Rich88 said:The ride is probably smoother - it feels more like a GT car than a roadster. So I suppose it depends what you're looking for.
Think I'm getting old RichI've had my Zed for 5 years and I think I'm getting fed up of getting knocked around and feeling even an ant in the road. Cheers for the feedback and goodluck
Good afternoon to all - I've been lurking on the forum
- Thread starter Rich88
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jnwright71
Member
Hi Rich,
Car looks great and there appears to be a load of scaremongering going on here. If the car has a good history (stamps in the book can be verified with the dealer - surprising how many people don't keep the receipts) and looks the part, then you are on the right track.
The engine noise is hard to distinguish, but the N52 6 cylinder is renowned for being tappety when not driven for a while. Essentially the HVA design allows oil to drain slowly and if not driven for a while the engine remains tappety until the oil is warm and thin enough to build up sufficient pressure. This is totally NORMAL and probably to be expected at a dealer if the car has been sat for a while. Many will get the car warm to ensure this doesn't occur on a test drive. I have had two 2.5si engined cars and both have done this (mine is a weekend toy so can sit for a number of weeks without being driven). Typically the noise disappears after about 5-10 miles of driving and will only re-occur if left to sit.
Someone else has mentioned VANOS, but to the best of my knowledge this is not an issue with the N52 engine.
I don't see an issue with the shut line. It just looks like the bonnet catch has been released allowing the bonnet to raise slightly.
Do some more checks by all means and walk away if things smell wrong. However, if the dealer is offering a sensible warranty and everything else looks OK, go for it.
Cheers, James
Car looks great and there appears to be a load of scaremongering going on here. If the car has a good history (stamps in the book can be verified with the dealer - surprising how many people don't keep the receipts) and looks the part, then you are on the right track.
The engine noise is hard to distinguish, but the N52 6 cylinder is renowned for being tappety when not driven for a while. Essentially the HVA design allows oil to drain slowly and if not driven for a while the engine remains tappety until the oil is warm and thin enough to build up sufficient pressure. This is totally NORMAL and probably to be expected at a dealer if the car has been sat for a while. Many will get the car warm to ensure this doesn't occur on a test drive. I have had two 2.5si engined cars and both have done this (mine is a weekend toy so can sit for a number of weeks without being driven). Typically the noise disappears after about 5-10 miles of driving and will only re-occur if left to sit.
Someone else has mentioned VANOS, but to the best of my knowledge this is not an issue with the N52 engine.
I don't see an issue with the shut line. It just looks like the bonnet catch has been released allowing the bonnet to raise slightly.
Do some more checks by all means and walk away if things smell wrong. However, if the dealer is offering a sensible warranty and everything else looks OK, go for it.
Cheers, James
shortfuse 2
Senior member
hi and welcome
My cars 3.0 E85 ( now gone) and E89 sit in the garage all winter a don't clack clack clack like that at start up in the springtime
I don't think any of the negative comments are scaremongering _ they are given I the true spirit of the forum.
I would only consider something like this if it was reflected in the price.
I don't think any of the negative comments are scaremongering _ they are given I the true spirit of the forum.
I would only consider something like this if it was reflected in the price.
ronk said:
Hmm,
Well my advice was given in the spirit of the forum and certainly not as scaremongering. That is a hell of a racket coming from that engine
and it was my genuine response based on the experience I have from my 3.0si (and others). As I clearly stated, I'm no mechanic but I've never heard a sound like that on the video, from my 3.0si (or any other actually).
Whilst I remain concerned for the OP, I'm glad you're able to give the OP confidence in the Zed - that's what this forum is all about after all.
One thing though - if the Vanos is not an issue for the N52 engine, then that's one less concern.
:driving:
Not scaremongering at all. I've just presented the facts as i experienced them; the car, the dealer, the documentation i saw, even with video, audio and pictures. You only have to see the dealers yard in a remote location to already be a bit wary.
At the end of the day, its for Rich22 to make his own informed decision, but it wont be informed if we don't share information or experiences. Some sound quiet relevant.
The car is a beut no doubts and its easy to be seduced. But sometimes we have to listen to our gut. There will be a reason that such a well priced car (dealer price) has sat there for 2 months when more expensive ones have evaporated elsewhere. There are indeed a few similar ones on Autotrader at the moment and no doubts more will appear.
ok - perhaps the last para is not information but an opinion :fuelfire:
Paul
At the end of the day, its for Rich22 to make his own informed decision, but it wont be informed if we don't share information or experiences. Some sound quiet relevant.
