I test drove a 2010 95bhp diesel 500 yesterday with 79k miles on the clock and the thing felt as if it was going to shake itself apart if you 'played with' the accelerator - just gently accelerating really .A shaking /resonance built up which I was frankly afraid to allow develop for fear of not getting back to the garage . I guessed it was the clutch . Is this likely to be a faulty or badly fitted DMF .Ive test driven two diesel 500 95bhps now and both have STUNK of diesel .I guess the DPF REALLY needs a regular work out and cars sitting on forecourts moved around a few metres daily are worse case scenario for failure .Would a fresh oil change be advisable if buying one even if garage say it was done?
My commute is two hours fast driving daily .Am I DPF fault proof?!
You could be right with your diagnosis of a DMF fault on the car you test-drove, but in my experience DMF failure is usually a horrid clunk when the engine starts, and again when you first move off. I think a surging/shaking at speed can result from a failed turbo wastegate or EGR.
The diesel smell can be from leaks at the small return pipes from the injectors, or a leak from a badly-fitted fuel filter. Well, I’m sure there are many other potential causes but those are the ones I’ve seen.
I reckon your commute would be plenty enough to keep a diesel running well (provided it’s already running well...), but I’m inclined to agree with John202020 - when buying a commuting-car more than a few years old, especially a small car like the 500, choose the simplicity of the petrol engine (four-cylinder 1.2 or 1.4), as they give almost trouble-free service and good ‘real world’ economy that matches claimed figures (unlike for the TwinAir). I reckon the 1.4 with its 100hp is the best choice but then I’m biased, I have one
Seriously, as a car ages, you have to consider the cost of fixing it as well as the cost of running it, and having worked on 500 diesels, I’d rather fix a 1.2/1.4 petrol. No EGR or turbo problems. No DPF. Much easier to replace a cam belt than a stretched timing chain, etc.
-Alex