General Pre Purchase Inspection

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General Pre Purchase Inspection

iamnicolas

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Hello, i am new to the forum and am looking to buy a fiat 500 automatic. I am used to driving automatic. I am between the 0.9 and 1.2. I would like one with an esp/esc/asr -traction control- but i cant find any.

I went today to saw a couple of 500. I will go again tomorrow. What should i check? any known faults? I think the 0.9 is better but there aren't many autos in the market.
 
Hello, i am new to the forum and am looking to buy a fiat 500 automatic. I am used to driving automatic. I am between the 0.9 and 1.2. I would like one with an esp/esc/asr -traction control- but i cant find any.

I went today to saw a couple of 500. I will go again tomorrow. What should i check? any known faults? I think the 0.9 is better but there aren't many autos in the market.


If you choose the 0.9 check it's got a complete and credible service record. The engine's great but correect servicing is vital.

Check all rear hatch electrics are operating and, if possible, peel back the rubber conduit between body and hatch and look for frayed and worn wiring.

I'm sure there's more...
 
thank you. What about the 1.2? Is it ok if a 1.2 does not have full service history? you mean the tail gate of the car?
 
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iamnicolas, hi.

Are you intending on buying a second hand 500 or considering purchasing new?

If buying second hand, then make sure you do your research properly and inspect well. There are a lot of 500's most in good shape and are a good buy, but there are a lot of cars which have either had little or minimal servicing regimes. Don't forget, the economy has gone through a downturn, this means that there are plenty of car owners who will do the absolute minimum in terms of either servicing, or in lots of cases, none at all. A genuine service history is therefore a really good indicator the car has been looked after. Don't forget too, you've got more rights buying from a franchise/independent dealer, than you have buying privately. If buying from a dealership, pay the deposit on a credit card as you have rights under the Consumer Credit Act should anything go wrong.

If you've read through the forum, by now, you'll have gathered the most common issues that 500 owners suffer, door handle hinges, tail gate wiring etc. Also, with the 1.2, the cambelt and waterpump will require changing either at the four year point or I believe 72k miles? If this hasn't been done and you're buying a car over 4 years or older, make sure it is or ensure the cost of replacement is deducted from the sale price.

If you are not comfortable doing a full thorough inspection prior to purchase yourself, it may be worth paying someone who does know what they're doing, such as one of the motoring organisations that offer that type of service. After all, if you're spending a few £k on a vehicle you might have for a few years, surely you want to be as sure as you can be, that you've not bought a lemon. I would say, buying from a Fiat dealership for instance, would ensure that the car has had a thorough check, any safety/recall work done and all appropriate software updates applied. Granted, those cars will cost you more, but you do have an element of safeguard and guarantee.

Read this thread for an idea of just how horribly things can go wrong!:

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/353692-engine-mount-snapped-my-fiat-500-2011-lounge.html
 
iamnicolas, hi.

Are you intending on buying a second hand 500 or considering purchasing new?

If buying second hand, then make sure you do your research properly and inspect well. There are a lot of 500's most in good shape and are a good buy, but there are a lot of cars which have either had little or minimal servicing regimes. Don't forget, the economy has gone through a downturn, this means that there are plenty of car owners who will do the absolute minimum in terms of either servicing, or in lots of cases, none at all. A genuine service history is therefore a really good indicator the car has been looked after. Don't forget too, you've got more rights buying from a franchise/independent dealer, than you have buying privately. If buying from a dealership, pay the deposit on a credit card as you have rights under the Consumer Credit Act should anything go wrong.

If you've read through the forum, by now, you'll have gathered the most common issues that 500 owners suffer, door handle hinges, tail gate wiring etc. Also, with the 1.2, the cambelt and waterpump will require changing either at the four year point or I believe 72k miles? If this hasn't been done and you're buying a car over 4 years or older, make sure it is or ensure the cost of replacement is deducted from the sale price.

If you are not comfortable doing a full thorough inspection prior to purchase yourself, it may be worth paying someone who does know what they're doing, such as one of the motoring organisations that offer that type of service. After all, if you're spending a few £k on a vehicle you might have for a few years, surely you want to be as sure as you can be, that you've not bought a lemon. I would say, buying from a Fiat dealership for instance, would ensure that the car has had a thorough check, any safety/recall work done and all appropriate software updates applied. Granted, those cars will cost you more, but you do have an element of safeguard and guarantee.

Read this thread for an idea of just how horribly things can go wrong!:

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/353692-engine-mount-snapped-my-fiat-500-2011-lounge.html

I am looking for second hand car.

I would like to thank you for your time. Do you know how much a water-pump and a cambelt cost? Does the 0.9 have a cambelt too or a chain?
 
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Not sure how much a cambelt and waterpump change costs on a 1.2, but £350 seems to be the going rate on lots of cars where this job is done. Indeed, that is exactly the cost to change the cambelt and waterpump on my 1.9 Tid Saab 9-3, which incidentally is fitted with a Fiat sourced engine.

The TA is driven by a timing chain. Extremely important that any TA you consider has a solid service history. Great cars, we loved ours, shame the mpg didn't match up to the claimed specs, well, certainly as far as our car was concerned.
 
