Buying an R3

[Dan123]

Hi

I'm currently in the process of buying an R3 - hopefully. Car looks like it has been extremely well looked after + low miles. Qwakers has kindly agreed to go and have a look at it for me at some point.

The seller kindly sent me the compression test today (below). I didn't recognise the company name, and a quick google shows that the seller pretty much owns the company, which I don't think is a necessarily a bad thing due to the background of the seller. - But really I'm new to this and have little idea.

Thoughts? please preferably over PM.

Dan

[GreySilver Beast]

Glad James is happy to go and look at the R3 on your behalf

[qwakers]

those are very good compression results, so good infact, im struggling to not be cynical about them and say too good. anyone else have any thoughts?

[Ollie]

Id suggest running the results through this website, http://foxed.ca/index.php?page=rotarycalc corrects for altitude. Having Qwakers look over it is definitely a good idea. Looks like both rotors are pretty even. If its a very well looked after vehicle it could be a very good buy!

Yeah the compression looks to be sitting in the mid 8s. On a 31k~ mileage engine that could be possible but its surely unlikely?

[delta0]

I would get a second opinion on the compression from another local specialist. As you are Norfolk way then Ryan Rotary. As pointed out those numbers are high. That could be genuine or it could be for many other reasons (engine was cold, oil was present during test or numbers not correct).

[Lucky 8 Racing]

I’d get a 2nd opinion on the results

[qwakers]

trouble is, car is in cornwall...

[Ollie]

That is a bit of a pain.. But if he has the equipment to do the compression test himself why not have him do one infront of you James?

[qwakers]

worth asking,

ut

ojc consultancy are buisness consultants not mechanics, and that printout is a template you can download off the web. i wonder if he does indeed have the kit to do a test....

[New Duke]

Or was done with a piston compression tester?

I wouldn't bat an eye lid not having a comp test if the rest of the car was in order and the price was right. I bought my car without one.

But given that there is a test certificate. Yeah those numbers are suspiciously good.

Being a trade seller that does at least provide you with a long warranty by default on the engine (6 months?). So it might be a good idea to make a judgement based on the company itself. Such as, will it still be there if you need to take the car back? If it's a wealthy and stable company then that's reassuring.

[GreySilver Beast]

Where abouts in Cornwall is this car James

[qwakers]

par, about 5 miles from me.

[nightfire10]

par, about 5 miles from me.

Do your stuff James not a lot you don't know about the8 mate!

Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

[MARKTHOMASBRAND]

So these are the results in KGF which is what most of us can identify with

Front Rotor
First Chamber [6.9,8.5] : 8.16
Second Chamber [6.9,8.5] : 8.23
Third Chamber [6.9,8.5] : 8.23
Chambers Difference [<1.5] : 0.07


Rear Rotor
First Chamber [6.9,8.5] : 8.23
Second Chamber [6.9,8.5] : 8.34
Third Chamber [6.9,8.5] : 8.26
Chambers Difference [<1.5] : 0.1

Rotors Difference [<1.0] : 0.1


I remember Sagar (back in 2011) getting very similar results to that back when his factory built 231 had reached 29k

So it's definitely possible & that particular compression test was most certainly performed by a reputable specialist with many witnesses

[delta0]

Need to make sure the test was done warm...

[Nickp47]

I wouldn’t get TOO het up about the compression figures, as New Duke has said as long as everything else is in order - go for it!

A 31k R3 is very unlikely to be running low compression in my experience.

The advert seems pretty honest and straight-up so yes, an independent comp test would be ideal but shouldn’t be a deal breaker.

[ChrisHolmes]

Normalised to 250rpm but that’s not the rpm printed on the report sheet which it should be as it’s a calculation.
James now has my compression tester to do a test himself.

[Juey]

As has been said, OJC appear to be management consultants, not a car dealer/garage. So why are the comp test results on their headed paper??
Some digging about required.

As for the results, as they don't appear to have been done independently of the seller (it's his company) take them with a pinch of salt and get your own done.
Taking the car back to Cornwall will be tricky!
Compression at that level is possible, my 2005 192 got 7.6 to 7.9 on 40k miles and 11 yrs old.

[GreySilver Beast]

been to see it today, it seems to be a good one, but suspicions about the test where correct, george took photos to take back to the garage for a refund....

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EED163D0-4D23-4FD2-B377-94A8E33A24D7.jpeg

[GreySilver Beast]

Thanks James for taking a look at this car on behalf of Dan

[Dan123]

Thanks James, I will give you a call later.
What are people's opinions on the comp result?

Dan

[GreySilver Beast]

Let's see what James thinks as he has seen the car in the metal and reserve judgement until then

[Dr. FrankenRex]

I'd say those comp test results are pretty good to be honest.

fairly even across faces and across rotors. Depending on the cost of it, I'd probably buy it.

One thing I would definitely check (if it hasn't been checked already) is a fast shift from 5th to 6th gear - if it crunches then you've got a poorly synchro which is a weak point on the early (pre 2010) R3 gearbox. Other than that, if it's solid and a fair price buy the thing before someone else does

[Nickp47]

Agree with Dr.F, I would buy the car. Whilst it is nice to have compression in the 7s, with a low mileage car like that there MAY be an opportunity to gently increase the numbers by looking after it and driving it like it should be driven.
But either way those figures are good enough imo.

[GreySilver Beast]

the syncros have already been done, so thats a plus, and it was test driven properly so its performance is spot on, as far as i can tell.
n
its very clean throughout and has new plugs and magnecor leads, has been premixed religiously. the only ? is the coils which i think are the originals.

will tell you all about it later, dan