Tyres!

[Sol]

Not being funny mate, but it's not a Jaguar or
Mercedes car, it's a van. Built to perform a function. Vans are like that, I've had dozens, owned vans by Volkswagen, Ford, Vauxhall, Citroen, Renault, Fiat over the last 35 years, they are all tin boxes that rattle and jiggle on rough surfaces.

Comes with the territory. If you want a silent, smooth ride, buy a Jag or a Merc.

[Sulphur-man]

Not being funny mate, but it's not a Jaguar or
Mercedes car, it's a van. Built to perform a function. Vans are like that, I've had dozens, owned vans by Volkswagen, Ford, Vauxhall, Citroen, Renault, Fiat over the last 35 years, they are all tin boxes that rattle and jiggle on rough surfaces.

Comes with the territory. If you want a silent, smooth ride, buy a Jag or a Merc.

Or a Renault Kangoo van, which was pretty darn good at being smooth and quiet, while doing exactly the same job over the same roads. I've had many vans too, thanks for pointing out that they are functional. I don't want a Jag or a Merc to do my deliveries in, I just want something that's not going to leave my ears ringing and my body feeling like it's gone a few rounds with Mike Tyson!

Believe me I'm not saying any of this for fun or to make fun. It's a problem that is very real. I need to find a solution in order to drive it for the next 5 years or sell it now and lose loads of cash. Hence I came here to see if anyone else had problems or even had the same tyre fitted. I apologise if I have ranted on and hurt the feelings of Berlingo fans but driving around in one today left me feeling like s**t. I'm sure I'll be told where to go, but hey - this is a cross-company platform van, so other marques are equally offended I suppose.

I've even just sent a message to Continental Tyres UK to ask them if they want to come and drive the van, and tell me what's the bloody problem with supplying it with their tyres from new. Maybe they will, who knows. Before anyone asks, I've tried checking the pressure. When it came from the dealer it was stupidly high so I lowered it to the recommended. A couple of days ago I lowered it further to 2.2 Bar front and back, which is what I ran on the Kangoo.

[boop]

What about the ride? It's so rock hard and these are 15" wheels...I can't understand it. I drive the same roads all the time and know them well. The last van, a Renault Kangoo, was comfortable, supple and quiet everywhere. This van is the complete opposite. It crashes over ruts with a BANG and holes and the noise from worn carriageways is immense. 

Driving around today it feels like the money spent so far on 'soundproofing' products is waisted. I can even feel the vibrations when driving at low speed over herringbone patterned block paving....unbelievable.

If there were more 'plus' points to the van I'd be more hopeful, but the drivers seat is uncomfortable, the transmission whines terribly when slowing down in gear and the backlash on the transmission is a joke. I feel like I've wasted thousands of pounds. So gutted.

Mine are 16" and it is kinda bouncy but it's very stable and easy to drive at speed, even at 100 mph, also no leaning in corners. Speed bumps are annoying, much more in-your-face than with a Transit Connect for example.

[notsofast]

What about the ride? It's so rock hard and these are 15" wheels...I can't understand it. I drive the same roads all the time and know them well. The last van, a Renault Kangoo, was comfortable, supple and quiet everywhere. This van is the complete opposite. It crashes over ruts with a BANG and holes and the noise from worn carriageways is immense. 

Driving around today it feels like the money spent so far on 'soundproofing' products is waisted. I can even feel the vibrations when driving at low speed over herringbone patterned block paving....unbelievable.

If there were more 'plus' points to the van I'd be more hopeful, but the drivers seat is uncomfortable, the transmission whines terribly when slowing down in gear and the backlash on the transmission is a joke. I feel like I've wasted thousands of pounds. So gutted.

Mine's an Enterprise too, but I've not noticed many of your complaints on my vehicle - maybe take it back to the dealer to check everything's OK?  I've not noticed any transmission whine or backlash (not sure what you mean by that actually?). Yeah, the ride's a bit firm, but vehicles these days tend to have firmer rides (so I gather from watching car channels on youtube), and with a 1000kg max payload, I'd expect a bit of firmness to cope with such weights. Like boop, mine has 16" wheels - but would that really make such a difference?  Btw, why didn't you test drive one before buying?

[Bassist1977]

Not being funny mate, but it's not a Jaguar or
Mercedes car, it's a van. Built to perform a function. Vans are like that, I've had dozens, owned vans by Volkswagen, Ford, Vauxhall, Citroen, Renault, Fiat over the last 35 years, they are all tin boxes that rattle and jiggle on rough surfaces.

Comes with the territory. If you want a silent, smooth ride, buy a Jag or a Merc.

