4 weeks ago I picked up a Jan 09 TDV8 Vogue SE with 102k on the clock. It hasn't been the smoothest of ownership experiences so far, but hopefully over the hump now.

Found the car on Autotrader about 50 miles from me, it was advertised quite cheaply so I was expecting a few issues. On inspection there were a few problems, parking sensors, rear camera, a few items of trim but nothing really untoward. Pre and and post test drive fault code checking using an icarsoft didn't highlight any underlying issues. It had 2 owners from new, with the past having it 2 years and as it had a fresh mot and just had an oil service it seemed an honest car.

40 miles into the trip home the and with the dashboard lighting up like a Christmas tree with HDS/ABS/DSC/Air Suspension failure my heart sank a bit.

The fault code pointed to the right rear speed sensor, so a new one was ordered. Stupidly I ordered the wrong one at first (ordered a TD6 version), but I was a little concerned when the one I was taking off appeared pretty new. However after the correct new sensor was fitted all seemed well (for 100 miles anyway). Then the fault re-appeared.

I didn't really have a chance to look at it for 2 weeks, but changed the car side of the speed sensor connector, made sure the reluctor ring was clean and undamaged and ensure that the sensor could correctly seat in the hole. Again, the problem reoccurred. Resigning myself to getting some lube and taking the car to get fixed by a local specialist I had one last look over the wiring last Thursday and found an issue with the loom by the connector to the ABS module. The loom had rubbed against the engine block and the 2 cable feeding the right rear speed sensor had worn exposing the core.

wires:

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Nice car Keith. Looks smart.

Which dash cam have you fitted - looks discrete but stylish? 405 AB exec seats Baltic and Cirrus
93 RR Classic efi

Remember it's easier to get forgiveness than permission!

Gone in order:
4.4 TDV8 SE - gone to a good home
93 Classic hard dash Plymouth Blue
03 L322 Oslo Blue
2000 Disco TD5 ES Epsom Green
98 P38 Rioja Red
89 Classic Cairngorm Brown

Very smart looking car!
Buckingham blue?

I think the issue with buying one is that we fall in love so quick
...then we start to find the red flags we should have spotted earlier

All the best and hopefully it settles down for you.

ajac8 wrote:

Nice car Keith. Looks smart.

Which dash cam have you fitted - looks discrete but stylish?

It's this one:

https://www.aliexpress.com/snapshot/0.html...2769208036

Bought on recommendation from a friend on SELOC (Lotus Forum).

It doesn't do GPS, which is a pro or a con depending on which way you look at it.

You need a step down converter like this one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291847852633

And then I wired it into the switched live that feeds the rear view mirror.

Yep, it's buckingham blue. Current cars:
09MY TDV8 Vogue SE
Mini R56 Cooper S
Mini Cooper Race Car

Well the good running didn't last long.

Thankfully not the HDS fault again, that seems to have been solved. However another P023D fault and limp home mode, with the other intercooler hose split

Even better was that my wife had the car and she was 100 miles away.

So I've just returned from a 200 mile round trip to fix the bleeping thing, with gaffa tape. New hose on order (thanks Duckworth eBay shop), should be here by Friday.

Are they really this ? Current cars:
09MY TDV8 Vogue SE
Mini R56 Cooper S
Mini Cooper Race Car

Short answer, yes they can be troublesome..