The car is a beut no doubts and its easy to be seduced. But sometimes we have to listen to our gut. There will be a reason that such a well priced car (dealer price) has sat there for 2 months when more expensive ones have evaporated elsewhere. There are indeed a few similar ones on Autotrader at the moment and no doubts more will appear.
ok - perhaps the last para is not information but an opinion :fuelfire:
Paul
I like to deal in facts. And these are the facts that I think it's worth considering:
1. In Paul's video, it sounds like an HVA issue. Similar to other videos to be found on the web.
2. There are no reports of engine failure/power loss because of this issue (that I have seen).
3. When I started it and drove it, the noise was not noticeable at all. Granted, this may have just been me not listening for it.
So it may well have the intermittent tapping - several people on here have it but nobody has ever wound up in a cloud of smoke at the side of the road because of it. The fact of the matter is you could buy one that's never had it before and then a few weeks down the line, it starts. These are very reliable engines in the grand scheme of things. If anyone knows of horror stories linked to engine failure because of the HVA issue then please speak up.
I can live with it if it only does it for a short while/every now and then if I know it's not going to cause major issues. I'm not sure that there's a huge amount of risk with it - especially if the warranty is satisfactory.
1. In Paul's video, it sounds like an HVA issue. Similar to other videos to be found on the web.
2. There are no reports of engine failure/power loss because of this issue (that I have seen).
3. When I started it and drove it, the noise was not noticeable at all. Granted, this may have just been me not listening for it.
So it may well have the intermittent tapping - several people on here have it but nobody has ever wound up in a cloud of smoke at the side of the road because of it. The fact of the matter is you could buy one that's never had it before and then a few weeks down the line, it starts. These are very reliable engines in the grand scheme of things. If anyone knows of horror stories linked to engine failure because of the HVA issue then please speak up.
I can live with it if it only does it for a short while/every now and then if I know it's not going to cause major issues. I'm not sure that there's a huge amount of risk with it - especially if the warranty is satisfactory.
Hello to all again - just to keep you updated - I picked the car up today. Had a full RAC inspection last week and it passed. However, the inspector did say that the front pads were thin and one was sticking slightly. The garage have changed the front pads and also both callipers.
They also did a full oil service and kept all the old filters etc to show me. They used Mobil 1 5w-30 to fill it up while I was there as I asked them to wait so I could check the oil was a reasonable one.
The car was stone cold when I arrived and I'm happy to say that there was not a hint of any HVA rattle with bonnet up or down.
Completed the necessary paperwork, sorted tax etc out and away we went - 130 mile drive back home on mostly motorways. The engine sounds magnificent - is this just how it sounds or is it because of this 'noise generator' I see crop up from time to time. It pulls so well from low down (something which is completely foreign to me coming from a rotary engine which has virtually zero torque).
My only complaints were that the roadworks/general business of motorways didn't allow me to explore her full potential this time. That and that in the entire drive home I saw a grand total of zero Zeds :-( Was hoping to do some waving/flashes.
They also did a full oil service and kept all the old filters etc to show me. They used Mobil 1 5w-30 to fill it up while I was there as I asked them to wait so I could check the oil was a reasonable one.
The car was stone cold when I arrived and I'm happy to say that there was not a hint of any HVA rattle with bonnet up or down.
Completed the necessary paperwork, sorted tax etc out and away we went - 130 mile drive back home on mostly motorways. The engine sounds magnificent - is this just how it sounds or is it because of this 'noise generator' I see crop up from time to time. It pulls so well from low down (something which is completely foreign to me coming from a rotary engine which has virtually zero torque).
My only complaints were that the roadworks/general business of motorways didn't allow me to explore her full potential this time. That and that in the entire drive home I saw a grand total of zero Zeds :-( Was hoping to do some waving/flashes.
I'll take some when it's not shitting down with rain. Forecast for tomorrow looks good. I keep trying to think of reasons to go for a drive. In fact, I decided I would like some apples when I got home and even though there is a shop within about 200m that would suffice, I chose to drive the 3 miles to the supermarket for them.
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