April 2003
Hi,
Can anyone point me in the right direction for the plastic discs that go on the inside of your alloys to keep brake dust off them? I seem to remember that my brother had a set years ago but I haven't seen them since, is that because they effect brake cooling or something else?
Thanks.
Steve. Read more
Hi There
Has anyone had a bmw 6 series from the 80s?
If you have, was it a good car, and whats the pros and cons of owning one.....It seems to still have a strong following and alot of people already class it as a collectors car, and do you think it would be an investment in the right condition?
Your thoughts please...
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Up until September last year I had a 1981 635CSi. Absolutely fantastic car! I was looking at a web site last night with pics of one on it and it made me want another.
Yes they are extremely tail happy in the wet. The 635CSi has 218BHP and the M635CSi has 286BHP.
The M635 was only made as a manual. They only made 101 RHD M635s. At least one has been written off and one was shipped to New Zealand, so you are looking at under 100 in this country making a rather exclusive club. It could be expensive to join though. Give Munich Legends a call (01825 740456). They will talk to you for hours about the pros and cons of each. Budget for over £10k for a good M635.
If I was to go for another one, it would have to be a 635CSI Highline model (Leather dash and roof lining!) from 1988 on. They stopped making them in 1989, but there are a few 1990 reg cars out there. You can pick up a mint example (if you're careful)for under £7K. Make sure you know what you're looking at though.
Check out www.roadfly.org. Fantastic american web site for all things BMW with a specific 6 series forum. That's where I learned everything I know about 6's.
PS - a NEW 6 series is due out from BMW next year, so older ones may start to go up in value.
Update as promised.
Since chipping the "beast" my average MPG has improved from 34-36mpg to 39-41mpg (consistent improvement over 1800 miles). Loud pedal is getting plenty of use and boy, is it an improvement! the hesitancy found at 2600 has vanished and it just keeps pulling.
Many grins have been had, especially when the twonk in a fiesta van in the inside lane tried to pull out into the side of me earlier this evening. The Bora up my backside made braking a poor option and the o/s was the usual camel train so I just booted it (75 in 5th). In the time it took for the twonk to complete his ill-advised manouvere, I had pulled clear, leaving a rather dazed Bora driver and a totally oblivious van driver.
Another good reason for leaving a nice big gap in front of you on the motorway......
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I hear the 175BHP 20v 2.4MJet is a total loony mobile as well.
I'm still finding the car is a bit reluctant to start pulling until 2200 rpm or so. It may be that I have a small amount of oil fouling on the turbo casing, causing the vanes to stick a little when they start to spin up, or it may be that the chip is overfuelling at lower RPM, causing the engine to bog down.
It's in for a service on Saturday so I may pop the powerchip out this evening and see if it's more responsive at lower revs. If so, then I think I'll get a full OBD remap done after the service. If not, then it's a can of carb cleaner and a lot of kitchen roll to clean out the turbo housing. :o)
Just to clear one point up; the chip from Eastcoast involves nothing more complicated than unplugging a couple of the sockets on the ECU and inserting a replacement plug, piggy-backing the original plug. No screwdrivers, soldering or physical opening of the ECU housing.
I've got to turn in my Leon for a large estate. After a look around the local dealers and supermarkets i'm left with the conclusion that a C5 or a Mondeo estate will do the business. 9995 will get me a 2002 petrol car. I'm more interested in reliability and quality than perfomance and kit. Any thoughts or alternatives? Read more
Hi
Ive had a C5 for 1 year. In addition, the wife and I have also been driving a Mondeo estate for over 4 months.
The Citroen has had reliability issues. Dealers are variable. But is very comfortable and once we got use to its style, it is extremely comfortable and is well designed. Also great space in back seats. Great for loading house kitchen sink et al in back.
Once the niggles are ironed out, its a good car. NB check the OGRA number on any potential purchase. Its Citroen's date of manufacture. Your less likely to get one that may have been sitting around for a long time.
The Mondeo is much more a drivers car. I really like it and of the three in l/t rentals have had no problems at all. Slightly smaller but also well designed. If my own money, I'd Mondeo. But it really comes down to your preferences.
regards
Vercin
Saab have wired the 93 with a hands free phone system, the bracket, connection to the system presumably a wire? costs £150. Has anyone any info on how to do a diy fix using the kit already built in? Read more
Hi,
I put a Nokia CARK91 kit into a 1996 Saab 900 a couple of years ago and from what I understand it hasn't changed much for the 93.
Behind the centre console panel on the passenger side footwell you'll find a wiring block. Thats the phone connection, prewired with a 12v on, 12v ignition, earth and radio mute. There are a couple of extra wires too (eg for lighting up display when headlights on etc but you won;t need this as most phones (certinaly Nokias anyway) light up when powered constantly from the car anyway.
