Dacia Duster, 999cc of Throbbing Fun
Discussion
Norton850 said:
ChocolateFrog said:
1.3 petrol for me but there's arguments for the diesel and 1.0 litre too.
They're definitely reliable and reasonably robust.
Rattles, cheap interior and poor paint quality are major drawbacks but the wife's car hasn't suffered the heater fan issue, early next year it will be going to make way for something new again.They're definitely reliable and reasonably robust.
Personally i don't rate them and we won't have another but as a stop gap it worked for us...
The paint I agree.
One for the Duster hive mind.
I'm browsing Copart for a 4wd Duster for a potential Overland trip.
Their pics are rubbish and it's never clear to me which are the 4wd variants.
I think I'm right in thinking that the only external difference is the boot badge on early cars and the wing badge on later ones? Even the dial in the interior is often indistinguishable from their pictures.
I'm browsing Copart for a 4wd Duster for a potential Overland trip.
Their pics are rubbish and it's never clear to me which are the 4wd variants.
I think I'm right in thinking that the only external difference is the boot badge on early cars and the wing badge on later ones? Even the dial in the interior is often indistinguishable from their pictures.
Purchased new Duster 1.5 diesel 4WD in 2017, now just short of 50K miles.
Parts so far:
2 x Injectors
EGR valve (exhaust must be cut to fit replacement!)
ABS sensors fail (4 visits to the dealer to resolve)
It's not the most luxurious of places to spend time, but it will soak up the bumps and deliver you to your destination without fuss.
Parts so far:
2 x Injectors
EGR valve (exhaust must be cut to fit replacement!)
ABS sensors fail (4 visits to the dealer to resolve)
It's not the most luxurious of places to spend time, but it will soak up the bumps and deliver you to your destination without fuss.
Primarily on the basis it's cheap but still I'm not surprised.
Britain's best car to own.
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/dacia/duster/363411/...
Britain's best car to own.
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/dacia/duster/363411/...
As the end of my Duster's warranty approached, I thought I must get the corroded flakey paint wheels sorted out. I rang Dacia UK to make a warranty claim, they booked me in to my local dealer for later this week (albeit I rang them about six weeks ago).
I rang my local dealer this morning just to check if they were merely taking a look at the wheels (despite already supplying photos) or actually changing them over (unlikely).
They said it would just be to look at them but that it would not be covered by the warranty as corrosion is "wear and tear".
There's another poster on here who was told his scabby wheels would be covered by warranty so I've emailed him for clarification, but I thought I'd post this in case others are in a similar situation.
I'll let you know how I get on fighting this.
I rang my local dealer this morning just to check if they were merely taking a look at the wheels (despite already supplying photos) or actually changing them over (unlikely).
They said it would just be to look at them but that it would not be covered by the warranty as corrosion is "wear and tear".
There's another poster on here who was told his scabby wheels would be covered by warranty so I've emailed him for clarification, but I thought I'd post this in case others are in a similar situation.
I'll let you know how I get on fighting this.
jamesson said:
As the end of my Duster's warranty approached, I thought I must get the corroded flakey paint wheels sorted out. I rang Dacia UK to make a warranty claim, they booked me in to my local dealer for later this week (albeit I rang them about six weeks ago).
I rang my local dealer this morning just to check if they were merely taking a look at the wheels (despite already supplying photos) or actually changing them over (unlikely).
They said it would just be to look at them but that it would not be covered by the warranty as corrosion is "wear and tear".
There's another poster on here who was told his scabby wheels would be covered by warranty so I've emailed him for clarification, but I thought I'd post this in case others are in a similar situation.
I'll let you know how I get on fighting this.
If you get nowhere, silver hammerite will do. I rang my local dealer this morning just to check if they were merely taking a look at the wheels (despite already supplying photos) or actually changing them over (unlikely).
They said it would just be to look at them but that it would not be covered by the warranty as corrosion is "wear and tear".
There's another poster on here who was told his scabby wheels would be covered by warranty so I've emailed him for clarification, but I thought I'd post this in case others are in a similar situation.
