cammack
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Registered: 22nd Jun 07
Location: Thame, Oxfordshire
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hi all im currently looking at getting an astra gsi, not to sure on the early or late one yet but im thinking the earlyone for the engine to be honest!
is it worth picking up a c20xe with higher mileage and history? or with lower miles?
roughly how many miles do they do, before a rebuild or becoming expensive to run?
also these are reliable arent they as its going to be used as an everyday car.
cheers guys advice on the car and engine much appreciated!
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cammack
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Registered: 22nd Jun 07
Location: Thame, Oxfordshire
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anyone??
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barter
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Registered: 27th Oct 07
Location: essex
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hi cam.id say there reliable i never had problems with mine for day to day driving,snapped a few drive shafts and little bits and bobs but that was from the way i drove it lol.i wouldnt worry about milage personally as id rebuild it but if you cant id go for less milage and just change cambelt etc.also id try and get one from a J reg or earlier as far as im aware there the coscast ones.
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cammack
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Registered: 22nd Jun 07
Location: Thame, Oxfordshire
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ah cheers mate. well i dont drive slow but i dont drive stupid (yes i know thats what we all say)!
id obviously give it a very very good service, do all the belts, oils, probably replace a few parts here and there but dont wanna spend to many hundreds!
ah so the heads changed on the c20xe's did they? how much better are they?
i know they changed from the c20xe to the ecotech mid 94ish.
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barter
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Registered: 27th Oct 07
Location: essex
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yeh dont go ecotech lol.basically coscast version has a better head cant go pourous(spelling) etc. lol i wouldnt think you would drive slow if you had a xe.what would the point be of doing it lol.
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willhouse
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Registered: 11th Jul 06
Location: Sheffield
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dont rule the later Limited Edition spec ones out with the ecotec engine,
They are newer cars, have less rust, lower millage, better interior, some had air con, and they have Irmscher skirts and rear spoiler, plus the best bit is the later Limited Editions have Bilstien Suspension as standard
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cammack
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Registered: 22nd Jun 07
Location: Thame, Oxfordshire
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quote:
Originally posted by barter
yeh dont go ecotech lol.basically coscast version has a better head cant go pourous(spelling) etc. lol i wouldnt think you would drive slow if you had a xe.what would the point be of doing it lol.
ok true enough i guess thats a fair point. ok cheers, dont think im goin eco anyway, i know they haved a few small perks, but not enough to consider gettin one!
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cammack
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Registered: 22nd Jun 07
Location: Thame, Oxfordshire
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quote:
Originally posted by willhouse
dont rule the later Limited Edition spec ones out with the ecotec engine,
They are newer cars, have less rust, lower millage, better interior, some had air con, and they have Irmscher skirts and rear spoiler, plus the best bit is the later Limited Editions have Bilstien Suspension as standard
later limited edition? this was the switch over point right? phase 2 body etc and phase 2 head but with old bottom end?
any idea of the dates for these
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Mattb
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Registered: 2nd Feb 03
Location: Under your sisters bed
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quote:
Originally posted by barter
yeh dont go ecotech lol.basically coscast version has a better head cant go pourous(spelling) etc. lol i wouldnt think you would drive slow if you had a xe.what would the point be of doing it lol.
coscast heads can go porus, they are just less prone than the ks heads..
My friend has run an xe in his calibra for nearly 6 years now.. zero problems, just routine maintainence
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cammack
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Registered: 22nd Jun 07
Location: Thame, Oxfordshire
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so how do you identify the difference between the 2 heads?
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VegasPhil
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Registered: 16th Jan 05
Location: Fareham, Hants Drives: Octavia VRS
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My XE has been good as gold so far mechanically. I run it on V-power constantly, and make sure the coolant/oil is topped up and nice and new regularly.
My lump has done 135k now, and is still running nicely. IT had 14 vauxhall service stamps when I bought the calibra.
Corsa 2.0 16v Vegas - Sold
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willhouse
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Registered: 11th Jul 06
Location: Sheffield
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go on to the Vauxhall Owners Network site and there is a page on there that shows you how to identify a coscast from a non coscast.
