General Buying Brachetta,what errors to watch for?

[markob]

Im buying Brachetta 1998,model before a new bumper with fog lights.
I know what kind of engine is inside(HGT) and problems of "diesel sound" wich coused by variable valve timing.
How can i see if the car was crashed,i noticed that the front end is from 1 piece and thats why im asking what to look for if ther was a biger crash?

How to see if the driven kilometers was kicked down,how is the dash board bolted on,any picture?

And other stuff,engine errors,undercarriage,knuckles,and so on.

 

[LittleRedB]

Hi Mark and welcome to the forum!

If you do a quick search on the web there are a number of sites with various hints/tips on buying but the most common things are;

- Full service history (including CAM belt changes and variator) – if it has patchy service history walk away.
- Tractor noise on startup – means that the Variator needs changing
- Seatbelts – check the mounts where the belts meet the mounting points – early ones become frayed and need replacing
- Check the floor pan thoroughly – the points where panels meet and jacking points can rust
- Check the top inner rear wheel arch cavity – they have a habit of rusting
- Body panels should not suffer from rust as they are fully galvanised, that said common places to find rust are on the wheel arches, where panels join and around the front lights, also check the inner wings under the bonnet - they killed Doogal's b!
- Check the operation of the windows (if electric) – water ingress in the motors can cause issues
- Check the hood and the hood rubbers closely, make sure that when the hood is up they all meet the windows and are not crumbling – hood and hood rubbers are expensive to replace!
- Jack the rear wheels off the ground and give them a good wobble – if there is movement its likely the ‘sway’ bushes need replacing
- Check all of the panels align – sounds obvious but if they don’t its likely to have been in a smack
- Try to find one with leather, makes sense to have wipe clean seats!, also try to get one with the ‘comfort pack (electric windows and mirrors plus front fog lights).
- Don't be put off by a car that has been re-sprayed as long as there does not appear to be after market welding, many loving owners have had their car's re-sprayed as FIAT shipped the mk1 b's with water based paint (I actually think that they used crayola children's washable paint)
- I suggest trying to source a car with an after market stainless steel exhaust, the FIAT exhaust weighs a ton and has a number flow restrictions

I hope this helps, I am sure that others on the forum will also add to the list - good luck!

 

[markob]

LRB send me an emal adress from you please for photo.

-Full service history is hard topic couse in ouer country service book is something wich shows up once a year.

- Check the hood and the hood rubbers closely, make sure that when the hood is up they all meet the windows and are not crumbling – hood and hood rubbers are expensive to replace!

What hood,front or rear,couse im not clear with what are you saying that they all meets windows !? Rubbers must be atachet do windows,than that can only be front,but i didnt knew that rubbers ar atached on fron windows!?

Bracheta i looked doesnt have fog lamps,so does brachetta have prepared instalation for fog lamps and i need only to buy lamps or i need a complet instalation for lamps?

Seats,the seats are half leather and half normal, i dont know what this mean,maybe leather only on sides of seat.But i know becose this car has no roof,that is easyiest way to clean a seat if is a leather seat.

Front side of the car,is it from one piece or what?How do you fix then a carched front end?

 

[superspotter]

I will let LRB answer all the other questions but yes, the wiring will already be in place for the fog lights, it;s just a matter of fitting your own.

 

[markob]

I will let LRB answer all the other questions but yes, the wiring will already be in place for the fog lights, it;s just a matter of fitting your own.

But brachetta has own model of lamps,or is it similar with say punto?

I noticed from you barchetta owners ,that nobody has front indicator replaced with white indicator,only saw a post for changing side indicator for white?

 

[markob]

What is with that?

Minor problems, fixed at the first inspection
The wiper washing tank (will leak), rearbrake switch and seatbelt tensioner will be replaced immediately as these can be hazardous to your safety.

 

[docorangepeel]

No one makes replacement white front indicator lights for the Fiat Barchetta.

 

[LittleRedB]

I will drop you a PM with my address on but here goes on the questions.......

-Full service history is hard topic couse in ouer country service book is something wich shows up once a year.

This depends on the miles the car has travelled, make sure that for every scheduled service in the car's service booklet there is a dealer or garage stamp certifying that the service has been carried out. For a real belt and braces I would also look for receipts (even if its an import it is still important to have the history).

