5T and it also is old (similar age) and also needs a bit of suspension work, but personally I would rather get that work done and know it was done right and new than get one that seemed ok and then wasnt. Unlike some trailer floors the lorry floor condition is fairly easy to assess.

If the price was right, I would certainly consider going for it.But only if a mechanic was happy that the oil leak was just a seal needing replacing or something, rather than something more significant.

Edited to add with a horsebox as opposed to a trailer you really need to set aside maybe £500 a year min for an older lorry to do the jobs needed annually to keep it up together (prob £1k for a bigger lorry). Does the seller have receipts for regular work done? If not, then fine you have to decide whether to buy it regardless but it would give you indication of whether maintained. Also did the previous MOTs have the same advisory (ie have the same things been left year on year)?
 
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all thoose things can be covered by a normal mechanic, id advise finding a local one and asking him to look at the box.. or speak to the garage that done the mot and ask for a quote for the work to be done, then haggle with seller.

i have to say though... it sound like under the exterior your bying a box that hasnt been well maintained and is a bit of a rust bucket (would also really really get the flor checked)

it also sounds like some where along the line its been left stood.
 
Those advisories don't worry me massively - however I've been involved with quite a few of these era Renault Masters when they have needed extensive engine work as the 2.5TDi is famed for head and head gasket issues. Due to the positioning of the engine its a massive job and it's why I'd never have one personally... obv I don't know the details of the one you are looking at, it might be a different engine and body completely but I'd rather mention it and get it wrong than not mention it at all!

You can get a good independant inspection done for about £70 - I'd highly recommend doing it if you do have any worries. Good luck!
 
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