Not sure how much a cambelt and waterpump change costs on a 1.2, but £350 seems to be the going rate on lots of cars where this job is done. Indeed, that is exactly the cost to change the cambelt and waterpump on my 1.9 Tid Saab 9-3, which incidentally is fitted with a Fiat sourced engine.

The TA is driven by a timing chain. Extremely important that any TA you consider has a solid service history. Great cars, we loved ours, shame the mpg didn't match up to the claimed specs, well, certainly as far as our car was concerned.

Thank you! I am in the market for either a 1.2 or 0.9. Does your TA has traction control? do you think is necessary? Not many fiat 500s have it. Do all 500s come with ABS as standard?
 
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Guys thia might be a stupid question. Do all 500s come with Blue&Me as standard???
 
No, generally speaking, Pop models won't have it unless specified as an option when the car was ordered. Retrofitting is not generally considered either economically feasible or practical.


Thank you. So is standard on all lounge models ?
 
Depending on what year of car you are aiming for you might think twice about blue & me anyway. The system on the earlier 500s leaves a lot to be desired in my opinion
 
Thank you. So is standard on all lounge models ?

Yes.

Depending on what year of car you are aiming for you might think twice about blue & me anyway. The system on the earlier 500s leaves a lot to be desired in my opinion

On cars built before about mid-2010, you will also need a special adapter (£70 ish) if you want to use Blue&Me to play music from an iphone/ipad.

For just playing music from a memory stick and simple phone pairing, the earlier version of the system works acceptably.

It's a hardware issue - earlier cars can't run the latest Blue&Me software.
 
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I am in the market for a late 2011 or 2012. And Lounge models only!
Thank you!

Am also looking for cars with the Tomtom live port. Is it any good? I think is better because i dont need to have wires for charging the navigation.
 
I am in the market for a late 2011 or 2012. And Lounge models only!
Thank you!

I've no idea where in the country you are my friend, but I've just done a search nationally on autotrader and there are plenty of examples to choose from in terms of what you are looking for, not necessarily cheap though!

I did do a national search of the Fiat network and found the car in the following link as an example. You said auto box and Lounge spec? Just 8511 very low miles on it for the year. Backed up by a Fiat guarantee at least, so there'd be plenty of redress if problems arose. All depends on how much you want to pay, if you've got anything to PX against it, or you can get them to knock at least £500 off the price!

http://usedcars.fiat.co.uk/fiat-500/fiat-500-1-2-lounge-dualogic-3dr-buckhurst-hill-201512089300624?postcode=ng17+2sr&link=%2Fsearch-results%3FbodyStyle%3DHatchback%26maxAge%3D4%26sort%3Dprice_asc%26maxMileage%3D40000%26postcode%3Dng17%2B2sr%26makeModel%3DFIAT_500%26makeModel%3D%26transmission%3Dautomatic

http://www.mpmotorcompany.co.uk/use...sale-in-westhoughton-lancashire/aetv59713900/
 
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I've no idea where in the country you are my friend, but I've just done a search nationally on autotrader and there are plenty of examples to choose from in terms of what you are looking for, not necessarily cheap though!

I did do a national search of the Fiat network and found the car in the following link as an example. You said auto box and Lounge spec? Just 8511 very low miles on it for the year. Backed up by a Fiat guarantee at least, so there'd be plenty of redress if problems arose. All depends on how much you want to pay, if you've got anything to PX against it, or you can get them to knock at least £500 off the price!

http://usedcars.fiat.co.uk/fiat-500/fiat-500-1-2-lounge-dualogic-3dr-buckhurst-hill-201512089300624?postcode=ng17+2sr&link=%2Fsearch-results%3FbodyStyle%3DHatchback%26maxAge%3D4%26sort%3Dprice_asc%26maxMileage%3D40000%26postcode%3Dng17%2B2sr%26makeModel%3DFIAT_500%26makeModel%3D%26transmission%3Dautomatic

http://www.mpmotorcompany.co.uk/use...sale-in-westhoughton-lancashire/aetv59713900/

Yes i know i am using autotrader. I wrote that regarding the previous post that models before 2010 dont accept iphone and ipods (blue &me)..And i replied saying that i am looking for the 2011-2012 so this should be a problem.

I think am gonna go for a manual as it seems to be more reliable.
Thank you.
 
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Does the 500 has Hill Holder? When you on a hill and starting, the car wont go backwards unless you put it in reverse.
 
Some do:

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/358331-new-lounge-dualogic-hill-holder.html

If you use the forum search function, you'll find threads on it.

Question you need to ask yourself is whether or not that function is really important to you?

Our new i10 has it, but to be honest, we haven't been in a situation yet where we've needed to intentionally use the function. I tried it for the first time the other day on a very steep hill, and it works as it should. I do however have a bit of a problem with some of what I personally consider 'gimicky' add ons. I've been driving for 30 years and I learnt to drive in a Hillman Avenger, an Allegro and a Vauxhall Viva, none of which had these new fandango assist devices. We just learnt proper clutch/handbrake/accelerator control. I fear driving is becoming a bit of a bore these days with all of this stuff. :rolleyes: I can't wait for totally autonomous cars as standard :(
 
I am not looking for a car that has it as i don't think is a must. I am just asking for general knowledge.
Thank you for your help!
 
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