Hi all, due to my main car (Volvo V40 t4) being in the garage for an engine change, and my stopgap car running out of MOT (another V40, just not turbo, but it's a wreck, will never ever ever pass another one) I needed a car quickly, so I asked on the local community Facebook page if anyone had anything for sale for someone on a budget, and within minutes I was offered a 2008 mk6 (6.5?) Fiesta 1.6 Ghia for the princely sum of £300, MOT'd until mid march, reasonably clean and tidy for its age (apart from a small dent in the drivers rear quarter) about 150k under its wheels, drives well with no funny noises or anything, so I bit the man's hand off, quite a good deal I thought.

It's got or should I say had a few minor issues but for that price you can't complain.

Things I've done so far...

Fixed the window washers, very simple fix as the pipe had just come off.

Passengers side front indicator wouldn't work, had to dig around with a little screwdriver from underneath and scrape some green corrosion sort of stuff off the connections.

Took the gear linkage off and did the 12mm drill bit trick as gear changes were a 2 handed operation at times, very difficult to remove, I found that a 27mm open ended spanner wedged behind it and repeated battering with the biggest club hammer i could find got the job done eventually, loads of copper grease then back together, it changes with one finger now, I'm so grateful that work has a 2 post ramp I could use as it would have been a nightmare trying to do it on the floor.

Both number plate lights didn't work, again just furred up with green stuff.

Changed the oil and filter as the stuff that was in there resembled bitumen paint, I forgot I had an unused 5l of 5w30 fully synthetic from before when the t4 was still on the road (it's been stood for over a year) runs much more quietly now.

Polished the headlights as they were very very yellow and opaque.

Things left to do...

Passengers side rear tyre is just approaching the wear markers, my mate is pretty sure he has a matching Ghia wheel with the right size tyre on already that I can have so that's easily sorted.

The boot opening button doesn't work, there's a very quiet noise from the boot when you press it but it doesn't actually pop the catch unless you use the key.

The passengers side headlight is a game of chance as to whether it will come on or not, I've had the connector off and gave it a good clean, same with the bulbs pins, but no amount of titivation has made it work properly, a multi meter check shows power exactly where it should be, yet I still have to get out and wiggle the h4 connector every time, then it comes straight on.

Pretty much all of the wheel arch liners on the front are not there, there are various small broken bits still left but it's a sea of drilled holes and cable ties really.

There's a connector underneath with nothing to plug into, and the in car display for outside temperature also shows -- degrees, I'm guessing those 2 points are connected and there's probably supposed to be a temp sensor for that connector to plug into.

Engine plastic under tray is missing, that's if these ever had one.

Small gear oil leak where the shaft (can't remember which side) comes out of the gearbox, I'm guessing it's just a case of removing the shaft and there'll be some sort of lip seal in there to renew.

Engine runs ever so slightly stuttery on occasion, probably wants new plugs, I'll do the air and fuel filters while I'm at it.

All in all though I think I've done alright for the money.

Are there any other weak points that these suffer with that would be worth me checking for?

Many thanks in advance 🙂

i had a 1.6tdci 2007 fiesta of same body shape which I got when 5 months old, It didn't had an undertray for engine bay. . I assumed none of them did, but to be honest never checked any others. It does sound a pretty good buy so far. try a different headlamp bulb. I have had bulbs where I though it was connector as they would come on when banged or twiddled with and then found new bulb cures it.