The new news 24 thread

[JJ0063]

1 minute ago, Cookiesouwest said:

At least seems like an honest advert.

1.5 dci is a good engine.

 

I agree, it’s much better than a lot of single liner adverts I’ve seen!

Hes said he will send me a video of it starting now albeit a warm start as he’s moved it to clean it today, and also a video of the code scan. Will see what that says. 
 

I’m not scared of having to make a minor repair but these sorts of things niggle in my mind - if you’ve got a code for a glow plug, why not just change it yourself to save the hassle of selling it with an issue? 

[artdjones]

22 minutes ago, JJ0063 said:

I agree, it’s much better than a lot of single liner adverts I’ve seen!

Hes said he will send me a video of it starting now albeit a warm start as he’s moved it to clean it today, and also a video of the code scan. Will see what that says. 
 

I’m not scared of having to make a minor repair but these sorts of things niggle in my mind - if you’ve got a code for a glow plug, why not just change it yourself to save the hassle of selling it with an issue? 

Most direct injection diesels start fine without glow plugs working, especially if the temperature isn't freezing or near that. So it just gets left. They aren't the worst to change, as they are a bit more substantial than those fitted to some other engines, so not so easy to snap off. 

[loserone]

Lots of folk are reluctant to invest the money to fix everything before it goes up for sale.  Why fix something for someone else's benefit?

 

If it were mine, I'd just list with the faults and take a bit less.

[Popsicle]

26 minutes ago, JJ0063 said:

So I went to view the Berlingo. Waste of time. Body awful, CV joints clicking like mad. Air con warm. 
 

Viewed the chimney sweep sign written Combo today. Oil light flashing “it’s done it the whole 4 years we’ve had it”, crunches into 3rd gear, top mounts knocking.

Ive just spotted this Citan which looks great but the advert mentions a cold start issue and he’s plugged it in and got a glow plug error apparently.

Citan AFAIK is just a Kangoo so a 1.5 DCI. 

Am I asking for trouble?

https://www.facebook.com/share/1HYAesqF6N/?mibextid=wwXIfr

 

The looks good value to me JJ. Nice spec with parking sensors, AC and armrest. It is the omnipresent Renault 1.5dci fitted in millions of cars and commercials, we have one in a Qashqai, easy enough to work on, parts are reasonably priced and every garage knows how to fix them.

A company I do deliveries for has a fleet of about 20 Citans. They briefly went to Transit Connects, but had so many issues they went back to the little Mercs. Never heard them moan about them.

Also my Caddy's black, so black vans are for winners..... Even though its broke again 🤣.

[JJ0063]

So he’s just come back to me with this, which in fairness does look to be glow plug(s)

 

[loserone]

GIFB

[artdjones]

It could be the relay, but they aren't mega expensive.

[JJ0063]

I’ve asked if we can go and view it tomorrow. Looks a pleasant enough little van for Mrs JJ.

[bramz7]

Well better own up for buying this yesterday. 

Did the journey back fine, wound it up a few times but I'm pretty sedate a driver most of the time so the onboard computer suggested I got 44mpg out of it on the 150 or so miles back. 

I'd forgotten how rattly and crappy the interiors were on 00 Renaults. And that's coming from someone who likes the same era Fiat and Alfa. The seats are great though, I felt fine after the hours in it, much like my old Laguna 2 which also had half leather and half alcantara. 

To do list? No clue. Whatever it needs, it can wait. There is a slight whining noise that matches the engine speed so that probably is something threatening to fall off, but the suspension is knock free and the car tracks straight. 

I did seem to attract every single arsehole driver on the A30/303 on the way back, but IIRC everyone down west drives like a wanker so that's probably nothing personal.

It also needs a damn good clean inside. 

[JJ0063]

Viewing the Citan at 2pm tomorrow. Bank holiday has fucked up savings being drawn down so current a grand short, so will have to leave a deposit and collect next weekend if we decide to buy. 

[JJ0063]

21 minutes ago, JJ0063 said:

Viewing the Citan at 2pm tomorrow. Bank holiday has fucked up savings being drawn down so current a grand short, so will have to leave a deposit and collect next weekend if we decide to buy. 

Annnnnnd maybe not. 

Thought I’d run a Vcheck on it..

Fuck sake, buying a van is hard work.

 

 

Only been written off 3 times 

[beko1987]

2 hours ago, JJ0063 said:

I agree, it’s much better than a lot of single liner adverts I’ve seen!

Hes said he will send me a video of it starting now albeit a warm start as he’s moved it to clean it today, and also a video of the code scan. Will see what that says. 
 

I’m not scared of having to make a minor repair but these sorts of things niggle in my mind - if you’ve got a code for a glow plug, why not just change it yourself to save the hassle of selling it with an issue? 

My 1.5dci qashqai takes a good few turns of the starter the first start of the day... I changed the glow plugs and it hasn't helped, although fitting a new fresh battery stopped it dying as it tried to start.

Need to keep investigating it really but it starts reliably every time so I've just left it be now it's warmer and not as much of an issue. Fuel filter and primer bulb is my next thought

[artdjones]

1 hour ago, JJ0063 said:

Annnnnnd maybe not. 

Thought I’d run a Vcheck on it..

Fuck sake, buying a van is hard work.

 

 

Only been written off 3 times 

If the rear floor looks unmangled it wouldn't really bother me. There's very few company vans that haven't had damage done. 

[artdjones]

26 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

My 1.5dci qashqai takes a good few turns of the starter the first start of the day... I changed the glow plugs and it hasn't helped, although fitting a new fresh battery stopped it dying as it tried to start.