- Check the hood and the hood rubbers closely, make sure that when the hood is up they all meet the windows and are not crumbling – hood and hood rubbers are expensive to replace!

What hood,front or rear,couse im not clear with what are you saying that they all meets windows !? Rubbers must be atachet do windows,than that can only be front,but i didnt knew that rubbers ar atached on fron windows!?

The rubber seals attach to the hood where the side windows meet the hood, these should be in good condition as replacing them will cost circa £80 each and there are three on each side. The rubber seal where the hood meets the window is attached to the top of the window, this does not tend to be as problematic as the side window seals.

Bracheta i looked doesnt have fog lamps,so does brachetta have prepared instalation for fog lamps and i need only to buy lamps or i need a complet instalation for lamps?

As SS says the car will be pre-wired for the lamps, you will just need to source a switch and lamps, both of which I have seen on eBay recently.

Seats,the seats are half leather and half normal, i dont know what this mean,maybe leather only on sides of seat.But i know becose this car has no roof,that is easyiest way to clean a seat if is a leather seat.

Seats sound fine, if you have a choice of car I would go for one with full leather but half is fine.

Front side of the car,is it from one piece or what?How do you fix then a carched front end?

Front bumper is one piece, is that what you mean? Real signs of a lemon would be badly welded replacement parts under the bonnet and doors/body panels that don't line up very well.

Also forgot to mention, look at the bracket that supports the battery tray as it can rust and a Mohair roof is preferable over a plastic one........

HTH

 

[superspotter]

Just thought of your new career LRB..........car salesman

 

[LittleRedB]

Just thought of your new career LRB..........car salesman

Honest 'guv' would I lie to you..................and so on!!!

Actually, I would love to deal in high end/classics but that is a very closed market with a lot of nepotism.......difficult to break into from the outside. Still looking for my next 'opportunity' - nothing firm yet but a few things in mind!

 

[markob]

The rubber seals attach to the hood where the side windows meet the hood, these should be in good condition as replacing them will cost circa £80 each and there are three on each side. The rubber seal where the hood meets the window is attached to the top of the window, this does not tend to be as problematic as the side window seals.

Ok i see that you are talking about roof rubber that meets glas when closed.
I was thinking that you are talking about engine hood not hood like roof.

Are the fog lamps similar to some other fiat model like say punto?

Also forgot to mention, look at the bracket that supports the battery tray as it can rust and a Mohair roof is preferable over a plastic one........

For a battery i know what you mean(not shure why is this a problem,wather liking?)but Mohair roof over plastic i dont know what this means?
Normal roof against hardtop(plastic roof)or what?
Didnt know that hardtop exist.

 

[Robot]

(What a gentle and patient man LRB is )

 

[LittleRedB]

Are the fog lamps similar to some other fiat model like say punto?

Nope, model specific I am afraid

a Mohair roof is preferable over a plastic one........

Mohair is a tightly woven fabric, harder wearing and better quality then the Vinyl roof that they shipped with. You can buy a removable hard top for the b, expect to pay £450-£650 for a second hand one in the UK

....

 

[LittleRedB]

(What a gentle and patient man LRB is )

Father of an 8 year old son and 5 year old daughter - its a quality I have had to develop!!

 

[docorangepeel]

That and owning an Italian hand made sports car in a cold wet part of the world.

 

[markob]

Mohair is a tightly woven fabric, harder wearing and better quality then the Vinyl roof that they shipped with

Where can i get this Mohair roof if the plastic one is originaly on the barchetta?

Does barchetta have VIN number,to se on the net what was orginal equipmentjavascript:window.parent.izberi_besedo2(0, 0)

And to see how well do you users here know barcheta i ask you what barchetta mean?
I mistype myselfe at the top of the post couse i think that bRachetta means something like cursing.

 

[superspotter]

Barchetta in English means "Little boat"
The mohair hoods are readily available on ebay brand new and the vin plate is under the bonnet on the right hand inner wing top.

 

[markob]

But does exist online data base to put the VIN number in?

 

[LittleRedB]

That and owning an Italian hand made sports car in a cold wet part of the world.

Ah yes, and that!!!! :bang:

 

[LittleRedB]

But does exist online data base to put the VIN number in?

Yup!!