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[Diamond Black Geezer]

Replaced my HT leads last night, just wondering if a faint crunching noise when you flex them is a sign of leads past their best. They're crusty, split and ready for the bin anyway, but thought I'd inquire, as I've never come across this before. (I'm only young  )

[zirk]

Replaced my HT leads last night, just wondering if a faint crunching noise when you flex them is a sign of leads past their best. They're crusty, split and ready for the bin anyway, but thought I'd inquire, as I've never come across this before. (I'm only young  )

Yep, they've been baked over time, so will start to breakdown (insulation wise) especially with moisture etc. Dusty Bin or maybe in your case eBay.   

[Diamond Black Geezer]

haha!

Ebay it is!

Vx brand new are over £200, yes?

I reckon these should fetch about £150-180, thereabouts? 

[Marks DTM Calib]

haha!

Ebay it is!

Vx brand new are over £200, yes?

I reckon these should fetch about £150-180, thereabouts? 

Only if they were formerly fitted to Lord Lucans horse.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

This can be arranged... though the horse may get a horrified/pleased expression on its face, dependant on the horses sexual orientation. 

[omega3000]

Replaced my HT leads last night, just wondering if a faint crunching noise when you flex them is a sign of leads past their best. They're crusty, split and ready for the bin anyway, but thought I'd inquire, as I've never come across this before. (I'm only young  )

How much did you buy your leads for mate ?

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Bought a DIS Pac from the scrappy as a spare (or possible replacement in the very near future, as the one currently fitted is off a Vectra V6, including consequential butchering of the wiring loom, involving chocolate box connectors) DIS pack £15, and leads were free. 

[omega3000]

Bought a DIS Pac from the scrappy as a spare (or possible replacement in the very near future, as the one currently fitted is off a Vectra V6, including consequential butchering of the wiring loom, involving chocolate box connectors) DIS pack £15, and leads were free. 

Ok cheers , think i seen a new set of leads last year for roughly £40 ... guessing pattern leads are ok 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

I was about to go for the excellent ones from Keith at the ABS (and still might, yet) - they're £55 and can't reccommend him/service high enough (bought a full service kit in the end plugs and all filters) but it was just these appearing as if by magic that I thought 'well, I can't turn them down' to be honest I've heard in the case of leads pattern are 'fine' I mean let's say they only last half the miles genuine Vx Beru ones do - but if Vx ones are £200+ and the pattern are £40ish, I think I know which are the better economy. 

[omega3000]

I was about to go for the excellent ones from Keith at the ABS (and still might, yet) - they're £55 and can't reccommend him/service high enough (bought a full service kit in the end plugs and all filters) but it was just these appearing as if by magic that I thought 'well, I can't turn them down' to be honest I've heard in the case of leads pattern are 'fine' I mean let's say they only last half the miles genuine Vx Beru ones do - but if Vx ones are £200+ and the pattern are £40ish, I think I know which are the better economy. 

  Are they made of gold  Only ever bought one pattern set for the Elite years ago that were ok but for long term i dont know , think they will outlast the car 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Oh, Vx ones are obscene in price - and to be honest this is only going to provoke Omega owners not part of OOF to throw their cars in the bin, when you get quoted prices like that. There are still people who, when posed with a car problem, simply walk into their Main Dealer, point at the car and say 'fix, please'. As the plenum, etc.. has to come off, too, it's costly in terms of hours of labour, not just parts.

As far as I'm aware, pattern aren't much below quality, compared with genuine. and the Keith B / ABS ones are superior, apparently, being more cores.


More pics and info on my restoration progress here... 

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=126439.60

[omega3000]

I know , 6 years ago i was quoted about £500 to fix a crank seal  Dont mind buying small oe parts if needed then fix everything else at home  Larger parts just scavenge from here or scrap yard whenever possible .

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Agreed. I think there's a happy medium between brand new Vx diamond quality and what's feasible / practical to the wallet.

I mean I've got some barely used 2nd hand pattern wishbones, and bought some genuine Vx bushes, I'll be getting Poly bshes as well, and fitting the four. To be honest the ball joints are pretty good and normally the last thing to go on a wishbone. I'll be getting some good chip-resistant paint, and 'refurbing / uprating' the wishbones. So for a total price of about £45 each, I've got wishbones approx the price of pattern, but to the same spec as Vx ones, which are about £90 each.

Some people will be horrified at this, but I've got a 2nd hand steering idler arm. Again, from the same car - 37k. Well these tend to go loose at 100k, and cost about £100 from Vx, so by that rough guide I reckon this has still got about £63 left in it  Again, bought as part of the job lot of bits I got that day. Let's say I paid a fiver, for argument's sake. I'm more than happy with deals like that. 

[Webby the Bear]

30 squid from ECP for a set and mine were still running fine after 18months. replaced them with another ECP set for preventative maintenance. but still. all good.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Ahh that's not big money, though don't forget that at £60 over 3 years, that 'averages' £20 per year... or, after ten years, £200 - therefore that equates to approximately the Vx price (and the Vx leads will last 10 years, providing no leaking gaskets, or other damage through ill-maintenance) put I appreciate you're replacing your leads purely as a preventative measure, not because they're failing on you 

Just so long as you don't go throwing your money away Webby - you need to save your money for new welding equipment masks and elastoplasts