Berlingo - Low mileage cars

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Sat 12 Mar 2022 00:57
Berlingo - Low mileage cars - Crickleymal

Hi all. I'm looking at buying a Berlingo or Peugeot Partner. I've seen a 2013 model which has only done 46k miles. What are your thoughts on very low mileage cars? This example was doing 8k or so a year but the last 4 years has only been doing 2 or 3 k a year. At one point I bought a wheelchair accessible car (Mercedes Vaneo) and it was the most unreliable car I have owned and it was a very low mileage too. I worry that with such a low mileage the engine won't have been warmed up properly etc.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 12 Mar 2022 06:40
Berlingo - Low mileage cars - badbusdriver

There may be other issues to worry about than the miles.

If it is a 1.6 petrol, I think this may be the 'Prince' engine developed with BMW and isn't great.

If it is a 1.6 diesel, that could harbour its own problems. They have a slightly unfair nickname, 'diesel of doom', for a reason. I say slightly unfair, because the engine can be very reliable, but it is critical that the correct oil is used and the service intervals originally recommended (two years I think) are too long.

In addition, if the cars an auto (which is not uncommon for a wheelchair adapted version), it will have a pretty nasty single clutch automated manual.

It's a shame, because the 1.4 and 1.6 petrols, 1.9 n/a and 2.0 HDI engines in the original shape Berlingo/Partner were all very reliable.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 12 Mar 2022 08:23
Berlingo - Low mileage cars - SLO76
Used to be great cars, the Mk I Berlingo was practical, comfortable and robust, the pre-DPF 2.0 HDi 8v diesels were brilliant things in particular. Parcel delivery firms loved the van versions with the hardy old N/A 1.9 XUD diesels but sadly later models used weak engines which suffer far too many costly failures whether it be the chain eating VTi petrols or turbo lunching 1.6 HDi diesels to really recommend. As with almost all modern diesels there’s just too much to go wrong to make them economically viable.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 12 Mar 2022 09:21
Berlingo - Low mileage cars - Bromptonaut

Just to counter SLO's message a little I've had a 1.6HDi/115 Berlingo since September 2013. Now on well over 100,000 miles with no major engine (or other) issues. The commercial van versions of the Berlingo/Partner are mainstays of Royal Mail's delivery service. I don't think they'd have them in their literal thousands if engines were truly weak.

The engine all Berlingo types, at least by 2013, is an 8 valve. It was the 16 valve HDi 16 versions that were particularly prone to failures where a blocked sump pick up caused the turbo to become oil starved.

If the one the OP mentions has only done very low mileages in recent years then greater caution may be required if diesel. The usual thing; the DPF suffers in the absence of regular long runs.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 12 Mar 2022 10:27
Berlingo - Low mileage cars - SLO76
I’ve seen plenty of the later 8v variants with engine failures. I’ve a neighbour who had to put an engine in a 2016 Berlingo at around 80,000 miles. This was a taxi and apparently regularly serviced, though he is a bit of a tightwad so I can’t confirm this. The local Post Office is across the road from my depot and many of their ex staff (usually sacked for being i****s) are now bus drivers and they don’t rate them regards reliability either. That all said, these were hard used examples and all up in the miles. I know a co-worker with a 1.6 diesel Mondeo which shares this engine that has had to scrap it after catastrophic engine failure after the turbo disintegrated. A well cared for low miler may provide reliable service if looked after but I personally wouldn’t risk one.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 12 Mar 2022 11:20
Berlingo - Low mileage cars - Xileno

I suspect pattern of usage will play a part in reliability Post Office vans will be driven by drivers who don't own them probably care little, stop-start all day, whereas Bromptonaut's will have been driven with care and used for decent journeys such as holidays I think he's mentioned in the past. The problem buying secondhand is you don't know how it's been treated. Perhaps changing the oil more regularly will keep the turbo is good health?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 12 Mar 2022 11:57
Berlingo - Low mileage cars - badbusdriver

Perhaps changing the oil more regularly will keep the turbo is good health?

That may prevent further wear, but if buying used the damage could have already been done.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 12 Mar 2022 12:21
Berlingo - Low mileage cars - Crickleymal

Thanks guys. Food for thought. It is the 1.6 diesel manual. I wouldn't touch a Citroen auto box. I had a Xsara Picasso 1.6 diesel which was the best car I've owned and went well till about 160k miles then started giving me random engine management lights. I'm now contemplating spending £1000 to deal with the various advisories on the MOT in my car and saving the money I'd have to spend getting another car.

Edited by Crickleymal on 12/03/2022 at 12:24

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 12 Mar 2022 12:49
Berlingo - Low mileage cars - badbusdriver

I wouldn't touch a Citroen auto box.

Nothing wrong with a Citroen auto box if it is a torque converter auto (such as you'd find in the current Berlingo). And bear in mind, a Citroen auto box is not made by Citroen.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 12 Mar 2022 17:57
Berlingo - Low mileage cars - galileo

I wouldn't touch a Citroen auto box.

Nothing wrong with a Citroen auto box if it is a torque converter auto (such as you'd find in the current Berlingo). And bear in mind, a Citroen auto box is not made by Citroen.

