E-Series Buying Guide - What to look out for?

[speed.freak]

Ahoy blokes and blokettes,

Hoping for a few of the more experienced members on here to shed some light on the topic. Going to look at box car tomorrow morning, and looking for some pointers as to what things (bad things, mostly) to look out for in regards to box cars? Or even e-series in general? Rust in the sills seems to be a tad common these days, but what else should I be on the look out for?

Obviously the used car basics will come into play (noises, belts, leaks, service history etc), but are there any E-Series 'specific' issues that I should actively keep an eye out for?

Obviously an RACV/VACC check-over would be ideal, but when you're paying peanuts, it's not really worth it..

Any input is appreciated guys.

Cheers, Danny.

[private9]

Aboriginals.

[Sunboost]

Look out for everything.

These cars are 14 years old now. There are mainly only mingas left. If you're serious about getting one and keeping it just make sure it's got low km.

[boostedbb]

if i find myself intentionally looking to buy an e-series, first thing i would look for is some psychiatric help.

[SnipeZ]

Rear wheel arches tend to rust.
Coolant stains on block.
Cracks around rear door jam locks. The thing the lock latches onto

[Sunboost]

^^Striker brah

[needfordspeed]

Look out for everything.

These cars are 14 years old now. There are mainly only mingas left. If you're serious about getting one and keeping it just make sure it's got low km.

I was gonna say the same thing, E-series can be anywhere from 14-24 years old now so i'd look out for everything. Like Sunny said look for one that has been maintained well, try find one with lower than average kms.

Water in the oil is something i'd be looking at or other signs of head gasket failure, that's probably the most expensive thing to repair.

[speed.freak]

So more or less check the entire car out, inside and out. Checking for sings of headgasket failure, and rust/shitehouse body construction.

I'm guessing anything less than 250,XXX km's would be considered below average these days?

[Commando]

What do you want one for? A project car or a daily?

My 2c: I'd look for loose change under the rear seat. See what I did there

[speed.freak]

Project/daily, and by project I mean "restore" with typical N/A mods, and by daily I mean one or two days a week along with the odd trip to Melbourne.

Not exactly heaps of use, or high power figures. But with how much I'd use it, purchasing a lemon and the costs to fix all the problems wouldn't be justified by the amount it gets used (Rego in itself often has me asking myself why) and what it is. So best to suss it out before handing over my gold coins.

I'll make sure to poke around for loose change in between seats, and hopefully don't come up with 20 year old maccas fries.

[nothin suss]

I you're thinking a purchase price of say 2k for a good low Klms one, plus a grand for RWC, plus a few grand to give it some more poke I'd be considering an AU or cheap BA.
At least they stop, turn decent and dont shit head gaskets all the time.

[nothin suss]

Oh and they have thermos already. Electrics should be intact. Have good headlights. ABS. Wheel choices. Decent A/C system. Don't have 3 stupid drive belts. I love E-series....
Oh and of you purchase one for say 4 grand and spend a few grand on it it should do you for 5 years.
If you purchase an eseries for 4 grand, spend 2 getting it nice it'll last 2 months and be worth 1k tops resale.

[speed.freak]

So much E-series love

Thread has definetely made me re-consider my motives behind "wanting" an E-series, especially since it'd only be used once or twice a week for the next 10 to 12 months before being sold on. I'll still go and have a gander at it, and if it's mint I'd snap it up obviously. But if it's like most examples and generally rooted (most likely) I won't even bother as the eventual cost wouldn't be worth it, even if I did most of the work myself.

Thanks for all the input guys, may have saved me buying an expensive garden ornament.

[mad_keen]

Just dont buy one unless you like them... I love eseries, wouldnt buy anything else, unless it was for daily purposes. So im fine with fixing the stuff that goes on them.

Au headgasket and fresh rebuild pretty much fixes any engine troubles then its just the panel work and trans to worry about.

[krisisdog]

Oh and they have thermos already. Electrics should be intact. Have good headlights. ABS. Wheel choices. Decent A/C system. Don't have 3 stupid drive belts. I love E-series....

EF/ELs non existent in your world ? :p

[Nikk O'lass]

My 2c: I'd look for loose change under the rear seat. See what I did there

[nothin suss]

Oh and they have thermos already. Electrics should be intact. Have good headlights. ABS. Wheel choices. Decent A/C system. Don't have 3 stupid drive belts. I love E-series....

EF/ELs non existent in your world ? :p

Well he did say Boxcar...

[falcon4life]

And he did say decent headlights lol

[nothin suss]

AU/BA do have excellent headlights.

[ford_racing_8]

Ive had many e series, low and high Ks, stock and modified, and belive it or not ive never had any major issues with any of them. Any car can give you troubles and obviousy as a car gets older things will break down.
For what you pay for an E series they are a fantastic car, for example i paid 700 for a EB fairmont 4 years ago, thrashed it, paddock bashed it while using it as a daily and its still going strong with over 300 thou Ks on it.
Another advantage... parts are CHEAP
ive found its easy to pick out a good car, drive it and you will soon learn if its a shit box.

[falcon4life]

AU/BA do have excellent headlights.

I know I was referring to the post about ef/el

[EBFAIRMONTRULEZ]

Ive had many e series, low and high Ks, stock and modified, and belive it or not ive never had any major issues with any of them. Any car can give you troubles and obviousy as a car gets older things will break down.
For what you pay for an E series they are a fantastic car, for example i paid 700 for a EB fairmont 4 years ago, thrashed it, paddock bashed it while using it as a daily and its still going strong with over 300 thou Ks on it.
Another advantage... parts are CHEAP
ive found its easy to pick out a good car, drive it and you will soon learn if its a shit box.

yeah exactly, my EB mont is a beaut car to drive 190 thou on the clock still going strong thrashed every now and then, the only speed bump is a blown rear main, which was a piece of piss to do on jack stands lol