Expression dCi 100 Estate

Brilliant load lugger

I have had this car from new. Odometer is just coming around to 130,000 miles. Clutch replaced at 118,000. Alternator need replacing at around 90,000. Just had a safety recall - "risk of rear spoiler becoming detached". The reburner valve has been replaced. The "check fuel injectors" warning light comes on under heavy acceleration - it has done this since new but the message is not stored so the garage computer does not know what to tell the mechanics. Replaced first battery 8 years and 5 months from new.

Headlights and front indicators are accessed via a miniscule hole in the front wheel arch. I can change the headlight bulbs - just - by sitting on the ground and doing a Rod Hull and Emu impersonation through the hole and around some intrusions to unclip the bulbs by feel alone. I can't reach the indicator bulbs at all. I will never, ever, buy another car where the front bulbs can not be changed sensibly by the owner. It's bonkers design.

Rear tyres wear badly and unevenly - the outside tread wears out a lot faster than the inside tread - end up with 1mm tread on the outside - 5mm on the inside. I have been using Continentals and am going back to Michelins as that is what the suspension is supposed to be set up for. I have had the alignment checked and am told it is OK.

I regularly get over 55 mpg average - and this with a permanent roofbox full of boating gear. Diesel can sound a bit rattly under acceleration.

Some stone chips are starting to rust, and there is water ingress in the boot from somewhere. The boot floor is plastic so there's nothing to rust there. The wings are plastic, so there's nothing to rust there either.

Now it's a bit older it seems to be burning a bit more oil. It was leaking oil at one point, something needed tightening. Also, the heat shield has needed bending off whatever it has been rattling against under the car a few times.

This has been a great car - I'm now doing around 18,000 miles a year, and although it's only supposed to be serviced every 18,000 miles I get an interim oil change/service every other 9,000 miles.

It's a real load lugger which is why I bought it. I have been 4 up with everyones luggage for a holiday with my inflatable Tinker dinghy in the boot, and all the sailing rig and trolley in the roof box.

It's not broken down yet.

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