Hey everyone,

I'm just checking to see if any other owners out there have had any expensive failures or services within the ownership period from 100,000 kms to 200,000 kms. I know its based off alot of different factors from previous owners, to how the car is maintained now, etc.

But I'm trying to build a rough estimate of what to expect and whether or not it'll be worth keeping the 380 for another few years.

My thermostat conked at around 130,000 k.
Not expensive in and by itself, only around $40 to buy a new OEM one and a few minutes to replace, but potentially catastrophic engine overheating if you don't fix it straight away.

Not a 380 owner but from experience with the Magna the following need watching between 100-200K Km:

In addition to keeping the car serviced (eg cam belt replacement, spark plugs, oil and filters) the following need checking:

Normal wear on drive belts.
Leaking rocker cover gaskets and tube seals.
The boots on the drive shafts, ball joints and steering rack.
Leaks at the steering rack.
Exhaust system for leaks, rust.
Engine oil consumption going up.
Brake system for uneven wear on discs, pads due to sliders getting stiff.
Struts/shocks for leaks.

As always, as a car ages checks for wear and tear become more important for early detection of problems to prevent any problems that do occur from becoming expensive repairs.

The 380 is a well sorted design, and can be kept going well beyond 200K Km.
Those are all things you can DIY checks on, but if your attitude is "I just drive it, the rest is a mystery", you are better off with a sub 100K Km car.

Yep, Max reminded me of one other problem I had around the 130,000 k mark - rocker cover gaskets and spark plug tube seals leaking. They go brittle with the repeated heat cycles and start to leak.
Replacement gaskets and tube seals (together in a pack) are relatively cheap and DIY is not that hard, plenty of threads around here on how to do it.
Another common issue on 380s is the sway bar bushes wear out and get noisy, usually every 100,000 km or so and quicker if you have lowered suspension.
New OEM bushes are cheap as chips from the dealer, the rears are easy to DIY replace, but the fronts are not so easy and for most require a visit to a suspension shop, mechanic or dealer.

Thanks Max for the information really appreciate it and you cover alot of great points. I love the 380 and I know they've got an amazing track record when it comes to reliability.
Due to my schedule with work and studying part time. In terms of DIY work, I mean I do what I can with basic things but when it comes to work related to the engine/suspension alot of work gets left with the dealer or local mechanic which can get quite costly. However, it's alot more convenient for me and lessens my chance for messing something up.

I think for me right now I'm looking at it from an investment perspective in the next 4 years and seeing if it'll be worth keeping and just having an emergency fund if something major were to fail/break.
When compared to buying a newer small car with warranty which would be better suited to my city/highway driving and be abit more practical in that sense along with cheaper fuel, and rego. It really comes down whats the smarter investment for the long run and I'm finding it to be a rather tough decision because in the end they work out to be very close in comparison just one has more security than the other.

Yep, Max reminded me of one other problem I had around the 130,000 k mark - rocker cover gaskets and spark plug tube seals leaking. They go brittle with the repeated heat cycles and start to leak.
Replacement gaskets and tube seals (together in a pack) are relatively cheap and DIY is not that hard, plenty of threads around here on how to do it.
Another common issue on 380s is the sway bar bushes wear out and get noisy, usually every 100,000 km or so and quicker if you have lowered suspension.
New OEM bushes are cheap as chips from the dealer, the rears are easy to DIY replace, but the fronts are not so easy and for most require a visit to a suspension shop, mechanic or dealer.

Thanks for your help also, thats exactly what I'm after and I've actually just had my front sway bar bushes replaced at my last service so good to see I've atleast got one thing covered :)

Last month, I had my 110K service for my 07 380 VRX. The car (in my opinion) is brilliant. I have never (no word of a lie) had a single issue with it. It's never skipped a beat, played up in any way, or leaked a single drop of oil or any other fluid. Each service I have done is a log book service and each time it gets a clean bill of health. I have it serviced regularly at my local Mitsubishi dealer. I do fuss over the car though. :)

Last month, I had my 110K service for my 07 380 VRX. The car (in my opinion) is brilliant. I have never (no word of a lie) had a single issue with it. It's never skipped a beat, played up in any way, or leaked a single drop of oil or any other fluid. Each service I have done is a log book service and each time it gets a clean bill of health. I have it serviced regularly at my local Mitsubishi dealer. I do fuss over the car though. :)

Not even a window regulator failure? They are very reliable cars - under rated in my view.

Not even a window regulator failure? They are very reliable cars - under rated in my view.

Nope, not even a window regulator failure. Not even so much as a squeak from the suspension (I'm running superlow kings and stock VRX shocks), or a mysterious rattle over bumpy roads. Nothing. Scouts honour. I agree with you that the cars are under rated, so much so as this is my licence plate UNDR8D.

The most that has happened to my 380 was the Thermostat, which died around the 115K mark -- lead to the engine almost going to the red by the time i got it to the mechanic but it was a very cheap thing to do (around 70 for parts + labour all up), aside from that general wear and tear

Solid car overall

2005 380 GT that's just hit 151,000 km. Purchased in September 2012 with 69,000 km.

In that time:-

* Front left CV boot came a bit loose a couple of years ago. A clamp seems to have done the trick.
* Rear right window regulator went about 12 months ago. Replaced rear left regular at the same time as a precaution.
* Air-conditioning resistor went at Christmas (and just before I did 1500km+ of driving. damnit)
* Rocker cover gasket will need replacing at some point. Mechanic pointed it out about 15,000km ago but he doesn't think they need replacing yet.
* Sway bar bushes replaced for shits and giggles. Mechanic said that they weren't dire, but had seem better days. Was getting other suspension work done at the same time anyway.