The main heads that tend to go porous are the Cavalier SRi's and Calibra heads anyway.
With regard to the limited editions, there were 500 made, they were all on P,R and S plates IIRC and they had the X20XEV engine which is different to the original C20XE, dont be put off by people telling you that they are not as good as the C20XE as in reality they are very good and not much slower at all than the original engine.
Plus as said, you will get a mint Phase 2 Limited Edtion GSI for the the price of an average Phase 1
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Mattb
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Registered: 2nd Feb 03
Location: Under your sisters bed
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quote:
Originally posted by cammack
so how do you identify the difference between the 2 heads?
on the side of the head where the distributer is or should be. Check for a core plug.. if it has a core plug it is a ks head. if it has a 'Z' cast on it, its a coscast 
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Mattb
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Registered: 2nd Feb 03
Location: Under your sisters bed
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also as willhouse says, the ecotec aint that bad, its only 14 bhp down on an xe, xe is better to tune imo
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cammack
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Registered: 22nd Jun 07
Location: Thame, Oxfordshire
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wouldnt say im wanting to tune, i just want a well looked after car, that is good for day to day driving without much hassle, and thats fun!
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Ste L
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Registered: 3rd Jul 06
Location: Manchester Drives: 106 16v Rallye
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quote:
Originally posted by Mattb
quote:
Originally posted by barter
yeh dont go ecotech lol.basically coscast version has a better head cant go pourous(spelling) etc. lol i wouldnt think you would drive slow if you had a xe.what would the point be of doing it lol.
coscast heads can go porus, they are just less prone than the ks heads..
My friend has run an xe in his calibra for nearly 6 years now.. zero problems, just routine maintainence
i dont know what people call it porus, as non go porus..
its a crack in the head between the oil/water ways 
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willhouse
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Registered: 11th Jul 06
Location: Sheffield
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quote:
Originally posted by cammack
wouldnt say im wanting to tune, i just want a well looked after car, that is good for day to day driving without much hassle, and thats fun!
then the Ecotec will probably be a better car for you, as you wont find a good XE that has been well looked after that is not going to need attention of some shape or form.
Plus the Bilsteins on the later models makes for a much more 'fun' drive
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cammack
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Registered: 22nd Jun 07
Location: Thame, Oxfordshire
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so is this quite a common fault? or is it just a case of poeple running there cars without even doing any maint, checking things over, ragging it from cold etc
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Ste L
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Registered: 3rd Jul 06
Location: Manchester Drives: 106 16v Rallye
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quote:
Originally posted by cammack
so is this quite a common fault? or is it just a case of poeple running there cars without even doing any maint, checking things over, ragging it from cold etc
the crackecd head?
usually a sympton on overtightening the headbolt's after a head gasket change, hence why vauxhall changed the angle amount setting's..
it can also happen from not being looked after i guess, overheating and so on
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Mattb
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Registered: 2nd Feb 03
Location: Under your sisters bed
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quote:
Originally posted by cammack
so is this quite a common fault? or is it just a case of poeple running there cars without even doing any maint, checking things over, ragging it from cold etc
The crack / porusness??
Its due to over torquing the head bolts, this is why vaux changed the torque for headbolts on the xe
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cammack
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Registered: 22nd Jun 07
Location: Thame, Oxfordshire
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ah i see. hmm.... im confused as to which one to go for now!!! early or late, early or late!
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Ste L
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Registered: 3rd Jul 06
Location: Manchester Drives: 106 16v Rallye
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quote:
Originally posted by cammack
ah i see. hmm.... im confused as to which one to go for now!!! early or late, early or late!
the one with less miles...
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cammack
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Registered: 22nd Jun 07
Location: Thame, Oxfordshire
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with history obviously! hmm...... i know less is better but what mileage would you buy? with the intentions to run everyday etc? and be happy with a buy!
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willhouse
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Registered: 11th Jul 06
Location: Sheffield
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anything under 85k would be a bonus
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cammack
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Registered: 22nd Jun 07
Location: Thame, Oxfordshire
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mmm ill keep my eye open then! so truthfully, whats better in peoples opinion.... phase 1 or 2?
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