[Dave Willis]

I put a post up saying how rubbish VW's were a few weeks back and the fact that their reputation for reliability was all hype.
Today our Peugeot car went in to the garage - engine knackered at 20,000 miles
Common problem apparently with the BMW Mini Cooper S engine it was fitted with - they are known to be crap!

Just wondered what van engines should be avoided? Any lemons out there? I know about the injectors on Vivarios  and gearboxes failing. What about the french 2L HDI engines - any horror stories?

[kempy]

My dad was a mechanic and he hated fiats and renults mostly .
But cars have moved on since his main working life .

Think sometimes it just depends on luck . Every machine / Engine will have its problems .

Our lass had a toyota Yaris , 25,000 miles on it and the conrods snapped and engine had to be repaired . And toyota are usually spot on

[p1w1]

had transit connect from 24k now on 73k never had a problem with engine, only recently had to replace clutch, been a brilliant work horse and next van will be the same but newer. a lot is down to luck and how well you service them i reckon. On the other hand our 2lt cmax has been nothing but problems with the dpf valves filters etc wouldn't get one of them again or any diesel car.

[ChumBucket]

Modern diesel engines have been ruined by European emissions laws, most of which are flawed technologies from the outset. No wonder the manufacturers are going back to petrol.

[Jonny 87]

I agree with all of the above.

I always had petrol cars, with no major engine problems, then  I went to a diesel seat leon with a dpf. It was fine at first but then the dpf gave me problems. Looked like close to £1000 worth of work needed so Ive just got rid and jumped ship back to a petrol focus.

I think modern diesels are great if you buy new and sell when there out of warranty.  Long term though, these low emissions and high economy squeezed engines are going to give grief.

[Elfyn]

DPF (diesel particulate filter) can be a problem - but most engines have to be fitted with them now.

[andyM]

DPF's and Dual Mass Flywheels giving grief to lots of diesel vehicle owners and plenty of expense.

[Scrimble]

I really like the modern diesel engines, loads of torque excellent on fuel much better than the old loud and gutless diesels of the past,

I have a 1.3 combo van no dpf its remapped with the egr delete and pulls like a train and is really good on fuel, the problems are always egr and dpf but these can easily be removed and a remap for more power

[NWH]

I have both vehicles and they a re superb to drive and are very reliable,just had discs and pads all round on the transporter come in at £500 but the bigger bills are well worth the drive. Also if you are going to buy a mini for the Mrs etc make sure you get the TLC pack extended for up to 5 years so if anything does happen to go wrong it's all covered anyway,if you buy new or with warranty you save massive headaches in bills. I know someone with an older van who had an MOT tyres and a jammed valve or 2 cost him £2500,that's a good deposit on a new van if you ask me

[Spruce]

I really like the modern diesel engines, loads of torque excellent on fuel much better than the old loud and gutless diesels of the past,

I have a 1.3 combo van no dpf its remapped with the egr delete and pulls like a train and is really good on fuel, the problems are always egr and dpf but these can easily be removed and a remap for more power

Changing anything that effects engine emissions is illegal.

Whilst putting in a blanking plate to deactivate the EGR valve won't be noticed, removing the DPF filter will be and will be a fail at MOT.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-rules-for-mot-to-test-for-diesel-particulate-filter

There was a number of garages who were removing the innards of the DPF filter and then reprogramming the ECU so it appeared to be working, ie warning lights extinguishing in sequence after the ignition is switched on.

If a garage is caught removing a DPF filter then they can be heavily fined for doing it.

[Spruce]

Modern diesel engines have been ruined by European emissions laws, most of which are flawed technologies from the outset. No wonder the manufacturers are going back to petrol.

I agree. But we can't escape from the fact that the soot particles from diesel engine exhausts are a health issue.

I believe that all our vans will be petrol driven in the future. Sad, because the first generation of common rail turbo diesels had lots of torque and were really economical to run.

Why is the EU putting so much pressure on diesel engines? Because they will earning more tax revenue from petrol driven vehicles as they aren't as economical to run on fuel as the equivalent diesel is.  My theory anyway.

