Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Lizzie Zoom]

A friend is thinking of buying a one owner, well serviced, 70k+ mile 2.2 CD auto, on a 52 plate.

Everything sounds good, but I have noted comments on here that 2.2's can have head gasket problems, unlike I believe our V6's.  Is this something she should be concerned about with a 15 year old example?

Any advice I will be relaying on to her. Many thanks.

[Doctor Gollum]

A friend is thinking of buying a one owner, well serviced, 70k+ mile 2.2 CD auto, on a 52 plate.

Everything sounds good, but I have noted comments on here that 2.2's can have head gasket problems, unlike I believe our V6's.  Is this something she should be concerned about with a 15 year old example?

Any advice I will be relaying on to her. Many thanks.

No more or less prone to it than any other Omega... (2.6/3.2 notwithstanding). Coolant maintenance is critical, and due every four years. Similarly, oil should have been changed annually, regardless of mileage.

Given the age/mileage... if she budgets for the following items, assuming that they haven't been changed in the last year, she shouldn't go too far wrong:

Immediately:
Cambelt and water pump
Camcover gasket
Breather service
Coolant change
*Cam sensor
Atf plus filter

Likely any time between now and 120k:

Steering idler
Shocks all round
Wishbones
Track rods front and rear
Drop links
Rear donut bushes
*Manifold
*Cats/flexi pipe
Exhaust
HBV

These lists aren't exhaustive (npi), and apply to most every Omega, although items marked * are Desmond specific

[Lizzie Zoom]

A friend is thinking of buying a one owner, well serviced, 70k+ mile 2.2 CD auto, on a 52 plate.

Everything sounds good, but I have noted comments on here that 2.2's can have head gasket problems, unlike I believe our V6's.  Is this something she should be concerned about with a 15 year old example?

Any advice I will be relaying on to her. Many thanks.

No more or less prone to it than any other Omega... (2.6/3.2 notwithstanding). Coolant maintenance is critical, and due every four years. Similarly, oil should have been changed annually, regardless of mileage.

Given the age/mileage... if she budgets for the following items, assuming that they haven't been changed in the last year, she shouldn't go too far wrong:

Immediately:
Cambelt and water pump
Camcover gasket
Breather service
Coolant change
*Cam sensor
Atf plus filter

Likely any time between now and 120k:

Steering idler
Shocks all round
Wishbones
Track rods front and rear
Drop links
Rear donut bushes
*Manifold
*Cats/flexi pipe
Exhaust
HBV

These lists aren't exhaustive (npi), and apply to most every Omega, although items marked * are Desmond specific

Thanks DG

Yes, I have already discussed the cam belt issue with her being it is on 70k ish mileage which could mean one change is due.  I will certainly pass on your other points to her

[78bex]

might be of use, my 2.2 running at idle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64JrjO2k08w

The exhaust manifold usually end up with a hair line crack across the top, mine did 
The strap on the Ex cat usually rots off & the flexi joint is another weak point.
With an unknown car, I`d be wary of the handbrake performance.
With no parking sensors the length of the car needs some gettin use to by a newbie 
My slow 8 mile commute usually returns around 23 mpg.

[STEMO]

A friend is thinking of buying a one owner, well serviced, 70k+ mile 2.2 CD auto, on a 52 plate.

Everything sounds good, but I have noted comments on here that 2.2's can have head gasket problems, unlike I believe our V6's.  Is this something she should be concerned about with a 15 year old example?

Any advice I will be relaying on to her. Many thanks.

Give her a slap and tell her to buy a sensible car.

[Lizzie Zoom]

A friend is thinking of buying a one owner, well serviced, 70k+ mile 2.2 CD auto, on a 52 plate.

Everything sounds good, but I have noted comments on here that 2.2's can have head gasket problems, unlike I believe our V6's.  Is this something she should be concerned about with a 15 year old example?

Any advice I will be relaying on to her. Many thanks.

Give her a slap and tell her to buy a sensible car.

 

No instead I have encouraged her to buy it!

