November 2002
Having bought a VW Passat six months ago, principally because of the promised future residuals, it was so nice of VW to destroy them with their price cuts. Maybe I should have saved three grand and bought the Mondeo instead. (OK, I know it's good for those looking to buy now, but to say I'm cheesed off would be an understatement.)
I know you lose money on cars, but I would ask what is the safest bet when spending around 13.5K on a low milage nearly new motor.
MLC Read more
I apologise if this may seem a stupid question to the mechanically minded.
How do I know if the turbo is working on my BMW 318 TDS Read more
Thanks for the informative replies guys.
For what it's worth...
My beloved 405 left to become an organ donor yesterday. After 250,451 miles. The grinding diff and sagging trailing arms finally forced the decision. But still very much a runner. The 1.9 XUD atmo was still willing, though, even with blowing headgasket, and it was most satisfying to blast it along the dual carriageway on the way to the breakers...
Lessons from this?
1/ BE3 gearbox (fitted to many French machines) has a weakness in the diff area. I have seen a pinion broken through the casing. Bored its way out,in fact. Use synth oil (which also helps with notoriously bad cold gearchanges - which puts strain on the weak linkage..)
2/ As per David Woollard's wise advice, the best way to avoid problems with the XUD head is not to let the thing overheat in the first place. Check those fans! The earth at the front of the Pug can pack up. No fans. Cooked head. And it never seems to recover from the trauma, despite skimming.
3/ Trailing arm. I understand than a grease nipple can be fitted to the needle roller bearings. There is a company called "Pleiades" or similar (Cit Specialist) who does the work on XMs for £10/side. Much cheaper than replacement torque tube. Providing you can find one. And get the old one off.
Finally. I got £50 for the machine. A 405 GRD 1.9 which had "seen life" in terms of body panels and interior. Fair? However, I did buy it for 4.5K in 1994 with FSH and 88K.
Not bad, I suppose.
And the XM? I am still in "honeymoon" mode. A 2.5 VSX estate with FSH and one very careful owner. Gallic wackiness with dollops of torque.
I'll let you know how I get on.
Thanks to everyone who helped with the Pug.
Rob
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From years back I remember "Buying Cars" magazine - before it was bought and quitely subsumned into some Haymarket publication - which used to run a "reader's cars" column.
One of the submissions I can remember was from an American couple living & working in the UK at the time and raving about how amazing their 405 was compared to what they'd driven back home....
Word of warning to anyone considering one of these, make sure you ask and get confirmation that the cars are to full 2003 UK spec and not just German spec in RHD.
If the dealer has ordered them to UK spec there shouldn't be a prob but forewarned is forearmed and all that! Read more
Watcher, got it.....
70% of profit out of 10% of sales.
It certainly does make you stop and think.
It takes me back to when we voted to go into the Common Market as it was invitingly called some 30 years ago.
The enthusiasts at the time couldn't in their dreams have imagined a situation where not only could we export into a member state with no tarrifs imposed but we could then buy the same goods back at a cheaper price.
From the sublime to the....
If only we could keep repeating this process with the same item!!
alvin
My local BMW dealer has infomed me today, that the combined BMW & Mini sales totals for September equate to 36% of the U.K. market share for that month. This figure seems extremely high to me & I was wondering if any BR`s can confirm the verity of this statement?? Read more
So they are only 30 odd% out then!
Hi Guys,
Because my experience with fiat dealers has been so bad I'm tempted to get my Fiat Punto serviced and MOT'd with Arnold Clark (non Fiat dealer). They have a special offer where they give your car a 41 point service and MOT for £89.
Do these guys have a good reputation?
www.arnoldclark.co.uk/service/41pointservice.htm Read more
Yeah, you do need to know that they will do it right and that they don;t just use cheap oil etc.
I can't remember who it was but someone on here said that an independant said they just use whatever coolant they have lying around rather than the proper one for the car... :(
Does anyone know if it's possible to change the transmission from shift gear to automatic, with an approximate price? Read more
I may be wrong but this sounds like a collosal task.
It would be far cheaper just to buy an auto version.
My xantia (1999 T reg) has a lot of wind noise from the drivers side window seal, looking at the seal arrangement it looks like the whole window seal in not installed correctly it is all twisted in the window frame. When I dont work on my car myself I use local garage's but in order to rectify this problem has anyone got any opinion on where to take the car ie should it go to the main dealer or a local garage or a window fitting place???
Help not sure where to get this one solved.
Many Thanks
Ps - I would think that the door requires stripping to do the seal what sort of cost should Ibe looking at to do this job?
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As the title suggests, I am interested in quotelinedirect, who are the on-line branch of Wilsons Insurance Group.
They have just given me a very competitive insurance quote, but I've never heard of them. Does anyone else have any knowledge or expereinces they'd like to share with us?
Thanks
Andy Read more
Sorry Watcher but what does that have to do with the broker? An insurer going bust is not good news for client or broker.
I'm afraid that's "buyer beware". The broker is just getting you quotes. If a quote turns out to be too good to be true - maybe it is!
Anyway, no insurer, however long established can guarantee not to have problems - Equitable? Vehicle & General (for those old enough)? Just recently - Independent Insurance, the market thought their cheap premiums were wonderful.
i have just bought a rover 414 4 door saloon reg april 96 but can only find specifications for a 416 saloon for this year
the v5 states it is a 414 saloo reg april 1996 but cannot find this in parkers guide it is the newer shape 95 to 2000 model with pas and airbag ,any ideas... Read more
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Deservedly full marks to BMW UK.