1986 Olds Custom Cruiser Wagon
Belonged to my parents, owned from new until 180,000Km.
307 backed by a 700R4?
- Multiple brake boosters
- Rear shocks
- A/C system
- Alternator
- AC-Delco/Bose head unit
- Various suspension components
- Window regulator
- Door lock actuator
- Multiple entire cat-backs (Speedy Muffler, not the vehicle's fault)
The one door latch mechanism would always hang shut when it was cold resulting the door banging into the latch and you having to manually click it back. This was my mom's car which I got when they purchased their first Expedition in 1998. The tranny was starting to go at this point and the car had roughly 180,000Km on it. The engine (Olds 307) was also tired at this point and we got rid of the car a few years later.
1987 Mustang GT
Purchased with 180,000Km on it drove it until 330,000Km when it was totalled.
302 backed by a T-5
- Valve cover gaskets
- Rear main seal
- T-5 transmission (dragstrip abuse, not the car's fault)
- Brakes twice
- Tires. Several sets.
- Oil pressure sending unit
- Map light
- Ball joints
- TFI Module
At around 250,000Km I did heads/cam/intake on it, 3G alternator conversion, electric fan, aluminum DS....etc so not much after that point was "normal".
1989 Lincoln Town Car
My dad's car, bought it when it was one year old. I recently gave it to a friend of mine with 347,000km on it. Has over 400,000Km on it now.
302 backed by an AOD
- Rear air shocks
- Valve cover gaskets
- Alternator
- Coil. Twice
- Radiator
- Tie rod ends
- Steering box
- Ball joints
- Brake lines
- Fuel feed line
- Cat-back
- TFI Module
This was probably the most reliable car we've ever owned and was owned in parallel with the Olds Wagon which was a maintenance nightmare in comparison. Most of the above was when the car had over 200,000Km on it, it needed nothing but tires and brakes up until that point. When I gave it to my buddy the door lock actuators were acting up on a couple of the doors, don't know if he ever replaced them.
2001 BMW M5
Purchased with 130,000Km on it, owned until 190,000Km
5.0L V8 backed by 6spd manual
- Camshaft position sensors
- tie rod ends. Both sides.
- Brakes
- HVAC blower resistor module replaced at around 150,000Km
- Clutch (insanely expensive, done at BMW dealer) replaced at around 150,000Km
- Guibo replaced at 160,000Km
- EVAP solenoid needed replacement (never did, traded the car)
- Needed driveshaft replacement (not done before trade)
- Needed headlight adjusters replaced (not done before trade)
- Needed tie-rod ends again (not done before trade)
- Needed pads and rotors again (not done before trade)
Definitely my favourite car that I've owned at this point. Quality was incredible, interior materials were likewise fantastic and it had the best seats I've ever sat in.
2002 Expedition Eddie Bauer
Purchased with 150,000Km on it, now has 297,000Km on it.
5.4L backed by the R4100
- Upper and Lower ball joints (needs them again now)
- Tie rod ends (needs them again now)
- Thermostat at 180,000Km
- Alternator at around 240,000Km
- Launched #4 spark plug at around 250,000Km
- Four coils replaced, #4 twice because it was damaged when the plug launched. Various mileages.
- Right rear axle seal at around 260,000Km
- Studs broke on passenger side exhaust manifold at around 220,000Km (IIRC)
- Has needed brakes twice including the replacement of two calipers at around 260,000km
- Replaced radiator due to pin-hole leak at 270,000Km
- A/C stopped working at around 260,000Km, have not fixed because it is only driven in the winter at this point.
- Drivers seat heat failed at around 260,000Km, have not repaired.
- ABS Module failed at around 260,000Km, have not replaced (just pulled the fuse)
A number of items seemed to reach their end of life after 250,000Km. My parents have had similar repairs on their 2000 at similar mileage. They had their A/C compressor replaced and they have had to replace their starter (ours is original). Trans cooler line is currently leaking and needs to be replaced (my parents had theirs done last year).
2006 Dodge Charger R/T
Purchased with 126,000Km on it, currently has 142,000Km on it
5.7L backed by Mercedes NAG-1 Auto
- Outer tie-rod end on passenger side
- Brakes
- Left-rear caliper replaced due to sticking at 135,000Km (approx)
- Currently needs left inner tie-rod replaced
Great car, it is my wife's, but she's currently trying to get me to agree to her trading it on a Durango
2014 Dodge Charger SRT-8
Purchased new, now has ~9,000Km on it
6.4L backed by Mercedes NAG-1 Auto
- Update U-Connect to latest version via USB
- Update ECM programming
- Update Airbag Control Module programming (last week) via Recall
- Update TCM programming
I check the vehicle for updates periodically since I have access to the dealer software, these were not to deal with issues the car was experiencing.