Buying a Mk1 Leon Cupra TDI

[Darkmike]

Hey Everybody!

Quick question...

Im intrested in buying a friend of a friends leon.

Its a seat leon cupra tdi 150 on a 05 plate.

Its mint looks the part and never been messed with.

Its got full service history.

But the downside its done 150,000 miles.

its got the ARL 150hp engine in it.

Ive gone through the service book, most services were done at a genuine seat garage but no sign of them saying the cambelt was done.

Ive also worked it out that before he had it, it was a lease car for lex autolease.

Whats every1s opinions.?

hes only after £2,500 due to the high mileage

Cheers

 

[Seal_LCR]

Sounds ok but check everything over. Make sure it doesn't smoke overly as these suffer from cam problems

 

[turboboy]

Call the seat garage and ask if they have done a cam belt service on it, if they haven't and you buy it get a cam belt on it

 

[BigJase88]

For that money its worth a punt tbh!

Lease cars are generally well serviced

 

[Darkmike]

had a test drive today.

Interior is amazing not a mark on anything...

3 beeps on start up... Not a clue

Secondly when its cold, it smokes abit of blue, any ideas?

Soon as its warm... take it down the d road and theres no smoke on boost.

Cheers

 

[Brettyboy]

Thats cheap tbh,150k is nothing depending on what mileage you do but going to last a few year anyhow,3 beeps on start up did any lights come up on dash ?,Blue smoke normally black from a diesel,did you check oil level,if its well service & being an ex lease car it should be i would go for it

 

[BigJase88]

The beeps on startup could be coolant level sensor!

Its a common fault, you can clean the contacts in the coolant expansion tank with a screwdriver or fit a new tank (only £14 iirc) not a serious issue

 

[Darkmike]

Thanks for the replys.

no just 3 beeps and the red light flashing on the tempreature guage.

Just trying figure out the blue smoke when the engines cold....

turbo seals.... piston rings....

not sure to be honest.

cheers

 

[BigJase88]

Yes then its an easy fix! Contacts needing cleaned in expansion tank

Blue smoke could be early signs of camshaft wear

 

[Darkmike]

camshaft wear as "chocolate cams" Phrase ive heard about?

Cheers

 

[BigJase88]

Yeah

But at the price its still a good buy

If you could get it for anywhere near 2k then i would give it a pop

I paid 4.8k for my 05 with 94k

As its an 05 plate it should have the hardened cam buckets as they came in mid 2004 so should be alright! But if you can drive the price down its worth a punt

 

[Darkmike]

nah no budge on the price but got 12 months tax on it from when i buy it

 

[Darkmike]

Any more things to consider.

So far ive had no replys saying the cambelt is done, or clutch and now im wondering about the dreaded chocolate cam.

• 13,000 08/2005
• 25,384 04/2006 (Seat)
• 41,061 01/2007
• 54,717 07/2007
• 75,178 12/2007 (Seat)
• 85,054 04/2008 (Seat)
• 108,691 10/2008 (Seat)
• 132,294 04/2010
• 140,520 04/2011
• 150,706 03/2012

Cheers

 

[BigJase88]

I was worried about the chocolate cam but im now on 99k and its all good. Just got to put it to the back of your mind

When you get it get the oil changed. Some nice new longlife III in it (available from seat)

 

[Brettyboy]

Tbh at that price its worth chucking 1k at it & get everything done

 

[ben450]

Would prob break for more than 2k anyway

 

[sockpuppet]

Mine is on 150,000 same year, look for cam and lifter, cam belt, alternator clutch pulley, slave cylinder/clutch and temp sensor changes. I would be suprised if any of the above made it to 150,000 miles.

You could also check for egr valve cleaning/replacement.

The 3 beeps will almost certainly be coolant level sensor which should illuminate a red light on the dash.

At 2.5k it sounds like a steal and maybe some of the above need doing hence the cheap price.

 

[S10EAT]

I just bought exactly the same car as you but at 167,000 miles 2005 Seat Leon Cupra FR TDI in Silver.

Intercooler connections need checking over, check for any bodge job repairs underneath.

I had to replace the coolant temp sensor on mine as it occasionaly read -18 degrees!

Blue smoke can mean the turbo is dieing or on it's way out.

Check for engine knock or any unusual noises from the engine.

Does it pull well in all gears? 2.5k is a steal if A. the turbo isn't on it's way out and B. the gearbox is healthy.

Let me know if you want to know anything else.

 

[S10EAT]

Oh and I forgot to say - borrow a VAG-COM ans can the ECU for fault codes before you drive off with it.

 

[Darkmike]

Well after ringing all the dealers where it got serviced, none of them can comfirm its had the cambelt done.

hoping the blue smoke was because of a poor glow plug, as the engine light was on and throwing a fault with one of them.

Had it changed now, so will see if it throughs up any more problems.

Cheers