1991 Peugeot 405 Mi16 - extensive mechanical reconditioning, ready to run!

Up for auction is what is possibly the world’s most fortunate 1991 Peugeot 405 Mi16. We’ve owned this car for a little over two-and-a-half years, nd in that time have given it what can only be described as a near-complete mechanical refresh.
When we bought the car in 2013, t looked great but ended up needing practically everything that makes it driveable - and I do mean ‘practically everything’. Right now it’s at the point where it starts, tops, teers, andles, nd runs as an Mi16 should, ut could use some cosmetic attention to really make it fantastic.
California smog testing was passed with flying colours on February 2nd, nd California registration is valid through January of 2017. Clear CA title is in hand and ready to be signed over to the new owner. Bills for repairs and other items are also available and are included with the car.
On the mechanical side, he car has had the following:
- Rebuilt engine (approximately 4500 miles ago; more about that further down)
- New alternator and battery
- Rebuilt power steering pump (no leaks or squealing)
- Suspension all around (shocks at the rear; springs, truts, trut mounts and bearings at the front)
- Wheel bearings on all four corners
- New brake discs and pads; brake fluid flushed and replaced
- A/C receiver / dryer and R134 refill (A/C blows cold)
- New ignition coil, istributor cap, otor, osch plug wires, park plugs
- New fuel injectors, uel pressure regulator, uel pressure damper, uel filter, nd idle air valve
- New catalytic converter, xygen sensor, nd replacement rear muffler
- New coolant temperature sensor, ower radiator hose, nd thermostat (the car has never been overheated in the time that we’ve had it, ut the lower hose developed a pinhole leak so all three were taken care of)
- Tyres (V-rated 195/55R15 BFGoodrich GForce Super Sports with approximately 5000 miles of use); spare on matching rim and jack are included)
The engine rebuild was the result of taking the car to a track day at Willow Springs run by the Alfa-Romeo club. Unfortunately, s neither a baffled oil pan nor external oil cooler had been fitted to the car before doing this, il starvation caused the main bearings to fail. Since the head was still in good shape, donor engine provided a complete replacement for the block, o bearings, eals, he crankshaft, tc. are all still stock components. The rebuild was performed by Dubarr Automotive in Huntington Beach, A, ho have over 25 years’ experience with servicing Peugeots.
While the engine was out of the car for the rebuild, he following were also replaced at the same time:
- Head gasket
- Camshaft seals
- Valve cover gasket
- Timing belt, ensioners, nd water pump
- Clutch
Note that the car hasn’t been back on the track since the rebuild, o neither the baffled oil pan nor external oil cooler have been fitted. Moral of the story: don’t put an Mi16 on the track without these installed. However, his engine does now more than live up to the reputation that earned it an honourable mention on Car and Driver magazine’s list of the ten best naturally-aspirated engines of all time.
The gearbox hasn’t required any attention other than having had an oil change due to not knowing when it had last been performed, nd the clutch replacement mentioned above. It shifts as expected, ith no whining, rinding, r popping out of gear (including reverse).
Moving on to the interior: it’s generally in great shape for the car’s age, nd is a much deeper black than it appears in the photographs. The leather seats have no rips, ears, r major creases. The headliner (including the sunroof shade) is staying where it should, nd is in very good condition. Carpets are very clean, gain in similar condition to the seats. The rear parcel shelf has some fading, hich is not unusual for these cars.
There are two areas of the interior that need attention: the defroster vent at the base of the windscreen and the glove box lid. With respect to the latter, he latches on them are common weak points on 405s, nd a spare glove box lid in black is included; I just haven’t had time to fit it. The windscreen vent has remained untouched since we got the car - not having been able to find one in better shape, t’s been left as-is.
Windows and sunroof work as expected and the sunroof does not leak; the windscreen seal, owever, eeded replacement shortly after we got the car, o that was replaced with a NOS seal. The gauges, utomatic seatbelts, abin fan (the blower motor resistor for which has been replaced, o all fan speeds work), ipers, ents, tc. also do what you would expect of them.
Another common failure point on 405s of a certain age is the ignition switch; this was replaced with the correct Valeo part, hich also included replacement door locks. This is a good thing since the ignition key also opens the doors (but not the trunk; that’s on a separate key). A replacement trunk lock was also part of the set, ut that hasn’t been swapped out as the original is still in working order; it is included as part of the sale, owever.
