Post Purchase Galant V6 Sport Questions ;)

[IAC77]

The Good

1. Pyrenees Black.
2. Black Leather Interior (completely unmarked).
3. Black tinted windows (back windscreen and back side windows).
4. Clean engine.
5. Exhaust still in very good condition.
6. All electricals working.
7. Drives well, tiptronic works fine, no noticeable noises.

Basically, black black black :happy:

The Not So Good

1. 90000 miles (cam belt at 60000).
2. Fair few bonnet stone chips and scratches (reasonable for a car of this mileage I guess).
3. Windscreen stone chips, one pretty bad (but not in drivers vision).
4. One or two paint touch ups at the drivers side door edge.
5. Alloy kerb scuffs.
6. Some rusty wheel nuts.
7. Damage to the top side of the front bumper (top layer of plastic has cracks), and usual kerb scratches underneath.


Now for the questions:

1. Before I make full payment on the car, I want an independent mechanic \ inspector to thoroughly check it. Now I’ve looked at the services by AA and RAC, and although they seem very thorough they are quite expensive (approx £250). Anyone know of any companies that would do it cheaper (northwest) or should I just get my usual car servicing company to give it a go over (Total Car)?

2. Has anyone had an experiences with a company called Chips Away? I’ve heard good things about them, and they basically do the lot, chips, scratches, alloys glass etc.

3. The car does not come with the standard stereo and cd multi-changer, and instead comes with a Skoda Tape Cassette (let’s just say that will be taken out sharpish!). How tricky is it getting aftermarket stereos to fit the galant, are there any harnesses or wiring I should be concerned about?

4. Are black tinted windows a factory fitted option with Galants? I only ask because it’s very difficult to tell, the ones that have been fitted are to a high standard.

5. What’s my best bet for a getting a new set of wheel nuts and locking nuts for the V6 sport 17” alloys?

6. Now for the scary question, if I can’t repair the V6 sport front bumper so no marks are noticeable, how much would it cost to replace?

Cheers

Ian

[stuartturbo]

1 don't know
2 Chips away is a franchise service so very dependent upon individual but does have the back up of a big company for chip etc i would but not sure if it needs spraying just don't like the idea of street spraying
3 Any jead unit should fit they have a braket that bolt to the side the bolts onto the car
4 Not standard fit all seem to have different levels and amouts of tints applied
5 Halfrauds etc or even try mitsi price may be ok
6 no idea but try MO on here

[Nick Mann]

1. No experience - sorry. The good thing is there is a lot of expertise on these forums, including a team of mechanics and a parts person.
2. A neighbour has used them to repair a cracked bumper - she had no complaints as far as I know.
3. As it is a UK car it probably already has the standard (ISO?) connector plugged into the cars loom. If not, the connector can be bought from halfrauds for around £15. HU's can be fitted the normal way, i.e. a cage fitted to the hole and then the stereo pushed in, or they can be bolted to a bracket behind the console, with the console re-fitted afterwards. Double din units fit nicely, but getting two single din units to fit can be awkward.
4. Tints are standard on some. I think I am right in saying that all sport models had tinted rear windows.
5. Any alloy wheel shop?
6. several hundred for the bumper plus painting, fitting and VAT. I woul suggest that if it is still the right shape, it is repairable. If this needs doing as well as the stone chips then I would mention a user on here 'Rally205' as he does very good work repairing bent/scratched cars. He is based in Rugby.

[Nutter_John]

As for Someone to review the car with you , search for WRD they are based in the North West ( Stoke On Trent )

As Nick and Stuart have said the rest no point me chipping in

Oh yeah Welcome to the wonderfull world of Mitsubishi

[Rikki]

1. Might be better asking someone from this site to go with.
2. Nope but then I am in Glasgow
3. Piece of cake. I took out my standard stereo and multichanger the week after i bought the car, just a case of pull out, push in.
4. The V6 had light green tints all round, so I would assume yours were aftermarket.
5. Ask either GalantSpares (Zedy1) or phone Mits. I need new ones too as mine are rusted but they come off and go back on without any fuss
6. A good bodyshop will fix it, your talking maybe £100 for the respray and whatever else to fix the cracks/dents. Buying a new one would stretch you to about £400 without painting, or you could get lucky and find one in a scrappy.

[AncientOfMu]

My input :)

Now for the questions:

1. Before I make full payment on the car, I want an independent mechanic \ inspector to thoroughly check it. Now I’ve looked at the services by AA and RAC, and although they seem very thorough they are quite expensive (approx £250). Anyone know of any companies that would do it cheaper (northwest) or should I just get my usual car servicing company to give it a go over (Total Car)?

Providing it has a FSH I wouldn't worry too much. Joining ClubVR4 is a much better investment in my opinion. But I have used ther RAC in the past to inspect a 620ti, they found lots of faults and it was my fault for ignoring them.....I had a lot of trouble with that car.

2. Has anyone had an experiences with a company called Chips Away? I’ve heard good things about them, and they basically do the lot, chips, scratches, alloys glass etc.

Some people at my work highly rate Chips Away....However with all things I think it comes down to two points... How good the individual doing the work is and generally you get what you pay for.

3. The car does not come with the standard stereo and cd multi-changer, and instead comes with a Skoda Tape Cassette (let’s just say that will be taken out sharpish!). How tricky is it getting aftermarket stereos to fit the galant, are there any harnesses or wiring I should be concerned about?

No real experience apart from It is very easy to get the stereo in and out with the excellent write ups that can be found on this site.

4. Are black tinted windows a factory fitted option with Galants? I only ask because it’s very difficult to tell, the ones that have been fitted are to a high standard.

I think tints were fitted as standard to V6 sports and V6 Elegance's but I'm not sure if this was only the estate versions. If they are aftermarket you should be able to tell by looking VERY carefully around the edges, my guess id if its film its aftermarket.

5. What’s my best bet for a getting a new set of wheel nuts and locking nuts for the V6 sport 17” alloys?

Mitsi may be a reasonable price try there first.

6. Now for the scary question, if I can’t repair the V6 sport front bumper so no marks are noticeable, how much would it cost to replace?

I was lucky and managed to get a V6 sport bumper including fogs for 200 plus VAT from a scrappy. I then paid 200 plus VAT to get it painted. The whole front end of mine was flash over sprayed before I bought it. After 18 months you can really tell what was sprayed cheaply and what was done properly. My advice would be give the car what it deserves and do the job properly.

Cheers

Ian[/QUOTE]

Oh and I dunno if ive said /Welcome2 yet :D


Don

[MGV6]

Now for the questions:

1. Before I make full payment on the car, I want an independent mechanic \ inspector to thoroughly check it. Now I’ve looked at the services by AA and RAC, and although they seem very thorough they are quite expensive (approx £250). Anyone know of any companies that would do it cheaper (northwest) or should I just get my usual car servicing company to give it a go over (Total Car)?

WRD are Galant specialists so I would think that they are the best people to ask.