Could I have some advice please?

[BongoBuyer]

We've been on the hunt for our first Bongo for a while now and we think we've found one within our budget (it's 5.5k). I just have concerns after reading about rust issues. He's offered to do a video of it and take photos of the underneath, and we'll probably view it next week.

I won't post the advert as i'm not sure if it's allowed, but there was an MOT failure in 2021 which was this:

Repair immediately (major defects):
Other passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle Nearside Rear (6.2.3 (a))

And an MOT failure in 2017 with this:

Reason(s) for failure
Offside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings sill (6.1.B.2)
Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)
Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

It's done an additional 29k miles since that fail in 2017. He says he's had new steel rear arches put in recently, and when I asked him about rust he said just a few spots that you'd expect of a 20+ year old car.

The ownership history (I ran a report online) worries me slightly too, he's selling after a year, and the previous owner had it for 4 months.

Current 27/03/2021 N/A 1 year 3 months
6th 10/11/2020 27/03/2021 4 months
1st - 5th 01/08/2010 10/11/2020 10 years 3 months

What do you think?

[g8dhe]

Welcome aboard!

Too be honest I wouldn't even bother considering vehicles that I can't inspect for myself before making any sort of decision, I certainly wouldn't trust any video or pictures provided by the seller of rust conditions. Can they supply evidence of the work being carried out by a reputable garage which includes what work was done. Otherwise you may find it was a simple glass fibre fill and quick spray job. Most rust work that fails an MoT is going to take several days to repair and then re-paint so if the retest was within 48 hours I would be suspicious myself!

[BongoBuyer]

Ah to clarify (sorry for being unclear) I will be going to inspect it myself and won't be making a snap decision! Good call though on the arches, i'll ask for that information.

Just looking now, when it failed in 2017 with corrosion issues, it failed on the 15th and was retested successfully on the 23rd.

[g8dhe]

Well 8 days would suggest a good job could be done in that time, we have seen repairs re-tested the next day which is not a good sign!
My old vehicle is shown being repaired in these pictures; it at least gives you a feel as to what to look for, roof line and both rear arches, also the front and rear crossmembers, the rear one is difficult to asses without removing the bumper however, the front one is easily seen.
http://www.g8dhe.net/bongo_images/tin_worm/ After repair the vehicle is still going strong to this day we bought it in 2008 as a new import!

[BongoBuyer]

Thanks! Out of interest, how much did it set you back roughly to repair those bits?

[BongoBuyer]

Doesn't give me a lot of info but he's sent me a photo of the under side. Definitely going to have to go and check it out in person.

[g8dhe]

Well it tells you one thing no one has ever checked the spare tyre its the original 20+ year old one that is good for 50 miles when new! There 1/2 width or something like that!
Back in 2016 it cost £2000+ for the roof and both rear arches, prices have gone up quite a bit since then!