Does anyone have an ae111 or import

[matchuk]

Hi,

i am planning on purchasing an ae111 bzg 96 model with the blacktop. Theres only two things holding me back one being the condition of the car which i will go check and get an independent report, and my question is if maintenance is going to be impossible or costly as the car is an import. Does anyone have experience with maintenance and repair with the ae111's or a similar import in sydney?

thanks in advance and any comment will be valuable as i plan to get this car asap

[CHA54]

they're pretty reliable apart from the timing belt hydraulic tensioner and the VVT intake pulley.

Make sure the tensioner was replaced at 100,000km and listen for any rattling noises at idle from the valvetrain (which will be a failing VVT pulley, $600-800 new)

[matchuk]

so normally if i take the car for a service or repair, the mechanics will be able to find the parts with relative ease??

[CHA54]

it uses the same oil filter as the other 4a motors, an air filter can be found locally too with some searching. the timing belt tensioner ram and VVT pulley have to be sourced through toyota, by providing your frame and model number to a Toyota Spare Parts desk so they can order them in.

Gates now list a timing belt for the AE111 20V so you dont need to go genuine for the actual belt. The thermostat is the same as locally delivered 4age's.

Plug leads are different but they can be sourced through magnecor if you need them, the engine uses normal denso platinum plugs that are cheapish from toyota at around $14ea.

It uses a 212/215mm clutch assembly the same as the locally delivered AE93 SX corolla's.

I'd be more concerned about the body and windscreen than mechanical parts on the car.

[CHA54]

.. double post

Edited March 13, 2008 by rollamods

[matchuk]

yeah if some how i crash or get crashed and the body gets damage theres pretty much no way to get the parts to repair it right

[matchuk]

double

Edited March 13, 2008 by matchuk