1995 A class Hymer

[Patrick and Lesley]

Morning all. I’ve just seen an A class 1995 Hymer for-sale in FB Group. This is quite a random question. I will ask anyway.

Having very limited knowledge of Motorhome ownership would buying a 1995 Hymer be stupid or would I be better off looking out for something later 2004 onwards, like fiat/Peugeot Compass that type of thing. I love the look of the Hymer but what is the real pitfalls of owning a classic Hymer and what are the good points. The Hymer in question has full history, 77k on the clock, RHD. There asking £12,000. Any thoughts much appreciated.

 

[Mr Colpot]

Our first Motorhome back in 2008 was a 1994 Hymer B564. It was on a Fiat Ducato 2.5 Diesel Chassis. We changed for 2 reasons - Mrs Colpot found the engine droned (even with the radio on loud) and the layout didnt suit us. Apart from that I cant think of any pitfalls - build quality was spot on and it was a pleasure (for me!) to drive.
As to the price it depends on the model and condition - we paid £15k for ours and were happy with that.

 

[Cleve]

I have a 35 year old Hymer B540 which has served me very well indeed. If you look at my Helen the Hymer thread in the Continental models section you can follow her history from purchase in 2015 up until October this year when I got back from France after a trip which started in April.

I am presently looking to change solely for the reason of wanting a couple of later features like pull out cassette loo but the one you are looking at has all of that anyway.

I have found the build quality to be excellent. Almost certainly you will find things you would like differenty on whatever you buy but you are at least buying at a price which allows you to find out what you want and should not lose much if you decide against it.

Good luck, I like Hymers

Clive

 

[boxerdog]

we have a 1986 hymer given to our daughter as we have something a little newer. herman has been through ten mots only failed once needed headlight bulb built like a brick sh--T house and going strong only fault we had to have a small garage wire out radiator fan on to a switch to turn on manualy when a resistor packed in could not find part so good luck with an old van

 

[airwave]

I purchased a year 2000 , hymer b584 earlier this year and ent looked back since , i've got no plan's to change it at any time in the near or distant future . I did do a lot of research before i laid the folding stuff out including mechanical issue's , of which there are very few . My every day car is a 23 year's old diesel , so running a 17 year old van don't phase me in the slightest , the only weak spot on the early ducato's being the gearbox , like my car there's very little else to go wrong . I'm not a fan of the electronic wonder's , ecu this , electric injector control that , as most breakdown's are electrical anyway , the old adage if ya ent got it , it can't break , spring's to mind , and the added bonus is that i'm getting 29.8 mpg , meaning a longer distance between fill up's . Incidentally my van is a low mileage 2800 cc , direct injection , turbo intercooled , iveco unit , producing around 122bhp , i have to say is more pokey than i imagined .
However with all that said , life's not all a bowl of cherry's , there are drawback's to running an older van . Restriction's are beginning to emerge with driving them in built up area's , not really a problem for me as next year , i'll be making full use of the slide out motorcycle rack , and anyway city's are not really my cuppa . They are easier to steal primarily down to the aforementioned lack of electric's , there's only a couple of way's to stop them , were as the modern stuff can probably go though the ecu . And of course they do need a bit more in the way of maintenance , again not really a problem for me , as i spin the occasional spanner . I can honestly say , i've had more bit's break on the habitation side than anywhere else , silly thing's really except for the infamous fridge , but i'm afraid your likely to get that on any age van , you buy it would appear .

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[JJ]

If it is a Mercedes... no probs!

JJ

 

[Patrick and Lesley]

Thanks for all the replies very helpful. The vans not far from me so should be able to get a look soon. Keep you posted.

 

[Patrick and Lesley]

If it is a Mercedes... no probs!

JJ

I think it’s fiat. Not so good?

 

[JJ]

I trust my Mercedes 5 cylinder engine on the 410 (I think) chassis.

I don't really know much about Fiats...

JJ

 

[TheBig1]

check the underside of the floor behind the rear wheels for rotten plywood and make sure the hot water and heater both work correctly. all 3 faults are expensive to fix and common

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[Shrimp]

Sounds like a bargain!
Our Hymer is a 2001 B584 which is a 3 berth, it's on a Fiat and has about 65K on the clock-just run in!!!!
They are good solid vans and seem to keep going forever!
Treat it like buying any vehicle, just beware of any damp, although there may not be some!

 

[Patrick and Lesley]

I

check the underside of the floor behind the rear wheels for rotten plywood and make sure the hot water and heater both work correctly. all 3 faults are expensive to fix and common

Sounds like a bargain!
Our Hymer is a 2001 B584 which is a 3 berth, it's on a Fiat and has about 65K on the clock-just run in!!!!
They are good solid vans and seem to keep going forever!
Treat it like buying any vehicle, just beware of any damp, although there may not be some!

