RE: Citroen DS3 1.6 VTi | Shed of the Week
Discussion
We had a '62 DSport version of this in the classic black over white and in my opinion it was the best front wheel drive car I've ever driven (short of a track modified clio cup at Palmersport) whilst also being kinda stylish and not a mini (part of the criteria when purchasing something to replace the previously written off "commuter"). Unfortunately all was not well in the court of Denmark with a number of interesting symptoms including: smoking after a short idle when warm, oil consumption and coolant consumption which meant you had to take a 5 litre of both in the boot (and yes, I know it's a sealed system for coolant which is why that's really bad), crank sensor failure (except if the engine was actually that far out, it wouldn't start, replacing the sensor didn't change anything I just got familiar with an ODN reader/resetter) and chewing through A/C thermostat regulators (at one point Amazon thought we needed a subscription). I suspect alongside some typically french electronics (the 406 that had complete electrical failure at 70 on a dual carriageway being a highlight), there was a head gasket issue but I never found any mayonnaise. All in all, it was more a sense of relief when someone totalled it whilst parked (it's another story how we tracked that particular hit and runner down) so we could move on to something I might actually have been able to sell with a clean conscience.
Great to drive and be in though - as long as you didn't look in the rear view mirror
Great to drive and be in though - as long as you didn't look in the rear view mirror
Great looking car but I e read too many horror stories of the prince engine so it's a no from me, if I wanted a DS3 I think I'd go for the 110hp version of the 3pot 1.2 petrol, diesel wouldn't suit my usage needs.
It's quite light so 110 with a 3 pot thrum would probably be a lot of fun, don't see them yet at shed money unless cat N or S.
It's quite light so 110 with a 3 pot thrum would probably be a lot of fun, don't see them yet at shed money unless cat N or S.
My wife had a DS3 for a few years - 2016 plate.
It was a special anniversary edition cabriolet with full hand stitched leather interior - all the usual add ons flat screen Dab radio ........
It was a great purchase to start with then just after it's 3rd year with only 29000 on the clock the engine failed and a new one was required - fortunately DS autos footed the bill (that was 2020) It then needed new break pads and discs on all wheels which cost us £700
At 34000 miles the engine warning light was back on - it was time to trade-in which we did (2023)
It was a beautiful car but not very reliable all things told
It was a special anniversary edition cabriolet with full hand stitched leather interior - all the usual add ons flat screen Dab radio ........
It was a great purchase to start with then just after it's 3rd year with only 29000 on the clock the engine failed and a new one was required - fortunately DS autos footed the bill (that was 2020) It then needed new break pads and discs on all wheels which cost us £700
At 34000 miles the engine warning light was back on - it was time to trade-in which we did (2023)
It was a beautiful car but not very reliable all things told
georgeyboy12345 said:
Might as well set fire to 2 grand, it’ll be better value.
These have the Prince engine, which suffer from catastrophic timing chain failure, high pressure fuel pump failure, poor fuel economy, high oil consumption, crankshaft issues, oil seal issues, thermostat and other sensor issues. Crappily, cheaply made engines that are full of plastic. They’ll remap to 190 bhp though.
Also this car is for sale in the most dodgy part of Manchester. The most dodgy part of an already dodgy, crime ridden city. Cheetham Hill is a part of town regularly subjected to raids by the police on places dealing in counterfeit goods, tax dodging, modern slavery, organised crime and worse!
Well it’s lasted 15 years but apparently it’s NOW going to blow up…. Based on your logic we may as well forget piston heads, head off to Surrey to buy a nice sensible Honda Jazz. These have the Prince engine, which suffer from catastrophic timing chain failure, high pressure fuel pump failure, poor fuel economy, high oil consumption, crankshaft issues, oil seal issues, thermostat and other sensor issues. Crappily, cheaply made engines that are full of plastic. They’ll remap to 190 bhp though.
Also this car is for sale in the most dodgy part of Manchester. The most dodgy part of an already dodgy, crime ridden city. Cheetham Hill is a part of town regularly subjected to raids by the police on places dealing in counterfeit goods, tax dodging, modern slavery, organised crime and worse!
sinisterpenguin said:
georgeyboy12345 said:
Might as well set fire to 2 grand, it’ll be better value.
These have the Prince engine, which suffer from catastrophic timing chain failure, high pressure fuel pump failure, poor fuel economy, high oil consumption, crankshaft issues, oil seal issues, thermostat and other sensor issues. Crappily, cheaply made engines that are full of plastic. They’ll remap to 190 bhp though.
Also this car is for sale in the most dodgy part of Manchester. The most dodgy part of an already dodgy, crime ridden city. Cheetham Hill is a part of town regularly subjected to raids by the police on places dealing in counterfeit goods, tax dodging, modern slavery, organised crime and worse!
