Should I buy winter tyres for my BMW 1M or buy a winter runabout?

I recently bought a BMW 1M which I really love, but I guess it will be useless in the winter without winter tyres. I think a new set of wheels and tyres will be around £2000. For that money would I be...

Parking charge for a ten-minute overstay. Can you advise me on what to do?

A week ago my wife and I did our weekly shop in the local Waitrose. The carpark apparently is controlled by Euro Car Parks with a limited stay of 90 minutes. My has recently had a knee replacement operation...

Lost wheel security bolt key - can I get a replacement?

I have lost the security bolt key for the wheels of my Volvo S40. Is there a quick and (comparatively) inexpensive way of replacing it or will the current bolts have to be cut off and replaced with another...

Third party lied after an accident that wasn't my fault - what can I do?

My 76-year old wife was driving along a street when the driver of a parked car flung the door open, causing considerable damage to both cars. There was a witness, a local policeman who helped my wife to...

What's happening with the ex-Olympic Games BMW fleet?

BMW was one of the Olympic sponsors, providing the only cars that could be used for official Olympic business. Do you have any idea what will happen to this fleet of BMWs after the Olympics are over, and...

Must a driver move through a red light if ordered to do so by a police officer?

I refer to MB of Guildford’s enquiry, and to your response, regarding what action to take if you are impeding an emergency vehicle on "blues and twos". He is correct when he says that motorists have been...

Should I replace the water pump at the same time as the cam belt on my Tiguan?

I have a Volkswagen Tiguan SE Auto 140PS 2.0 TDI which is shortly due for its four year/40,000 mile service. The service schedule stipulates a cam belt change at this time, which I will have done, but...

Is an older Land Rover a sensible buy?

I would like to buy a battered (but mechanically sound and roadworthy) old-style Land Rover for jaunts round the country lanes of the Gower peninsula. My impression is that Land Rovers are expensive to...

Who has my second key?

I bought a BMW from a Tyneside used car dealer with only one key. I spoke to the previous owner, who said there were two keys but the dealer says there was only one key. Does he have to provide two keys?...

Is the Dacia Duster a good alternative to a Renault Scenic?

We love Renault cars, have owned seven of them and have always enjoyed great reliability and good service. Our Modus is due to be replaced next year so I went to my local showroom this week to look at...

Why was a county court judgement made against me following a fraudulent claim against me?

March 2010 saw a third party make a fraudulent claim against my car insurance policy. In spite of my concerns and instructions to my insurer they paid out £731. More than two years later, in June 2012,...

Should cruise control be used in wet conditions?

I read that it's not wise to use the cruise control when driving in wet weather, of which there's plenty about at the moment. Can you elaborate on this, as I am unable to get it across to family and friends?

I need a 4x4 to tow a horsebox and carry two children - what do you recommend?

I want a 4x4 that will tow an Ifor Williams 505 trailer with two 500kg horses, and carry a large buggy and equipment for two babies. I currently tow with a Mitsubishi Pajero which is used as a spare car,...

Why aren't drivers more stringently tested?

I read that the annual slaughter on our roads has bottomed out at fewer than 2000 lives per year. This still represents a cull in human life somewhere between terrorism and full-scale war. Doctors, welders,...

Which reinforced tyres for my van-based MPV?

I need some advice on tyre choice for my 1998 Nissan Elgrand MPV. The standard tyre is 215/65 R15 96 S and it has been suggested that I use reinforced tyres because of the Elgrand's weight. I will only...

I took a fine rather than a Speed Awareness Course but now my insurance premium has increased.

Last July my wife was caught on camera in Warrington doing 35mph in a 30mph limit. She duly received a Notice of Prosecution with the alternative of a Speed Awareness Course. At 72 years of age she did...

Which small car to replace my 2003 Yaris?

I have been very pleased with my 2003 Toyota Yaris and have done 93,000 miles since buying it new. My garage has told me that £1000 needs to be spent in the near future, so I am thinking of replacing it....

Is Sure Sell a good way to sell a used car?

I took your advice on using BCA’s Sure Sell to sell my beloved, owned-from-new Audi A8. It was a great experience right from the first phone call, and throughout the pick-up, the follow-up calls, and the...

Does the new Scenic have a better engine?

I have a 2009 Renault Scenic 1.5 dCi Privilege 106 with 36,000 miles on the clock and I wish to replace it with something similar. I have reservations about a straight replacement as I feel the engine...

Honda fixed my faulty gearbox for free.

I have a 2003 Honda Jazz. When it was seven years old, I had reason to call at the service department of Brayley Honda, Hemel Hempstead, where the service manager drove my car about 10 yards and informed...

Is my 2006 Volkswagen Golf GT likely to suffer from bore wear problems?

I was quite alarmed to read, under "Chain reaction" about what was said about the Volkswagen Golf GT 1.4 TSI 170. I have the very same model, also a 2006. I bought it in July 2009 with 22,000 on the clock;...

Are my rear brake discs wearing prematurely?

I need some guidance on the expected life of the rear brake discs on my Lexus LS600hL. The car is three years old, has just completed 30,000 miles and is under extended warranty. On the 20,000 mile service...

Who should cover my hire car charges after an accident?

My insurance company gave me permission to hire a car whilst waiting for either my car to be repaired or the total loss costs paid. Because of various mistakes, the car hire has gone on for a couple of...

Dealer didn't notify me of wheel arch damage when I bought a car - is he liable?

