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Vauxhall Omega 2.5 V6 CDX Manual Facelift Estate
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Owned 2003 to Present (page updated January 2025)
September 2003 - A Vauxhall Omega facelift estate ('X' registered in 2000), again with the same 2.5
litre V6 engine, manual gearbox, and CDX specification as the previous 'S' reg mini-facelift saloon.
With my mileage greatly reduced, the car would sit on the driveway for 4 or 5 days at a time, and a
tank of petrol would last for weeks. Driving became more pleasurable and the car had regular oil and
filter changes carried out by the main dealer, along with cambelt changes and other routine servicing.
May 2008 - An uneventful 5 years of good service from this car ended when catastrophic engine damage
occurred just short of 100,000 miles. It was deposited in a local garage stored unservicable awaiting
a replacement engine. It's ironic when you consider my previous car had covered considerably more
miles with minimal service attention. A secondhand 2.5 V6 engine with unknown history was acquired
and fitted by the garage and the car continued to give good service for a while longer.
March 2009 - A replacement windscreen was fitted and the car was slightly damaged when someone
reversed into the front offside (see bonnet and headlamp damage above).
February 2011 - The replacement engine began to show signs of a head gasket failure, with loss of
coolant and hydraulic locking when attempting to start the engine. It was parked up once again
in a stored & unservicable condition, whilst a replacement vehicle was sought. Head gasket failure
on the General Motors V6 engine (X25XE) is a rare thing, with the exception of a small batch on
some earlier cars (with the same symptoms as this one). Whilst a decision was made on the future
of the car, another 2.5 V6 manual facelift estate was acquired as a stop gap.
('W' registration 2.5 V6 CD year 2000).
2012 - The car remained on the driveway for many months gathering moss. Being very much 'hands off'
since my early 20s when it came to car maintenance, I thought there would be nothing to loose by
dismantling the engine and doing a rebuild project to the top end of the engine - the work being
carried out only when the weather was decent and I was in the mood for it.
(details and pictures of the top end rebuild).
December 2012 - After a few months of working on the engine (overhauled cylinder heads and new cam
belt & rollers), it was successfuly started on the second turn of the key! This project was enjoyable
because there were no timescales to think about, and if it all ended up too much trouble, I would have
got a few quid back as scrap (and maybe a few spares for the 'W' reg CD as well)! Delving beyond the
plenum, learning a bit about how these engines work, and getting the occasional bad back is worth one
in the eye for a throw-away society.
Summer 2014 - The CDX (wearing CD wheels) is still SORN and has a regular start up, move about and a
clean & polish. The bodywork appears to be in reasonable condition so it's perhaps worth spending
time keeping it tidy. The car developed a fuel leak from the top of the fuel tank - another common
problem where the steel pipes from the pump corrode - easily rectified with a replacement tank plate.
February 2016 - With the car going nowhere, the front suspension and steering was refurbished. New
shock absorbers, poly bushes, discs and pads.
(suspension, steering & brakes).
March 2016 - Nearside scuttle drain after cleaning. The sill covers and bumpers were also removed to
reveal some grotty and rusty areas requiring treatment.
August 2016 - With a fresh MOT test the car is put back into service and taken for wheel and camber
adjustments. New parts fitted over the next couple of years include new cam covers, oil pressure
switch and an exhaust system. Crumbling plastic headlamp adjusters replaced.
August 2020 to present - the car has mainly been in storage and regularly started and moved about,
as well as passing MOT tests in use during summer 2023.
January 2025 - SORN awaiting a return to service in the summer.
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Vauxhall Omega 2.5 V6
