Coming back to Berlingo after a 10 year break - advice....

[ghost123uk]

Hi all.

Thinking of coming back to a Belingo after 10 happy years of owning my VW T4 camper.

I used to have a M59 2.0 Hdi, the "Modutop" version, and I loved it.

I am now retired and looking for something cheaper to Tax, Insure and run.

I have around £2000 to spend.

Hoping to find one of the ones that has glass in the rear and is cheap to tax.

Can anyone help me decide which model I should be looking for ?

Things like =
Are the 1.6 Diesels more prone to issues than the 2.0Hdi ?
Are the ones with DPF still to be avoided?

Thanks in advance.
John in Cheshire

[Multispacer]

Hi all.

Thinking of coming back to a Belingo after 10 happy years of owning my VW T4 camper.

I used to have a M59 2.0 Hdi, the "Modutop" version, and I loved it.

I am now retired and looking for something cheaper to Tax, Insure and run.

I have around £2000 to spend.

Hoping to find one of the ones that has glass in the rear and is cheap to tax.

Can anyone help me decide which model I should be looking for ?

Things like =
Are the 1.6 Diesels more prone to issues than the 2.0Hdi ?
Are the ones with DPF still to be avoided?

Thanks in advance.
John in Cheshire

Unfortunately £2000 isn't going to buy you a decent Berlingo. Used prices have rocketed in recent years [even on older M59 and early B9 models]

You haven't stated what you want to use your Berlingo for and what kind of journeys/mileage you're planning.

Having owned both M59 and B9 models [as well as some other Citroen diesels] they all have their good and bad points... 

With regard to engines both the 2.0Hdi and the 1.6Hdi were reliable but with regard to the 1.6Hdi if you are only going to be doing relatively low miles/short journeys, avoid anything that has a DPF [so anything post 2009/10 which is when they had them added] as the DPFs do not like doing just short journeys and will clog/die early and they are serious money to replace. With your relatively low budget, you might also want to consider the normally aspirated 1.9D as although slow[er] than the Hdi engines, they are a lot simpler and as long as you do regular oil changes can go on forever.

The down side to the 1.9D though is it is more expensive to tax than the Hdi models.

Getting back to the actual vehicles The B9 was a more comfortable ride than the M59 but I don't think you're going to find much in the way of early B9s in your budget unless they have done mega-miles, which in itself is not a bad thing as long as the vehicle has been serviced regularly and had the cam-belt/water pump chaned at the required intervals [10 years/100,000 miles whichever was sooner]

I did actually like my M59 Multispace modutop more than my later B9, as I found the modutop more useful in the M59 [stowage wise and power outlets etc] as well as the fact the rear most two windows in the 'boot' area could also be opened on catches which was great when camping whereas none of the B9 models had that facility.

Things to look out for on the M59 model with modutop, is that the modutop can be prone to leaking, so check roof area for any tell-tale signs of leaks. Also owners on the forum have in recent years been reporting rear axle problems, so check for any noises from the back axle or the rear wheels being at 'jaunty' angles

Remember as well, the van versions in the UK are more expensive to tax [as opposed to the Multispace versions] 

Also be aware, that none of the pre-DPF versions [and in fact no diesel Berlingos pre-2016] are exempt charges in the many city/town low emission zones thsat have sprung up, so if you go into any area that charge, you will have to pay.

[ghost123uk]

Good info, thank you.

My old M59 had to have a rear axle, no real problem, but worth bearing in mind, as is leaky roofs !! (which I did not have). 

It will have at least one regular motorway trip per week of 100 miles, plus regular trips of around 30 miles on "A" roads.
Very little "stop start" so maybe one with a DPF does not present such a worry..........

I will not be ready to purchase one until after October, when my VW T4 camper will be MOT's and then sold.
I mention this because I suppose the following one will be gone by then, but it looks like the sort of car I am after. Cambelt and pump done, looks good and even is an XTR (so air-con )
See eBay item number:317266829417

Thanks again,
John B

[Multispacer]

Good info, thank you.

My old M59 had to have a rear axle, no real problem, but worth bearing in mind, as is leaky roofs !! (which I did not have). 

It will have at least one regular motorway trip per week of 100 miles, plus regular trips of around 30 miles on "A" roads.
Very little "stop start" so maybe one with a DPF does not present such a worry..........

I will not be ready to purchase one until after October, when my VW T4 camper will be MOT's and then sold.
I mention this because I suppose the following one will be gone by then, but it looks like the sort of car I am after. Cambelt and pump done, looks good and even is an XTR (so air-con )
See eBay item number:317266829417

Thanks again,
John B

Yes, that does actually look a good deal and the bonus of a 2008 XTR is that it is Euro IV diesel so no DPF and no Eolys or Ad-Blue system. That was one other thing I forgot to mention stay away from the versions with the early Eolys system, as they had a soft pouch type container for the Eolys fluid up in the rear wheel arch that is prone to leaks [stones hitting etc] and the whole Eolys system is not that reliable.