Looking to get a mk2 van

[Wild berlingo]

Hi everyone 

Just signed up to the forum to have a read about and hopefully get some information and feedback, as I look to buy a mk2 berlingo van. 

Will have about £2000-2500

Thank you

[Gryffindor]

Welcome!

In general a Berlingo is a good choice for a van. Economical and practical.

Once you find an interesting one or know what spec you want, post some of its details up (engine type, mileage, etc) and give an idea how much work it will be doing for specific advice on what to look for.

[Wild berlingo]

Welcome!

In general a Berlingo is a good choice for a van. Economical and practical.

Once you find an interesting one or know what spec you want, post some of its details up (engine type, mileage, etc) and give an idea how much work it will be doing for specific advice on what to look for.

Thank you for the reply once I find some ill definitely be back on here. You couldn't point me in the direction of a buyers guide or a common faults list for the mk2 please

[Gryffindor]

I know what you mean but TBH you're already reading it. It's just that none of us have the time to compile things. Browse through the forum to see what issues get raised most often.

Not sure what you mean by mk2 - pre 2009 or post 2009? The pre-2009 M59s are great, but if I had the choice I'd go for a post-2009 B9 version, simply because of parts availability.

[saskak]

You did not say petrol/diesel...

The two things to look out for in the M59 (1.6HDi), I suppose this is what you mean by mk2, are the injector seals (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt6zJANLaYQ) and the valve stem seals. IMHO, the two most difficult things to repair. Debatable, but problems with the valve stem seals can perhaps be seen on a cold start with blue smoke, but really cold start, like the car has not been started for 2-3 days. Difficult to achieve when buying, I know.

These are my top things. Of course give it the beans and see if it smokes blue in the rear view mirror under load (turbo, etc.). The rest is a child's play to fix, even if you are not mechanically inclined. In any case, you would have to clean the EGR valve, no doubt about that, ha.

2L HDi, as far as I am aware (I have no experience with it), it is decent, better than the 1.6HDi, but yes it consumes a bit more diesel.

As Gryffindor said, there is no time to compile a list and how long is a piece of string...

Only my opinion, nothing can really go wrong in the 1.6 petrol version (I have both), but.... it drinks petrol as compared to the 1.6HDi and road tax is a bit steep as compared to the 1.6HDi, as road tax is based on CO2. The 1.4 petrol version, head gasket...

[Gryffindor]

1.4 head gasket.... ohhh yes!

To explain, Wild Berlingo, the gasket in the 1.4 petrol engine is poorly designed and a hole at one position designed to allow oil through has a rubber O ring round it which perishes, leading to gasket failure. A sore point for me right now.

Probably your best method is the old one - concentrate on finding one with a good MOT history & service history, a clean background check, lowest miles possible, and from a proper forecourt dealer with a great feedback rating and their own PROPER website (not one knocked up with an off the shelf web designing service). And don't wait until you need it to start looking - allow time to vet the one which catches your eye without clock watching.