Should I consider this C5?

[faddy]

Thinking of going to take a look at this C5 Mk2 Exclusive as a possible replacement for my Mk1 LX. A couple of concerns:

Current car has no DPF and one reads warnings that DPF equipped cars aren't suited to low mileage drivers. I'm doing only around 6,000-7,000 miles a year but live very close to the M53 so can pop out for the occasional fast run as necessary. Would I be better nonetheless looking out for a petrol model?

It's done 170k miles. Is that alone a reason to avoid it in spite of "full service history" (and apparently sailing through most of its MOTs)?

Any particular questions I should be asking about it?

[GiveMeABreak]

First, I think you’ll have trouble finding a petrol one as the diesels were far more popular. Besides HPI petrol pumps can fail and these are almost impossible to pick up second hand because of rarity.

170k is a lot of miles! So obvious things will be the DPF itself. Check to see if the DPF has been replaced. If not it will likely need cleaning out at some point as regeneration can only burn off most of the soot. Check the DPF additive to see if it has been topped up. In fact I would check the DPF is there and has not been meddled with / drilled out. Look for any evidence of whether any part of the casing has been cut. I only say this as there are unscrupulous people out there that have done this, rendering the car illegal to use on public roads; you don’t want to buy a lemon.

Just be prepared to spend some money. The clutch and dual mass flywheel are also things to watch as they can set you back the best part of a grand together. Timing belt and water pump of course. This car has done the miles so you really need to either pay for an AA inspection or similar, or take it for a drive and make sure you are happy with the way it steers, drives, sounds and generally handles. This one also has bidirectional Xenons so make sure the headlamp washers are working as I noticed one of the washer caps in the bumper are missing. It might be nothing but you need to check the system works or an MOT failure.

[Peter.N.]

With respect to the DPF you are better off with the Mk 1 as it doesn't have one, or at least the 2.0. doesn't. You need the 8 valve diesel which is probably the one you already have, they used them up until 2004.

Peter

[lexi]

Not sure if it is the case that C5 MK1 has no DPF? Maybe 90bhp ones don't?
I always look for a car with low miles. On a diesel, it means around 100k or less.

[Paul-R]

In the UK neither the 90bhp nor the 110bhp engines in the MK I had DPFs. I believe that some other markets had DPFs in the Mk I though.

[GiveMeABreak]

There was in fact a particle filter on some models of the MK I with the DW10ATED 110 engine of the C5. Part number 1731 R9 and available in the UK from many suppliers.

[Paul-R]

Were they actually sold or was it a theoretical option?

[GiveMeABreak]

It's a good question Paul - definitely specified as an engine variant for the DW10ATED (with and without), I'll have to do some more research, but I would find it odd for UK suppliers to stock replacement particle filters for this engine in the UK if it wasn't sold here. I shall do some more digging.

But getting back to the OP's original question - a MK I is going to be hard to find with reasonable mileage now - even the MK II & IIIs, but I think the MK II is a far better car and more aesthetically pleasing, personally speaking.

[Gibbo2286]

There might be one or the other for sale here soon, I've just taxed the project car and when I've given it a long run I'll have to decide which one to keep.

The Mk1 is a 2004 2.0 Litre HDI 110 Hatchback which has just rolled over the 110k miles and the Mk2 (project car) is a 2006 2.0 litre HDI 136 Estate with 76k miles.

I'd be happy to keep or sell either of them in due course.

The 04 one doesn't have a dpf, the 06 one does.

[Peter.N.]

My 2.2 had a DPF but my 2.0. didn't, until the 16 valve engine arrived. I haven't seen a 2.0. 8 valve with a DPF, but then I haven't seen all of them of course.

Peter

[faddy]

First, I think you’ll have trouble finding a petrol one as the diesels were far more popular. Besides HPI petrol pumps can fail and these are almost impossible to pick up second hand because of rarity.

170k is a lot of miles! So obvious things will be the DPF itself. Check to see if the DPF has been replaced. If not it will likely need cleaning out at some point as regeneration can only burn off most of the soot. Check the DPF additive to see if it has been topped up. In fact I would check the DPF is there and has not been meddled with / drilled out. Look for any evidence of whether any part of the casing has been cut. I only say this as there are unscrupulous people out there that have done this, rendering the car illegal to use on public roads; you don’t want to buy a lemon.

Just be prepared to spend some money. The clutch and dual mass flywheel are also things to watch as they can set you back the best part of a grand together. Timing belt and water pump of course. This car has done the miles so you really need to either pay for an AA inspection or similar, or take it for a drive and make sure you are happy with the way it steers, drives, sounds and generally handles. This one also has bidirectional Xenons so make sure the headlamp washers are working as I noticed one of the washer caps in the bumper are missing. It might be nothing but you need to check the system works or an MOT failure.

My current car cost me £290 four months ago and if it need a major repair it would be straight to the scrappy. If I paid £2k+ for something then a thousand pound repair would be painful but the expense could be justified. It bothers me a bit that this car (asking price £995) is neither one thing nor the other.

[GiveMeABreak]

There has to be an element of risk in any car purchase and to be fair, there are just as many 'newer' models than can be fraught with unexpected issues.

The MK I has its fair share of problems, many of which were ironed out in the MK II or facelift model from late 2004 to 2007. Then the MK III was a completely different design and of course brought a new set of problems to the table.

I think this can be true of any brand. If you are armed with the info and the right sort of things to watch out for or check, then you can make an educated guess and mitigate / lower the risk. But again with any vehicle, there will be an age-related loading to the risk of something failing. Components wear out, that's inevitable.

It will come down to what you enjoy driving and how much you are prepared to spend on maintaining it. I have a friend who had a bad experience with a Citroen Picasso, and ended up scrapping it - he went back to Fords and had 2 Focus's - each had problems with brake callipers, ABS, Air Con, switches not working, Coil packs and the list goes on - so in other words normal!

The C5 is a lovely comfortable and safe car to drive. They are technically advanced, but general maintenance is the same as any other vehicle. I hope you find what you are looking for. There are only 237 C5s of any age available on Autotrader interestingly enough, the cheapest being £1296 ...

[daviemck2006]

I think for a cheap car it is either not nearly cheap enough, or too cheap! Like you say, a £1000 breakdown on a 200 quid car andnits a breaker or scrappy job. A 1000 repair on a 2500 car you grin and bear it. A 1000 repair on a 1000 car is a dilemma. I know this as I have done it. The c2 sensodrive I bought a few years ago cost me 950, when the gearbox went the bill for repair was 1100, I got 525 of that paid by a warranty I had, even so, it was close to getting scrapped. I have a similar dilemma right now with my old berlingo. It is going to take what it is worth to get it through an mot, I have already replaced it, and do I scrap it or wait until better weather again to fix it when I can do it outside? I think scrappy becons for it,

As to the c5 you are looking at, personally if your current one is running well I would just continue with it. I preferred my mk1 c5 sx to the mk2 c5vtr 16v.

[jgra1]

as gibbo, I may be selling my X7 exc 2.0 soon.. if I do, I would rather it went to someone on here, and it would/will be keenly priced

130K white with just about every option I think

[lexi]

In the UK neither the 90bhp nor the 110bhp engines in the MK I had DPFs. I believe that some other markets had DPFs in the Mk I though.

Sorry guys............it was the DMF I was meaning rather than DPF.