Hello All,


This is the first time I've ever own a Fiat car, buying a Fiat Stilo. It was basically right in my pretty low budget.


I paid £800 for a 53 plate Stilo having done 46,000 miles. It is the 1.2 16v version. It got put through a fresh MOT but had a few Advisories.


I'd like to know if I got a good buy and if any of these advisories, alarm bells should be ringing but I don't think so due to the age of the car.

• Front brake discs worn
• offside rear coil spring corroded
• offside front brake pipe slightly corroded
• oil leak
• real axle corroded

From what I've driven it's been a very pleasant experience. It seems to be an ideal car for me, the missus and our two kids. I just hope none of these things seem too bad with a full years MOT.


Cheers

change the pads and disks next time you need your brakes done.
Get some waxoyl and spray your springs - this will prevent any more corrosion (try to clean of any excess corrosion)

I suspect front brake pipe as im sure they dont corrode, the rubber will perish, i bet the pipe is covered with mud etc. Try to clean it and see if it is just this. if not run some new copper lines - not a big job tbh.

rear axle rust, i bet its surface rust, big deal - i think the mot tester may have been a bit ott with that one. If your really worried get some hamerite and paint it other wise forget about it. There is a lot of metal that the rust would have to eat though before problems arise. mine is covered in rust and has been for years (with all the removals) but its just on the surface and no penetration has occured.

Oil leak is the only thing other than the disks i would worry about - where is it, engine or gearbox?, if engine check the oil pressure sensor, on the 1.6 they have a habit of cracking (plastic) and loosing lots of oil. If its just a minor leak just keep an eye on it.

£800 for a car and the problems are very small, well done, low mileage as well.

Some mot testers do go ott, our pug was mot at the main dealers and they gave us an advisory on rear wishbone bushes, the rubber on the end had broken away as it was open to the elements, the bushes themselves were and are still fine, they tried pushing the job on us given us the what if and safety line, i said i would change them when i get home (they didnt like that) - i wont go back there now and stick to honest little mot stations.

Well it was a wee old couple that had it before me so couldn't refuse the offer. They were trading this car in for the bigger estate version of the Stilo.. I bought theres.. They bought the estate version.


Between 2009 and 2014 this car has done 11,000 miles. I kind of think I've got a good deal...


Doesn't specify where the oil leak is.


Obviously i'll change the pads and discs in the next few months..


Axle bit worries me but i'll have a look!

andyarran said:

Well it was a wee old couple that had it before me so couldn't refuse the offer. They were trading this car in for the bigger estate version of the Stilo.. I bought theres.. They bought the estate version.


Between 2009 and 2014 this car has done 11,000 miles. I kind of think I've got a good deal...


Doesn't specify where the oil leak is.


Obviously i'll change the pads and discs in the next few months..


Axle bit worries me but i'll have a look!

Click to expand...

And it's the 1.2 version... I've not seen any drips of oil underneath yet from where its parked but i'll keep an eye out for anything...


I like to think the MOT tester has been on the side of caution.

I agree with Roy, very minor points on the advisories, seems you did get a bargain but all old cars have something to complain about its unavoidable.


From the list, the brakes and brake pipes are the most important but as they are advisories then you probably have no cause for concern. Rear Axel corroded? well, id be surprised if it wasn't, corrosion doesn't necessarily mean its about to fall off! Wire brush it, inspect and if all solid waxoyl it, same for the spring.


Oil leak - well, you need to identify the source, so id first inspect the engine area underneath and remove the tray - trace the leak that way and with any luck itll just be the oil filter that isn't tight enough


good luck!

i wonder if its the same senerio i played out some years ago, i done an oil change on my old 1.6 and got some oil on the undertray and it was dripping of the sump when i took the filter off.
MOT next day advisory on oil leak, even though it was just what was left after the oil change.
Give it all a wipe over and see if oil reappears, i bet it was an old leak or change that has caused the problem, and you my find its just caked in debris now but no longer leaking.

DONT worry about the axle, as i already said mines covered and its fine and solid, but if you are worried waxoyl it after a clean.
My axle has been set fire to when i was removing the old bushes, dragged across the tarmac as well as the every day abuse, my mw is now at over 200k and the axle is fine but looks rusty. Jack the car up and inspect it yourself you will see what we mean.
roy

Had mine MOT today and asked the guy to look underneath when over the pit. Both subframes are rusty but the metal is around 4mm thick and he said - ca normale, pas problem - the floor was rock solid so do not worry...

Not had time to look out for the Oil Leak due to work but will do.


I think I have got a bargain tbh as the car is absolutely solid. 46,000 miles.


There's not a single noise coming from it. Well there is but I think I know what/why that is. The fan belt is making a clicking sound but after some research I think its because the car sat from 2008 to 2012 and only doing less than 1,000 miles so think I might need to change the fan belt sometime.


No knocking or banging sounds even going over speed bumps. Has four good tyres on it but it appears they are Winter Goodyear tyres but don't think that makes much of a difference.


My last car was a Volvo S40 but this is a pleasure to drive compare to that.Doesn't feel like I'm going to come flying off the road unlike my old Volvo.


Ack well, very impressed so far. That City button is pretty smart