My Panda went for its 96,000 mile service and MOT today.

The initial result of the MOT was....

FAIL

Worn rear mounts on both lower front wishbones, resulting in excessive play. So both sides were replaced. On one side an anti-roll bar drop link rubber was also worn, but not enough to fail the MOT. So as the wishbones were being done, I had both drop links replaced too!

Couple that with the service, MOT and brake fluid change, and that's a total bill of £595!

Also advisories for low tread on both front tyres, worn front disks and pads, and corroded back box. All stuff to be saving up the pennies for.

On the other hand, on my Coupé, at about 70,000 miles, it had new wishbones, drop links, top mounts, and anything else rubbery on the front suspension! At least the Panda lasted about 50% longer (in terms of distance), although it didn't last as long (in terms of time).

Anyone else needed suspension parts replacing?

Wow, personally if the car is no longer in warrenty and you intend to keep the car for a good length of time, i would consider uprating the rubbery bushes with polyurethane, and exhaust with stainless steel

Not bad for a car that's done 96,000 miles.
Looks like reliable, high-miler Pandas are common.

Chinese car workshop. "These bushes are rubbery",
"Oh, thank you velly much!"

Something for me to look forward to in 16 years time, when i reach that mileage.

cryptixabarth said:

...i would consider uprating the rubbery bushes with polyurethane, and exhaust with stainless steel

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The bushes have already been done, so should be good for another 96k miles. Whether the rest of the car will last that long remains to be seen! The bushes are part of the lower wishbone assembly, and only supplied (by Fiat) as such I believe. If they're the same as the Coupe, it's also a bitch of a job to replace them with PU. As I needed the car to pass the MOT, having them replaced by the dealer wasn't a big issue. 1.5 hours labour for both sides, to fit lower arms and drop links.
As for replacing the exhaust with stainless steel, we'll see. That always sounds like a good idea, then you think you should get the whole system replaced, then the cost goes up and up. As the Panda diesel isn't exactly a performance car (I know, hard to believe) I don't know if many, or even any exhaust manufacturers do a whole system for it.

paul100hp said:

Something for me to look forward to in 16 years time, when i reach that mileage.

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Bear in mind that the hardening of rubber is as likely to be time-related as wear related, so it may happen sooner than you think.

hmallett said:

I don't know if many, or even any exhaust manufacturers do a whole system for it.

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you get them made on the car for around about £250 from cat back.

Always interesting to see how the older Panda's are getting on. Ours is only 70k miles behind you so there's money to be spent on it in the future for sure.

As we intend to keep ours for a while I might just buy a set of arms, track rod ends, drop links and any other consumables in the front end. I suspect buying from shop4parts in advance is far cheaper than having to get bits sourced on the day.

My sister 54 plate had worn wishbone bushes earlier this year with next to no miles on the clock (she doesn't like motorway, roundabouts, A roads, B roads, traffic lights, zebra crossings so she's pretty limited to where she goes!)

I reckon it's to do with road surface and traffic calming that buggers up the suspension parts.

When my 04 Panda failed it's MOT in the summer, I needed both front radius arms.
I sourced the parts(about £16 a side) and the MOT station fitted them.
The drop link is only £6 ish.................BTW.

My mileage was 40k, and the rear large round bush fails, and these look as though they are moulded in, so the better nylon type of inserts are not possible to fit!!!..........but at the above price, can't complain.

Ian

Goudrons said:

My sister 54 plate had worn wishbone bushes earlier this year with next to no miles on the clock (she doesn't like motorway, roundabouts, A roads, B roads, traffic lights, zebra crossings so she's pretty limited to where she goes!)

I reckon it's to do with road surface and traffic calming that buggers up the suspension parts.

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She is like me then! Had my Panda since May and only done 1900 miles in it 900 of them were since the end of September though.

I don't like big junctions (which may include rounabouts) or motorways or strange roads but if I know the area and there is no massive complex junctions I am fine.

She's been a bit better since she got her Panda, she'll turn right these days and if pushed will tackle a yellow box junction (with eyes closed)

Goudrons said:

My sister 54 plate had worn wishbone bushes earlier this year with next to no miles on the clock (she doesn't like motorway, roundabouts, A roads, B roads, traffic lights, zebra crossings so she's pretty limited to where she goes!)

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I'm suprised she make's it of the drive.