Broadway FB, two years on.

More than usual bad luck Allan, but as said on the other thread, quite a number of those faults were not directly attributable to A/S - not that I'm suggesting that you were blaming them for all the faults.

My feeling is that they build a quality van, but let it down with lack of attention to detail, and little or no joined up thinking. Battery positioned right in the centre of the underbed storage, no gas rams (or other device) to hold up the heavy door on the optional overcab locker, Fiamma type water inlet pipe toward the centre of the underbed storage when it could have been tucked in at one end, LPG filler jutting into the underbed storage when it could easily have been fitted in the (new and very strong) aluminium skirt, fire extinguisher fixed to the plastic base of driver's seat just where it will be stepped on and broken off, the safe placed right in the middle of an inaccessible storage area - the list goes on.

None of these things matter that much, and like Allan I have fixed most of them myself, but it is very irritating having spent so much cash to realise that the van has been built by people who are either so constrained by their rigid instructions that they can't use their initiative - or that they have no initiative to use.

Or couldn't care less because they have no pride in their work!

Rant over. We are also pleased with our van, more so now I have re-built it.

Dave

Mrs A says I have to put my mark on new things, rather like a dog sprinkling! I think she's right, I like to fiddle fix and modify. 
I had a Range Rover once, and believe it or not, nothing went wrong, broke of needed fixing in 3 years of ownership. I sold it and bought a Citroen and a socket set!

Hi

I had two small faults, the roof concertina blind falling off the runner guides and one of the gas hob not lighting. All fixed by Motor Plus Derby.

The other fault is a bit bigger the high top plastic roof is blissing. Alan Curry came to have a look in April and said it was water in the airline when it was paint spayed. He said he would give me a few dates for to have it respayed. I am still waiting for A/S to get back me I got some hope there, will have to start chasing them up.

Alan came to look at our van when we had a problem with the body panel between the two fridge vents. He arranged for the van to be collected, repaired and delivered.  They did a very good job but I had to contact him a few times to make sure he hadn't forgotten me!

Hi ajrm

Thanks for the info. 

I've had the very same problems as Alan, Plus the toilet fitted at an angle and you could see out side when you removed the cassette and the cassette door was fitted twisted. I've also fixed a lot of the faults my self. the only difference is that I had to make the trip down to Willersley a few times 190 mile round trip and no offers of picking the van up or free hab service.

John.

ajrm wrote:I know there are other threads about on the quality of AS vehicles, but I thought I would share the list of repairs/faults that we have experienced with our van, and a few modifications to make it more suitable for us, now it is just outside its 24 month warranty with over 17000 miles on the clock, one service and one Hab check later.
We have been in France since mid June, so it's not easy to get the latest round of things fixed at the moment


In the first week here, the water pump started playing up, screeching and failing to pump any water.  I ordered a new one from Autosleeper who posted it very quickly to France ( though charged double what it cost to post!). Of course, as soon as it arrived, the old one started working again, and is still going strong.
Also, the kitchen waste pipe behind the cooker fell apart, covering the floor and carpets with grey water and flooding the electrics under the side sofa. This is the second time this has happened, same pipe, different joints. Design fault and/ or poor workmanship.
Then, the awning blew off with a gust of wind on an otherwise calm day. I assume it was fitted properly, if so, it was my fault, not the van.......Anyway, it's now 4 metres of scrap metal and plastic.
Next was the Truma water heater, the mains element has packed up. Truma have agreed to pay for any parts as long as I pay the labour costs, which is good as it is also out of warranty now.
This morning, the outer bracket holding the waste water pipe tap broke leaving it swinging about.


Luckily, I am able to fix most things. I would be in a real fix now if I wasn't handy at DIY.


Don't get me wrong, I love the van, but things should last for years before they need any attention. 


So, in two years of ownership, apart from the things listed above, here is a list of thing that have failed/ fallen apart/ been fixed.
All the bathroom fittings fell off on our first trip. Locktite and a screwdriver fixed them.
The bathroom towel rail fell apart. Fixed by me.
Towel loop on the back of the bathroom door fell off, which isn't surprising as it is screwed into thin hardboard. Re affixed properly with sprung metal toggle fixings.
All the edging trim strips inside the van started peeling off.( fixed by A/S)
5 press studs on the sofa seats fell off. Fixed by me.
Rear mud flaps fouling the body and forced the wheel arch trims both sides off (fixed by A/S)
Main roof light winding mech broke ( fixed by A/S)
Fridge door edge cracking ( Thetford are supplying a new one under warranty)
Bathroom sink surround swelling with water ingress ( fixed by A/S)
Crease in body between fridge vents (fixed by A/S)
Oil leak on sump ( fixed by Peugeot at service)
Bathroom door wouldn't stay closed. Taken apart lubricated and reassembled, by me.
5 locker catches buttons stuck in. Taken apart, lubricated and reassembled by me.
Hab door lock fell apart when trying to open it.  Fixed by taking apart door and reassembling linkage.
Near side headlight loose. Fixed back in place properly, by me.
Waste tank sensors showing tank full. Tank dropped and sensors cleaned by dealer, then  later by me. Cable now disconnected.
Slide out table in kitchen wouldnt come out, or if it did, wouldn't  stay closed. Dismantled and reassembled properly by me.
Terrible cold draught coming from between the fridge and microwave.  Took it to the dealer and they sealed the back of the fridge properly.
Draught was still there and coming in through a small gap under the microwave. Sealed the gap with a strip of black foam rubber, no draught now and the heater doesn't have to work overtime in the winter.
Hab door check slider broke, repaired then replaced with a new one by me.
Water leaking into Hab door step footwell making the mat sodden when travelling in the rain. Vents in footwell partially sealed by me.
LPG Gas gauge moved up the dash a few inches so I could actually see it.
Swivel seat bases too stiff to move. Adjusted and lubricated by me, they work fine now, except to swivel the drivers seat properly, you need to release the handbrake and push the steering column in. This is a poor design.
Anti slip matting fitted to very shiny slats under the side sofa bases to keep the cushions in place better.
Whale surge damper fitted to try and stop the water pump pulsing ( fix advice offered by Dealer, AS knew the pumps pulsed but could not offer advice on how to stop it)
Fresh water and waste water tank heaters and tank and pipe insulation fitted by me so we can use the van all year round where we want. ( it works well, too)

