2mz-fe camry engine

[steroidcontaskie]

Hi all

I am still shopping for daily driver wagon... actually bought one, but got a refund after the car started smoking badly after a 30min motorway run

I am going to have a look at a 97 camry wagon with a 2.5L 2mz-fe engine and 190K on the clock. I did a search but I couldn't find out much about this engine. Anyone have any idea what this engine is like and what to look out for?

Cheers
Edward

[Lloyd]

Usually fairly good, they don't tend to give the head gasket issues that the previous 3VZ engine gave. Seem to do plenty of oxygen sensors on the 1MZs though. More so in Estimas than Camrys.

As with most things though, regular maintenance and service history count for a fair bit.

[strx7]

most MZ series motors seem to to suffer from prematurely wearing the oil rings.

[steroidcontaskie]

So get a compression test done on the engine? and take if for a long run and look for smoke?

Any thoughts if it is an ex rental car? I guess it means it has been serviced but possibly treated rough.

Cheers
Edward

[Mr Ree]

Why not look at an NZ new 5sfe model.

Sure its 300cc smaller, but far easier/cheaper to work on, and not an import

Oh, and one of the most reliable cars ever

[steroidcontaskie]

Sure its 300cc smaller, but far easier/cheaper to work on, and not an import

Oh, and one of the most reliable cars ever

Interestingly I use a surprisingly similar line of reasoning when chatting up girls at clubs.

You are of course right, I should have a look at them, would be the sensible choice.

Cheers
Edward

[Lloyd]

Ex rental likely means extended service intervals with the cheapest oil possibly and nothing else changed until it breaks or give problems. I'd be careful with rentals.

[Alex B]

Yeah work mate used to work for one of the rental companies, they service when they have to and as cheap as possible. Also the fastest car on the road is a rental.

[duddley]

Rental cars also get great airtime over speedbumps/potholes/kerbs/vacumn cleaner salesmen.

[Mr Ree]

My Camry wagon is an ex lease car, that was driven by a 50 something year old lady, from brand new until I bought it in 04 at 120,000kms, now at 220,000km. Still runs like its brand new

I purposely chased down an NZ ghetto spec model with zero fruit, as theres not much that can go wrong with them, provided you service them regularly.

Best of all, It had the Toyota service schedule in the glove box and had seen every single service stamped in the book etc, and with receipts for everything spent on it.

Grandpa spec FTW