Berlingo therapy

Author
Discussion

Gruber

Original Poster:

6,313 posts

213 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
quotequote all
I have a dirty secret. I really want an old Berlingo. It'll sit outside on the street, take stuff to the tip every so often, trudge about over winter, and generally get treated as the family heap. There's something about the Gallic utilitarian chic of the old B'lingo that gets me all excited... I've been enthralled ever since Clarkson took one to Calais in that first (revamped) Top Gear episode. And every year we go to France and I come back wanting one even more.

There... I've said it. I want a Berlingo. I feel better already.

So, what do I need to know? Which engines should I be looking for or avoiding? Any major issues to be aware of? And what's the cambelt interval?

We're talking bargain basement here - ideally sub-£1k. And it'll have to have back seats, so no vans.

Any pointers gratefully received thumbup

megamaniac

1,057 posts

215 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
quotequote all
If you want it to accelerate don't get a 1.9 diesel.If you want it to go on forever get a 1.9 diesel.

Gruber

Original Poster:

6,313 posts

213 months

Thursday 9th April 2015
quotequote all
megamaniac said:
If you want it to accelerate don't get a 1.9 diesel.If you want it to go on forever get a 1.9 diesel.
Sounds just the job. No point seeking the joy of no-frills budget motoring only to ruin it with "performance".

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Sunday 12th April 2015
quotequote all
I love mine. Battered and grubby, hilariously gutless and totally devoid of any status whatsoever it's almost certainly the best car I've ever owned.

[url]


|http://thumbsnap.com/TmDEXtyq[/url]

Gruber

Original Poster:

6,313 posts

213 months

Monday 13th April 2015
quotequote all
That's what I'm talking about!

Simes205

4,528 posts

227 months

Monday 13th April 2015
quotequote all
Fit a GTI-6 engine to it from a 306.
Lots of fun. (sleeper)

V8 TVR

319 posts

188 months

Monday 13th April 2015
quotequote all
Jaguar steve said:
I love mine. Battered and grubby, hilariously gutless and totally devoid of any status whatsoever it's almost certainly the best car I've ever owned.

[url]


|http://thumbsnap.com/TmDEXtyq[/url]
Beautiful.

bearman68

4,644 posts

131 months

Monday 13th April 2015
quotequote all
The one with the 2.0HDi has to be the best bet. Superbly tough old engine. They don't make 'em like that anymore. weeping

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Tuesday 14th April 2015
quotequote all
Simes205 said:
Fit a GTI-6 engine to it from a 306.
Lots of fun. (sleeper)
eek Have you driven one? Do you actually know how laughably bad the handling is?

One of those top heavy, squishy suspended Berlingslows with some actual measurable horsepower would simply understeer even more than normal and kill you to death several times the first time you spanked it into a tight bend.

Simes205

4,528 posts

227 months

Tuesday 14th April 2015
quotequote all
Swap all the running gear, it's been done several times, I wouldn't have thought that it needed mentioning.

Edited by Simes205 on Tuesday 14th April 17:51

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
quotequote all
Simes205 said:
Swap all the running gear, it's been done several times, I wouldn't have thought that it needed mentioning.

Edited by Simes205 on Tuesday 14th April 17:51
I have more than adequate performance elsewhere in the fleet - correct tool for the job and all that. biggrin

Anyway, CBA with any of that modifying malarkey - you'd have to find out how to open the Berlingos bonnet and everything and besides it's just perfect as it is.

Gruber

Original Poster:

6,313 posts

213 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
quotequote all
Jaguar steve said:
Simes205 said:
Swap all the running gear, it's been done several times, I wouldn't have thought that it needed mentioning.

Edited by Simes205 on Tuesday 14th April 17:51
I have more than adequate performance elsewhere in the fleet - correct tool for the job and all that. biggrin

Anyway, CBA with any of that modifying malarkey - you'd have to find out how to open the Berlingos bonnet and everything and besides it's just perfect as it is.
I'm absolutely with you on this. Swapping in a fast engine, lowered suspension, wider tyres, etc etc etc is complete anathema to the appeal and character of the thing.

Just looking again at the photos of yours... I particularly like that you clearly haven't hoovered the footwells in years. Perfect!

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
quotequote all
Gruber said:
Jaguar steve said:
Simes205 said:
Swap all the running gear, it's been done several times, I wouldn't have thought that it needed mentioning.

Edited by Simes205 on Tuesday 14th April 17:51
I have more than adequate performance elsewhere in the fleet - correct tool for the job and all that. biggrin

Anyway, CBA with any of that modifying malarkey - you'd have to find out how to open the Berlingos bonnet and everything and besides it's just perfect as it is.
I'm absolutely with you on this. Swapping in a fast engine, lowered suspension, wider tyres, etc etc etc is complete anathema to the appeal and character of the thing.

