ex british gas vans??

[shanky887614]

Interesting thread as I'm tied between a Caddy / Transit Connect or a Vivaro. I like the idea of the Vivaro as it has a larger payload, but could be a pain parking compared to the Caddy / Connect.

I personally prefer German built cars, so the VW is my preferred choice, but prices are still quite high.

All BG Caddy's Ive seen advertised today state 2.0ltr engine, but only 68bhp. All 2.0 ltrs specs I can see state that they had 110 or 140bhp. I'm guessing that the limiter may not just be on the top-speed limit but also on the engine output as well. Any ideas or know why they only have 68bhp?

the 110 and 140 ones aare tdi e.g. turbo diesel.

most ex bg caddys are sdi or na bassicaly no turbo.


from what ive heard i think the ex bg maxi are turbo diesel but im not sure

 

[Skimpy Wan]

Defo need a trumpet on a diesel, so I guess a BG van isn't the one for me (if non-aspirated engine).

That makes more sense as the limiter usually only restricts the top speed and not performance.

I guess a few more hours / days searching for a van (and then a possible 4 -6hr drive to collect it) is in order.

 

[ruston]

Defo need a trumpet on a diesel, so I guess a BG van isn't the one for me (if non-aspirated engine).

That makes more sense as the limiter usually only restricts the top speed and not performance.

I guess a few more hours / days searching for a van (and then a possible 4 -6hr drive to collect it) is in order.

My mate has a Primastar/Vivaro.
To be fair , barring the usual niggles it has been a good van.
Comfortable to drive , nippy, and good on fuel.
Most of the problems he has encountered with it have been his own fault for ignoring the signs/lack of maintenance because he is 'too busy'.
He has had this Van for years ; I doubt it owes him anything.

 

[Skimpy Wan]

That's the main reason I'm looking at a Vivaro. They are about £4,000 large enough to carry almost all my tools (I hope) fairly economical and I shouldn't lose too much over a couple of years.

I'm getting the usual trouble of see the ad and it's already sold.

All Vivaros seem to be ex-BT, so minimum spec and 2 side doors, where I prefer 1 side door for racking etc (and lower insurance).

 

[ruston]

My mates has only one side door , but it is a load lugger.
He is a builder, so he carries a lot of gear , and a roof full of ladders. The van pulls well and never seems under powered.

He was pulled by the Ministry one day and escorted to the test centre , when weighed he was just a few pounds under the weight limit, so an electrician should have no problems lol.

Ps . before you buy the Vivaro, or any other diesel van with 'a few' miles on it , take the plastic engine cover off.
If there is any black carbon gunge around the injectors , walk away from it. This is known as 'the black death' and is expensive to cure, in extreme cases a new cylinder head.

 

[Skimpy Wan]

Thanks for the heads-up. As far as I know this only effects 2.0 & 2.5 ltr engines, due to the scuttle tray having a foam backing. If this is removed and filled with silicon it should sort the problem.

I'll be looking at the 1.9tdi (100bhp) as they are more fuel efficient and a new lump is about £400 rather than £1,500 if the need every arises.

Now I just need to find some shirt buttons to buy one with! LOL

 

[ruston]

Thanks for the heads-up. As far as I know this only effects 2.0 & 2.5 ltr engines, due to the scuttle tray having a foam backing. If this is removed and filled with silicon it should sort the problem.

I'll be looking at the 1.9tdi (100bhp) as they are more fuel efficient and a new lump is about £400 rather than £1,500 if the need every arises.

Now I just need to find some shirt buttons to buy one with! LOL

No , the problem is compression blowing past the injectors , the answer is to remove the injectors and and reseat the port. and a new copper seal.
The problem is they do not usually want to come out ,a special tool is available , but sometimes they snap.
The job is major if you have not got the gear. new injectors have to be coded to the ecu, it just goes on.

Here is an extreme pic on a Merc.

 

[Skimpy Wan]

That doesn't look good and looks like an expensive repair as you say. I'll definitely be looking at them more closely after that, so thanks.

 

[ruston]

To much hidden under the plastic lol.
If you hear them chuffing/spitting , it's odds on that's what it is.

It's good to look to see if there has been any signs of it , as sometimes they have had new washers fitted , but not reseated.
If this is the case it will just happen again, as the blow hole has not been eradicated.

 

[Harni]

The 1.9PD engine is a great lump. It sounds like a tractor but very reliable. Only common issue i know if with them is turbos (which manufacturer doesnt have issue with them? Normally down to the oil used) and the cams smash through the followers meaning top end rebuild time.
I had a Octavia with the same lump in and it was perfect for the 80,000 hard miles i did in it!

 

[ruston]

The 1.9PD engine is a great lump. It sounds like a tractor but very reliable. Only common issue i know if with them is turbos (which manufacturer doesnt have issue with them? Normally down to the oil used) and the cams smash through the followers meaning top end rebuild time.
I had a Octavia with the same lump in and it was perfect for the 80,000 hard miles i did in it!

My mate has them as taxi's . One had nearly a million miles on it before it was taken out of service. It is still running around as a private car.
Some still in service have in excess of half a million.
They are well serviced and looked after

You are spot on about the cams if they are not serviced.

 

[Harni]

My mate has them as taxi's . One had nearly a million miles on it before it was taken out of service. It is still running around as a private car.
Some still in service have in excess of half a million.
They are well serviced and looked after

You are spot on about the cams if they are not serviced.

I don't think its so much them not being serviced (although of course you need to be servicing it appropriately) but more so the oil thats used. They are very fussy from what Im told.
Only diesel engine i have had that was better than that, and i never ever thought i would say this was the 1.6TDi engine in the Kia ceed/Hyundai I30 which i think they also use in some of the Hyundai vans. It just would not die, was as smooth as a lot of lot more expensive cars and was still running sweet as a nut on 85k

 

[ruston]

I don't think its so much them not being serviced (although of course you need to be servicing it appropriately) but more so the oil thats used. They are very fussy from what Im told.
Only diesel engine i have had that was better than that, and i never ever thought i would say this was the 1.6TDi engine in the Kia ceed/Hyundai I30 which i think they also use in some of the Hyundai vans. It just would not die, was as smooth as a lot of lot more expensive cars and was still running sweet as a nut on 85k

Yes VW recommend their oil to be used

Did the Kia use Merc engines? It sticks in my mind the did/do..

 

[Harni]

Used to but the latest ones are actually their own (well, Hyundai, same company) engines. We had a lot of them at work at one point. One went back to the lease company at 3 years old with 160k on it. It broke down once and that was because of a blocked fuel filter so nothing really. Never thought id say this but i would recommend one to anyone!

 

[ruston]

I have three mates that run the 4 wd's for caravanning . They swear by them for towing ,and general reliability.

 

[shanky887614]

i know quite a few guys with the 2L sdi engine in the caddy at 300k+ still going strong on the original engine.

the ex gb caddy maxi vans are turbo diesel.

have a look at an ex aa renault traffic they can be had really cheap if you want a vivaro there the same with a different badge

 

[Skimpy Wan]

Cheers guys. Some food for thought.

I ideally want 100bhp minimum from an engine due to gear and overtaking etc.

Ive heard that parts for traffics (Renault) are more expensive than Vivaro's (Vauxhall) despite being the same vans with different badges etc.

I'm thinking I may end up hunting for a Connect because they're cheap and it's a van for now and then upgrade when the need arises though. Head over heart scenario (although heart really says a 911 turbo with a roof rack! Lol)