Or a Renault Kangoo van, which was pretty darn good at being smooth and quiet, while doing exactly the same job over the same roads. I've had many vans too, thanks for pointing out that they are functional. I don't want a Jag or a Merc to do my deliveries in, I just want something that's not going to leave my ears ringing and my body feeling like it's gone a few rounds with Mike Tyson!

Believe me I'm not saying any of this for fun or to make fun. It's a problem that is very real. I need to find a solution in order to drive it for the next 5 years or sell it now and lose loads of cash. Hence I came here to see if anyone else had problems or even had the same tyre fitted. I apologise if I have ranted on and hurt the feelings of Berlingo fans but driving around in one today left me feeling like s**t. I'm sure I'll be told where to go, but hey - this is a cross-company platform van, so other marques are equally offended I suppose.

I've even just sent a message to Continental Tyres UK to ask them if they want to come and drive the van, and tell me what's the bloody problem with supplying it with their tyres from new. Maybe they will, who knows. Before anyone asks, I've tried checking the pressure. When it came from the dealer it was stupidly high so I lowered it to the recommended. A couple of days ago I lowered it further to 2.2 Bar front and back, which is what I ran on the Kangoo.

I have a 2019 xl with factory michelins which are very quiet.
Drove my brothers the other day with factory continentals, I couldn't believe how noisey they were, he reckons they've got noisier as they've worn.

[Sulphur-man]

Not being funny mate, but it's not a Jaguar or
Mercedes car, it's a van. Built to perform a function. Vans are like that, I've had dozens, owned vans by Volkswagen, Ford, Vauxhall, Citroen, Renault, Fiat over the last 35 years, they are all tin boxes that rattle and jiggle on rough surfaces.

Comes with the territory. If you want a silent, smooth ride, buy a Jag or a Merc.

Or a Renault Kangoo van, which was pretty darn good at being smooth and quiet, while doing exactly the same job over the same roads. I've had many vans too, thanks for pointing out that they are functional. I don't want a Jag or a Merc to do my deliveries in, I just want something that's not going to leave my ears ringing and my body feeling like it's gone a few rounds with Mike Tyson!

Believe me I'm not saying any of this for fun or to make fun. It's a problem that is very real. I need to find a solution in order to drive it for the next 5 years or sell it now and lose loads of cash. Hence I came here to see if anyone else had problems or even had the same tyre fitted. I apologise if I have ranted on and hurt the feelings of Berlingo fans but driving around in one today left me feeling like s**t. I'm sure I'll be told where to go, but hey - this is a cross-company platform van, so other marques are equally offended I suppose.

I've even just sent a message to Continental Tyres UK to ask them if they want to come and drive the van, and tell me what's the bloody problem with supplying it with their tyres from new. Maybe they will, who knows. Before anyone asks, I've tried checking the pressure. When it came from the dealer it was stupidly high so I lowered it to the recommended. A couple of days ago I lowered it further to 2.2 Bar front and back, which is what I ran on the Kangoo.

I have a 2019 xl with factory michelins which are very quiet.
Drove my brothers the other day with factory continentals, I couldn't believe how noisey they were, he reckons they've got noisier as they've worn.

What tyres are your factory Michelins please?

[Sulphur-man]

What about the ride? It's so rock hard and these are 15" wheels...I can't understand it. I drive the same roads all the time and know them well. The last van, a Renault Kangoo, was comfortable, supple and quiet everywhere. This van is the complete opposite. It crashes over ruts with a BANG and holes and the noise from worn carriageways is immense. 

Driving around today it feels like the money spent so far on 'soundproofing' products is waisted. I can even feel the vibrations when driving at low speed over herringbone patterned block paving....unbelievable.

If there were more 'plus' points to the van I'd be more hopeful, but the drivers seat is uncomfortable, the transmission whines terribly when slowing down in gear and the backlash on the transmission is a joke. I feel like I've wasted thousands of pounds. So gutted.

Mine's an Enterprise too, but I've not noticed many of your complaints on my vehicle - maybe take it back to the dealer to check everything's OK?  I've not noticed any transmission whine or backlash (not sure what you mean by that actually?). Yeah, the ride's a bit firm, but vehicles these days tend to have firmer rides (so I gather from watching car channels on youtube), and with a 1000kg max payload, I'd expect a bit of firmness to cope with such weights. Like boop, mine has 16" wheels - but would that really make such a difference?  Btw, why didn't you test drive one before buying?

By 'backlash' I mean a momentary snatch when you take up gear, like a looseness or a gap. Most noticeable going from 1st to second but it's there in the driveline.

