Options for 1989 Transit camper with failed MOT

[robg]

Hi,

Our 1989 Transit camper van has just failed its MOT due to excessive corrosion in four areas and "rear brakes imbalanced across an axle". I'm awaiting a call back from the welder on Monday with an estimate of what it might cost to get it through its MOT. In the meantime, I'm trying to work out what our options might be if we deem the repair uneconomical. (We'd hoped to get at least another year or two out of it before any more major work was needed; at this point my wife is not keen to spend much more on it and is leaning towards switching to a caravan instead.)

The van is an Autosleeper Flair two-berth camper based on a 1989 mk3 Transit 120 (smiley) with a 2.5l non-turbo diesel engine. Mileage 97k. The engine runs beautifully and the interior habitation space is very nicely decorated. It's really "just" the rust that's the issue. I'm thinking it could be an ideal project for someone with a love for old Transits and/or campers and who can do their own welding.

So, to my question: if we decide we need to let go of it, what are my best options in terms of trying to find a buyer? Obviously there are scrap dealers who might give me a couple of hundred quid for it, but I'd hope it still has some life in it, in the right hands. Is there a market for this type of project? Where/how should I advertise/list it? What are the chances of selling it before the MOT expires on 28 August (after which it won't be road-legal and will need a pickup to collect)?

As you can probably tell, I've never been in this situation before and have no real idea what my options are or how best to proceed. Any informed advice will be much appreciated!

Rob

[blue estate]

if you do decide not to repair but sell , list it on the forum and some one will probably take it of you hands for more than a scrappy
also list the actual failures properly or post pic of failures up

[Noctule]

as it has failed its MoT it now doesn't have one.

as Blue Estate said, post the actual failures or a photo of the failure sheet (or even the reg so we can see it online) & some pics of the ares needing work, and you never know, there might be someone on the Forum who could help with repairs or a sale.

Mat

[robg]

Hi Noctule and blue estate, and thanks for taking the time to reply.

Here are the details of the MOT fail:

Repair immediately (major defects):
• Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))
• Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength arch (5.3.6 (a) (i))
• Nearside Rear Inner Suspension spring mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))
• Offside Rear Outer Suspension spring mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))
• Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))
• Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Repair as soon as possible (minor defects):
• Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
• Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))
• Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))
• Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))
• Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
• Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
• Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))
• Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal (5.3.6 (a) (i))
• Offside Rear Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal (5.3.6 (a) (i))
• Offside Front Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal (5.3.6 (a) (i))

I can't post any pics at the moment as it's still at the garage. Depending on what they say tomorrow I may bring it home in the afternoon. (My understanding is that I can still drive it after its MOT fail since none of the failures are deemed dangerous.)

[blue estate]

Was the MOT a normal year one or one of the extended ones that was due earlier n year but was extended ?


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[robg]

Was the MOT a normal year one or one of the extended ones that was due earlier n year but was extended ?

Normal MOT, expiry date was always 28 Aug 2020 (previous MOT Aug 2019).

[Keef]

Bung it on ebay, if it's tidy I bet it'll make best part of £1000 as it is

[Noctule]

I actually don't think it's that bad, and have had similar fails in the past.

After welding the suspension area and seat belt mount area (that's the expensive and time consuming part), the gaiter is easy and the rear brakes might just be a strip and clean job, the adjusters or hand brake cable might be seized on one side.

The number plate light is a clean up and new bulb at most.

With those sorted the rest isn't hard to fix once you're on the road again.

An MoT fail is a fail, but you can drive it to your home address or a pre-booked place of repair.

A garage might make good the welding at an affordable cost, but affordable is down to how much you want to keep it. Otherwise I agree with Keef, and yourself, it sounds a good project if tidy inside.

Mat

[robg]

Bung it on ebay, if it's tidy I bet it'll make best part of £1000 as it is

Thanks. Must admit I hadn't thought of eBay.

[robg]

I actually don't think it's that bad, and have had similar fails in the past.

After welding the suspension area and seat belt mount area (that's the expensive and time consuming part), the gaiter is easy and the rear brakes might just be a strip and clean job, the adjusters or hand brake cable might be seized on one side.

The number plate light is a clean up and new bulb at most.

With those sorted the rest isn't hard to fix once you're on the road again.

An MoT fail is a fail, but you can drive it to your home address or a pre-booked place of repair.

A garage might make good the welding at an affordable cost, but affordable is down to how much you want to keep it. Otherwise I agree with Keef, and yourself, it sounds a good project if tidy inside.

Mat

Thanks for all your advice and input, much appreciated. Hopefully we'll have a better idea of the potential cost later today and will then need to make a decision.

[MinorMatt]

Whereabouts are you anyway?

[robg]

Whereabouts are you anyway?

Bedworth, just north of Coventry (by J3 of the M6).