Saab do a nice custom made handset holder which clips onto this panel and you can then drill without damaging your dashboard. Was about £20 when I got it.
Although I know what the wiring is on the 900 I can't be sure that the wire colours haven;t changed on the 93. There is information out there on the web, try saab phone installation in a search engine, thats how I found this all out originally. Alternatively someone else might be able to confirm what the 93 wiring colours are.
So there you are, simply a case of connecting the 4 wires from your car kit into these wires, mounting your aerial, speaker and microphone and off you go. Should take you less than a couple of hours. I just did one yesterday into a Toyota MR2 Roadster.
HI,
Can anyone comment on why a BMW N reg 320i manual keeps kicking out of third gear when under acceleration? (It can still be held in third by hand when it happens).
Happens every 3 or 4ish days.
Any ideas on problem and expense?
Thank you.
Glenn Read more
Sorry that should read decceleration, eg slowing down for roundabouts, etc.
Glenn
I bought an Audi A6 1.8T about a week ago, so far I am very happy with the car, it looks nice (I know that some people dont like the back end) and drives brilliantly.
Anyway the problem is that I only got one key for it, its the remote locking flip key with three button (lock, unlock & unlock boot). I guess that it its a good idea to have a spare, so contacted Audi who want £160-£180 for a similar key. Does anyone know if I can get a similar key at a lower price outside the dealer network.
Just another thing as well, does anyone know of any dash/interior cleaning product that gives a matt finish. All the ones in Halfords give a high gloss shiny finish which I dont really want ?
Thanks
SteveX Read more
I think you'll find the plastic key is only that - It will wear or break completely if used indefinitely - unlike a metal one !
Steve
Renault Safrane 2.2 What to do?
I have a poorly Renault Safrane 2.2 on an M plate.It?s got all the toys and leather interior.
3 months ago it had a new head gasket fitted by a Renault Dealer.
Shortly after that the cam shaft broke, because of distortion. (In the cylinder or the cylinder head I neither know nor understand.) (I do mean shaft. Not belt.)
An independent garage suggested that the head/engine should have been condemned and the vehicle was towed to the original garage, who denied responsibility.
A short and unsuccessful attempt at legal action occurred and the situation is now this:
I owe the garage 600 quid for work on the car + storage.
However to get rid of it the Garage will dispose of the car for me leaving us quits for £160 + Towing Costs.
The car is in theory worth 1800 quid in good running order.
I have since bought a new car.
My questions are:
a) How much will it cost for a new engine, fitted?
b) Is it worth putting a new engine in the hope that I can sell the car and more than cover my costs?
c) Does anyone in the Bexhill-on-Sea area want to take it off my hands for some token amount over £160 pounds.
d) If I accept c) should I be looking for a buyer willing to pay more? If so what?
Many thanks in advance.
Liz
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Liz,
DavidHM is right.
If you got away with just a new head that would be close to £1000 fitted. A decent complete exchange engine will be double that.
I'd go even harder than above on the Safrane value. Even in repaired order with MOT you may find there were no buyers until you got the price to/below its trade level of £600ish.
Of course someone in the trade, or a good DIYer, will be able to do this in their own time with a used engine for under £300.
As you have a new car now just walk away at the least the garage who have it will settle for, have a nice meal out and forget all about it.
*By the way your line in dealerspeak is good enough to go on Right car Wrong car.
;-)
MM
Was at Knockhill today for another "E-type Experience".
Report was merely "Well driven, heavy right foot".
Toad had a nice outing too......
a+v=220
And the weather was gorgeous - sunny but not hot.
It's not all bad being old, perpetrators of ageist Victor Meldrew cracks (I have now inquired into what they stem from) please note.
Now having a stiff drink, first for a week.
Anyone happy with me, even if you had to work?
Cheers,
Tomo
Tomo Read more
Only one genuine Tomo, of course!
Tomo
I have recently acquired a pair of Dellorto DHLA 40mm Carbs for a bargain price and am looking to fit them on a 1991 1.8 mk2 Golf Driver (engine code - GU). Seeing as I have never attempted anything remotely like this before does anyone have any advice for me???
I know I'll need some of the obvious things like linkage, inlet manifold, possibly new throttle cable but will I have to uprate the fuel system i.e. the fuel pump or will the existing one suffice as the car is already carbed???
Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance... Read more
Should do-even the old Ford mechanical pump could cope with 130/140hp.
Browse
People seem to be "very surprised" a lot. I was a bit surprised by this sort of thing to begin with, but not any more....