Well it’s lasted 15 years but apparently it’s NOW going to blow up…. Based on your logic we may as well forget piston heads, head off to Surrey to buy a nice sensible Honda Jazz. These have the Prince engine, which suffer from catastrophic timing chain failure, high pressure fuel pump failure, poor fuel economy, high oil consumption, crankshaft issues, oil seal issues, thermostat and other sensor issues. Crappily, cheaply made engines that are full of plastic. They’ll remap to 190 bhp though.
Also this car is for sale in the most dodgy part of Manchester. The most dodgy part of an already dodgy, crime ridden city. Cheetham Hill is a part of town regularly subjected to raids by the police on places dealing in counterfeit goods, tax dodging, modern slavery, organised crime and worse!
I have a 2010 example of this as my current shed. I paid too much for it and so far I have had to do the following.
Replaced the main thermo-fan with a S/H one.
Replaced the alternator with a S/H one (unnecessarily it turns out)
Replaced the thermostat housing (they all split eventually)
Replaced the high pressure fuel pump (they all fail)
All things considered, it hasn't been a tragic experience. The car drives beautifully and the compact size suits my needs for an inter city commuter. The seats are really comfy and even though the interior is a bit naff, it's squeak and rattle free. The drivers arm rest and glovebox are the two silliest things I have ever had in a car. The glovebox is so small that the owners manual wont fit in it and the armrest makes access to the handbrake problematic when folded down.
The N14 "Prince" engine has it's fair share of problems but they are well known and if you can twirl a spanner, the car is relatively easy to work on. If you have an R56 Mini, Peugeot 307-308 or a DS3 and it's "using" coolant, check behind the engine for dried up coolant. If you find some it will be the thermostat housing, there's a moulded pipe that routs coolant behind the engine and it will eventually split. If you don't catch it, the engine will cook and be destroyed. A telling symptom is the temp gauge going down as the coolant departs the engine. The reason the temp gauge drops is because it's no longer immersed in coolant. If you spot this you've got minutes to go, fortunately for me when this happened I was only metres away from a car accessories business and grabbed a jug of coolant to get me home.
Replaced the main thermo-fan with a S/H one.
Replaced the alternator with a S/H one (unnecessarily it turns out)
Replaced the thermostat housing (they all split eventually)
Replaced the high pressure fuel pump (they all fail)
All things considered, it hasn't been a tragic experience. The car drives beautifully and the compact size suits my needs for an inter city commuter. The seats are really comfy and even though the interior is a bit naff, it's squeak and rattle free. The drivers arm rest and glovebox are the two silliest things I have ever had in a car. The glovebox is so small that the owners manual wont fit in it and the armrest makes access to the handbrake problematic when folded down.
The N14 "Prince" engine has it's fair share of problems but they are well known and if you can twirl a spanner, the car is relatively easy to work on. If you have an R56 Mini, Peugeot 307-308 or a DS3 and it's "using" coolant, check behind the engine for dried up coolant. If you find some it will be the thermostat housing, there's a moulded pipe that routs coolant behind the engine and it will eventually split. If you don't catch it, the engine will cook and be destroyed. A telling symptom is the temp gauge going down as the coolant departs the engine. The reason the temp gauge drops is because it's no longer immersed in coolant. If you spot this you've got minutes to go, fortunately for me when this happened I was only metres away from a car accessories business and grabbed a jug of coolant to get me home.
georgeyboy12345 said:
Might as well set fire to 2 grand, it’ll be better value.
These have the Prince engine, which suffer from catastrophic timing chain failure, high pressure fuel pump failure, poor fuel economy, high oil consumption, crankshaft issues, oil seal issues, thermostat and other sensor issues. Crappily, cheaply made engines that are full of plastic. They’ll remap to 190 bhp though.
Also this car is for sale in the most dodgy part of Manchester. The most dodgy part of an already dodgy, crime ridden city. Cheetham Hill is a part of town regularly subjected to raids by the police on places dealing in counterfeit goods, tax dodging, modern slavery, organised crime and worse!
I'll put you down as a 'maybe' then?These have the Prince engine, which suffer from catastrophic timing chain failure, high pressure fuel pump failure, poor fuel economy, high oil consumption, crankshaft issues, oil seal issues, thermostat and other sensor issues. Crappily, cheaply made engines that are full of plastic. They’ll remap to 190 bhp though.
Also this car is for sale in the most dodgy part of Manchester. The most dodgy part of an already dodgy, crime ridden city. Cheetham Hill is a part of town regularly subjected to raids by the police on places dealing in counterfeit goods, tax dodging, modern slavery, organised crime and worse!
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