Advice/help - buying a Bongo with "history"

[Osh]

Hi all,

first-time poster, long-time lurker here. I'm just about ready to take the plunge on buying a Bongo, and finding this forum a hugely valuable source of help.

So I've got my eye on a Bongo being sold privately, my dilemma is its history: the seller has just spent £2k on having "HT leads, head gasket replaced, rocker cover gasket and spark plugs replaced."

The repairs were done at a reputable Bongo specialist garage, apparently the radiator did not need replaced.

My worry is, given there's recently been some kind of an overheating (i guess) problem, is the engine/radiator likely to experience further issues sooner rather than later?

It's a 2001 2.0 petrol model with about 60k miles on the clock. If it wasn't for the fact it's had these issues, I'd be snapping it up without qualms but I'm just hesitant over investing in a potential money pit.

What do you reckon? Any advice appreciated!

[Flanners]

first thing I would be asking would be if he has actually spent £2K on repairing it when was this, what happened and why is he now outing it?

If it is 2.0 they are not prone to overheating and/or HGF? So what caused this issue, lack of care and maintenance?

What are you considering paying for it?

Why gamble when there are 00s on eBay and the classifieds on this site (where I sourced mine from a thoroughly decent fellow Bongonaut)?

This post may help:

viewtopic.php?t=47625

[g8dhe]

Got to agree with all above - Why so much spend, receipts at least ?
Really doesn't sound like its been cared for, in which case what state are the rear arches and cross members in, if you go further check for the state of the arches from behind, remember they rust from inside to outside, nothing shows until its far to late and if covered in recent waxoil be wary of what its hiding!

[Osh]

Hi Flanners, thanks for the quick reply.

There are receipts for the work. The reason i'm considering it is the asking price of £7k (about £2k - £3k cheaper than equivalent from dealers for 2001 model with AFT).

It is a gamble, for sure. I guess any 15-20 yr old vehicle carries risk of repairs/maintenance costs, but not knowing the reason of the failure is making me nervous here.

I should perhaps have said in my original post, but didn't want to overcomplicate things - the current seller is "flipping" the vehicle, ie he bought it from the original owner to sell on for a profit. Basically he beat me to it, buying it the day after the ad appeared - but not before I'd had the chance to exchange a few messages with the original owner, in which he outlined the repairs above. He said he was selling because his family had outgrown it.

It's all a bit murky, guess I just need to decide whether I'm willing to take the risk.

[Osh]

Got to agree with all above - Why so much spend, receipts at least ?
Really doesn't sound like its been cared for, in which case what state are the rear arches and cross members in, if you go further check for the state of the arches from behind, remember they rust from inside to outside, nothing shows until its far to late and if covered in recent waxoil be wary of what its hiding!

Thank you, yes it sounds like it was likely neglected to have suffered this failure at relatively low mileage. Might go and take a look, it's been undersealed but I'll have a good squint - and bring a fridge magnet for the sills/arches!

[Flanners]

When was the repair undertaken (year) and what mileage has the van done since?

[Osh]

When was the repair undertaken (year) and what mileage has the van done since?

2018 I think, and sold straight away as far as I know. Would need to check the receipts to confirm but I’ve not actually seen them.
I’m assuming I’d be the guinea pig testing whether the repairs have fully resolved whatever issue it had.
I know this ain’t sounding great!
Thanks both, I’ll keep you posted with any updates...

[Flanners]

[Bob]

Hmm...

I've never heard of the head gasket failing on a 2 ltr petrol.

It's common for the head (not the gasket) to fail if you overheat the diesel, but this does sound like an " All work done" ad, even if the work wasn't needed or done.

Just my view, but there's lot more out there.

[Osh]

Well, thanks for your advice and prayers... for better or worse, I bought it!

Managed to get a few ££ off asking price, the seller still made a healthy profit so hopefully we're both happy.

Glad I haggled a bit, because already a few points of interest:

- mileage is 69k not 43k as claimed (based on the distance racked up on the drive home from Bristol)
- aerial is kaput
- speedo needle randomly drops to zero from time to time, before wakening up again (quite unnerving - tbf the original seller had noted this, apparently it's a £65 part)
- middle seats are missing the plastic picnic table/tray from the back of the smaller folding seat

Priorities are to find a replacement tray, and also check what type coolant is in there.

But most importantly - time to join up as a member of Bongo Fury!

[Bob]

You'll likely find the mileage is 43,000 miles but showing 69,000 metric things, pretty much the same.


Hopefully the speedo is an easy fix, but possibly indicating an alternator fault. Still not all the world.

Bongo Spares are a good source of parts, or you might find a converter who is disposing of rear seats, although not so many being done now.

Welcome to ownership.