MOT Failure - Advice please - Fiat Ducato

[Markoxc123]

Hi all,
Some advice please... Our camper van failed the MOT for extensive corrosion to the underside, (All wheel arches, LH sill and the rear end) (And Discs and pads). The corrosion is quite enough for the van to be scrapped as it could cost as much as the van is worth to repair (You just done know how much repair is required). We have decided 'get rid' of the van as it is, but I don't know if its worth selling as it is, or breaking for parts and then disposal. The interior is in good shape and was new from 2012 with a professional conversion, includes rock-and-roller bed, pilots seats, gas heating and stove, elec inverter, fridge, microwave, sink with elec pump. 1.9TD engine (Classic XUD9 TE).

Photos should be attached to this post. I have additional photos if anyone is interested.
Located in Nottingham

Any suggestions / offers welcome.
Mark.

 

[Figaro]

Could be a project for someone with the skills to do the repairs themselves ?

 

[SuperMike]

Strip it all out, buy another van without problems and refit it all.

 

[Speve]

Strip it all out, buy another van without problems and refit it all.

I think that’s what I would do or sell the interior to self builder and van what’s left as spares. As long as you have space for it?

 

[Sundowners]

Maybe get a second opinion on the extent of the rot??????
If too bad, strip it and build another with the appliances----- they are not old ( if new when van was converted)

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[Ivory55]

It must be a major fail to make it uneconomic, which makes you wonder how long it’s been bad. Would it all happen in one year ?

 

[mfw]

Got to be worth good money in bits if you are happy to strip - certainly more than selling as a diy repair jobby - engine and gearbox if good are worth money certainly more than scrap value of van - got mine mot'd today same year plate no probs flew through bonus of waxoil from new i suppose

 

[fullfat]

Hello and welcome

 

[Markoxc123]

It must be a major fail to make it uneconomic, which makes you wonder how long it’s been bad. Would it all happen in one year ?

It looks like for the passed 3 years the MOT shouldn't have been given, but now it failed. It looks like a good 3 years of decline. Dodgy MOT's! Although it was the same MOT station that then failed it (The MOT is marked 'abandoned test')

 

[Podney]

Join up here,if you haven’t already,and then advertise it on here,there are lots of DIYers looking for projects/parts.

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[Janine]

I suppose it depends on whether you can afford to buy another van.

Friends of mine had a similar dilemma with an elderly van but, as it would cost more to replace, they had the welding done and have never looked back.

 

[Markoxc123]

Maybe get a second opinion on the extent of the rot??????
If too bad, strip it and build another with the appliances----- they are not old ( if new when van was converted)

Photos of the Rot attached.... An enthusiast could fix it, but would needs lots of enthusiasm!

 

[berni109]

If it's as bad as you say then you are probably going to have to strip the interior to get the welding done anyway. Sorry cant offer you better news.

 

[Feltwell]

Depends if you want the hassle of stripping and selling parts individually, it's a major bind especially if people want things packaging up. Then you've got to get rid of the shell at the end.

I'd be tempted personally to look for a better condition base van and transfer the interior across - with welding like that required, I suspect it will be an ongoing battle with rust now, it will appear elsewhere in future. If you don't fancy that I'm sure you'll find a buyer for it through Ebay - who will either want to do the welding themselves, or transfer the interior to a donor van themselves.

 

[ryan_flea]

I'm in a predicament myself, however, i am hoping that the network of friends will be able to guide and assist. Our rust is under the battery (engine) holder. Joining in on the cross member. Bit disgruntled all found in one year too. Fingers crossed you get it sorted or cash in!

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[tonyidle]

The interior looks well worth the effort to transfer it to a replacement base vehicle. Is it worth talking to the original converter - he may be willing to do it if you are unable to do it yourself? If you are completely happy with what you have now that could be a cheaper option than any other & you would have a vehicle of decent value.

 

[Lenny HB]

 

[boxerdog]

can we ask where you obtained it in the first place was it a "dealer" or a private sale ??

 

[Markoxc123]

can we ask where you obtained it in the first place was it a "dealer" or a private sale ??

We purchased it via Private sale via eBay ~3-4 years ago £5k.