Need to keep investigating it really but it starts reliably every time so I've just left it be now it's warmer and not as much of an issue. Fuel filter and primer bulb is my next thought

My present Mégane was difficult in winter weather, changing the glow plugs made quite a difference, but it's still not quite as good as the old Megane I had.

[Zelandeth]

Check and see if the last change of keeper was indeed two years ago.  If so I'd be more interested in condition and if there's evidence of a botched repair.  It doesn't take much to write off a car these days.

If the last keeper change was in fact only a few months ago, run like hell as they're likely trying to offload a problem rather than trying to sell for a genuine reason like in the ad.

[JJ0063]

1 hour ago, artdjones said:

If the rear floor looks unmangled it wouldn't really bother me. There's very few company vans that haven't had damage done. 

If it was a single marker, I agree, but at resale time you’ve got to try and sell a three time written off van. Can’t be arsed.

[Cookiesouwest]

2 hours ago, JJ0063 said:

Annnnnnd maybe not. 

Thought I’d run a Vcheck on it..

Fuck sake, buying a van is hard work.

 

 

Only been written off 3 times 

I take back my comment re an honest advert

[JJ0063]

Third time lucky perhaps?

Back to within 15 mins of the Combo I viewed today, going to see this tomorrow afternoon. 
 

2013 Berlingo 1.6 HDI, Enterprise spec so parking sensors, air con, cruise etc. 145k, 13 service stamps, cambelt done, last owner 10 years. 

Only thing he said to mention is the clutch pedal is high but doesn’t slip. It’s £1750 which to be honest is cheap enough to have to throw a clutch at in 6 months if needs be.

…. and it’s HPI clear!

 

 

[Dyslexic Viking]

16 minutes ago, JJ0063 said:

Berlingo 1.6 HDI

I recommended my mom to buy one like this new in 2011 and she still has it, it has been very reliable and problem free, good vans.

[Yoss]

9 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Love the weird rubber winged Minor too. Looking at the condition of today's RM vans, I'm surprised the idea never caught on 😅

 

Yes but they would have to make the whole van out of rubber! 

Routemaster buses had the bottom offside rear panel made of rubber, but painted red of course, as it was the corner most prone to damage, and after the 1990s refurbishments rubber roof domes. 

[captain_70s]

Away down to Englandshire for a long weekend in my only working car... 

[lesapandre]

1 minute ago, captain_70s said:

Away down to Englandshire for a long weekend in my only working car... 

Is that your suitcase? Very nicely retro.

[captain_70s]

1 hour ago, lesapandre said:

Is that your suitcase? Very nicely retro.

Yes, I've had it since I was 5 years old.

A little travel case, probably from the 1950s. It's the perfect size for an overhead compartment in a plane and ideal for trips only needing a couple of changes of clothes.

The latches are a bit tired and the "hinge", which is just a flexible strap of the weaved cardboard stuff the case is made of, is broken. Hence the belt.

[lesapandre]

Funny how a few things linger - I too have a suitcase I had as a child (very battered now needing repairs) - which was my grandmother's before me - and was hers  before she married my grandfather in 1921, with her initials on it altered to mine - so well over 100 years old now. 

[EspenO]

14 hours ago, SiC said:

I always do like a green tin building 

 

Wasn’t that used as a location in an episode of «Taskmaster»?

It was full of pairs of shoes, and the contestants had to find a particular pair by eliminating all the others and throwing them out the window on the right…? 🤔

[LightBulbFun]

On 17/04/2025 at 20:27, brownnova said:

Don’t think I’d ever seen the famed early GPO Morris Minor vans with rubber wings before, but a trip to Avoncroft Buildings museum in Bromsgrove yielded this treat! 

As well as some excellent buildings, fabulous phone boxes and in one of the most random shite moments I can ever recall a chance meeting with @SiC with both of us far from home! 

thats very cool! I had read about those but never actually even seen one pictured, I always wondered exactly how they worked, since rubber is not a very rigid material,  for some reason tho I kind of assumed that the wings where still Morris Minor shaped but made out of rubber and so the headlights would of just wobbled around I guess? so its very weird to see they are separate units, but it makes sense! I wonder if its also a bit of a hold over from the Morris Minor low light? (but I dont know when these rubber winged GPO moggies where first introduced...)

[lesapandre]

7 hours ago, EspenO said:

Wasn’t that used as a location in an episode of «Taskmaster»?

It was full of pairs of shoes, and the contestants had to find a particular pair by eliminating all the others and throwing them out the window on the right…? 🤔

The 'tin tabernacle' churches were available as kits from a number of manufacturers (along with a whole range of other buildings) like Bolton & Paul and Humphreys'. 

Quite a few survive in-situ and some have Listed status. Houses could be purchased the same way too.

[SiC]

I'm quite tempted to buy some corrugated metal sheets and some 2x4 to make a shed like that, rather buying a generic wood shed.

[EyesWeldedShut]

1 hour ago, SiC said:

I'm quite tempted to buy some corrugated metal sheets and some 2x4 to make a shed like that, rather buying a generic wood shed.

Think bigger - build a house? Got one nearby that's been listed
https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300084257-hafod-y-coed-pontarfynach

[Stinkwheel]

 

2 hours ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

Think bigger - build a house? Got one nearby that's been listed
https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300084257-hafod-y-coed-pontarfynach

Just drove past that one, quite a few wriggly tin buildings left around here as well