Thought I would post up to see if any US based forum members have any hints or tips.
I did join up to Piloteers but each time I did so the forum i tried to log in to post and I was banned permanently with no reason given.
I thought the first time was a glitch so joined again and the same thing happened again.
Could be because I am currently in Ghana so maybe the IP address is throwing up a red flag, will try again when back in the UK.
Anyway back to the subject in hand.
As i have said before i wasn't consulted prior to purchase but i did do a Carfax check to makw sure everything was legit (which it was)
Vehicle has 124k on the clocks, on first use oil was clean, filter is recent and oil life was showing as 60%. Coolant is clean.
Its a FWD 2007 EX-L. It did have a nice set of matching LTX Michelins, one was punctured on way back from the DVLA after being registered and a used tyre of Chiness origin fitted as a stop gap.
Last week the driver hit a pothole too fast and snapped the lower shock mount from the knuckle and blew the sidewall of the osr tyre, so a day with the space saver and a 60mile journey looming meant a search for a tyre was in away from the capital Accra. The shock also came apart and threw oil over the wheel arch and lower arm, something thats never happened to me before, i did find one person on Piloteers who had broken the same mount though.
First impressions are that its roomy, leather seats are in good condition and are comfortable.
We have had to limp the vehicle with three shocks, it was actually not that bad, just a little bouncy on occasion.
I have a plan of attack moving forward and hoped for somw advice.
I shall leave the current oil and filter in situ till the next visit.
I would be very grateful if anybody could advise of any parts suppliers that will ship to the UK.
Initial shopping list is as follows.
Full set of shocks.
OSR knuckle.
Front discs and pads.
Rear discs and pads (probably parking brake shoes aswell, i think the parking brake is a drum inside the rear disc.
Front Bullbar (black)
Rear lightguards (black)
Bluetooth/ipod/iphone kit to allow handsfree calling and playing of Music from phones.
Full set of tyres, going for 245/70/16 instead of 235/70/16. Considering BF Goodrich KO2, General Grabber AT or AT2.
Air filter, fuel filter and cabin filter aswell.
Also an ATF drain and refill, can fortunately get that in the UK.
Was even considering buying suspension arms etc and rebuilding it completely once and for all.
Also a full cambelt kit, water pump, serpentine belt and tensioner etc.
One other thing is the VCM, it cuts in and out relatively smoothly. Was wondering if it was worthwhile fitting a VCMuzzler as apparently the 2007 was not overly problematic and was not part of the Class Action Suit.
I know some people might think i am mad spending this on an 07 Pilot.
Have finally got all the exact paperwork and expences and the vehicle actually cost just over $6000 to get it cleared from customs and actually owes us nearly $14000. I knew we should have bought a brand new entry model Mitsubishi L200 or Nissan NP300 double cab. Though i doubt they would have been as comfortable.
First full tank with mostly urban miles in heavy Accra traffic was empty in 171miles! Under 10mpg.
Second tank with mostly long journeys avoiding the heavy traffic was at 170miles with half a tank left. Hopefully this will end up as more than 20mpg.
They don't use gallons in Ghana, they use litres, so my MPG figures are in UK gallons.
The tank took 80litres when filled to the brim after 171miles.
As always, thanks in advance for advice and comment. Would rather no comments inferring that it is stolen as one troll did previously.
I did join up to Piloteers but each time I did so the forum i tried to log in to post and I was banned permanently with no reason given.
I thought the first time was a glitch so joined again and the same thing happened again.
Could be because I am currently in Ghana so maybe the IP address is throwing up a red flag, will try again when back in the UK.
Anyway back to the subject in hand.
As i have said before i wasn't consulted prior to purchase but i did do a Carfax check to makw sure everything was legit (which it was)
Vehicle has 124k on the clocks, on first use oil was clean, filter is recent and oil life was showing as 60%. Coolant is clean.
Its a FWD 2007 EX-L. It did have a nice set of matching LTX Michelins, one was punctured on way back from the DVLA after being registered and a used tyre of Chiness origin fitted as a stop gap.
Last week the driver hit a pothole too fast and snapped the lower shock mount from the knuckle and blew the sidewall of the osr tyre, so a day with the space saver and a 60mile journey looming meant a search for a tyre was in away from the capital Accra. The shock also came apart and threw oil over the wheel arch and lower arm, something thats never happened to me before, i did find one person on Piloteers who had broken the same mount though.
First impressions are that its roomy, leather seats are in good condition and are comfortable.
We have had to limp the vehicle with three shocks, it was actually not that bad, just a little bouncy on occasion.
I have a plan of attack moving forward and hoped for somw advice.
I shall leave the current oil and filter in situ till the next visit.
I would be very grateful if anybody could advise of any parts suppliers that will ship to the UK.
Initial shopping list is as follows.
Full set of shocks.
OSR knuckle.
Front discs and pads.
Rear discs and pads (probably parking brake shoes aswell, i think the parking brake is a drum inside the rear disc.
Front Bullbar (black)
Rear lightguards (black)
Bluetooth/ipod/iphone kit to allow handsfree calling and playing of Music from phones.
Full set of tyres, going for 245/70/16 instead of 235/70/16. Considering BF Goodrich KO2, General Grabber AT or AT2.
Air filter, fuel filter and cabin filter aswell.
Also an ATF drain and refill, can fortunately get that in the UK.
Was even considering buying suspension arms etc and rebuilding it completely once and for all.
Also a full cambelt kit, water pump, serpentine belt and tensioner etc.
One other thing is the VCM, it cuts in and out relatively smoothly. Was wondering if it was worthwhile fitting a VCMuzzler as apparently the 2007 was not overly problematic and was not part of the Class Action Suit.
I know some people might think i am mad spending this on an 07 Pilot.
Have finally got all the exact paperwork and expences and the vehicle actually cost just over $6000 to get it cleared from customs and actually owes us nearly $14000. I knew we should have bought a brand new entry model Mitsubishi L200 or Nissan NP300 double cab. Though i doubt they would have been as comfortable.
First full tank with mostly urban miles in heavy Accra traffic was empty in 171miles! Under 10mpg.
Second tank with mostly long journeys avoiding the heavy traffic was at 170miles with half a tank left. Hopefully this will end up as more than 20mpg.
They don't use gallons in Ghana, they use litres, so my MPG figures are in UK gallons.
The tank took 80litres when filled to the brim after 171miles.
As always, thanks in advance for advice and comment. Would rather no comments inferring that it is stolen as one troll did previously.