 

[boxerdog]

I would strip as much as possible you might recoup a fair amount of your cash in parts if you have space including all doors and windows quite a few folk im sure would purchase parts just a thought.................Ian

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[Jaws]

Sell as is on eBay.. include all the pictures of the interior and say it has failed mot cos of rot on chassis

Spooky thing is, this is the second one I have seen with almost identical rot.......have you posted the pics somewhere else such as facebook perchance ... if not its a hell of a coincidence

 

[TheDogMan]

get another van and strip it out or get the converter to do it

 

[jollyrodger]

Looking at the mot history is not a pretty picture way back before you bought it .and during your ownership.
A vehicle passes an mot ,so it's up to standards at the time of the test.
There is no guarrantee later that the vehicle is safe to use.
advisorys need to be acted on in good time to be safe to use after the mot .
Buy a suitable ,similar type van and use this one as a donar .
Sell the rest as scrap/parts

 

[Spriddler]

@Feltwell Agreed, but not with transferring to another vehicle. Spending summer months grovelling about stripping and selling the parts or transferring the habitation stuff to another base vehicle is fine in theory but a PITA in reality. You'll need somewhere to work on it and have to clean all the stuff up too and the phone will be going with dimwits asking if a certain bit fits a 1964 Datsun, Citroen Berlingo, offering silly money, making arrangements to collect for cash and not turning up............. Then they'll be back saying it doesn't work or doesn't fit or is making a funny noise, or the wife doesn't like it........ been there, suffered all that. I sold a vintage dynamo to a chap who gave me hell and bad feedback on eBay, saying that after he'd had it fitted the brakes started binding
I've rebuilt several rotten MGB GT's with new 'Heritage' shells and other MOT failed classic cars but fitting stuff on/in a camper body won't be so simple. Apart from rusted solid or crumbling nuts and bolts, dealing with frail and adding new habitation wiring, gas/water piping there'll be the converter's specific fittings to transfer, perhaps rusting away and mods to make to the donor vehicle.
I gave it all up years ago.
It *only* cost you 5 grand and you've had 3 or 4 years from it. I'd put it on eBay, draw a line under the affair and get something I could use.

 

[TheBig1]

That is a perfect donor vehicle to build a very usable camper with minimum effort. Got to be worth £500, just for the camper parts and another £500 for the gearbox if in good condition

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[MisterB]

you could easily lose 4k depreciation on a car/caravan/motorhome/campervan over 4 years. sell it as it is a 'donor' vehicle complete or for repair by competent person. if you get over 1k for it then it hasn't been a disaster in real terms

 

[Feltwell]

I'm in a predicament myself, however, i am hoping that the network of friends will be able to guide and assist. Our rust is under the battery (engine) holder. Joining in on the cross member. Bit disgruntled all found in one year too. Fingers crossed you get it sorted or cash in!

Needs pictures Ryan and I can't remember what your van is based on, but if it's just the battery tray and it's on a X230/X244 Ducato, I seem to remember they just bolt on and aren't expensive. Cross member, you mean the front cross member that sits under the radiator? 4 bolts and about 70 quid from memory, common X230/X244 Ducato problem.

Have a look on Fleabay, I've seen new pattern ones for sale on there. Spray with Dinitrol 4941 once fitted, it's good at keeping rust at bay - had my whole van rustproofed with the stuff, you can buy aerosols for topup or spot application - it's like a black hard wax coating full of rust inhibitors.

Worth a quick read:-

https://www.practicalmotorhome.com/advice/30488-fiat-ducato-and-peugeot-boxer-buyers-guide

 

[mfw]

Whatever you do dont chase money on the van with welding or you will be chasing it every year this is aimed at op - whoever has rusty battery box and crossmember think you will find they all rust on crossmember but bolt on i believe

 

[ryan_flea]

Needs pictures Ryan and I can't remember what your van is based on, but if it's just the battery tray and it's on a X230/X244 Ducato, I seem to remember they just bolt on and aren't expensive. Cross member, you mean the front cross member that sits under the radiator? 4 bolts and about 70 quid from memory, common X230/X244 Ducato problem.

Have a look on Fleabay, I've seen new pattern ones for sale on there. Spray with Dinitrol 4941 once fitted, it's good at keeping rust at bay - had my whole van rustproofed with the stuff, you can buy aerosols for topup or spot application - it's like a black hard wax coating full of rust inhibitors.

Worth a quick read:-

https://www.practicalmotorhome.com/advice/30488-fiat-ducato-and-peugeot-boxer-buyers-guide

Will read for sure thank you. Cross member under radiator where it meets the chasis. Looks to be both perished. Ill read the guide when home and appreciate your time. May send them via PM as dont want to infiltrate OP post. Kind regards. Shame its not just the bolt on battery tray.

 

[Jaws]

Will read for sure thank you. Cross member under radiator where it meets the chasis. Looks to be both perished. Ill read the guide when home and appreciate your time. May send them via PM as dont want to infiltrate OP post. Kind regards. Shame its not just the bolt on battery tray.

Fitted a new cross member on sons motorhome ( 2000 Ducato based ).. got it off fleabay and it took less than 40 minutes to change ( inc rad top mount rubbers too )

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