I'll let you know how I get on fighting this.
Quick update. I spent most of the morning speaking to Dacia UK and my local dealer and was met with inconsistent answers left, right and centre, but long story short, I went to the dealership this morning and they looked at the wheels and took photographs. Dacia UK said I would be charged £180 to "diagnose" the wheels 
but the dealership said they wouldn't be charging anything simply to take photos of them and they didn't.
The next step is for them to send the photos to the warranty department for a decision to be made. I'm hoping someone there will see that this is an ongoing issue with their steel wheels and cough up for replacements. I'll let you know how I get on.
but the dealership said they wouldn't be charging anything simply to take photos of them and they didn't.The next step is for them to send the photos to the warranty department for a decision to be made. I'm hoping someone there will see that this is an ongoing issue with their steel wheels and cough up for replacements. I'll let you know how I get on.
Mine were nowhere near as bad as yours when they got replaced.
This diagnostic fee seems to be an inconsistently applied technique to dissuade warranty claims. I was told I'd have to pay one for a diagnostic check after a breakdown and rough running. It would only be payable if no fault found though. As the car was running OK agin, I left it. When I mentioned it at service they did the diagnostic check for free.
This diagnostic fee seems to be an inconsistently applied technique to dissuade warranty claims. I was told I'd have to pay one for a diagnostic check after a breakdown and rough running. It would only be payable if no fault found though. As the car was running OK agin, I left it. When I mentioned it at service they did the diagnostic check for free.
Edited by blueST on Monday 17th June 18:09
jamesson said:
PositronicRay said:
Mine are like that too.
Have you tried to claim under warranty for new ones?I'll discuss with local wheel referb guy. I've seen a few more like this too, I suspect its a problem with paint not adhering with primer or some such thing. Hammerite isn't a bad call, I've DIY'ed wheels before, nothing to lose.
Meanwhile I'll be careful with the power washer.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Rusty wheels update. I heard nothing all last week so contacted the dealer today. Nobody available to speak but I did receive an email later in the day saying the warranty department has advised the wheels will not be covered owing to "external influences".
I presume they mean power washing. I've never power washed them but there's no way to prove that, of course.
Anyway, the fight goes on.
I presume they mean power washing. I've never power washed them but there's no way to prove that, of course.
Anyway, the fight goes on.
jamesson said:
Rusty wheels update. I heard nothing all last week so contacted the dealer today. Nobody available to speak but I did receive an email later in the day saying the warranty department has advised the wheels will not be covered owing to "external influences".
I presume they mean power washing. I've never power washed them but there's no way to prove that, of course.
Anyway, the fight goes on.
Those rims look like they were on a 20 yr old farm truck. I presume they mean power washing. I've never power washed them but there's no way to prove that, of course.
Anyway, the fight goes on.
I just agreed to trade mine in today against a new LR Defender 110
Bought new in March 2021 so 3yrs and 3 months old, 35k miles. FSH, I fitted side runners to it (£450ish) and also the wheel arch and body protection (£200ish). Recently fitted 4 new all season tyres as well. Other than the recurring fault with the heater resistor fan it has been trouble free. Dacia HQ gave me a free extension to the warranty to 5 years because of my issues with the fan so all good there. Even my local Dealer has been faultless. Cosmetically I'd give it a 10/10 and I don't think the rear seats have been sat in.
Anyhow, WBAC valuation came back at £9550 which I thought was ok. I've never dealt with WBAC and I understand there can be a bit of chipping away at the price and that they charge you to give you your money instantly. It would really have made a fantastic private sale car but I'm not really a "people person" when it comes to that.
The LR dealer eventually matched that price (end of the month, end of the quarter, end of the half-year) so we shook hands on it. New car day collection next week once they add all the bits that I want to it.
My experience of owning "Dusty" has been very positive.
