Triage before cosmetics
Inspect tyres, brake hoses, hard lines, fuel hoses, steering joints and structural mounting points before spending on appearance. Photograph findings and divide them into unsafe, reliability-critical and monitor-only. This prevents a long wish list from hiding the jobs that determine whether the car should be driven.
Reset time-sensitive service
Replace unknown timing belts on M20, M21 and M40 engines with the correct tensioning parts; consider the water pump where access overlaps. Renew engine oil, coolant and brake fluid with the right specification, then record the baseline. Chain-driven engines still need inspection—chain drive does not make old oil, hoses or cooling parts immortal.
Treat cooling as a system
Radiator, cap, thermostat, pump, fan coupling, heater valve and every hose work together. Pressure-test cold, inspect for staining and verify stable road temperature plus correct heater output. Replacing one visible leak while ignoring pressure control or a weak fan often creates a repeat failure.