500 Hello from West Sussex

[Liz2000]

Hi everyone,

Just a quick hello - I’ve been happily reading around the forum for a little while, which has been incredibly helpful. I’m hoping to get a Fiat 500 within the next two or three months, once I’ve sold my existing car. I feel I’ll benefit from a small city car which is light on fuel and easy to park - and of course super stylish! I’ve always hankered after one of these.

I’m a newcomer to Fiat but I think I’ve identified the right Fiat 500 to search for:

• 1.2 litre engine - this appears to be the most solid and reliable option
• Lounge trim - some nice touches
• Post 2015 facelift, to benefit from tweaks and satnav
• I’m thinking early 2017 (very low road tax)
• I’d consider up to 2019 because the 7” infotainment system is appealing – is this vastly better than the 5” version? Despite searching I'm not finding many comments or comparisons
• Currently my favourite colours are: Bossanova White (with or without stripes), Tech House Grey, Electroclash Grey, Pale Lilac Metallic (not sure of the real name), Velore Blue (not sure if that is available after 2015), Footloose Blue (I’ve only ever seen one of these), Bordeaux Metallic
• I’m struggling to find Fiat independent garages in my area, which is surprising given how many of these cars I see on our roads each day. Monza Sport is a few miles from where I live in Storrington, West Sussex

If anybody has any comments or advice regarding the above, it would be gratefully received.

 

[rmjbn1]

Hi and welcome
I agree, 1.2 would be least likely to give you any nasty surprises. It's reliable, economical and suits the car well.

Check if the timing belt has been changed within the last 5 years, otherwise budget £400+ to have it done.

Check coolant is up to level, there are a couple of things that can develop leaks and low coolant can do damage.

And have a look at the rear axle spring pans. They'll be rusty but that can be easily dealt with as long as they're not crumbling and full of holes.

And have you seen steveras57's guide?

Fiat 500! things you should check once you get your car home

These are the common problem areas on these cars you WILL have some of these issues!- if you dont your lucky but checking now could save time and hassle in the future!. No 1 -Main battery earth strap corrodes from the inside out! cause all kinds...

www.fiatforum.com

Hope you find a good 'un in the right colour

 

[Liz2000]

Thank you - that's very helpful, I'll make sure all those things are checked. It sounds like even a 2019 can suffer from rust. Must admit I hadn't expected the timing belt to be that expensive so I'll budget for that. Is that a main dealer price, or indi?

 

[rmjbn1]

Indy might be cheaper,
But it needs to be one familiar with 500s
Official software is needed to complete a belt change and there are plenty of accounts on here of errors when this wasn't done correctly.

Generally I would avoid franchised dealers but it might be worth considering for this job.

If timing belt is due (there should be history) then you can use it to drive the asking price down.

500s are very good for rust as the bodies are galvanised, but the rear axle does need looking after, especially if the car had been parked on grass or near the coast.

 

[Liz2000]

This is very helpful - thank you.

I'm looking to earmark somewhere for servicing/repairs and there are so few places, franchised or otherwise. For my other cars there are countless indis and OPCs in easy reach. Not so for Fiat it seems!

I'm reading varying accounts of when a timing belt should be replaced - some are saying 150,000 miles or 15 years and others say half that?

 

[rmjbn1]

I'm reading varying accounts of when a timing belt should be replaced - some are saying 150,000 miles or 15 years and others say half that?

The 2010 owners handbook states 120 000 km / 75 000 miles or 5 years

It's an interference engine, so I wouldn't want to push it much further than that

There's a recommendation for an indy in Hayward's Heath, anything in the garages section close enough to you?

Garages - Map

www.fiatforum.com

Or you could ask for recommendations in the 500 section. I agree, if I could find an indy familiar with 500s, that would be my preference for a timing belt over a dealer.

The same engine is in the Ford Ka, so Ford garages should also be familiar with it.

 

[Liz2000]

75k miles or 5 years - thank you! I do very low mileage so it will be 5 years. I'm assuming this will also apply to the post 2015 1.2 models.

And great point about the Ford similarity, I didn't know that.

This morning I'm been trawling Google and have compiled this list of Fiat workshops (I don't know any of them in person as yet):

• Monza Sport, Ashington West Sussex
• Tates, Portslade East Sussex (main dealer)
• PDH, Hassocks West Sussex
• Wilsons, Epsom Surrey (main dealer)
• The Maserati Shed, Fareham Hampshire
• Browns, Haywards Heath West Sussex
• Sussex Alfa Romeo, Haywards Heath West Sussex
• Heath Garage, Haywards Heath West Sussex
• Spirit Autos, Rottingdean East Sussex

 

[steveras57]

Hi and welcome to you! Can i add to the above that if your having the timing belt changed its a false economy NOT to do the waterpump at the same time as all the stripping outs been done and its just sitting there! you wouldnt want to have pay the same labour charges AGAIN if the pump was to play up a few years down the line! good idea to check the condition of the main water feed pipe that fits into the back of the pump at the same time as these are known to rust out as well!. hope you find "the one"soon.

 

[rmjbn1]

Heath Garage, Haywards Heath West Sussex

That's the one recommended on here by a 500 owner, so I'd go with them if it's in your area

Fingers crossed timing belt might not be urgent on your new purchase; if it is and buying from a dealer you could ask them to have it done for you to close the deal

 

[Liz2000]

Hi and welcome to you! Can i add to the above that if your having the timing belt changed its a false economy NOT to do the waterpump at the same time as all the stripping outs been done and its just sitting there! you wouldnt want to have pay the same labour charges AGAIN if the pump was to play up a few years down the line! good idea to check the condition of the main water feed pipe that fits into the back of the pump at the same time as these are known to rust out as well!. hope you find "the one"soon.

Thank you - in terms of years/mileage going forward, when would you change the water pump on a post 2015 Fiat 500?

 

[steveras57]

Thank you - in terms of years/mileage going forward, when would you change the water pump on a post 2015 Fiat 500?

If you are having the timing belt done? then do the pump now at the same time!.
If the belt does not need doing yet then do them both at the same time whenever the belt gets done in the future between 1/5 years in my opinion!.
Whatever interval you chose to have the belt done in the future depending on how long you keep the car, then do them both together at that interval

 

[Liz2000]

So same interval as the belt - thank you for confirming that.

I'd like to ask a question about infotainment please. I see that from 2015 the cars could have a 5" screen, and after late 2017 they could be optioned with a sleeker 7" screen.

I'm discovering that on the 5" system Nav is optional. Could somebody please tell me if Nav is standard on the 7" system. I'm looking at listings and it doesn't seem clear which ones do or don't have navigation. I very much want built in navigation.