Introduction
I have been searching for a G for upwards of 12 months. They are in short supply. I am pleased to report that I have now acquired one which just goes to prove the old addage that everything comes to he who waits. It is to be hoped that the countless miles looking at various examples was worth the effort only time will tell. The problem with this vehicle is that you have to buy one before you ascertain if its for you and will do the job asked of it. Mine is a swb 1992 3.00 GES in Almadin red metallic with cream/beige interior. It has a factory electric tilting sliding lifting sun roof(not that its likely to get much use in this country) with 13 plug trailer socket but non-factory tow bar.Its fitted with 16" alloys and michelin sychrones. The front seats have luggage nets attached.It has a part stainless exhaust system that is curtailed in front of the n/s/r wheel.It has only done 74000 miles with a full service history. It was previously owned by Richard Webb a member from Menai Bridge who owned it for 3 years and only did a few thousand miles in it. It was owned by a Mr Ingham in Kendal before that. Its in remarkable condition for a 16 year old vehicle but its condition is a reflection of the attention it has had. The insurance only cost£219.66 which is remarkable (through M & S) Adrian Flux quoted £540! This is my 65th car and joins a Jaguar Sovereign and Honda Civic Aerodeck. The high driving postion took surprisingly little time to become accustomed to but I'm still not certain about its cornering ability so am taking it steady. I'm in the process of getting to know it at present.Next year I hope to take it on a trip to the Spanish/Frech Pyrenees on an off-roading adventure. Any advice in this connection would be gratefully received. I will post a few quries in, hopefully, the correct forums shortly. I am a self employed Commercial Litigator specilaising in construction,contractual,employment,boundary and neighbour disputes amoungst other topics I cover. My youngest is just starting to drive and found the G easier than our Polo. Thats probably due to the excellent visibility,good steering and sight lines for all 4 corners. I look forward to joining you all whenever the next meeting/off-road excursion is aranged.How do I ascertain when these take place.Is there a secret to using the calender as nothing seems to be reported here. Please excuse my ignorance but I have only been a member for a matter of minutes.TTFN
Tomo,
Hello and welcome! Very nice tidy G you have there! I hope it brings many, many years of happy use, for both you and your off spring. (My daughter likes driving my G - but she is only 6 years old! :roll: :lol: )
Re cornering - once you get used to the ride height, I am sure your confidence will grow and you will be chucking it into the corners at speed, though I would say its not quite like a go Kart - so be careful!
Spider1V
Welcome Tomo,
My name is Spanner Anna, GWOA
Member sign in name: G 250 GD Bulgaria
(yes a female mechanic who owns a very rare 250 GD W460 1989 SWB LHD) and i joined last week, so also a Newbie:
This will be the best 25 GBP you will have ever spent, the Guys on here have been fantastic to me and have helped me more than i could have ever wished, if ever you need any questions answered just Post them in the relevant Postings and minutes later a member will be in contact with you, its so easy and very soon you will have many new friends all with the same interest Gs.
Anyway this is just a welcome and nice to see another G on the road, if i can be of any help now or in the future just post me, take care Spanner Anna, the girl that can tighten any nuts :lol:
PS my insurance for my G for the Year here in Bulgaria fully Comp is 44 British Pounds for ANY DRIVER.
IF YOU WANT TO BE SHOCKED AT PRICES AND COST OF LIVING HERE IN BULGARIA ASK ME ANY QUESTION AND I WILL SHOCK YOU ON THE COSTS, thats why i have lived here for 6 years, 320 sunny days aswell x
I was ogling your new G on autotrader not so very long ago. Glad you're pleased with it, it looked a bit too tidy for me and the dog. I thought the previous owners house looked pretty interesting too.
Welcome to the club, now's a great time to be buying cars if you want to keep them for a while. Looks great too. Love the manoeuvrability of the SWB.
Greetings from Ireland Tomo
i seen your new purchase at our AGM past )very nice )
and Mr Webb,s son was also selling his Swb in light blue met
Good luck
The transfer case...has been leaving spots on my driveway for a while now. I just check the level every now and then and top up as necessary, think it takes 2.8l total or fill it up to the bottom of the filler hole when parked on a level surface.
Hi Tomo welcome to GWOA ...looks a very tidy G' health to enjoy..transfer box oil leaks can be difficult to source because of the coating of road dust and oil that collects on the case ...try using one of the domestic hand pump sprayer containers you find in the kitchen and bathroom..fill one with petrol and spray the box until all the dirt is off.wipe the accessible areas and drive the G' until you see new golden oil traces..chances are they will be from the seal where the driveshafts are connected...or from the seal around the lever base..either problem cannot be remedied insitu...the box has to be removed. if the oil is red then it could be blowback from the gearbox.
Its nice to hear from you all especially foneman. I am a fellow Irishman having been born in Garrafrauns,Dunmore,Tuam,Co Galway but have spent the greater part of my life in various parts of Engalnd and settled in Yorkshire in 1990. Like many more before me I had to leave to find work.
I appreciate the advice concerning the transfer case oil leak. I'll clean it off and monitor the situation. Like any new owner I'm slowly getting used to my G and learning where everything is and how it all works. Unfortunately I can't claim to be a competent mechanic so if it is either of the two seals you suggest it may call for a visit to my garage.Lets hope not.
Hi Tomo,
Spanner Anna here, the Transfer box (the one in the middle) hold 2.8 ltrs of Hypoid SAE 80 and the Front Diff Axle holds 1.1 ltrs of Hypoid SAE 90, Rear Diff Axle holds 1.8 ltrs of Hypois SAE 90. Very easy to do but may i make a suggestion take the G for a 20 minute drive using all gears drivetrain to get the oils warmed up then Jack the rear up on the passengers side (RHD model) get underneath (be carefull make sure supported with axle stand/jack) and look for Two Hexi Screw/Plugs 14mm one lower than the other on the rear Diff Axle. The Lowest one is the Drain Plug, the other the filler Plug. Advice Make sure you can undo the Higher one first the filler plug because if you undo the lower one and let all the oil out and then cannot undo the Higher one (filler plug) you will have a big problem (this does happen due to Road/Mud/Rust etc).
Drain the system then replace the lower Plug and refill with 1.8ltrs of Hypoid SAE 90 (i use castrol in mine). Do the same with the front using 1.1ltrs SAE 90 and then the Diffs are done. The Transfer Box is the same but it uses SAE 80 2.8 ltrs. It can be a little difficult to get the oil in but you can get the container higher by going in at the back and above the Exhaust underneath. Small hands help here.
Well hope this makes sense andy problems contact me
Spanner Anna who can tighten anyones Nuts lol x
Ps. The description is alright for a 460 but the 463 uses a slightly different transfer case (VG80 vs. VG150) so there might be some differences in the process for Tomo's car. I'll leave more expert people to comment on the differences between the two, I never changed the fluid on a 460.
OOPS Sorry, got carried away not thinking it was a 463 and was a 460 like mine, Well im Spanner Anna who only tightens up Nuts lol x
Well i was close, if its a W460 then its correct, i know ive done all this on mine, love you Guys x Anna
welcome tomo!
fantastic G, looks like one my dad owned in 1995.
enjoy.......
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Many thanks for the kind comments.The photographs were taken at the vendors property.He was a keen sailing man and his garden went straight down to the sea. He became dissatisfied with England because of the weather and despite only having built his house 18 months ago has moved to Florida. He's already been on the US e-bay site looking for another. My wife said I should have bought the house and not the car. The only defects that I've been able to uncover so far is a bit of rust in the rear door lip (its not visible in the photographs) and a leak from the transfer box.