I think that's it. Nothing here has actually stopped us using the van, apart from when AS did their repairs because they had the van for 3 weeks. They collected and delivered the van back at pre arranged times and also gave me a free Hab check, so full marks there.
And, two years on, the van still looks and feels brand new and is always favourably commented on, especially in France where the vast majority of like vans are based on Fiat chassis and seeing a Peugeot badge on a Motorhome is a novelty

Allan

Hi Allan

This sounds as though it's the van I purchased last July

As I can't seem to PM you can you PM me please with reg details - I purchased from Johns Cross if that's where you sold/traded in

Of course if any other members can shed light on above would be most grateful

Many thanks

Hi and welcome to the forum sunny Bridlington , you shouldn't have to do much to the van then. 
Boaby

Hi Wightman, have sent you a pm, hopefully!

ajrm wrote:Hi Wightman, have sent you a pm, hopefully!

I think wightman will need a couple more posts notched up before he can send a p.m 
Boaby

I thought so, he better start having problems / needing advice then......

Easiest way to get your post count up is to do an intro (as requested when you register) and then thank people for their welcome.


Just seen that you have done intro now, so soon get the necessary post count to use PM's.

burlingtonboaby wrote:Hi and welcome to the forum sunny Bridlington , you shouldn't have to do much to the van then. 
Boaby

Hi Thanks for your reply - you'll have to watch this space!!!!

ajrm wrote:Hi Wightman, have sent you a pm, hopefully!

Hi ajrm Many many thanks for reply

Until I can PM you - to put you out of your misery - yes we are the proud new owners of "your" Broadway 

Will contact more when I can PM you 

Paulmold wrote:Easiest way to get your post count up is to do an intro (as requested when you register) and then thank people for their welcome.


Just seen that you have done intro now, so soon get the necessary post count to use PM's.

Hi Paulmold

Very many thanks for your reply/advice

ajrm wrote:
Swivel seat bases too stiff to move. Adjusted and lubricated by me, they work fine now, except to swivel the drivers seat properly, you need to release the handbrake and push the steering column in. This is a poor design.

Allan

I had quite a few faults as well but all were handled well by Mark at Willersey - once i went there!

I agree that the difficulty of swivelling the seats is not wonderful design but on my van it is dictated by the short length.  I have a workaround, though which does NOT need the handbrake being released.

First push the steering column in.  Then turn the seat a small amount to release the swivel lock (otherwise it is difficult to reach the red lever and also difficult to get the right leverage to actually turn the seat).  Then push the seat FULLY forward and rotate past the raised handbrake lever.  It is VERY tight but does just pass without fouling.  I generally have to then move the seat back again a bit to avoid fouling the front of the offside bed locker.  Also, if I want to rotate the seat the full 180 degrees to face backward (eg for a single bed) I have to move the backrest more upright to avoid fouling the lowered steering wheel. 
There are also problems on mine when rotating the passenger seat. The arm rest used to get in the way so, as Mrs Ron never used it, I took it off. Problem solved!

I hope this helps Wightman!

Erm yes, finally the van is level as front wheels raised by levelling blocks. Now you have to release handbrake to rotate driver's seat. What a trial to keep sufficient pressure on brake peddle and rotate...........  In the future will apply a pair of wheel chocks to hopefully arrest any roll back.

It's a shame they couldn't use a method of dropping the handbrake lever while it is operated. I used to own a mid '70's Jaguar that had this feature, the technology is available and has been for well over 40 years.

The Bourton has a drop down lever.

On our present Ducato based van we have to fiddle with the seats to get them to rotate fully - rotate a bit, move forward a bit, rotate a bit, move back a bit into the final position.

We had to do the same. It helped by loosening the bases and greasing them with silicon grease, but you still had to shuffle them about to clear the handbrake and door armrests
And the table surfaces are incredibly slippery...

We have experienced most of the niggling little problems you have outlined above in our AS Broadway. Most fixed by me. For example the mixer tap in the bathroom was so stiff to rotate that it actually unscrewed the base from the worktop.  I fixed that whilst sitting on the loo by removing the collar around the outlet, lifting the spout off, removing one of the neoprene o rings that had been fitted incorrectly, lubricating the other with vaseline and re-assembling. Why AS would let this pass inspection beggars belief. Perhaps they expect all owners to be tinkerers. Having said all that, we are now living in our Broadway full time. Now in sunny Spain.

We lived in ours for quite a while when we were renovating our house in France. It was a very comfortable, very well put together van ( after we sorted all the stupid niggles) we also put quite a few miles on it.
Spain sounds nice, I think that may be our next move, plans are to buy an old country house in Spain or Portugal and live in our latest van while renovating. Or maybe just buy a field in the sun.