Older vans/trucks

[eggsarascal]

I've got my eye on a 1988 Mercedes 811D it's looks to be in very good condition, I've checked its MOT history and apart from one year where it wanted a few bits and bobs doing it's passed with no advisories. It's a 4 litre, Gross weight 7.5 ton. It's been to the moon and back milage wise, is this something to worry about considering these vehicles were used a lot as executive coaches that seemed to go on forever?

 

It's a 6-7 hour drive to go and look at it, which I don't mind, but would like some prior knowledge of what I should be looking out for. I've trawled the web with not a great deal of success.

 

Anyone got one or had one?

 

Any advice would greatly appreciated.

[Stubby]

Being  1988 it will not be affected by the new MOT rules for diesels I presume ...so worth a punt  I would have thought Eggs mate .

[Mike Dempsey]

and the bodywork should be a bit thicker than the tinfoil the new mercs are made from!

[john p]

An 811 will go to Pluto and back if you keep on top of the oil changes, simple to work on, no freaky electrical shizzle

[eggsarascal]

1 hour ago, john p said:

An 811 will go to Pluto and back if you keep on top of the oil changes, simple to work on, no freaky electrical shizzle

You had one John?

[john p]

You had one John?

No, but after living on New Age traveller sites for many years and trying to fix my Bedford’s on a daily basis I would look in wonder at the 811 owners returning from yet another European jaunt in their trucks that never missed a beat

[billpierce]

Had one eggs, absolutely mint. Mine and 670,000 on the clock. I bought it and went on a 10k road trip about Europe and all that went wrong was a leak on diesel return hose ( snipped it out and moved hose clip). Europe is well stocked for spares for these buses. Mine was auto and I would have preferred manual.

They have timing chains. King pins tend to wear out . The coach builds a quite low down and have large overhangs on the back which isn't amazing for tracks. Listen for air leaks once the air tanks full if it has air brakes.

[billpierce]

What you doing with it eggs?

[eggsarascal]

23 minutes ago, john p said:

No, but after living on New Age traveller sites for many years and trying to fix my Bedford’s on a daily basis I would look in wonder at the 811 owners returning from yet another European jaunt in their trucks that never missed a beat

That sounds promising. I'll cross the border....... into South Wales to give it a look.

[Mark Bolam]

23 minutes ago, billpierce said:

What you doing with it eggs?

Tipper conversion to go with the new Greenmech he ordered when he was pissed.

Don’t tell his Mrs., for Christ’s sake.