PJayUK
Active Member
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2008
- Messages
- 504
- Location
- Surrey, United Kingdom
- Car
- ML320 W163, E320 W210 & Jaguar X300-XJR6
Kind of following on from the mileage thread, I thought I would raise a similar related question. In short are there any tips, tricks or words of advice to bear in mind, to help maintain a car of more senior mileage?
I am now into the 6th month of a beautiful relationship with my long wheelbase S320. The car which was purchased initially as something of a whim, has rapidly gained status in my book as probably the best car I have ever owned (and I have owned a lot believe me!) My car is a 2000 model year ex chauffeurs’ vehicle that has been well maintained and has covered 119,000 miles I bought her with 115 on the clock. When I bought the car I knew that it needed a little TLC nothing major but I spent around a grand probably, sorting out brakes, having the tranny fluid and filter changed and replacing a propshaft coupling and a few odds and sods. Since then (touches wooden object) she has been a dream and I love every single mile that I drive in the car, even the ones at night on the M25 in slow traffic!
So its got me thinking that although the car would probably fall into the fairly cheap runabout category, I am beginning to get more and more attached to it. I drive it every day to work (about 70 motorway miles), and dread the time I have to resort to taking my wife’s Subaru Forester as it feels like its been cobbled together after an explosion in a plastics factory by a half-cut chimp.
So on to my question……
I want to keep this car going for as long as I can. I don’t want to wrap it up in cotton-wool and leave it gathering dust in the garage but I do want to do what’s needed to help it see 200,000 or even 300,000 miles. So what do we think, what is the best way to keep this wonderful motor car running for a good few years to come? Do I need to be paranoid about it and change the oil every 200 miles with extra virgin synthetic stuff, connect it to STAR every day to read the codes and run to a main dealer at the first sign of every creak, squeal or groan?
Or should I just drive it daily, service it occasionally and just enjoy our moments together?
I am now into the 6th month of a beautiful relationship with my long wheelbase S320. The car which was purchased initially as something of a whim, has rapidly gained status in my book as probably the best car I have ever owned (and I have owned a lot believe me!) My car is a 2000 model year ex chauffeurs’ vehicle that has been well maintained and has covered 119,000 miles I bought her with 115 on the clock. When I bought the car I knew that it needed a little TLC nothing major but I spent around a grand probably, sorting out brakes, having the tranny fluid and filter changed and replacing a propshaft coupling and a few odds and sods. Since then (touches wooden object) she has been a dream and I love every single mile that I drive in the car, even the ones at night on the M25 in slow traffic!
So its got me thinking that although the car would probably fall into the fairly cheap runabout category, I am beginning to get more and more attached to it. I drive it every day to work (about 70 motorway miles), and dread the time I have to resort to taking my wife’s Subaru Forester as it feels like its been cobbled together after an explosion in a plastics factory by a half-cut chimp.
So on to my question……
I want to keep this car going for as long as I can. I don’t want to wrap it up in cotton-wool and leave it gathering dust in the garage but I do want to do what’s needed to help it see 200,000 or even 300,000 miles. So what do we think, what is the best way to keep this wonderful motor car running for a good few years to come? Do I need to be paranoid about it and change the oil every 200 miles with extra virgin synthetic stuff, connect it to STAR every day to read the codes and run to a main dealer at the first sign of every creak, squeal or groan?
Or should I just drive it daily, service it occasionally and just enjoy our moments together?
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