Thank you. It might be worth having an inspection done. I’m not so clued up on what to look for and where. Thanks for all the info.

 

[duffs]

I




Thank you. It might be worth having an inspection done. I’m not so clued up on what to look for and where. Thanks for all the info.

Loads of help on The Classic Hymer facebook group, good luck smashing vans x

 

[airwave]

The 2.5 fiat engine is classed as bulletproof , capable of half a mill , before a rebuild should become necessary , as i said only the gearboxes have an issue . It appear's to be an easy fix abit at a price . The later 2.8 series were based on the 2.5 lower casing , interestingly using the same gearbox . However it should be noted , some early 2.5 were built without a turbo unit , and i think i'm right in concluding none were intercooled , so power output will be lower . Now i notice you mention peugeot , well emm it's a ducato , there was also a citroen , it's what's called badged engineering , built under license . There was also an alfa romeo , talbot , and even an all electric version , how good it was i have no idea . Except for the electric , all had the same drive train , and all were front wheel drive , only mercedes were rear .
The place to look on these van's is the front chassis , under the radiator there is a supporting beam , check it's condition , it is an mot issue , but don't worry it's available on ebay and bolt on . More importantly is what it bolt's too , i think it's on the nearside chassis rail , water can collect on the inside of the chassis and rot's it out . I'd have to check my note's , but i seem to recall the steering , or part's of attach to it , that is serious . Only other thing to take a look at is the sump , made of thin tin they also tend to rot , again ebay .
Now i've not heard of the floor between the wheel's , however i have heard of behind , you should check the floor behind the rear wheel's , both side's , but more so on the nearside . The hymer has a long rear overhang , and it seem's to be connected with lack of mudflap's . Again fixable but at a price , i've heard of several people having to rebuild this area . And one last area worthy of a look on the early van's is under the cab side sliding window , i've heard of soft wall's being found there and it's connected to a missing screw from the window frame itself
Now i'm not a fan of merk's , so i never researched them , hence don't feel able to comment on them . I will however say they are ultra reliable , but it come's at a price . I regularly drive the heavy version's , 40 ton plus , and to be honest i'm not impressed .

 

[Patrick and Lesley]

The 2.5 fiat engine is classed as bulletproof , capable of half a mill , before a rebuild should become necessary , as i said only the gearboxes have an issue . It appear's to be an easy fix abit at a price . The later 2.8 series were based on the 2.5 lower casing , interestingly using the same gearbox . However it should be noted , some early 2.5 were built without a turbo unit , and i think i'm right in concluding none were intercooled , so power output will be lower . Now i notice you mention peugeot , well emm it's a ducato , there was also a citroen , it's what's called badged engineering , built under license . There was also an alfa romeo , talbot , and even an all electric version , how good it was i have no idea . Except for the electric , all had the same drive train , and all were front wheel drive , only mercedes were rear .
The place to look on these van's is the front chassis , under the radiator there is a supporting beam , check it's condition , it is an mot issue , but don't worry it's available on ebay and bolt on . More importantly is what it bolt's too , i think it's on the nearside chassis rail , water can collect on the inside of the chassis and rot's it out . I'd have to check my note's , but i seem to recall the steering , or part's of attach to it , that is serious . Only other thing to take a look at is the sump , made of thin tin they also tend to rot , again ebay .
Now i've not heard of the floor between the wheel's , however i have heard of behind , you should check the floor behind the rear wheel's , both side's , but more so on the nearside . The hymer has a long rear overhang , and it seem's to be connected with lack of mudflap's . Again fixable but at a price , i've heard of several people having to rebuild this area . And one last area worthy of a look on the early van's is under the cab side sliding window , i've heard of soft wall's being found there and it's connected to a missing screw from the window frame itself
Now i'm not a fan of merk's , so i never researched them , hence don't feel able to comment on them . I will however say they are ultra reliable , but it come's at a price . I regularly drive the heavy version's , 40 ton plus , and to be honest i'm not impressed .

Thank you for the in-depth information. I’m learning so much. Joining MHF was money well spent. I will certainly check out the points you mentioned when viewing potential motorhomes. Thanks again.

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[tanex]

I bought a 1996 Hymer online from a chap in Germany. Took a punt and have no regrets. Heater will be an early Truma unless replaced since new. They are easily rebuilt. Yes ply behind rear wheel on back right may well have to treated and capped.I am surprised how these old Hymers age so well. I think I have explored every inch of mine. good luck with your quest.

