Want a 306 Estate, unsure of what's the best engine?

[tigerstyle]

I'm looking to get a 306 Estate, I like the style, simplicity, practicality, and am at the moment siding towards a diesel turbo.

I'm not sure if the HDi is better because it's newer, or the XUD is better because it's simpler (maybe?) or a petrol would be just as good in the long run?

I'm not looking to do many mods, a stage one remap on the HDi seems worth it for the potential fuel economy savings alone, and to get a bit more poke out of it. But really I'm just looking for miles and miles of smooth motoring!

So at the moment I'm looking at the latest/low mileage 306 Meridian models I can find eBay/Gumtree/Autotrader/Here etc, only thing I've been warned about is the aircon often breaks due to poor quality pipes/fittings, but I'm happy to carry out most repairs myself so could get simple things like that up and running again.

Any other buyers guides tips? Many thanks!
My dream car when I was younger was a 205 GTi, but have kind of missed the boat on those so a 306 seems like a cool option!

[Birk]

I have a silver stage 1 mapped hdi I can do for £700

[puglove]

Sounds like a hdi would suite you better.


DONT buy a petrol one

[tigerstyle]

DONT buy a petrol one

Because? What's bad about them?
My last car was a diesel though, 1.6 VW IDI, good fun finding out about the workings of them coming from petrol previously, so enjoy the characteristics of Derv, but would like a turbo'd one this time!

[Strikeforce]

Im after a nice hdi estate but nearly all of the ones local to me have some beam camber, are the estates more prone to this because of the extra weight on the back?

[Mattcheese31]

the petrol engines available are underpowered for the estate imo they only put a 1.8 perv in iirc . .

[THE_Liam]

the petrol engines available are underpowered for the estate imo they only put a 1.8 perv in iirc . .

There are 1.6 estates as well mate. 1.6/1.8 petrol or 1.9 XUD/1.9 XUD9TE/1.9 DW8/2.0 HDi

[Birk]

Mapped hdi FTW, buy mine

[Mattcheese31]

the petrol engines available are underpowered for the estate imo they only put a 1.8 perv in iirc . .

There are 1.6 estates as well mate. 1.6/1.8 petrol or 1.9 XUD/1.9 XUD9TE/1.9 DW8/2.0 HDi

yeah i know mate sorry, i just meant 1.8 was the biggest petrol engine they fitted . .

[tigerstyle]

Im after a nice hdi estate but nearly all of the ones local to me have some beam camber, are the estates more prone to this because of the extra weight on the back?

Would be good to get a bit of extra info on this too?
Is beam camber more to do with weight carried or load carried? Although I don't image many 306 estates do that much heavy lifting!

What would factory fresh wheel camber be, and what is a maximum safe limit for them before you need to refurb/replace?

[puglove]

As above the petrol estates are massivly under powered.

As for beam camber There should be next to none if the beam is ok. If its got a slight bit of camber its on its way out and if it has alot of camber the bearings are f*cked and your looking at £250-400 for a recon. You can pick up used ones for £100 but no garentee how long it will last as most beams are well over 100k these days

[tigerstyle]

Good advice, I've skimmed through the recon guide to the beam, so could buy one and work on it slowly as a project ready to swap over when required

How do people find the aircon? Is it as bad as its reputation, or does it work ok most of the time?

[puglove]

There is prob about 3 306s on this forum with working air con. Iv owned 11 306s now........ Yet to own one with working AC lil

[Niall]

The lack of working air con is down to the pipes under the rad. Getting these made up is cheap (I was quoted £60 for both) but then because the system has been at atmospheric pressure for probably years and moisture will have gotten in, you will find that the diaphragm in the receiver dryer will be buggered so it won't work properly unless this is also replaced. If its been left dry for years and years, you may find some seals dry. For a specialist to come out and fix and re gas, your probably looking at £250 but then there is no guarantee how long it will work for as the seals may be shot and you might loose the gas over time.

[tigerstyle]

I get to do a bit of AC work with my job, so am aware of the problems of systems being left open, wasn't sure if it was the pipes corroding or compressors packing up inside. But as you say leaky pipes and most owners will probably leave it broken, will probably cross working aircon off my list of desirables!
Although if I'm lucky to get one in working order I can be sure to keep the pipes sweet and hopefully get some use of it.
Can see why removing the aircon pump is a popular mod on here now!

[Niall]

Nah rarely hear of the pumps failing. Problem is they used steel clamps to hold ally pipes along the front so they corrode. The pipes from pug are pricy but any decent air con specialist will make them up for a third of the price of originals. Either that or keep an eye out on ebay. i replaced mine with genuine new pug ones from ebay for dirt cheap

[MartinL]

Just to rub it in, i have working air con !

[tigerstyle]

Is there some place online I can find the service intervals for the HDI engines?
When the timing belt should be done I guess is the main thing?

[puglove]

cam belt is every 70K IIRC

[Eeyore]

hello! air con doesnt really work on any 306 so dw about that

Definitely get a diesel estate as the petrols are underpowered for the size.

The hdi is more refined with slightly better mpg. the xud is simpler and runs on veg!

ive got a hdi estate with a stage 1 remap. thats 125hp from the standard 90hp stock. Stage 2 map is 160hp.

[tigerstyle]

Thanks all for the advice, piecing together the 306 knowledge now!

[kentiiboii]

My air con dogs work. But the bearings in my pump ate f*cked

[Cav306]

To be fair the DW8 is no ball of fire in the estate. Mine would probably crack 100mph if I had a tail wind behind me and about 3,000 miles of open road, but ordinarily 80 would seem about it's most comfortable cruising speed, and even then with a headwind that can be a struggle.

[Mattcheese31]

To be fair the DW8 is no ball of fire in the estate. Mine would probably crack 100mph if I had a tail wind behind me and about 3,000 miles of open road, but ordinarily 80 would seem about it's most comfortable cruising speed, and even then with a headwind that can be a struggle.

that's a non turbo though mate isn't it? . . .

[Cav306]

Ah yes, just testing!

[HDIkyle]

Not a fan of HDI engines due to the problems i had with wiring and sensors but i had a Stage 1 mapped HDI estate at 133bhp and it was brilliant pulled fantastic even with subs in the boot that weight more than me! and i'm 12 stone. on 185k and mechanically was perfect, just electrical issues hit them badly

[THE_Liam]

Not a fan of HDI engines due to the problems i had with wiring and sensors but i had a Stage 1 mapped HDI estate at 133bhp and it was brilliant pulled fantastic even with subs in the boot that weight more than me! and i'm 12 stone. on 185k and mechanically was perfect, just electrical issues hit them badly

That HDI really did pull well

[Eeyore]

yeh as long as the hdis dont have electrical problems they are normally pretty good! tough choice between stage 2 estate or a stripped 6. Seeing as ive got the estate and the map i might as well stage 2 it to try it!