Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

I have a 1997 Mitsubishi Pajero 2.8i Diesel with 240000km on the clock, and I'm weighing up either redoing the vehicle or looking for an upgrade, and would be keen on hearing any experienced thoughts please. The vehicle is regularly serviced and is mostly mechnically sound and is used every day but has a few ongoing problems which I'm wondering whether or not may be terminal for the long run decision of a refurb:

1) The vehicle is in need of a respray, no bodywork problems but the paintwork on the bonnet and side panels on the front end has suffered from a bad previous touch up job, plus hard offroad usage generally, and the result is if it is to be kept over a new vehicle, it could use a full respray. Is this an very expensive excersise? If not, what should I expect to pay and any ideas on who does quality work at a resonable price?

2) There has developed a clicking/knocking noise in the left front suspension area when fully turning the wheel and going over large bumps. Is this an re-occurent problem and does anyone have any advise as to what it might be and what the repair cost might be in the range of?

3) The vehicle seems to run well enough for its age although it is certainly down on power, but has started to release some excessive black smoke from the exhaust, especially on start up, excelerating from very low to higher revs, or after idling at stop streets and traffic lights and the like. I understand it may be either air in the turbo system or blocked injectors. Does anyone have any advice herein as to where's the best place to get this attended to, and what it might cost to fix?

Any educated thoughts, advice or a point in the right direction would be most appreciated.

Juicer wrote: 1) The vehicle is in need of a respray, no bodywork problems but the paintwork on the bonnet and side panels on the front end has suffered from a bad previous touch up job, plus hard offroad usage generally, and the result is if it is to be kept over a new vehicle, it could use a full respray. Is this an very expensive excersise? If not, what should I expect to pay and any ideas on who does quality work at a resonable price? Get a quote from a good body shop.

2) There has developed a clicking/knocking noise in the left front suspension area when fully turning the wheel and going over large bumps. Is this an re-occurent problem and does anyone have any advise as to what it might be and what the repair cost might be in the range of? Let a suspension / steering specialist look at ball joints, tie rod ends, Pitman arm and idler arm

3) The vehicle seems to run well enough for its age although it is certainly down on power, but has started to release some excessive black smoke from the exhaust, especially on start up, excelerating from very low to higher revs, or after idling at stop streets and traffic lights and the like. I understand it may be either air in the turbo system or blocked injectors. Does anyone have any advice herein as to where's the best place to get this attended to, and what it might cost to fix?Take it to a diesel specialist (not the dealer) and get a quote on injectors and glow plugs. Have the pump seals replaced and the pump re-calibrated

See my comments above.

Those Gen2 Pajero are such good solid vehicles, it will be worth the while to refurbish it.

Add up the costs for the combined items.
Compare that to the installments on a "new" vehicle.
I guess would be that it won't cost more than the equivalent of six installments to do all those items.

You know your Pajero. Unless you buy a new vehicle with a full gaurantee, the risk is that you might end up spending cash for the "new" vehicle and the above items in any case!

Rather the devil you know!