[Lizzie Zoom]

might be of use, my 2.2 running at idle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64JrjO2k08w

The exhaust manifold usually end up with a hair line crack across the top, mine did 
The strap on the Ex cat usually rots off & the flexi joint is another weak point.
With an unknown car, I`d be wary of the handbrake performance.
With no parking sensors the length of the car needs some gettin use to by a newbie 
My slow 8 mile commute usually returns around 23 mpg.

Many thanks!

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

She will also need to budget for a couple of extra pistons, Lizzie.

[Viral_Jim]

I found mine extremely easy to work on for the few years I had it. For me, mpg was 24-26 around town, about 28-30 on a good run. That was an estate, so a saloon may do a touch better.

The only job I've done not hitherto mentioned is the crank sensor. It's a total b@stard on the Desmond (unlike the v6). However part isn't expensive and diy-able with persistence. On mine it manifested as an occasional unwillingness to start (turns over but won't fire), with no warning lights on the dash.

[Lizzie Zoom]

I found mine extremely easy to work on for the few years I had it. For me, mpg was 24-26 around town, about 28-30 on a good run. That was an estate, so a saloon may do a touch better.

The only job I've done not hitherto mentioned is the crank sensor. It's a total b@stard on the Desmond (unlike the v6). However part isn't expensive and diy-able with persistence. On mine it manifested as an occasional unwillingness to start (turns over but won't fire), with no warning lights on the dash.

Many thanks.

[tunnie]

Does your friend really want to DIY? 

As you know had a 2.2 for 10 years, loved it, very easy to work on.

But all examples now are going to be very tired, rusting around the cills is going to be the killer on most now.

I'd probably buy mint 2.2 Estate tomorrow if it popped up, but they are all sheds with wheels now out there. 

[omegod]

The manifold on my 2.2 breaker sounded perfect when running so I was quite excited until I removed the heatshield and there was a whopper of a crack, how it was silent I'll never know

[TheBoy]

The 2.2 is a fairly reliable lump. Cam sensors fail, and are expensive, but will not leave you stranded.  There is a reasonable chance that HG will go once the miles get right up, but probably one of the easiest HGs to replace. Exahust flexi *WILL* fail, best to weld new section in, rather than replace cat. All other issues are standard Omega ones.

Make sure you take for test drive, as the 2.2 isn't the most spritely, and if its and auto as well, will need thrashing a bit to get it to cruise speed...  ...which hurts MPG.

Waterpump should be changed with cambelt, as its cambelt driven.

[Lizzie Zoom]

Does your friend really want to DIY? 

As you know had a 2.2 for 10 years, loved it, very easy to work on.

But all examples now are going to be very tired, rusting around the cills is going to be the killer on most now.

I'd probably buy mint 2.2 Estate tomorrow if it popped up, but they are all sheds with wheels now out there. 

She knows about cars Tunnie, but is no DIYoer!  I have advised on what to look out for, and will add your comments to the feedback to her thanks

From what she tells me this is a good low mileage example, but as I have said to her there are no guarantees repairs will not be required, and as it is a big car the parts are going to cost more when needed than on a small car.  In addition she is expecting to get it down to £700 with a service and MOT thrown in (plus a cam belt and water pump if anywhere near due I have advised her), but it must be her choice.  She loves the car, and I have said that if she kept it for even just 3 years then a £700 write down over that time scale is very reasonable and represents cheap motoring in a big, comfortable car

[Lizzie Zoom]

The 2.2 is a fairly reliable lump. Cam sensors fail, and are expensive, but will not leave you stranded.  There is a reasonable chance that HG will go once the miles get right up, but probably one of the easiest HGs to replace. Exahust flexi *WILL* fail, best to weld new section in, rather than replace cat. All other issues are standard Omega ones.

Make sure you take for test drive, as the 2.2 isn't the most spritely, and if its and auto as well, will need thrashing a bit to get it to cruise speed...  ...which hurts MPG.

Waterpump should be changed with cambelt, as its cambelt driven.

Thanks TB

I have advised on those facts, and she has already taken a test drive when she fell in love with it.

As I say, it is now her choice and I have said if she has any doubts, walk away