Hello multipla people! I've come to join the many seat brigade over from the coupe and marea sections of the forum.
I've been after a multipla for a couple of years now but finally the time came to get one. I was planning a crazy Polish style coupe engine transplant but I have way too many projects on at present.
So for now my coupes take performance priority.
Anyway the time came and I don't like spending lots of an initial purchase (I work in the motor insustry so parts cone cheap) I was looking to spend about £800 on a multi.
A late ish round nose would suffice, typically there were none around local to me so I'd been waiting and checking all the usual places.
Then I spot a square nose not a million miles away, a years test and 83k miles on a 56 plate wanting £1300

Downside, it's been a cat c write off a couple of years ago, but the owner had literally just swapped a used bonnet on and had a headlamp plastic welded and it was back on the road.
Looked okay in the pics but not so good in the metal, but it would do if the price was right.
Considering it had just gone through a test and had a load of repairs done I have it the once over (in the rain) and picked out a few faults to drive the price down.
The road test proved it drove straight and steered okay, the brakes were good and no dash lights apart from the service light blinking.

It's an early 2007 1.9 multijet with the dreaded dpf but all seemed okay.
Offered silly money and almost offended the guy but we settled on a great deal less than he was after.
I got it back to the workshop and was surprised to find a list of things that shouldn't have passed the test that were not even advisories.
It had failed on rear brakes (wheel cylinder leaking) but they'd missed a radius arm bearing totally collapsed (is picked up the knock on road-test expecting it to be a subframe bush worn)
Next was a blow from the downpipe flexi
Side skirt obviously loose
Front suspension arm, front bushes obviously worn
Those were the most serious things I found, there are lots and lots of other more minor niggles. But it wouldn't be a fiat if I didn't

The egr valve also made itself known so that's getting blanked. Once I've sorted all the bits and bobs out it should be a good little multi.

Most of the bits are here to get it sorted so I'll be on with that next week.
I'm not one that can leave things how it came from the factory so expect some changes along the way.
I think the wheels will be the first thing to get binned in favour of some Stilo blades please, then I'll look into a remap and some suspension and brake improvements.

But for now there's a list as long as my arm to get through!
I'll chuck some photos up as and when I do bits.

Following this to see what kind of things you end up doing.

Well most of the parts have arrived to begin the quest and there's lots to do.
The near side rear radius arm bearings are completely shot. Must have been stevie wonder that MOTd this six weeks ago!
It had failed on rear brakes so he must noticed it. Anyway I've bought a pair of repair kits and also found a brand new genuine arm on ebay for £69 should the worst come to the worst.

Other things on my shopping list were.

Cambelt kit with water pump
New thermostat
New coolant
Exhaust downpipe to DPF (flexi blowing)
Genuine air filter (new old stock bargain)
Pair of tailgate struts
Egr blanking plates
A pair of new number plates
A set of genuine Fiat sun shades for the rear windows
And a large stud to mount the spare wheel under the car.

That's the immediate job list that needs doing. Then I've got both front arms to replace, along with the battery that's starting to give up the ghos .

Must get round to taking some pics and getting them up.

Was going to fit the new rear arm today, only to find that it doesn't have anywhere to fit the abs sensor, so shelved the new arm (I'll use it on the track car)
Luckily I had a pair of bearing kits and soon whipped off the offending arm and slipped the new bearings in.
Lovely to see the wheel without so much negative camber.
Went to do the other side and when I'd dropped the arm down everything looked quite recent in that side.
There wasn't and play to speak of but the arm had been cut into when whoever had cut the old bolt out.
There was a nice big gap where the seal was exposed.
I just put it back together and found a used arm on ebay yay the breaker insisted the arm wasn't damaged in any way but it needed new bearings.

The difference on road test was astounding, I've never had one with that much play in it.
It was now quiet, had much less vibration and made the whole car much more civilised.
It also handled much better.

Can't wait to get the stilo wheels on (need 4 tyres & a refurb)
I got a quote of £225 from a local tuner for a remap to give somewhere near 140 odd bhp and 260nm torque.
Something to consider anyhow.
More soon.

I would caution against the tuning. The clutch's/DMF's on these things are just about up to coping with 120BHP. Whilst not a difficult job, not one I would want to revisit every 30-40K.

Yeah the clutch isn't the greatest at present, but I'd go for the solid flywheel option and uprated clutch when it fails.
My outlook on all of my cars is when something wears out put an improved version on.
Insurance is not a problem at my age. I know it's an mpv but I can't help myself.
My coupe is very much in yer face so to speak, but the multipla is the ultimate Wolf in sheep's clothing.

There is at least one person on this forum who has done a SMF conversion so do a search. I think he lists the company he got it from. I believe it was from an Alfa could have been a 154 or 164 but I don't honestly remember.

I would have gone down that route but got a complete LUK DMF/Clutch kit for £225 so wasn't worth the hassle. I am too old now to care about hopping up cars. The Multi is purely for my wife to get her, my kids, their buddies and their Cricket/Rugby gear around. So long as it can do that until I kick them out the house I am happy.