Ironic considering that Andre Citroen was a gear specialist, the Citroen badge represents gear teeth.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 12 Mar 2022 18:40
Berlingo - Low mileage cars - badbusdriver

Ironic considering that Andre Citroen was a gear specialist, the Citroen badge represents gear teeth.

I'm not sure witnessing a Polish carpenter working on a new design of gear, purchasing the patent (for very little) and refining the idea into the double helix gears (which he was then credited with the invention of) would qualify him as a gear specialist.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 13 Mar 2022 09:29
Berlingo - Low mileage cars - John F

Ironic considering that Andre Citroen was a gear specialist, the Citroen badge represents gear teeth.

I'm not sure witnessing a Polish carpenter working on a new design of gear, purchasing the patent (for very little) and refining the idea into the double helix gears (which he was then credited with the invention of) would qualify him as a gear specialist.

On the shoulders of giants.......difficult to find who actually invented herringbone gears. Probably not a Polish carpenter! My source says he noticed, instead of the usual Lodz textile mill gearing, a large set of steel herringbone gears brought from Russia. Wouldn't be surprised if was one of his uncredited clever Jewish relatives (c.f. Siegfried Marcus, erased from history in the 1930s by the Nazis in favour of Karl Benz as inventor of the car).

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 14 Mar 2022 00:09
Berlingo - Low mileage cars - daveyK_UK
Pre Covid, it was not uncommon to see ex fleet Berlingos and Partner diesel vans 3-5 years old with 160k plus on the clock.

I recall a batch of ex railway crew versions, some had 200k plus on the clock with a detailed history including gear box rebuilds.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 16 Mar 2022 19:29
Berlingo - Low mileage cars - Crickleymal

I wouldn't touch a Citroen auto box.

Nothing wrong with a Citroen auto box if it is a torque converter auto (such as you'd find in the current Berlingo). And bear in mind, a Citroen auto box is not made by Citroen.

I've done some googling and the auto box is either an automated manual box or a dual clutch. Not as far as I can tell a torque converter.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 16 Mar 2022 19:51
Berlingo - Low mileage cars - badbusdriver

I've done some googling and the auto box is either an automated manual box or a dual clutch. Not as far as I can tell a torque converter.

Automated manuals come with dual or single clutches, but both are automated manuals.

As mentioned earlier in the thread, the current Berlingo auto uses a torque converter auto on both petrol and diesel versions.

But going back a bit further, you got Citroens (and Peugeots) with both automated manuals and torque converter autos depending on age and engine.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 17 Mar 2022 06:14
Berlingo - Low mileage cars - SLO76
“ But going back a bit further, you got Citroens (and Peugeots) with both automated manuals and torque converter autos depending on age and engine.”

I recently drove an early Citroen Grand Picasso with the single clutch automated manual box. It’s a good example, low mileage and all well maintained but I’d forgotten just how bad that gearbox was. The gear changes are horrendously slow, the car dives during changes as if a learner driver was in control. I’m still surprised anyone bought one. That said, they were much more robust than other automated manual boxes I can think of, especially twin clutch Ford and VAG offerings.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 17 Mar 2022 16:19
Berlingo - Low mileage cars - Crickleymal

I've done some googling and the auto box is either an automated manual box or a dual clutch. Not as far as I can tell a torque converter.

Automated manuals come with dual or single clutches, but both are automated manuals.

As mentioned earlier in the thread, the current Berlingo auto uses a torque converter auto on both petrol and diesel versions.

But going back a bit further, you got Citroens (and Peugeots) with both automated manuals and torque converter autos depending on age and engine.

I can't afford a new car hence me looking at examples around 10 years old.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 17 Mar 2022 18:15
Berlingo - Low mileage cars - badbusdriver

I can't afford a new car hence me looking at examples around 10 years old.

You have not said what your budget is, nor whether you'd actually prefer auto (if it was going to be reliable). If you would prefer auto, and if you didn't cover that many miles, I'd suggest a Japanese import MPV, something like a Honda Stepwagon or Toyota Voxy. These can start off under £5k, have all the room you'd need and, certainly for the two I mention, very reliable. Just make sure it has been undersealed since it arrived in the UK (they don't underseal cars in Japan as they don't use salt on the roads in winter)

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 18 Mar 2022 19:24
Berlingo - Low mileage cars - Crickleymal

My budget is £6000 maximum, I'd prefer £4k. I'd like an automatic but only if it's a torque converter as I'm not sure a dual clutch thingy offers any advantage over a manual and probably costs more when the clutches wear out. As it goes now I'm looking at spending maybe a grand getting the advisories on my Sorento sorted out rather than paying the somewhat inflated prices that are being asked for second hand cars at the moment. If I can keep it going for another 2 years hopefully things will have settled down. ??

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 18 Mar 2022 12:37
Berlingo - Low mileage cars - Gibbo_Wirral

The commercial van versions of the Berlingo/Partner are mainstays of Royal Mail's delivery service. I don't think they'd have them in their literal thousands if engines were truly weak.

Euro Car Parts use them too

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Our honest used car pricing is a little bit different to all the others. You can get to our values through make or model - you don’t have to follow a prescribed route. Plus, it’s live, which means we can react to changes in the market quicker than any printed price guide.

Honest Used Car Prices

From which small car to buy at which price point to the best UK-built cars, our Top 10s have the lot. Click now for your shortlist.

Unsure of what to buy? Our Top 10s are here to help you....