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Hi Mark,

The more recent versions of the Renault Grand Scenic are at least reasonably reliable, and the commonly-seen 1.5-litre diesel engine is a sold enough old lump, and well proven in various Nissans and Renaults. The recurring nightmare is that of electrical problems. Renaults, older ones at any rate, just seem to eat through their cabling and wiring and everything from electric windows to engine management and injection problems can crop up. Buy very, very carefully if you're looking at  anything older than 2008.

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Hi John,

You know what? Just avoid the lot of them. In the early 2000s Renault was going through a period of very poor build quality that wasn't really resolved until the launch of the current Mégane in 2008. Older Renaults are generally just to be avoided. Electrical problems are commonplace and frustrating, and just because they're working now doesn't mean they'll stay working. These cars are marked down in price for a reason.

Hope we were in time to stop you buying!

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Hi Robert,

Depends on the problem and depends how it was fixed. If the entire ECU has been replaced then the problem is unlikely to recur. If it was repaired then there's always the possibility that it will. Also, worth remembering that electrical or electronic issues often get the blame for deeper mechanical problems. If the issue recurs it could be worth investigating other possible causes.

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Hi Jim,

How long is a piece of string? Sorry, but it is actually a tricky question to answer because it kind of involves asking 'which Range Rover?' That is to say that Land Rover's build quality, while it has consistently been improving over the past decade, can still be a touch variable. Many Range Rovers will get through big mileages with no trouble, while others simply won't.

The good news is (and I'm talking about post-2002 models here) that generally Range Rover unreliability has gone from trouble with major items such as brakes and suspension to minor niggles involving electrical components. Basically, if you're buying a Rangie make sure all the buttons work as they should and then budget a substantial amount of money to fix them when they don't. Engines, gearboxes and other bits are generally fine as long as the car has been serviced fully and has history to back that up. You won't get the flawless reliability that you'd get from a Toyota Land Cruiser for instance, but Rangies are certainly more solid than some of the rumours would have it.

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Hi Kieran,

The first place we'd look is the fuse box. It's quite possible that both the clock and the radio use the same fuse. Failing that it's time to bring the car to an auto electrician.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Sophie,

In this situation we'd advise you to get a second opinion. However, instead of going to a regular mechanic seek out an auto electrician near you - preferably one that comes recommended.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Keith,

The areas you have to check carefully on an E60 5 Series are the suspension and electrics. If there are any nasty noises coming from underneath, or if the steering feels anything less than precise and solid, you've got possible trouble. The run-flat tyres can also cause trouble, suffering from little air leaks that play havoc with the tyre pressure monitoring system. The iDrive infotainment system can also be wayward, sometimes taking as long as 20 minutes to boot up, but apparently post-2005 cars are far better in this regard. Finally, check all the electrical and electronic systems to make absolutely sure that everything is working as it should be, and don't even consider a car that doesn't have a full service history.

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Hi Garry,

Without having the car in front of us it's hard to tell, but it really sounds like the issue could be with the switch itself rather than the mirrors or their motors. It seems too coincidental that they'd both fail.

That could save you rather a lot of money if so - let us know how you get on.

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Hi Mary,

I presume that's either a Laguna or a Scenic you're talking about? In that case, it looks like a very good price for a car with very low mileage. However, with that kind of small miles on a diesel you need to be careful of two things. 1 - make sure that the previous owners have been doing enough long, high-speed runs to generate temperature in the exhaust system to clear out the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and, 2 - carefully check the history of the car to make sure that the mileage is genuine. Renault build quality is generally a little better than you might think, but you still need to be more careful than with other brands. Check carefully that all the electrics are working properly, especially the windows, and make sure the car has a full and complete service history.

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Hi Derek,

Despite being based on the 2002 E-Class (one of the most unreliable Mercedes models in history), the CLS seems to have escaped the worst of its progenitor's breakages. Just be wary of any electrical issues that can be wearisome and expensive to put right, and your 2009 prospect will not have been affected by a brake system recall that only applies to up-to-2005 models. Build quality inside is fantastic and the CLS is a joy to drive. Just watch the headroom if you're especially tall.