Advice on buying older Hymer

L

Lizbiebrowne

LIFE MEMBER
Joined
Jun 1, 2020
Posts
567
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Location
Teesside
Funster No
71,293
MH
Hymer B654
Exp
Since 2019.
Hoping to get to see a sixteen year old Hymer B655 over the next few days, Mercedes 2.7L with automatic transmission. Can anyone advise where the problem areas are likely to be and what I should be looking out for? Many thanks in advance.
 
Wood behind rear wheels, garage floor, shower tray cracks.
Make sure all the windows lock and unlock as they should.
Check operation of roof openings, expensive to replace.
 
As well as the mechanical and structure checks also try the appliances work on both gas and electric (if they are multifuel).
A duff fridge, boiler or oven can be expensive.
Plus the battery charger, early models of the Schaudt EBL seem to fail if overworked (ebl99 in particular).
 
Shouldn't be any damp problems and if water does get in it does minimal damage due to their PUAL construction, no timber in the walls but on older vans the internal walls are timber.

On that vintage the floor will be timber check the underside behind the rear wheels if small or no mudflaps the floor can be rotten there, if not too severe it's an easy fix.

Check the body for corrosion very common on Hymers, check around all fittings and apertures in the body and the edges of the doors.
 
Check ball joints, brake discs for corrosion and abs rings,

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Gromett said:
I would think those are easy fixes and not something to worry about?
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They are easy fixes but not necessarily cheap fixes, when I bought my 2004 Hymer I made sure the dealer had all those things done and it came with a new MOT with no advisories.
 
Gromett said:
A quick look at the roof to see if there is anything obvious is something people quite often overlook.
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Good advice. Years ago I bought a Swift Sundance with the thin alloy sheet roof. A year later a leak dripping through a flourescent light. Climbed on roof and found half a dozen blobs of Araldite covering tiny holes. Not a very good solution. Led to more holes with corrosion coming through from inside. Had to strip the roof insulation and woodwork then a liquid rubber overseal. Should have taken a ladder.

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oh and look at the history of advisories. You can do this on the .gov website.

If you see repeated advisories that disappear this year. Then check the job was actually done. If not then the MOT may be dodgy.

For instance if 2020, 2021, 2022 all list minor oil leak but 2023 doesn't. check if there is still an oil leak. If there is then then the MOT is not worth the paper it is printed on.

I hope that makes sense?
 
It’s a starline you have the same as my 655 starline. (Mercedes). I have maual not automatic. The best van I have had so far and lots of admirers. All of the above really but as Lenny said water ingress will not really damage the van if caught and fixed early. Seals drying out was my problem on the roof vents but easy fix. Cost of roof vents are very expensive as are replacement windows (don’t ask)
If it’s got a great service history the engine on it is a cracker mine is as sweet as a nut. But overall they are great vans if looked after. I have had mine nearly 4 years and have no plans on replacing soon.
If your having any problems the people here know of a fix.
I’m more than willing to help with any questions you may have. Having the same model helps. 🌟👍🥃
 
Use the registration number to go on the .gov website to check the MOT history. This will give an indication of how well looked after the vehicle has been. It will show miles travelled each year and any repeated points of failure. In short it gives a mechanical survey for each year checking for mechanical faults and rust. A bit like taking a mechanic with you for an opinion
 
It's likely to be a sprintshift if automatic and these can be problematic and expensive to sort. Ask about any problems and make sure you take someone with you knowledgeable about motors if you aren't. I have a manual 2.7 as fat haggis does. It's been excellent . The Hymer side is well built from my experience but at that age things like the 3 way fridge can be at risk of failing. Lots of good advice above.

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Best advice over what has been offered is put a link to it on here, you may be surprised that a funster either has had it or knows someone with it and knows the history of the van
 
1967bowesj said:
Best advice over what has been offered is put a link to it on here, you may be surprised that a funster either has had it or knows someone with it and knows the history of the van
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That’s a good thought. The registration number is PJ55LVH and the link is:

Used Motorhomes & Caravans For Sale | Fuller Leisure Ltd

We offer one of the largest selections of Used Motorhomes & Caravans For Sale in the Midlands. Call Fuller Leisure today on 0115 9664401
www.fullerleisure.com

and here the MOT history:

1683738688560.png
 
The only ones on there that I would be checking in my opinion are Prop shaft bearing and steering rack. I would get a quote for both of those before buying.
Everything else is straight forward stuff I think?
 
I bought my first motorhome from this dealer last November. I found them excellent to deal with and they did not quibble about honouring a warranty issue which occurred a few months after buying. They replaced the alternator and battery the day after I broke down when I took the vehicle out of storage. I did buy it at top price, which you will from a dealer, but I did get a 12 month warranty which probably saved me at least a grand at today's labour charges. The mechanics there know their stuff and go out of their way to help you. That was my experience anyway and I would use them again. Incidentally, if I buy another one, I'll be looking for one like yours - possibly a bit newer if I can afford it.
 
Well Lizbiebrowne did you go see the Hymer?
Is it as good in real life as the pictures

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Yes, went to have a look at the weekend - a little disappointed. The van hadn't been properly prepared for sale, for example there were hairs on the shower floor and it generally wasn't in as good a condition as I'd expected: the fly netting was torn on some windows, a tv had been removed leaving the bracket and hanging cables, generally a little tatty. On a positive note, this was the first time I'd seen a B655 in the flesh and I think it would be a good van for us. We're looking for a fixed bed, a largish fridge freezer and I find these Hymers stylish. I guess I've just got to wait until the right one comes along.
 
Lizbiebrowne said:
Yes, went to have a look at the weekend - a little disappointed. The van hadn't been properly prepared for sale, for example there were hairs on the shower floor and it generally wasn't in as good a condition as I'd expected: the fly netting was torn on some windows, a tv had been removed leaving the bracket and hanging cables, generally a little tatty. On a positive note, this was the first time I'd seen a B655 in the flesh and I think it would be a good van for us. We're looking for a fixed bed, a largish fridge freezer and I find these Hymers stylish. I guess I've just got to wait until the right one comes along.
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Digit imagery always looks better than in the flesh, sadly some dealers advertise the stock well before they prep them.
 
It sold though so dealer can clean it now

IMG_0252.png
 
Lizbiebrowne said:
I'm hoping to look at three B655's over the weekend including the one I previously viewed which has come back onto the market. Also hope I might get a chance to view a B660.
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We had a B660 Classic on a Mercedes, lovely van although the aluminium side walls looked a bit thin and you could see the contour of the inner wall behind. 2006 model.

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