Bought new in March 2021 so 3yrs and 3 months old, 35k miles. FSH, I fitted side runners to it (£450ish) and also the wheel arch and body protection (£200ish). Recently fitted 4 new all season tyres as well. Other than the recurring fault with the heater resistor fan it has been trouble free. Dacia HQ gave me a free extension to the warranty to 5 years because of my issues with the fan so all good there. Even my local Dealer has been faultless. Cosmetically I'd give it a 10/10 and I don't think the rear seats have been sat in.
Anyhow, WBAC valuation came back at £9550 which I thought was ok. I've never dealt with WBAC and I understand there can be a bit of chipping away at the price and that they charge you to give you your money instantly. It would really have made a fantastic private sale car but I'm not really a "people person" when it comes to that.
The LR dealer eventually matched that price (end of the month, end of the quarter, end of the half-year) so we shook hands on it. New car day collection next week once they add all the bits that I want to it.
My experience of owning "Dusty" has been very positive.
Minor flakey wheel paint update. A bit of to and fro with Dacia UK has resulted in no further progress and being fobbed off. They're not budging. I love how they said their "highly trained technician" has examined the wheels and said it is not the result of a manufacturing defect.
The person who looked at the wheels was a service advisor and by her own admission knows nothing about wheels. All she did was take pictures.
Next step is writing to the CEO of Renault UK. I tried emailing him but got an undeliverable bounce back so I'll send him a physical letter with photos of the wheels.
If that gets me nowhere, I will try a consumer champion. If that gets me nowhere, then that's probably the end of the line but at least I will have caused them some hassle and I'll get the wheels refurbished at some point.
It's a shame as it leaves a sour taste in the mouth when it comes to Dacia and puts me off buying another in future.
The person who looked at the wheels was a service advisor and by her own admission knows nothing about wheels. All she did was take pictures.
Next step is writing to the CEO of Renault UK. I tried emailing him but got an undeliverable bounce back so I'll send him a physical letter with photos of the wheels.
If that gets me nowhere, I will try a consumer champion. If that gets me nowhere, then that's probably the end of the line but at least I will have caused them some hassle and I'll get the wheels refurbished at some point.
It's a shame as it leaves a sour taste in the mouth when it comes to Dacia and puts me off buying another in future.
jamesson said:
Minor flakey wheel paint update. A bit of to and fro with Dacia UK has resulted in no further progress and being fobbed off. They're not budging. I love how they said their "highly trained technician" has examined the wheels and said it is not the result of a manufacturing defect.
The person who looked at the wheels was a service advisor and by her own admission knows nothing about wheels. All she did was take pictures.
Next step is writing to the CEO of Renault UK. I tried emailing him but got an undeliverable bounce back so I'll send him a physical letter with photos of the wheels.
If that gets me nowhere, I will try a consumer champion. If that gets me nowhere, then that's probably the end of the line but at least I will have caused them some hassle and I'll get the wheels refurbished at some point.
It's a shame as it leaves a sour taste in the mouth when it comes to Dacia and puts me off buying another in future.
I'd just leave it or go with silver hammerite - it's wear and tear really, I couldn't be bothered with the hassle. The person who looked at the wheels was a service advisor and by her own admission knows nothing about wheels. All she did was take pictures.
Next step is writing to the CEO of Renault UK. I tried emailing him but got an undeliverable bounce back so I'll send him a physical letter with photos of the wheels.
If that gets me nowhere, I will try a consumer champion. If that gets me nowhere, then that's probably the end of the line but at least I will have caused them some hassle and I'll get the wheels refurbished at some point.
It's a shame as it leaves a sour taste in the mouth when it comes to Dacia and puts me off buying another in future.
Our local wheel refurb place would charge £50 a rim to do these and the result would last forever, as it your be shot blasted, etch primed painted the color of your choice then clear 2 pack lacquer to finish it off.
This is where all the local main dealers send their fancy alloy wheels to, they do not do them in house.
I would get them done, pay the bill and send the receipt to Dacia for goodwill. Doubt you would get anything out of them though.
This is where all the local main dealers send their fancy alloy wheels to, they do not do them in house.
I would get them done, pay the bill and send the receipt to Dacia for goodwill. Doubt you would get anything out of them though.
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