Help with understanding MOT failure

[S16KBW]

Hi all, I am looking at buying a Citroen C3 Pluriel, this particular one is a 1.4 petrol, manual.

it failed its MOT on the 23rd May this year with the below list of faults, it then passed another MOT on 7th June this year, with an additional 15 miles on the clock with no advisories or defects at all, clean as a whistle.

I know most of these are an easy fix but the two monitor advisories for oil leaks on the 'sump going porous' and headgasket are these something I should worry about when looking at this car or are these just down to the MOT tester being a bit over cauious with the advisories.

(I'm obviously going to inspect the car before I buy and check the rear seatbelts for damage in person and ensure it has 4 new tires on it)

Thanks in advance!

[Krikkit]

It means you could replace the sump pan (cheap) and fix that one, but the head gasket is leaking oil slightly (I think that'll be a TU engine, in which case quite a common fault).

Get the engine steam cleaned once a year or so to tidy the oil up a bit and it'll be fine.

[Tazio77]

Or simply buy one that doesn't have these faults, to me they are warning signs that previous owners have not kept on top of any issues as they arose. not a good sign.

[oilslick]

Tazio77 said:

Or simply buy one that doesn't have these faults, to me they are warning signs that previous owners have not kept on top of any issues as they arose. not a good sign.

Would agree with this, it's not a rare car.

[steveo3002]

doesnt sound like the best example ...but can only tell by poking your head under it , sump might have a few more years in it or not

[RicksAlfas]

S16KBW said:

Hi all, I am looking at buying a Citroen C3 Pluriel

That's not something you read everyday.

[Cankicker]

None of those are fatal, but let's face it, it's a bit of a dog. If only there were lots of others to choose from

[S16KBW]

RicksAlfas said:

S16KBW said:

Hi all, I am looking at buying a Citroen C3 Pluriel

That's not something you read everyday.

Don't make enough money to drive something cool but fed up of my regular Citroen C3, thought I would spice my life up a bit!

[HM-2]

S16KBW said:

Hi all, I am looking at buying a Citroen C3 Pluriel

Might I suggest you don't?

I'm sure you can find something more exciting for your budget, no matter how paltry, than a C3 with half the roof sawn off and the myriad of common issues (leaks, chassis rigidity) that accompany it.

[Gary29]

As above, please don't buy a Pluriel, especially if you already own a C3, I had a C2 for a while (similar mechanicals underneath), woeful thing, and that was the flagship VTS model.

What's your budget? £1500-£2000?

Edited by Gary29 on Tuesday 11th June 09:19

[S16KBW]

Krikkit said:

It means you could replace the sump pan (cheap) and fix that one, but the head gasket is leaking oil slightly (I think that'll be a TU engine, in which case quite a common fault).

Get the engine steam cleaned once a year or so to tidy the oil up a bit and it'll be fine.

Thank you for this, echoing other responses, yes there are other ones available and its not an overly rare car but this one is both local and a good spec in my budget so warrants a poke around, not particular heart set on buying this one just wanted to understand if these were anything to be majorly concerned over and if there is anything I should look out for if I see it on person.

I'm waiting for a call back from the dealer at which point I'm going to ask if he has any invoices from the work carried out literally over the last 3 weeks so hopefully I can see what has actually been replaced and what has just gone through with a friendly tester

[S100HP]

S16KBW said:

Thank you for this, echoing other responses, yes there are other ones available and its not an overly rare car but this one is both local and a good spec in my budget so warrants a poke around, not particular heart set on buying this one just wanted to understand if these were anything to be majorly concerned over and if there is anything I should look out for if I see it on person.

I'm waiting for a call back from the dealer at which point I'm going to ask if he has any invoices from the work carried out literally over the last 3 weeks so hopefully I can see what has actually been replaced and what has just gone through with a friendly tester

You've been unanimously advised against it, so don't come crying when it goes tits up, which it will.

[Pupbelly]

S16KBW said:

Don't make enough money to drive something cool but fed up of my regular Citroen C3, thought I would spice my life up a bit!

Then find a better example - you may be "cool" once you've bought it, but you could also be skint if it is a mechanical money-pit!

[eldar]

S100HP said:

You've been unanimously advised against it, so don't come crying when it goes tits up, which it will.

This is good advice. This is a typical one careful owner, and 5 who couldn’t care less car.

[steveo3002]

waits for "headgasket gone can i return car" posts lol

[RicksAlfas]

Pupbelly said:

Then find a better example - you may be "cool" once you've bought it, but you could also be skint if it is a mechanical money-pit!

He won't be cool. He will be damp!
There's one near me, permanently steamed up and with increasing amounts of tape over various gaps.

[S16KBW]

eldar said:

This is good advice. This is a typical one careful owner, and 5 who couldn’t care less car.

Fair point, like almost all cars cars in the £1.5k or less bracket then, there do seem to be a couple of these that are deeply loved by the people who own them but also quite a few that are rough as anything!

[S16KBW]

RicksAlfas said:

He won't be cool. He will be damp!
There's one near me, permanently steamed up and with increasing amounts of tape over various gaps.

Yeah this is an issue with some, also have to look out for electrical issues where people have left the tops off and driven in the rain etc as they can get a bit wet inside!

[oilslick]

Have you thought about a car that's a bit less crap?

[Mexman]

oilslick said:

Have you thought about a car that's a bit less crap?