General What to watch for on mark 2

[ozfish]

Greetings all, my mark 1 2.0 el has done its head gasket again (2nd time in 2 years) so its time for the blessed thing to go :bang:.
I'm looking to buy a newer Ulysse mark 2 now to replace it, but have heard so many horror stories of electrical gremlins and other faults with them.
Qustion is what should I check out on them other than the usual stuff with 2nd hand cars (i'm handy with the spanners so able to check engine/g-box/suspension etc) and have there been any recalls on these ??
Any advice would be appreciated.
Oh yes, what is the better engine, petrol or diesel, I'm not fussed about MPG.
Regards,
Oz.

 

[jarred]

recalls are listed here http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/apps/recalls/default.asp

Suspension springs snapped/any intermittant faults displayed on the head unit display main cause Water into fuse box. I would not recommend washing the engine bay due to the electrics (but if it has been done nows a good time to test everything) TEST EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL locking/ wash wipe/doors (if has them)All the lights Fog light bulb(front) you remove the front bumper/Cd stereo (coded to car) Blinds for windows are not cheap check it intact. Drivers seat base over £300 so if worn good haggle point.
But The most important cam belt round town driving 70k change/100k for motorway driving but i changed mine at 70k due to the high fail rate.
Check all the seats move and fold (cables snap).High front tyre wear so check spare is good.Clutch if manual Expensive job so check slipping high pedal etc.Check the air con/heater display lights up when lights are on common bulb fault. And Most important CHECK EVERYTHING electrical sorry repeating thats important If high miles glowplugs about 100k need changing more noticable in cold weather (bugger of a job) But other than that i want another to replace my 54 plate but looks like it will be a peugeot as they still sell them. Good Luck

 

[paul 2407]

recalls are listed here http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/apps/recalls/default.asp

Suspension springs snapped/any intermittant faults displayed on the head unit display main cause Water into fuse box. I would not recommend washing the engine bay due to the electrics (but if it has been done nows a good time to test everything) TEST EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL locking/ wash wipe/doors (if has them)All the lights Fog light bulb(front) you remove the front bumper/Cd stereo (coded to car) Blinds for windows are not cheap check it intact. Drivers seat base over £300 so if worn good haggle point.
But The most important cam belt round town driving 70k change/100k for motorway driving but i changed mine at 70k due to the high fail rate.
Check all the seats move and fold (cables snap).High front tyre wear so check spare is good.Clutch if manual Expensive job so check slipping high pedal etc.Check the air con/heater display lights up when lights are on common bulb fault. And Most important CHECK EVERYTHING electrical sorry repeating thats important If high miles glowplugs about 100k need changing more noticable in cold weather (bugger of a job) But other than that i want another to replace my 54 plate but looks like it will be a peugeot as they still sell them. Good Luck

After that glowing report, i'm looking to change my mk1 ulysse very soon, but i'm going to go for a audi A6 i can't be doing with all the faults on the new ulysse

 

[TegTypeR]

Greetings all, my mark 1 2.0 el has done its head gasket again (2nd time in 2 years) so its time for the blessed thing to go :bang:.
I'm looking to buy a newer Ulysse mark 2 now to replace it, but have heard so many horror stories of electrical gremlins and other faults with them.
Qustion is what should I check out on them other than the usual stuff with 2nd hand cars (i'm handy with the spanners so able to check engine/g-box/suspension etc) and have there been any recalls on these ??
Any advice would be appreciated.
Oh yes, what is the better engine, petrol or diesel, I'm not fussed about MPG.
Regards,
Oz.

I am handy with a spanner too but this is genuinely the first car I have bought that I would pour petrol over and burn! Yes they are an electrical nightmare and when "control units" (the various little black boxes sited all over the vehicle) go wrong, then it is BIG money to replace.

Mechanically, the main issue is that you can access very little under the bonnet, so most of the work has to be done from underneath. Great if you have a hydraulic lift, no so great if you are using ramps and scrabbling round on the ground.

My recommendation is DONT by cheap. Get a decent one with a warranty and make sure you keep buying an aftermarket warranty there after.

The shame of it is that to drive (when it works properly) it is actually a nice vehicle.