Davie's french attraction.

[daviemck2006]

Another citroen has arrived here to be a daily driver for me. So I have no intention of using the 107 again, if Shaun breaks one of his cars he just takes it as he says it's his car. So it is his and now pays me rent instead.

So I have went and bought a 2006 55reg berlingo multispace 2.0hdi. It was seriously cheap, but as with all things cheap it has issues.

1st issue, advisories on both radius arm bearings. Solution reconditioned rear axle.

2nd issue, advisories pn steering rack boots and inner tre. Solution new steering rack.

3rd issue, advisory handbrake little or no reserve travel. Solution, feels fine to me.

It drives well, just as a 130000 mile 10 year old berlingo should, and everything works as it should and has 10 months mot. Even allowing for these two quite big jobs it will end up costing less than £900. I'm happy at that.

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[Zelandeth]

Well done and welcome to ownership of what is without doubt one of the most practical and versatile vehicles I've ever come across.

Hope it serves you well!

[daviemck2006]

I was first going to buy a berlingo multispace way back in 2002 when I bought a xsara picasso brand new. I preferred the utilitarian style of the blingo but the Mrs at the time decided picasso. She dumped me for a (ex)mate (who received a sore face) and it got sold at a huge loss at 4 months old. That was my first hdi. Had a few more since now. I hope this is a good one once it is fixed. It will make a little mini camper for myself amongst other things!

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[daviemck2006]

The berlingo is, after an hour and a half at work, a most excellent tool for the job, apart from a turning circle too big to do a u turn on the road outside the shop that a 107 or Nissan micra did. The steering issue that the seller said it had is much improved by tyre pressures and topping up steering fluid. That will do!

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[daviemck2006]

My citroens are not happy. Both of them have problems with radio reception. I never listen to anything else about home than the very local community radio station 24/7. It normally has a range of about 8 miles. Struggling to get them more than 1 mile in both citroens. I think they are speaking to each other and crying for some reason. Definately crying as they are both losing fluids from unidentified sources.

The blingo looses coolant, enough to have to top up by about 3/4 a litre twice in 100 miles of delivery driving. So I need to inspect it.

The xantias tears are green. Just little tears just now but I need to cheer him up quick smart. I have a theory that the garage that did the wheelbearing last week have some damage to it. It's only done about 2000 miles since it's clutch and new brakes. The breaks were perfect, I hardly use the breaks on any car I own unless it's doing deliveries which the xantia hasn't done. Now I have a severe vibration from the front left brake, which is the wheelbearing that was done. So the theory is that have buckled the disc under 30 tons of pressure they used to split hub and driveshaft. Second theory is that despite having a mechanic who was foreman of a citroen dealership in the 80's and 90's they have created a leak by not having the suspension on high before lifting it to remove wheel etc. Right now I am not happy at them (again)

I actually let Shaun drive the activa today. We were going to my daughter's in Elgin together and my insurance covers anyone driving my cars, as long as they have a licence, and i am in the car. It's his first go in it and he was more impressed than he thought he would be. His only real criticism was that he thought it had quite a limited boost range, from 2500 to 4000 revs. He said get a boost gauge on it so you know how far up to put the adjustable boost pressure to get more of a kick. I reminded him that his skoda is currently in kerris lock up awaiting the fitment of a new turbo that just cost him over £300!

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[Stickyfinger]

Do you still have the "small" solid disks on her David ?

[daviemck2006]

It's the standard activa size discs on it. Would I be right in saying 283mm? That's what I seem to remember. The v6 upgrade would be 288?

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[daviemck2006]

The blingo, before it gets too dirty and it will get washed when i sell it lol
It has two nearly new budget tyres called Joyrun on the back, a Michelin with 6mm tread on front right, a nearly bald unknown on front left, and what I thought was a nearly new joyrun to match it's pals under the boot floor. However I took it out and found out it's useless and whoever put it under there should be shot
I have a set of fiesta alloys with good tyres that may work with my spacers, otherwise seeing how this is a budget motor one part worn Michelin to match the other would be acceptable, or activa alloys could go on, or the 17's I have with great tyres go on. I think though the 17's on the activa and the activa alloys on the blingo. The crap slidy tyres from the activa won't bother me on the blingo as it will rarely be out of the town and certainly won't be pushed fast round corners


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[Hell Razor5543]

I actually let Shaun drive the activa today. We were going to my daughter's in Elgin together and my insurance covers anyone driving my cars, as long as they have a licence, and i am in the car. It's his first go in it and he was more impressed than he thought he would be. His only real criticism was that he thought it had quite a limited boost range, from 2500 to 4000 revs. He said get a boost gauge on it so you know how far up to put the adjustable boost pressure to get more of a kick. I reminded him that his skoda is currently in kerris lock up awaiting the fitment of a new turbo that just cost him over £300!

I sincerely hope he did not see the code as you entered it!

[daviemck2006]

The keys for the blingo and activa are on the same keyring with the house key, and the spare key of the activa is in a safe place! If im out of the house the keys are with me and if in the house the keys are in my pocket until bedtime then on my bedside table. I think he had no chance of getting them [emoji12] [emoji13]

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[Hell Razor5543]

I would STILL protect that code!

[bxzx16v]

The blingo should suit yours needs perfectly Davie , a very useful vehicle indeed .

Mark

[daviemck2006]

Once it is sorted out it will be good. I don't know whether to go the reconditioned axle or scrappy one. Think it would be better going the recon route. Cost more but a better, guaranteed repair. I've just swapped it at work for the 107, Shaun would be over the drink limit from last night yet, he needed fuel so have me money to fuel it for him. That car is getting tired now, feels slacker them the blingo that has done twice the miles.

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[Hell Razor5543]

The 107 is not feeling tired; it is feeling neglected. Cars know when their owners don't care. They need to feel loved and wanted.

[daviemck2006]

Its done 3000 miles since i last drove it. Its not due a service for another 2500, it has a grumbling wheelbearing and i think the exhaust is blowing. And im pissed off cos i cleaned that car to showroom condition and it's not been cleaned since. It's filthy and it stinks. The car share with him is over, an agreement never to be repeated. If I want a baby car again I would but a 107 or one of its sister's, but I think I would like the added comfort and feeling of security I get from a bigger motor. If the blingo gets over 45mpg at work that will no nicely. I would think that could be realistic, and I love turbo pull from lower revs rather than needing revs from a small petrol. The micra, which is still in my garden, only did 38mpg at work, I would guess if I was to try the activa at work it would get about 15 lol. I would be paying the customers to deliver to them! NOT an option [emoji13] [emoji4]

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