Running gear
Beware of driveshaft issues on the T5. The output shaft from the gearbox is simply a push-fit with no rubber seal, making it prone to water ingress and rust. When they eventually shear, you’ll end up without drive.
Power steering pumps are gear-driven, with the end of the pump sitting in engine oil, so if the seal goes, engine oil can find its way into the power steering fluid, causing it to overflow. Having replaced the worn seal, flushing the system and adding fresh power steering fluid may be all that’s needed, otherwise it will be a case of buying a replacement pump. The column itself can also develop a clunk if the lower knuckle wears, in which case a replacement column is the only option.
Braking problems are generally few and far between, but ABS pumps can fail – in which case it’s possible to have it refurbished at Bba-reman for a fraction of what it will cost from a main dealer. Use worn discs and pads as a negotiating tool – they’re easy to replace and relatively inexpensive from a motor factor.
Top strut mounts and bearings can seize and wear, and when they do they will begin to knock. If it’s not that, suspect worn anti-roll bar bushes or droplinks – listen out for untoward noises as you drive over potholes or up a lowered kerb.
When the original springs near the end of their life, many vans are fitted with lowering springs and coilover kits.