[Sol]

I've got an Enterprise van with Michelin Vector IV tyres (granted my wheels are 17" alloys) and it couldn't be smoother. It handles, it's quiet, it pulls well and it's only the 75 hp version.

I'm sorry if my comments were taken as negative to you, that wasn't meant to be personal, but for a van, it's the best one I've had of all the vans over a long time and that's an honest opinion. This is my third Berlingo van over the last 10 years.

I don't defend things that don't work.

Personally, I have always found them to be excellent. I'm genuinely surprised and sorry you haven't had the standard of enjoyment you expected from it. As others have said, why not take it back to the supplier and complain if you're not happy with it.

My comments were meant to be objective from my experience and not personal or negative to you. I can see that's not how they were taken but forums are for sharing information and experience.

[Bassist1977]

Not being funny mate, but it's not a Jaguar or
Mercedes car, it's a van. Built to perform a function. Vans are like that, I've had dozens, owned vans by Volkswagen, Ford, Vauxhall, Citroen, Renault, Fiat over the last 35 years, they are all tin boxes that rattle 
Comes with the territory. If you want a silent, smooth ride, buy a Jag or a Merc.

Or a Renault Kangoo van, which was pretty darn good at being smooth and quiet, while doing exactly the same job over the same roads. I've had many vans too, thanks for pointing out that they are functional. I don't want a Jag or a Merc to do my deliveries in, I just want something that's not going to leave my ears ringing and my body feeling like it's gone a few rounds with Mike Tyson!

Believe me I'm not saying any of this for fun or to make fun. It's a problem that is very real. I need to find a solution in order to drive it for the next 5 years or sell it now and lose loads of cash. Hence I came here to see if anyone else had problems or even had the same tyre fitted. I apologise if I have ranted on and hurt the feelings of Berlingo fans but driving around in one today left me feeling like s**t. I'm sure I'll be told where to go, but hey - this is a cross-company platform van, so other marques are equally offended I suppose.

I've even just sent a message to Continental Tyres UK to ask them if they want to come and drive the van, and tell me what's the bloody problem with supplying it with their tyres from new. Maybe they will, who knows. Before anyone asks, I've tried checking the pressure. When it came from the dealer it was stupidly high so I lowered it to the recommended. A couple of days ago I lowered it further to 2.2 Bar front and back, which is what I ran on the Kangoo.

I have a 2019 xl with factory michelins which are very quiet.
Drove my brothers the other day with factory continentals, I couldn't believe how noisey they were, he reckons they've got noisier as they've worn.

What tyres are your factory Michelins please?

Michelin energy saver 16"

[Sulphur-man]

I've got an Enterprise van with Michelin Vector IV tyres (granted my wheels are 17" alloys) and it couldn't be smoother. It handles, it's quiet, it pulls well and it's only the 75 hp version.

I'm sorry if my comments were taken as negative to you, that wasn't meant to be personal, but for a van, it's the best one I've had of all the vans over a long time and that's an honest opinion. This is my third Berlingo van over the last 10 years.

I don't defend things that don't work.

Personally, I have always found them to be excellent. I'm genuinely surprised and sorry you haven't had the standard of enjoyment you expected from it. As others have said, why not take it back to the supplier and complain if you're not happy with it.

My comments were meant to be objective from my experience and not personal or negative to you. I can see that's not how they were taken but forums are for sharing information and experience.

After the day I had yesterday, the way your post started with: "Not being funny mate" and ended "buy a Merc", wasn't perceived as helpful!

It's fine though, I wasn't actually offended, why else would anyone be on a forum all the time if they weren't a big fan of what the forum was about? I get it. I also was head slapping myself internally as I had actually considered a Mercedes Citan which is oddly enough based on the Kangoo - so I nearly did get the Merc....you couldn't make it up!

I know that vehicles can differ in quality from the same production line. I once had a test drive in two different brand new Nissan X-Trails and one was a joy to behold the other a shocker. I'm actually booked in to my local Citroen dealer next week for them to look into the whine in the transmission. I suspect a dodgy DMF but then I'm not certain these vans even have one? The supplier is Arnold Clark. Fleet buyer, pre-reg seller. They've been ok but have told me to go to Citroen with any problems. I could have luck'd out and got one that was peachy like yourself, but I get the feeling I'm not going to get a massive amount of help from either party having landed with a shitter!

I will persevere with this for now as I think the probability is that the tyres are to blame for the poor ride. As a van goes it's quite good in design and I like the integration of the touchscreen and the auto handbrake amongst other features. It will probably 'wear-in' with me.

I do appreciate any help people can give on here and will happily share anything I find that improves my situation so that others can be helped. I guess that's the point of online discussion.