I did however fit Cruise Control a year ago. I did a detailed write up on the job on this forum. I have a bad hip from too many years as a power lifter doing stupid things like 1000lb squats. Without CC long drives to Europe would be impossible for me.

Ah yes I did read that post, as my multipla is replacing family moving duties from the lexus and cruise control. Would have been great.

The multipla joins the fleet.

Tried the 17" stilo blade alloy on, it's wearing 225 / 45 on that Romans when I bolted it up the wheel couldn't be turned.
I shall be giving these wheels a refurb and shedding them with 205 / 40s ready to fit on soon.
I may even invest in some 20mm hub centric spacers to get the look right.





Still lots to do on the big list, but most of the parts are now here. Still got to order a new rear wheel bearing so I can rebuild the off side rear arm.
I'd like to look into replying the subframe bushes with poly versions too.

Here is the off side rear radius arm.
Looks like somebody rebuilt it recently but destroyed the arm in the process of cutting the bolt off.
Then used copper grease in the new bearings.
As you can see the seal is now useless with a big chunk of arm cut away.

Yesterday I finally got round to doing some of the big jobs.




Old cambelt didn't look too bad, though the markings had vanished



The old thermostat literally fell apart, clear this had been an issue before. Somebody had used some kind of repair stuff to glue it together.
Yes that really is blocked solid.
It was also stuck wide open (hence only one bar on the temp gauge)



For a relatively inexpensive part, why do people have to bodge things?



It no longer screeches like a strangled budgie when pulling off.



You can see where it had an argument with a stationary object here.

Just an annoying heater problem since doing the thermostat, I'll be pulling it back off to check is not a duff one.
This seems to be the only fiat I've ever had that doesn't have bleed screws in the heater circuit not
Anyway so, cambelt and water pump done and I also changed the cam phase sensor while I was in there (on the coupe these are notorious for packing in)

I've got a used headlight coming to replace the damaged Near side one.
My ecu multiscan kit turned up so I was straight in there turning off the service light, I'm going to change the oil and filter again this week too. I thought I'd invest in the top end kit as I want the older cable to plug into the coupes too.

my 2008 multi running over 160bhp ,new clutch before upgrade , DPF removed with decat from italy no clutch issues just fast now . remap celtic imminent be running over 200bhp very shortly ... brakes uprated as well .mike

Brilliant Mike! Finally sorted the thermostat issue with another new one.
It just needs new bottom Arms now but I'm holding off till I've had a play with a coupe front subframe / roll bar set up.
I swapped my mareas weak front roll bar for a coupe one and the difference was night and day.
I had a quick chat with Jacek who built the 20vt multi a while back, he's still developing his but gave me some pointers about what mods the subframe carrier needs to make it fit.
It's just whether I can justify the extra work.
But to have a fun car that's good on fuel (my other daily is a lexus V8) can fit all the family in and is a hoot to drive ticks all the boxes.
I might just be being greedy but standard anything just bores me

Nice one Ste, that sheep sounds like it's gonna be the bogs dollocks soon.
Interesting thread you've started here, keep it coming.
George

i have a doblo to , decat egr blank fuel box , running about 145bhp . quick now and returning high 50s and over 60 on a run ,will embarrass local SAxo brigade ,hell my Ducato mini bus was running 145bhp shocked a few locals , why do i do it ??? because i can ... can not justify big engines as fuel is so damn expensive , had SType R 4.2 v8 driven with any anger you would be getting 11/12 to gallon 440bhp miltec exhaust smaller pulley but not feasible on a decorators wage , 200bhp nigh on 350nm torque on multipla and 30 something Mpg is justifiable ... plus faces of other motorists Priceless ..

Tried some coupe wheels on the multi borrowed from its big brother.




They still sat too far in the arches, so this is with a 16mm spacer added too.


Still no poke!

Now the only problem is the handling is awful. Problem being the larger lower profile tyre showing up the play in the bottom Arms.
You can now get torque controlled steering, where by acceleration makes it pull to the right, letting off makes it pull to the left.
Plus I've found some play in the off side off the rack.

Only tried them for fun while I wait for two more Michelin primacy tyres to come for the other two coupe wheels.

Might throw the marea alloys on the multipla for now.

My 120 Multijet has the alloy 15" wheels, my partners car has the optional 17" Fiat alloys, I would love to stick some nice 17" wheels on my car BUT...
In practise, my car handles better, ie lower unsprung weight, slightly squidgier so absorbs bumps better, and faster as the factory Fiat 15" alloys and tyres are actually very light, certainly lighter than the heavy 17" setup, however her car does look great....

Finally got round to fitting the new Michelins on the other two wheels and I've replaced the front lower arms now too so at least it stays on course without constantly adjusting the wheel.

The handing is MUCH improved although now it's highlighted the worn dampers.
The tyres aren't crazy profile at 205 50 16s, I was impressed with the Michelin primacy tyres when they were on the coupe especially in the wet. Although the Viscodrive lsd helps no end there.