10-10-2012, 10:05 PM
Check the release bearing hasn't exploded....no problem if it has, me and Sam can sort it for you in just 3 months... 
But seriously, check it starts well, cold idles well, and drives steady, the estate takes a few cranks to start, and idles crap when cold but has a horrible 'missing' problem at 12-1400rpm when warm, all of which is annoying but all might be related, will often need diagnostics to sort those sort of probs though. Chech for tapping injectors, but you won't miss them if they're there, listen for boost leaks and make sure it boosts when it should!
Then just usual 306 things - Brakes/handbrake, leaning beam especially with high miles, engine mounts although they do seem to vibrate a lot anyway, clunks from front (droplinks usually), noisy pas, dry top mount bearings, wandering from a bad tre or wishbone, check oil is oily and at the right level, check water isn't oily but is also at the right level. Check electrics, windows, mirrors, wipers etc.....that's just what I look for after buying dogs.lol, but remember it probably doesn't cost much to fix them....and you can always knock a bit off.
But seriously, check it starts well, cold idles well, and drives steady, the estate takes a few cranks to start, and idles crap when cold but has a horrible 'missing' problem at 12-1400rpm when warm, all of which is annoying but all might be related, will often need diagnostics to sort those sort of probs though. Chech for tapping injectors, but you won't miss them if they're there, listen for boost leaks and make sure it boosts when it should!
Then just usual 306 things - Brakes/handbrake, leaning beam especially with high miles, engine mounts although they do seem to vibrate a lot anyway, clunks from front (droplinks usually), noisy pas, dry top mount bearings, wandering from a bad tre or wishbone, check oil is oily and at the right level, check water isn't oily but is also at the right level. Check electrics, windows, mirrors, wipers etc.....that's just what I look for after buying dogs.lol, but remember it probably doesn't cost much to fix them....and you can always knock a bit off.