Getting a new car - oil leak advice

sun01

Hi all,
I'm about to be given a car for free by a family member. Very happy for this kind offer. Currently have no car and no money to pay for one and can't afford to say no to it. However I'm worried that it's going to be a bad idea and a money pit.
It's a 2005 diesel Citroen Berlingo with 200k on the clock and an oil leak. MOT valid until August 2019. Road tax quite high. I suspect fuel consumption quite high. (As I am broke both of the latter are concerning.)
However it is the right size/safety level for me (previous car that died was a tin can that was highly concerning in terms of driving on motorways with a small child and a stressful nightmare every time we went on a trip to see family as no room for luggage.)
Family member says they have never had the oil leak diagnosed and don't know anything about why it is happening or where it is coming from. Has been happening for a number of years and they have got it through the MOT no probs by steam cleaning it ahead of MOT every time.
Family member also says they have no idea when the cam belt was last changed.
And also that they have no idea of the miles per gallon.
What would you do?
a) Put it through an MOT now
b) Take it to a garage now and get the oil leak diagnosed and the cam belt changed and have a full service to pick up any other problems.
c) Just keep driving it as it is and MOT when due in August (and steam clean it ahead???!)
d) Other???
I'm inclined to option b, but have no idea how to go about this. Also concerned that this will be costly. Could you advise?
Also difficulty is that the car is not where I live - it's 170 miles away.
I am currently where the car is for the next 6 days and planning to drive it back to where I live.
Someone has said to me that no garage will check it over for me at this short notice and that I'd need to give a garage 3 weeks notice for something like this.
Thanks for reading and advice!

jlemaitre

I'd accept it, Free car. Just insure and 'tax' it until August 19, then either just scrap it, or repair it if it comes up during the test and its not a viable option to repair it. While using the car you can save up for a better car. Assuming the family member wont be disheartened if your scrap it. The car is nothing to shout about and likely near the end of its life.

Think of it a just a runaround. I'd never bother steam cleaning it go get through an mot anyway. IF your near the car check to see where this leak is. Im guessing from the oil filter housing(is it the element filter?) sump gasket, if gearbox side of engine could be crankshaft seal, check sump plug etc.

foxy-stoat

Sounds like a sack - drive it home if you have enough money to tax it for 6 months and have an insurance policy and if there is enough fuel to get you home.

Sell it for as much as you can and get yourself another car.