The headlight switch - also a weak spot on 405s - has been replaced as well, gain with a Valeo unit. All lights work as expected, nd all exterior lights (except for the headlights and fog lights) have been converted to LEDs and are considerably more visible than the original incandescent bulbs. The turn signal relay was swapped out for an electronic unit so the indicators flash at the correct rate; this was done in preference to splicing resistors into the turn signal wiring.
Headlights are European units in glass, hich give a much improved lighting pattern over the plastic US-spec ones and won’t fade to yellow over time. They are for a left-hand drive vehicle, o dip to the correct side for use in North America.
The stereo is a Kenwood Excelon KDC-X997 AM/FM/XM/MP3/HD Radio receiver with CD player, SB inputs, luetooth (handsfree and streaming), nd more. It gives good sound by my usual standard, hich is ‘can I still hear it at 80mph with the windows down?’ Front speakers are recently-replaced Pioneers; rears are Infinitys and both work as they should. The unused XM receiver unit and handsfree kit (neither one of which was installed when the head unit went in) are included. The power antenna was non-functional when we bought the car; a universal replacement was fitted and works as it should.
Finally, he exterior. On the plus side, ll lights and lenses function as they should and have no cracks or holes. The car is overall straight, ut there is a scrape (caused by a too-close turn against a column in a parking structure) on the passenger rear door. Also visible is damage to the paint on the roof (which was there when we bought the car) which could use attention. However, he paint is overall in good condition for the age of the car and has solid, on-peeling clearcoat. The expected signs of use (stone chips, tc.) are there, ut not excessive. If there is rust in the body, haven’t found it.
To be completely straightforward about this: the exterior is not the car’s strongest point, hough it is definitely presentable. The main focus during our ownership of the car has been the mechanical condition, nd that’s where resources have been allocated in the time that we have owned it. In my opinion, ith the major mechanical work that has been done so far this would be a good time to address the exterior needs.
To clarify one point on the history report: the car was involved in one minor accident during our time of ownership. It was the lead car in a three-car collision while stopped in freeway traffic - I was stopped, he car behind me was stopped, he car behind him didn’t stop. The middle car was pushed into the back bumper of the Peugeot just fast enough to require replacing some of the mounting hardware for the bumper, ut not fast enough to cause damage to the bodyshell; the Peugeot was also not pushed into the car in front of it so no front-end damage was sustained.
An assortment of spare parts (working ECU, love box lid, witches, ail light PCBs, nd others) is also included.
So there you have it - the reasons why this car was described as being possibly the world’s most fortunate Peugeot 405 Mi16. It may not be the most perfect one in the universe, ut it has benefitted from a great deal of sympathetic attention during our ownership, nd is immediately ready for another enthusiast to enjoy it as we have. Thank you for checking out the listing, nd best of luck with your bidding!
Past experience with selling vehicles on eBay has, nfortunately, ade stating the following necessary:
While I have done my best to represent the car fairly and honestly, t is a 25-year-old car and such the car is being sold as-is and where-is without any warranty. Mileage will be slightly higher at time of sale as the vehicle is still being driven on a daily basis.
I am happy to accommodate requests for test drives and/or inspections prior to the auction’s end. However, he winning bidder at the time of the auction’s close is considered to have purchased the vehicle and as such is bound to pay for and collect it. A winning bid does not grant a right of first refusal, urchase conditional to inspection after the auction’s end, tc. - if you win the auction, ou have bought the car. Please be clear on this point, nd feel free to ask any questions regarding the vehicle in advance of the auction’s end and I will answer them to the best of my ability.
Collection and transportation of the vehicle is entirely the buyer’s responsibility. Reasonable assistance with loading the vehicle onto a transporter can be given if necessary, ut the seller is not responsible for arranging shipment, ees relating to shipment, tc. Registration and related fees and paperwork are also the buyer’s responsibility, ith only the California title provided by the seller.
Payment in full is required within 3 days of the auction's end. Cash, ashier's cheques drawn on a major bank, SPS money orders, nd personal cheques are accepted. In the event of payment being tendered via cheque, he vehicle and title will not be released until payment has cleared. Credit cards can be accepted via Square, lthough a transaction fee equivalent to 2% of the total sale price will be added to the final sale price.