I recently bought an Avensis Tourer from a Toyota dealer and, when cleaning it for the first time, I noticed that the rear nearside wheel arch was dented in several places. It had not been pointed out...

I can endorse your recommendation for Shell V-Power fuel.

I usually put manufacturers' advertising claims down to empty rhetoric designed to do little other than shift a possibly indifferent product. As a user of Shell V-Power petrol, I am aware of their heavily...

What's the point of the M25 speed restrictions?

Every time I venture onto the M25 I drive at a good speed of up to 70mph from junction 21A for miles past Watford, Rickmansworth and the M40 junction without any speed restriction, amidst lots of equally...

Quick fix for headlight lens 'bloom'.

Our 2004 Citroen C5 recently sailed through its MOT with a single advisory, noting that the Polycarbonate headlight covers had an external ‘bloom’ reducing light emission. Having spent many years in the...

Which diesel car for economical long-range commuting?

I commute 150 miles a day, mainly on the M25. I need a car that is very economical on fuel, with minimal annual tax, petrol or diesel costs, for my use only. What would you recommend?

Which optional extras for an Audi A1 Sportback?

I am thinking of purchasing an Audi A1 Sportback SE. What extras do you think I should have?

Turbocharged car or horse?

I've noticed that today, most mid to large petrol cars now have turbo assistance for better fuel economy. I need such a car to replace my Mondeo, but would I encounter problems with an annual mileage of...

Which MPV with sliding doors for carrying children?

My daughter is looking to change her Mercedes-Benz for a new car with side sliding doors, big enough for two children. The Mercedes-Benz Viano looks too much like a minibus so her shortlist is Chrysler...

Can you advise an £11,000 car for motorway driving?

I currently own an Audi 2.0 S Line Avant, which my wife is now having difficulty getting in and out of. I do approx 15k a year, of which 10k is motorway. My budget to replace is around £11,000 and I have...

Which car has the best autobox?

Which car has the best autobox: Ford Fiesta, Ford B-Max or Hyundai i20?

Why are the headlight bulbs on Volvo XC70s so expensive?

I drive a Volvo XC70. Nobody warned me about the cost of replacement of Bi-Xenon headlight bulbs, and in fact I had no idea it had them. For replacing a dipped headlight bulb I have been quoted the amazing...

How does the Honda CR-V compare to the Volkswagen Tiguan?

I know you have enthused about the latest BMW X3 but wonder how you would rate, or compare, the current Honda CR-V against the Volkswagen Tiguan diesel.

What are swirl flaps and can they cause problems on my BMW?

A friend has sent me an article suggesting that ‘swirl flaps’ can fail on post-2003 BMW 530d models and cause serious damage. What are swirl flaps? Does this apply to my 2010 F10 model and, if so, should...

Traffic management or cash cow?

I think Hammersmith and Fulham Council must get the prize for the most financially lucrative yellow box in Britain. At the junction of Harwood Road and the New Kings Road it is virtually impossible not...

Should I be towing with a single clutch automated manual Citroen?

The power steering pump of my Citroen C4 1.6HDI EGS has failed. Although only a year out of warranty, Citroen is totally disinterested, stating that it has not been serviced by a Citroen dealer which is...

Will the new Auris be suitable for a disabled driver?

I have a friend who currently drives a three-door Toyota Auris. He is a double amputee and likes to load his folded wheelchair behind the driver seat. He also requires an automatic. A new Auris is due...

Which pick-up for towing?

I want to buy a pick-up to tow a 1700 kg caravan. Narrowed it down to Isuzu D-Max or Volswagen Amarok. Which would you recommend?

Oil light comes on when there's enough oil in.

My oil light keeps coming on but there is enough oil according to the dipstick.

Bought a car with a new engine without realising.

I've bought a used 2010 Skoda Octavia VRS. When purchased, I purchased on the assumption that at 21,000 miles the car was on its original engine. I later found out that only one month before purchase...

A car for £5000-6000. What do you suggest?

I am looking to buy a small second hand car, budget up to £6000. I have test driven a petrol Mazda 2 1.5 Sport. I have also considered the 2006 onwards Honda Civic 1.8 however for my budget I would...

Noisy brakes after brake work

I stripped down the brakes on the front of my Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 2004 reg to clean up and replace the sensor. Ever since this on the drivers side front every time I break it clunks/knocks more noticeable...

Tyre noise on my Citroen C5

My recently bought 2009 Citroen C5 HDi 173 Tourer Estate with 225/55 R17 Primacy , has excessive front tyre noise as diagnosed by the dealer who says it is a characteristic of the model, a diagonal tyre...

Is the Mondeo auto box any good?

I have looked at a Mondeo Titanium auto, I think they call it dualtronic. Are Ford autos trustworthy?

Issues with my used Smart car.

I purchased a car from a dealer 5 weeks ago. At the time he had said he had replaced all the plugs but if had problems to bring the car back. 2.5 weeks later thecar broke down and I had it towed back to...

Starting trouble with an Audi A3

I have just had my injectors replaced as part of a recall by Audi. They replaced the injectors but not the looms. Since getting the car back - when left overnight it is then difficult to start or starts...

Is it worth fixing a 7 year old C8?

We bought our family C8 from a Citroen dealer in March 2005 with a 5 year warranty. The car has been well looked after and serviced in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations. We have learned recently...

Rough running Octavia vRS

I have an 07 plate petrol Octavia VRS with 72k on the clock. Recently it has begun to run roughly when the engine is cold. At idle it is probably best described as a slight misfire that can be felt from...