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May 24, 2021 20:30:06 GMT
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I have been offered a 2008 Fiat 500 1.2 with a blown head gasket fairly cheaply, the seller reckons a replacement engien is whats needed, and I can get one from a breakers for circa £200.
My Mrs could use a wee car for going to her work, are these things any good and worth the effort to sort or should I leave it where it is?
The body looks tidy enough and I love the cute retro styling, what say the forum?
What do you reckon it would be worth, £400 to £500 id say
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May 24, 2021 23:04:44 GMT
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If it's got the fiat fire engine a head gasket is about as easy as they get. Single cam non interference timing belt etc. Doddle to put right. Mot wise bottom arms is a ballache cos the bumper and crash support bars need to come off, rear shocker bushes and lately rear axle sub frames are becoming notorious for rusting out. I'd say buy it, bung a gasket an belt on it an see how it goes
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May 25, 2021 12:57:20 GMT
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If it's got the fiat fire engine a head gasket is about as easy as they get. Single cam non interference timing belt etc. Doddle to put right. Mot wise bottom arms is a ballache cos the bumper and crash support bars need to come off, rear shocker bushes and lately rear axle sub frames are becoming notorious for rusting out. I'd say buy it, bung a gasket an belt on it an see how it goes curse word i didn’t know that about the bottom arms !!!!and just had a new bumper and aircon rad fitted could have been done at the same time |
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pow
Part of things
Posts: 110 
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May 25, 2021 14:19:47 GMT
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Happy to be wrong but I don't think it'll be a FIRE engine, too new. They were a 1.2 16v shared with the mk2 ka weren't they? I know they're £30 to tax...
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May 25, 2021 14:34:00 GMT
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i do believe its shared with ka
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mk2cossie
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,946
Club RR Member Number: 77
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Tell me About Fiat 500s mk2cossie
@mk2cossie
Club Retro Rides Member 77
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May 25, 2021 16:08:58 GMT
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Happy to be wrong but I don't think it'll be a FIRE engine, too new. They were a 1.2 16v shared with the mk2 ka weren't they? I know they're £30 to tax... It may be a 16v, which I believe is a variant of the FIRE engine  |
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May 25, 2021 17:02:29 GMT
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To be honest, 99% I see are 1.2 8v single cam fire engine which began life in the uno and then punto. Also shared in the panda. I see the occasional 1.3 cdti, twin air and abarth biposto models but I think the one in question here will have the easiest lump to work on.
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May 25, 2021 17:40:52 GMT
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Buy an original one, you’ll have to open both front windows to get the smile out!😀
Not that you’ll get one for £200.......
Sorry no use at all really 🙄
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May 25, 2021 18:19:21 GMT
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I remember when i started driving in the 90s you could get an original no problem, and for very little.
If only I had a crystal ball, Id have an aircraft hangar full of them, classic minis and 205 gtis
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pow
Part of things
Posts: 110
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May 27, 2021 12:49:01 GMT
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Can't complain for £200 can you, get it done.
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goldnrust
West Midlands
Minimalist
Posts: 1,872
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May 27, 2021 13:23:52 GMT
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It is the 1.2 8v FIRE engine as hairdoo says, updated with sequential multi point injection and VVT to bring it into the 21st century. I've not changed a head gasket on the 500s I've owned, but I did a head gasket on a Punto with a 1.2 FIRE and it was dead easy. Rear shocks definitely go, and whilst I've heard of front arms going, I'm yet to have one go in 3-4 years of daily driving I've done. I've generally found it pretty simple to work on, there's not much to it on the mechanical side. As you say henspeed, the cute retro styling is what sells it. It might not quite have the ride or refinement of some other small modern cars, but it makes up with it for how it feels to be in a more interesting and fun place than the small grey box that so many cars are. The steering is good and direct and the gear shift nice and positive, which helps make it to drive. On the downside, the driving portion is high, with a long arms/short legs feel. It takes a bit of getting used to! And refinement at motorway speeds isn't great. |
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