 

[airwave]

Sorry i got a bit side tracked on another issue .
Good Hopefully it will help steer ya in the right direction , i don't wanna teach ya to suck egg's , but here's a couple more pointer's , more on a personal level , sorta thing's i looked for . Pretty much relevant to any second hand motorhome .
So the first one , Unlike a car , motorhome owner's tend to spend far longer in residence , now with that in mind , they often add extra bit's to make life more comfortable , it's likely this will involve electric's . Some people have a very high standard of work when fitting these thing's , other's , hmmmm not quite so . The best place to look for this , is under the bonnet , i'd advise you to take a good long look in there . Access to the engine bay of any a class van is really restricted , and it will also be quite dark , so take a torch , and have a good look around . Do the wire's look tidy or are they running all over the place , are they taped to other thing's like hose's , or cable clipped to the wiring loom , are there any extra connection's to the battery , how about join's in the wire's , black tape . Now these thing's shouldn't put you off , but just be prepared for a little extra work sorting it out , and it's advisable that you do sort it out . In the event of a mechanic having to sort a problem , it will save time , hence money , if he doesnt have to figure out what does what .
Now the second one is also in the engine bay , under the engine you should see a plastic tray . It what's called a belly pan though it has several other name's , some of them not very nice . These thing's can be a right pain to fit , hence why people often swear at them . The bigger they are , and the ducato's is a considerable size , the more chance a lazy mechanic will leave it off . I thought mine was missing , but it turned out some half wit had cut the dam thing in half , making matter's even worst . Dirt and water would have been sucked in , but hey ho lot easier changing the fan belt , beit more often , hmmm you can lead a horse and all that . . . There purpose of these thing's is not only to make life difficult , but to protect the engine , keeping water and mud from encasing pulley's and external component's , helping to keep the engine bay clean , with the added advantage of directing airflow over the sump . This sort of thing tell's me , that though work had been done , it probably not been done by a competent mechanic , or dare i say it on the cheap . I managed to source an aftermarket one , and was amazed to find access panel's for the sump bolt and oil filter . However being aftermarket it didn't fit very well , so needed a little fetterling to encourage it to fit .
Oh dear now the third one , this could be another rather contentious issue . No doubt i will get a lot of flak over this one , so hard hat and flak jacket on , here we go .
Service history , many people will go to great pain's telling you how important this is . Ignore them , service history is exactly that history , and old at that , otherwise it's completely worthless . It reared it's head a few year's ago when the bottom fell outta the second hand car market , trouble it's being taken on board by the motor trade for people who know nothing about engine's , sorta replace's the old "one careful owner" gag . They will often show the history , before declaring it's been well cared for , then promptly move on to the bit's that will sell the car , ie radio . I'm afraid it mean's nothing of the sort , all it tell's you is the owner's have spent some money and when , and your mean't to be impressed . Evidence , ask when the cambelt was last changed ? , i've never had an answer yet . I often have a little chuckly when i see the term " full service history" , then turn the page , to me it just mean's overpriced . Your far better off looking up the mot history . That is a much better indication of how well it's been looked after , like how many time's has it failed an mot , because the owner failed to check a simple thing like the bulb's were working , or how quickly was an advisory acted on .

And on the cambelt question , you need an answer , otherwise plan on having it done asap , else at worst you could need a new engine , it's that simple .

 

[Carol]

We have had our Hymer 584 2000 on a Fiat for 12 years never let us down, gone through all its MOT runs quiet with plenty of power when you want it.
Hymers of the more mature ilk are made well with good workmanship find a good one, look after it and it will look after you.

 

[Patrick and Lesley]

Thanks airwave and Carol for your posts both very helpful. Went back today for a second time to test drive the Hymer. It performed well gear change was smooth and it felt easy to drive. On the strength of that I agreed a price with the seller and now I’m the owner. Picking it up on Wednesday. I would like to thank everyone for there input it’s been a big help to me. Will post some pictures as soon as I can for those that’s interested.

 

[Carol]

Pleased for you, would love to see the photos when you get it, one tip to keep your gear box healthy, it's been posted quite a lot of times over the years, don't put it into 5th gear for a couple of miles apparently it helps keeping it good. (Some say this is rubish) others say it's the way to do it. but at least you have had the heads up.

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[airwave]

No Carol , it's not rubbish . I've heard that more time's than not . In fact i actually practice this myself , at the very least , till the engine temp is on the scale . Overfilling the gearbox oil is also advised , i've yet to check this , but i'll be changing the oil before i use it next year . I would also advise idling the motor for a couple of minute's after start up , and before driving , the same before switch off , and don't use the right hand pedal at all during this time . This allow's the oil to reach the turbo , before ya hammer it .
I'm really pleased for you Patrick and Lesley , it's a good choice . The hymer is an easy van to drive , and very comfortable into the bargain , you don't actually say what model it is , but the pic's will show all . Congratulation's .

 

[duffs]

Thanks airwave and Carol for your posts both very helpful. Went back today for a second time to test drive the Hymer. It performed well gear change was smooth and it felt easy to drive. On the strength of that I agreed a price with the seller and now I’m the owner. Picking it up on Wednesday. I would like to thank everyone for there input it’s been a big help to me. Will post some pictures as soon as I can for those that’s interested.

So pleased for you, enjoy xxxx