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[PeteDevon]

I've had a V reg 2.5 GLS V6 auto estate for a couple of years. Bought it at about 80K, and done about 38K miles.  It's been a really good car, but I was tempted, and just bought a 51 reg 2.6 V6 CD auto estate with 80K on the clock, same colour.  A bit tatty, which explains the very good price, but seems an even better drive than the GLS.   
I don't usually do any DIY servicing but have a good local garage.
I have some questions:  1.) the old car is just coming up to MOT and will probably need £300 / £400-ish work to get through - known faults are front tyres wearing unevenly and near the legal limit, front suspension a bit noisy, and a rear wheel bearing suspect.  Would I do better to get the work done at the garage and sell it MOT'd, or sell it as is to someone who does DIY servicing? (thinking about it this is an impossible question to answer without more info.... the car is tatty inside, thanks to my driving thousands of miles on long trips and eating sandwiches, letting chocolate melt, etc etc.., it has a high-pitched whine for the first minute after starting, which is apparently not a problem apart from making pedestrians look at me strangely..... and the temperature gauge went up high in a traffic jam two weeks ago.  I found the water level was low in the reservoir, so filled it up and will check again before selling. So it is clearlly not the best Omega of its age as it stands.  Plus, see below, it might end up with even more tatty body bits..)
2.) the new car has a tatty rear door and front bumper - how easy is it to replace them (DIY with cheap but reasonably experienced help) with the better ones from the old car?
3.) the indicator auto-return doesn't work on the new car.  I had a related thing on the old one, where an internal plastic bit broke off, and it seemed quite a complicated business to get into the steering column.  Should it be an easy fix?

Any tips and advice gratefully received.
By the way, the tracking is perfect on the old car - as tested by ATS and not charged for because it was so spot-on.
Pete

[jonathanh]

here are my thoughts

1. what would you sell the old car for after you fixed it up?  knock off £300 and that's the price I'd take now.  In other words, list it and if you get an offer, take it.  Bear in mind that anyone buying an old motor is expecting a few problems so don't hid them deliberately but just get on and sell it

2. front bumper is dead easy - a should come off with a few bolts.  rear door a bit more work but not impossible.  If it is light scuffing etc find a body shop - one man band who is good at what they do and get it fixed

3.  new stalk is the answer.  I'd swap the stalk out of the old car but then I'm a cheapskate.  else get a new stalk from a dealer

4. as to wear on inner of tyres, it is not the tracking but the wishbones - they need to be replaced and proper geometry done including camber 

for what it is worth I'd chuck a couple of cheap tyres on the front and flog it