Hello chaps, nice to see some of my friends from the Multipla forum here.

So, I have been looking at a diesel Q for some time in my pensioner price range (£3-4k). They are mostly about 75k miles and have 3 keepers or more. So the questions are going to be a little obvious but come from an engineer's experience.

I need an autobox for the missus (we have good experience of a - similar - DSG box in a Seat), but with the Q they all seem to need new clutch packs and/or selector actuators. Is this common? (By the way, do they have a DMF too, even though they are an automated manual box?)

The engines also seem to be a little tired and I would prefer to avoid buying a new turbo, what is its average turbo life? And how long before injectors need attention?

The DPF is no problem as I can give the engine good runs on straight country roads (I live in Lincolnshire after all!).

But what about the EGR, is it troublesome?

I can cope with spring renewal, the infamous brake light switch complications, regular steering alignment etc, but that should also be well documented in the service history, which I regard as a must for any that I consider.

Oh, and the stop/start 'feature'. I have used manual cars fitted with same, so how does that work in an auto, especially waiting at a junction at the top of a slope? (Or is that switchable?)

Whatever I buy will have a warranty, so which warranties are fair with the Q and which are the ones to avoid please?

I am sure there are more things to fret about and others will mention them.

Great thanks
m

missionary said:

Hello chaps, nice to see some of my friends from the Multipla forum here.

So, I have been looking at a diesel Q for some time in my pensioner price range (£3-4k). They are mostly about 75k miles and have 3 keepers or more. So the questions are going to be a little obvious but come from an engineer's experience.

I need an autobox for the missus (we have good experience of a - similar - DSG box in a Seat), but with the Q they all seem to need new clutch packs and/or selector actuators. Is this common? (By the way, do they have a DMF too, even though they are an automated manual box?)

The engines also seem to be a little tired and I would prefer to avoid buying a new turbo, what is its average turbo life? And how long before injectors need attention?

The DPF is no problem as I can give the engine good runs on straight country roads (I live in Lincolnshire after all!).

But what about the EGR, is it troublesome?

I can cope with spring renewal, the infamous brake light switch complications, regular steering alignment etc, but that should also be well documented in the service history, which I regard as a must for any that I consider.

Oh, and the stop/start 'feature'. I have used manual cars fitted with same, so how does that work in an auto, especially waiting at a junction at the top of a slope? (Or is that switchable?)

Whatever I buy will have a warranty, so which warranties are fair with the Q and which are the ones to avoid please?

I am sure there are more things to fret about and others will mention them.

Great thanks
m

Click to expand...

Hi,

Can't report on most of the above despite persistent ownership of a Fiorino and 3 Qubos but most important to me was that Start/Stop was switchable OFF although in an older model (up to the current facelift 2017-->) you have to do it every time you start up simply by pressing the switch (top right of the Hazard light cluster) whereas in my 'newer' one, (also in the 500X,) you only need to turn it off once and it stays off forever (or until a battery disconnect I guess) so that's a Yippee :slayer: and Thumbs Up from me!

At the top of a slope you will brake and the mill will die. Great feature. One of the scariest.

I read in the current manual that this apparently will not happen (as yet untested) so I guess it must be associated with the inclinometer that decides for you (you have no choice) when the Hill Start Assist works so I can assume that the engine will not die in that annoying frightening I-Have-Lost-All-Control way that it does.

Springs you seem to know about but that's a British roads thing. Top suspension bushes rot/disintegrate or fail causing a knocking but are changeable. Not sure about clutches - I sold my last Qubo on 77000 miles and no sign of clutch failure but the steering fluid was going somewhere and not leaving a puddle on the floor so I guess the arm bellows were filling up with ATX when it went. I'd had new springs and bushes and discs by then.

No EGR issues (only the Fiorino with a blanking plate but there are ways around that - a pinhole I hear..) and the DPF like you gets a good workout on the M180/M18 twice a day.

Good luck in the search, there are LOTS to choose from! Garage purchase would get you a warranty so that's perhaps a good way to go.

R-V-M

Thanks for your help RVM. I might return with more queries !
m

The basic 1.3s
Are good little derv motors.. but havd a lightweight camchain.. the tensioners can fail if good oil isnt used..
( a healthy DPF maybe a poitive sign there..)

However the duologic semiauto.. CAN be a nightmare..

Charlie

Thanks Charlie. Suppose I will have to take a risk on the cam chain, replace it or wait for warranty to pay-out.

Yes the gearbox frightens me, I have heard its not too good when worn. (When I had the VW DSG I was told to change the car at 70k miles for this reason). My worry here is that warranty companies will not look on any claim kindly. Do you or anyone else have experience on that topic please? Finding a car with service record showing drivetrain replacement would be the ultimate I suppose. TIA
m

Hiya missionary, 50 thousand on mine, no problems at all, oils and operating fluid never changed, all works well so all left alone................Cheers Qube O.

Thanks Qube O, 50k is fine but are you in fear of going towards the high 70's and into the 80's.

Or to look at it in another way from my perspective, how much is a recon gearbox. I might stand that if I get a cheap car.
m

Well I look at from the point of view, that any motors working bits are more prone to problems the more use they've had.............so even a manual g/box, clutch would be on borrowed time at high mileage. Just have a look on the Punto section...........they often have gearbox/clutch problems. So guess its just fingers crossed..............Cheers Qube O.

85k on ours, still drives tight, not yet replaced any wearing parts except for tyres.