Just looking again at the photos of yours... I particularly like that you clearly haven't hoovered the footwells in years. Perfect!
The Berlingo is used exactly as Citroen intended - a very hard used and abused 15000+ mile a year workhorse rather than an driveway ornament.

The only clean it's ever had inside is after Grandbaby hurled his breakfast all over the back seat upholstery and door panel. I'm of the opinion leaving the body dirty improves its apperance very nicely as a uniform layer of grubbiness helps to conceal all the dings and scrapes in the bodywork.

In actual fact I love not giving a fkuc about its apperance, it becomes very liberating when you honestly don't care about damaged interiors, car park dents, grubby footwells or dirty bodywork as that means you use it for absolutely anything you like or take it or leave it anywhere without a second thought.

I'm particurlarly happy with the dented front wing as well as the peeling lacquer and deep kerb gouges on the front bumper. That's proper French IMO biggrin

Speed addicted

5,561 posts

226 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
quotequote all
I have a 2003 Berlingo 2.0hdi that is used as a skip/mountain bike carrier/dog bus and for taking into places that I don't want to park my 645 like city centre parking. There isn't a straight panel on it.

It's ace. Great in winter as I use winter tyres all year round, great on fuel and no-one want's to steal it. You can fit loads of stuff in it it so if the washing machine breaks (for instance) it's not a massive problem to get another one.

I went for the car version as it's got more doors than the van and they tend to be in better condition. Seats can be unbolted pretty quickly too if needed, mine usually only has one back seat fitted to make loading things easier.

I recently got the clonking noise from the front end investigated, the handling has been improved massively after replaceing the anti-roll bar drop links on both sides. The anti-roll bar works best when it's actually connected....
I serviced it last year after the oil filter started to leak. New oil, fuel and air fiters made it significantly faster.

I don't think I'd be without it now. I really like having something I don't need to care about. Occasional jetwash to clear the worst of the crud, clean out the insides with a leafblower and it looks decent.

It's worth having a look under the plastic panel beow the drivers side wiper as leaves in there can block the drain and flood the ecu.
I've heard that the 1.6 diesel can be a bit fragile and if I was buying again I'd try harder to find a petrol as there is less to go wrong.




Edited by Speed addicted on Thursday 16th April 11:08

V8mate

45,899 posts

188 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
quotequote all

Gruber

Original Poster:

6,313 posts

213 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
quotequote all
V8mate said:
Grubes: cheap & smart?
That's almost my family motto. biggrin

Good find. Trouble is, like all the worst secret fetishes, I'm not sure I'll be able to tell Mrs Grubes. So getting to Wales and back without her noticing might be tricky. But I like a challenge.

V8mate

45,899 posts

188 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
quotequote all
Must be something nearby which constitutes a 'family day out'?

jeremyc

23,335 posts

283 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
quotequote all
Gruber said:
Good find. Trouble is, like all the worst secret fetishes, I'm not sure I'll be able to tell Mrs Grubes. So getting to Wales and back without her noticing might be tricky. But I like a challenge.
Surely this is one of those purchases you don't even need to see, let alone inspect. smile

I'm sure there are plenty of internet friends who could go and pick it up for you. biggrin

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
quotequote all
Gruber said:
V8mate said:
Grubes: cheap & smart?
That's almost my family motto. biggrin

Good find. Trouble is, like all the worst secret fetishes, I'm not sure I'll be able to tell Mrs Grubes. So getting to Wales and back without her noticing might be tricky. But I like a challenge.
We've had loads of French sheds going way back to the mid 1980s and the Berlingo has been the best one by far. 1.9 diesel like mine is the Tonka Toy tough and simple choice IMO, and now on 95k miles mine's cost me an exhaust, one wiper blade (I'm too tight to buy a pair), a set of budget tyres, three or four Supermarket quality oil changes, a brake light bulb and three MOT tests since we've had it and... err that's it.

Cambelt'll get changed if and when I can be arsed and DIY that is easier than getting dressed in the morning.

Only thing wrong with it is the driver's door courtesy light doesn't always work and the glovebox door needs a bit of assistance from a strip of Gaffa tape inside because I've mullered the mountings by stuffing a scaffold board into it.

Get one bought - she'll love it.

Edited by Jaguar steve on Thursday 16th April 13:08

V8mate

45,899 posts

188 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
quotequote all
That silver one looks like it could be a bargain. Similar age seem to £2000-2500.