A word of warning

[Paul Bowden]

Hello,
I have been a member for quite a while now and been a motorhomer for many years, working my way up from a Bedford CA van to our latest an A class 2000 Pilote Galaxy 240 which is the reason for this message.
We bought the Pilote in September 2018 and yes I will name them MotorhomeDepot, Mansfield. It had a test certificate to 10th April 2019 and we proceeded with registering in France where we are, they accepted the UK MoT as it had over 6 months remaining.
April 10th arrived and we put the van in for the Control Technique thinking all would be fine but shock horror it failed, it had serious rust on the cross member under the radiator and the left hand side (looking from front of van) chassis member. The current UK MoT stated slight rust on chassis. We eventually found a place to get it repaired and had to supply manufacturer’s parts which came to €650 (Euro) and the garage charged €1016 (Euro)
Having only owning the van since Sept 2018 felt the seller should accept responsibility for the state of the van so I emailed him and explained the problems he emailed me back and asked me to phone him which I did. The response I received shocked me being told that as the van had a current MoT they assumed the van was ok and I should take up any grievance with the MoT station, when I pointed out that he should ensure the vehicles he sold should be fit for purpose he asked what I thought he should do, to which my reply was he should have his vehicles AA inspected but his only response was that if the van has a current MoT then its ok but if it has a short one they get it tested or if faults are picked up when inspected they would get it looked at. In short he was not prepared to do anything or help in any way. The rust on this van could not be seen from ground level but was found after the test station put it on their ramp, after it was pointed out and I had removed the front body panels was the full state of rust evident
We bought the van as it had low mileage 80000 miles and thought it would be ok but now think that due to the low mileage and obviously sitting around this has caused the rust to form.
I have enclosed some pictures of the rust damage found. My advice to anyone buying from MotorhomeDepot is be very careful and if unsure on anything get it inspected professionally.
Paul

 

[Steve and Denise]

I suppose the mot should have picked that up but on a van that is 19 years old maybe you should have paid for an AA type inspection if you are not qualified to carry out your own inspection.
As for mot it has to be ok on the day of mot so six months, a fair bit can happen.?

 

[Lenny HB]

I think when buying a vehicle of that age you have to do your own inspection or get someone do it for you. The front cross member rusting out is a well known and documented problem on the early Fiats so I'm not surprised.
If you had gone back to the seller after a week of purchase he maybe he would have been more helpful but 6 months no way would I expect any help. I think you have been stitched up on the repairs, cross members are only about £100.

 

[Puddleduck]

I am so sorry you have had this problem, it leaves a bitter taste I am sure.

 

[Geo]

I think when buying a vehicle of that age you have to do your own inspection or get someone do it for you. The front cross member rusting out is a well known and documented problem on the early Fiats so I'm not surprised.
If you had gone back to the seller after a week of purchase he maybe he would have been more helpful but 6 months no way would I expect any help. I think you have been stitched

I repaired many ducato with almost identical corrosion, my customens after parts/labour and vat had change from £500
Sorry to say it but you look like a victim looking for punishment

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[Kingham]

It’s a shame you’ve been left feeling let down by MHD and I feel for you, but that line where you told them they should have their vans AA tested, I’m afraid that’s the customer’s responsibility and cost to bear.

 

[RogerThat]

My 1999 Swift Sundance (Ducato) also had similar corrosion in the cross member (as mentioned, it's a common fault) a few years ago, the local garage charged me £250 to replace and seal/waxoyl.

While I can sympathise, I don't think you did enough due diligence before buying, and I'd certainly not expect any garage / dealer to help that long after the sale completed

 

[Jim]

My advice to anyone buying from MotorhomeDepot is be very careful and if unsure on anything get it inspected professionally.
Paul

That is good advice Paul, shame you learned the lesson the hard way. But most good advice comes from hard lessons. Don't fester over this. Get it fixed as quickly as you can and use it, the frustration you have now with the dealer will fade once using the van.

Remain very civil with the dealer, tell him you're going to get a price to put it right and you are going to ask him to pay it. Then, most important, once fixed and while enjoying your van, get an invoice to him and fight for as much as you can get. If he doesn't stump up at least half of the bill you can file in the small claims court and see what happens. Best of luck

 

[jockaneezer]

What a bummer for you, that rust hasn't got like that in 6 months. Did the dealer arrange the MOT ?

 

[ambulancekidd]

Motorhome Depot are a broker & as I've said before, they do not accept any responsibility for the motorhome they've brokered.
I've had some dealings with them but, body swerved them when I found more out about their agent, he had a criminal record as long as your arm!

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[DL42846]

As stated above. That is not six months worth of rust. I would persue the mot garage.

 

[lorger]

Sorry to hear of your woes as others have said it’s a shame you didn’t follow your own advice. When you say you spoke to the previous owner do you mean MHD or the private owner, I know they’re a broker but they do take trade ins so do sell their own vehicles at times.

 

[olley]

I might be wrong but don't you have to use genuine parts to repair vehicles in France, pattern parts like we can use are not allowed.

 

[PeteH]

It`s why the likes of MHD, ARE brokers, they take a commission on sales, NOT responsibility for the condition of the Vehicles. Brokerage, even of Vessels, is just commission sales. It is down to the purchaser to ensure the (vessel) is in good order. I have done several "Machinery Surveys" over the years, for that very reason, usually in tandem with a Hull Surveyor, before sale.

We made the mistake of not being as thorough as we should have been over our last purchase and whilst we are happy now with what we have, it has cost us to get it to that stage. but would NOT recommend the dealer.

 

[Geo]

As stated above. That is not six months worth of rust. I would persue the mot garage.

For info
Complaints against MoT stations have a strict time limit in this case corrosion it is 3 months after test date, all other types of complaint 1 month

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[cornish boy]

We bought the Pilote in September 2018 and yes I will name them MotorhomeDepot, Mansfield.

Unfortunately, as you will have found out, you didn't buy it from MotorhomeDepot, but from the previous owner. Motorhome depot work as a broker, not a dealer, and act in on a commision basis in the same way an Estate Agent works.

Your issue (if any) sits with the seller and will depend on if they were a private seller or a dealer, although I suspect six months down the line you are on a hiding to nothing.

I feel sorry for you and I am sure it smarts, but crack on and use the motorhome and the pain will soon ease.

 

[gus-lopez]

cross members are only about £100.

I repaired many ducato with almost identical corrosion, my customens after parts/labour and vat had change from £500

Problem is Fiat ones aren't cheap. If in France they require OEM parts you are stuck. Additionally even the Fiat garage I was in a few weeks back charge 108€/hour +vat for camping car work.

 

[Loveshack]

Hello, "..............he asked what I thought he should do, to which my reply was he should have his vehicles AA inspected but his only response was that if the van has a current MoT then its ok
Paul

Hi Paul, you have my sympathy, and I can’t add to the opinions expressed by others.
Having had a couple of vans inspected before finding a van to have converted, I wouldn’t have an AA inspection. I could do my own. If I wanted reassurance, I’d get my friendly mechanic to have a look. But main lesson I’ve learned from your experience is to avoid brokers. Deal direct with owner or dealer . Just in case.