Still a very smooth and powerful car to drive and I'm not scared of it approaching the 200,000km mark.

2 weeks after I voted for "No car has been great just regular servicing" the thermostat gave up at 132K.
Besides this little piece of Karma it has been trouble free.

Long time lurker, 1st time poster, so be kind.......
I bought an 18 month old 2006 SII ES in 2008. It's regularly serviced and looked after, but avg annual travel over that time has dropped to about 14K from about 20K in the first few years.
It has done a few trips QLD to Vic & back since we've had it - it's much nicer on a long interstate drive than my S1 Magna was.
After about a year I kept hearing a noise not unlike a slight flange gasket leak when it was cold and under moderate load - It had some piston slap (1 cylinder out of round a few thou).
I gave it to the dealer for 2 weeks while we were on hols letting them hear it 3 times a day. Once the dealer could finally hear it, Mitsi said yes strip it down and take measurements, then to fit a short motor.
About a year later the RR window regulator died - replaced under warranty.
Some time there after the spring that holds the fuel flap open/closed went west when I opened it at the servo - part replaced (after 4 attempts).
I suspect that my front bushes are going as it thuds going over bumps - time to let the moths out again!!
Aside from those things and my wife regularly damaging it (backing it into inanimate objects, scrubbing it on the garage wall while backing out and backing into it on our drive) it has been a gem, it's going great and is an excellent and very much under-rated car.
I say that as an owner (over the years) of too many cars over the years to want to consider how much I've spent on them. I've owned cars made in Europe, Japan, Korea and Australia.
I've driven cars By Alfa, Fiat, Merc, Jag, Audi, VW, Seat, Saab, Subaru, Mazda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Holden, Opel, Toyota, Hyundai, Ford (Boss Mustang 428), Chrysler, Porsche (944 S2, Panamera), Lamborghini (Muira SSS), Ferrari (Dino), De Tomaso (Mongusta) etc etc. and still enjoy driving my 380 a hell of a lot (not parking etc, driving).
If it weren't for the poor rear visibility, costly reg & insurance and the urban fuel thirst I'd consider keeping it a few more years.

double post sorry

I just hit 119k in my 2006 SX, bought the car at 65k about 18 months ago. I service it every 7.5k. I have just had to replace the coil in number 4 bank (front luckily). I have replaced one rear window regulator, the front discs are warped (have slotted rotors waiting here, next weekends job), I replaced the front sway bar bushes with neoprene but they were ok. Both the rocker cover gaskets have been replace and the tubes. That is it EXCEPT paint fade, roof was done 14 months ago as well as the boot lid , about to get the bonnet & tops of doors done other than that it has been fantastic.

137,000kms

Rear shocks were leaking, rocker seals were leaking, alternator bearings need replacing and heater core was shot.

Rear bumper was warped when I bought the car along with paint fade on the roof, boot and rear bumper.

137,000kms

Rear shocks were leaking, rocker seals were leaking, alternator bearings need replacing and heater core was shot.

Rear bumper was warped when I bought the car along with paint fade on the roof, boot and rear bumper.
I thought you had a Verada?

2007 380 SX series 3 just ran over 200,000 km on the weekend.

In the 200,000 km the following have been the only item to report:
- 45,000 km, right rear window regulator,
- 60,000 km, left rear window regulator,
- 90,000 km, slightly torn engine mount,
- 90,000 km, timing belt tensioner expired,
- 165,000 km, Air conditioner condenser cracked needed replacement and re-gas,
- 175,000 km, thermostat failure,
- 180,000 km, radiator replacement as was corroding on join between header tank and body,

A family members 2007 380 SX series 2 at 207,000 km on the weekend.
- 45,000 km, left rear wheel bearing failure,
- 55,000 km, left and right rear windows regulators,
- 90,000 km, timing belt tensioner expired,
- 195,000 km, spark plug tube seals,
- This 380 still on 4 original disks and thermostat

I am more interested in what will happen between 200,000km and 300,000km

I thought you had a Verada?

Yeah I still do?

Yeah I still do?
This is in the 380 section...

This is in the 380 section...

haha oh damn, it is too!

I purchased a 2007 ES recently. Ha

I purchased a 2007 ES recently, 127000 km. Had to change all spark plug tube seals as oil was in the spark plug chamber. Not hard to do, but takes some time. Old gaskets were cooked in the rocker groove and took some patience to get out. Runs like a dream now. Used Iridium plugs all round. 380s are great cars.

Purchased series 2 SX with 90k 2 years ago.Since then the only trouble has been thermostat and it's on 135k now.Oh forgot, that damn plastic shroud on drivers electric seat.My TW series 2 though has been nothing short of amazing.Bought with 83k now on 268k (ex Commonwealth bank car)other than the usual,brakes fluids and service the only mechanical problem was it needed a new oil cap gasket.Might be the country life but its reliability was the reason we bought the 380.

My biggest issue has been crapp paintwork
I have had bonnet, roof and boot lid resprayed
All clear coat delamination issues
Storm grey.

I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this survey and commenting on their repairs. I cannot thank you enough and really appreciate the response's.
It's helped bring to notion some common things that I may get done soon as preventative maintenance especially the Thermostat, and rocker cover gaskets and tube seals for the spark plugs. I've decided to keep the car for a few more years if all goes well and just hit 112,000kms on the weekend.

I know all too well about the paint fade issue. These are the repairs that I've had done since I bought the car in 2011 at 55,000kms

1. All 4 window regulators failing over time.
2. Respraying the Roof, bonnet, and hood. and passenger side door due to someone hitting it.
3. Battery replaced yesterday as was 5 years old.
4. Front sway bar bush's at 110,000.

Overall I'd say I've had a good run so far. Fingers crossed that continues further into the future :)