Being old school I also don't like where the modern petrol engine is going either. A 1.0 litre engine driving a Ford Focus doesn't compute with me. But the younger generation will see it as normal in a few years when us old wrinklies have past on.

[Darranvps]

We have two Puegeot Boxers - horror of all horrors - only buy new with warranty - you will need it

We have two New Ford Transit (the big ones) 30k on one and 15k on other both seem ok at the moment

[Richard Shepherd]

Citroen Berlingo 2008 plate 50k miles turbo knackered, regular occurrence according to garage.

[PoleKing]

Modern diesel engines have been ruined by European emissions laws, most of which are flawed technologies from the outset. No wonder the manufacturers are going back to petrol.

I agree. But we can't escape from the fact that the soot particles from diesel engine exhausts are a health issue.

I believe that all our vans will be petrol driven in the future. Sad, because the first generation of common rail turbo diesels had lots of torque and were really economical to run.

Why is the EU putting so much pressure on diesel engines? Because they will earning more tax revenue from petrol driven vehicles as they aren't as economical to run on fuel as the equivalent diesel is.  My theory anyway.

Being old school I also don't like where the modern petrol engine is going either. A 1.0 litre engine driving a Ford Focus doesn't compute with me. But the younger generation will see it as normal in a few years when us old wrinklies have past on.

+1 Spruce.
The 1.6 Vivaro just doesn't sit right with me.
It's slow enough at 2.0

3.0 for the weight we carry should be a minimum I reckon.

[Scrimble]

Spruce it is illegal to do 31 mph in a 30 but everyone does it, and seriously anything that effects emissions is illegal are you for real? you make it sounds like you will be arrested if you tamper with your own car,

the mot station are not going to ring the police if they suspect someone has cut and re welded your dpf, as long as it is still in place then its a pass

[robert mitchell]

Spruce it is illegal to do 31 mph in a 30 but everyone does it, and seriously anything that effects emissions is illegal are you for real? you make it sounds like you will be arrested if you tamper with your own car,

the mot station are not going to ring the police if they suspect someone has cut and re welded your dpf, as long as it is still in place then its a pass

I don't think he was suggesting they would call the police ..........just fail the mot .

[Elfyn]

Have a look at this 
http://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/diesel-cars-could-be-banished-as-britain-ordered-to-cut-air-pollution/ar-BBiU8yJ?ocid=LENDHP

[Spruce]

We have two Puegeot Boxers - horror of all horrors - only buy new with warranty - you will need it

We have two New Ford Transit (the big ones) 30k on one and 15k on other both seem ok at the moment

Engines are the same as they are derived from the joint venture with PSA.

The Hdi/Tdci have always performed well. The rest of it (Peugeot/Citroen) is rubbish as they are made by Fiat.

[AuRavelling79]

My Doblo 1.3 multijet bought new in 2006 - sold to Dan the Man in October is still fine - but it has only done 45,000 miles. But during that time (8.5 years) it has had 6 years with a 400L plus 6 months pulling a 200L trailer too, then two years with a 200L and my gutter stuff. Now back to a 400L.

My Hyundai 2.5 diesel is now three years old and hasn't missed a beat - nor should it. It's only done 16,000 miles. Still got it's original brake pads and on its second set of tyres. Strangely for a RWD the fronts wore out about six months before the backs. All that 3 point turning at low speeds I guess?

[ChumBucket]

My Doblo 1.3 multijet bought new in 2006 - sold to Dan the Man in October is still fine - but it has only done 45,000 miles. But during that time (8.5 years) it has had 6 years with a 400L plus 6 months pulling a 200L trailer too, then two years with a 200L and my gutter stuff. Now back to a 400L.

My Hyundai 2.5 diesel is now three years old and hasn't missed a beat - nor should it. It's only done 16,000 miles. Still got it's original brake pads and on its second set of tyres. Strangely for a RWD the fronts wore out about six months before the backs. All that 3 point turning at low speeds I guess?

That pre-DPF 1.3 multijet engine is one of the best diesel engines ever made IMO.