Hi,

I have just submitted my registration... so while I wait for approval I wanted to say hi :-)
I was recommended your forum by a well known parts supplier ;-)
My plans are to acquire à l200 year 2005 double cabin 2.5TD with 90'000 miles on the clock.

The first question is :
What should I look for are there any common problems that would be "walk away" criteria when buying an l200 from 2005?

I already own a MK1 Pajero V6 and am quite knowledgeable mechanically... but it is always good to know from the experienced if there are any hidden fault...

Thank you in advance for any suggestions and tips while buying.
I look forward to sharing more soon :-D

welcome to the forum mate where in the world are you?

Hi am in France ;-)

Welcome to the forum.....

If poss Service History not vital , but worth it if it has it
Any oil/bubbles in the water i'd walk away

Most other things to be fair would depend on what your paying for it.

Thanks for your first input...
So looking for oil in the coolant rather than the opposite?
Guess it has a cam-belt too the TD?
Paying French price so quite allot compared to UK... the one I am looking at does look very clean though on the pics...
Going for a test drive later today ;-)

come and import one from the uk cheaper

yep they have a cam belt

check bottom pulley too

check for smoke and check 4x4 works and that the dash check lights come on when ignition turned on

Yes would be a hassle to import and LHD too ;-)
bottom pulley would be crank pulley, looking for leaks
yes dash lights good you mentioned :-D

Ah and how about rust any common rot places?

Bottom front cross member is known to go ( mines a late 2005 plate and no problems there as of yet! ), also above the spare wheel

I reckon service history is very important. With the propensity to pop head gaskets you want proof that coolant has been changed every 2nd year/18k miles by the book. If you know your spanners then don't let it put you off, but be prepared to negotiate the price down by the cost of a new HG, as quite a few folk turn up on here - and the dark side - having bought an L a few days ago and now it's overheating...

Don't pay silly money for one. EBay, the classified, Auto Trader are heaving with used Classics, and the newest are a decade old - at best they're knocking on, and there ain't no shortage of them, so the top prices aren't really justified.

Everything else is typical Mitsubishi/Paj/Shoggy in terms of what to look for. Good luck.

I also read that heads are prone to cracking, as they are alloy is this true?

Over heat yes but not crack.

my list would look like this

service history ...... check
no lights on dash ....... check
no play in bottom pulley ...... check
no bubbles in the header tank ........ check
no overheating(especially up a long steep hill) ........ check
no adverse rust ........ check
no smoke from exhaust ....... check
good long MOT (or the French equivalent) ...... check
no damage from off roading ...... check

as Lemmy says, many trucks are sold with problems that the owner doesn't want to pay to fix and so the new owner gets grief from the second they buy it.
if it's had "recent engine work" done, find out why

Well wow in such short time so many replies [laugh]
I have printed out a list of things to look at and will be of in a moment to have a look at the beast :D
Will keep you all posted...