May 2003
At the link below, are pics of a crashed total loss new E60 - BMW 5 Series. The driver reportedly survived.
bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e60/forum.php?postid...4
Those of you who enjoy verbally-abusing BMWs and/or Chris Bangle [designer of the E60], will no doubt think this is how all E60s should look like. Those who love BMWs and the new look, may be cheered to know that there is a long advance-order list building up already (or you may be disappointed because you do not like to be put on a waiting list for the new car). Read more
Hi,
I've got a Peugeot (00)W 306 2.0 SE Cabriolet. The side airbag warning light seems to be lit every so often. It seems to only light up when the car is cold.
If you drive the car for a while then stop and then restart the car it seems to go out. But it seems to coming on more often in the last few days. I've only had the car for over a month, and its gone out of warranty. I didn't go for a warranty with the car as its only got 19k on the clock. So far the hood has managed to snap on the frame and now this. Having looked onto a warranty it seems to exclude these items anyway. Maybe they know that these are common faults.
Its my first car with airbags. What could be causing this light to come on? Is it dangerous to drive with this light on?
Any idea what it would cost to rectify this fault? Is it a new wiring loom? I don't intend on doing it myself. I was thinking of taking it into a Peugeot dealer.
So I want to prepare myself for the worst! Read more
Thanks for the information. I wish I knew that yesterday morning before I paid the Peugeot garage for the priveledge :(
I could have just bought a new switch.
I initially thought that they should be available too. But then considered the liability implications. I myself am a Chartered Electrical Engineer. I thought about it and I think it would be irresponsible of Peugeot to release this information to the general public. However its should be made available to 3rd party garages with a disclaimer of some sort.
I would have only attempted a DIY job if I had enough information to understand the operation of the circuit involved. However in this case as no information was available I decided to let Peugeot diagnose the fault.
I've tried to diagnose faults on a old Fiat Uno a few years ago. I've learnt from replacing part after part.
306 2.0 SE Cabriolet
I own a 3 year old Xsara 2.0HDi and according to HJ breakdown data the clutch release bearing fails at around 30,000 miles. I should be in Spain on a touring holiday when I reach this mileage so I am somewhat concerned. Has anybody experience of this failure or is the reported problem just on the very early examples of this engine/clutch combination on Citroen and Peugeot cars ? Read more
I own a Citroen Synergie with this clutch/engine combination. I bought it on 51k. In the last 6 months I have experienced sheer hell and need to take out a remortgage to pay for: 6 clutches, 2 fly wheels & 2 drive shafts. The vehicle is at present in the garage where it has been for the last 3 weeks awaiting a rebuild on the gearbox to see if this will solve the problem. Unfortunately it appears impossible to get the parts from Citroen UK, and there is no guarantee that this will solve the problem. Help from Citroen UK seems impossible to get with no one admitting there is any problem with this engine/clutch combination. Good luck if you appear to have got a good one!!
I have a 1991 Mk 2 VW Golf 1300 81,000 miles.
On the rear suspension rust is developing in some areas, mainly on the axle beam and trail arms. The paint is flaking off with pitted rust underneath.
Shall I bother to treat this since the metal here is 4mm thick.
Thanks
Andrew
Read more
Set to it with a wire brush where you can get to it with one to loosen off the paint and get the surface rust off. Use a black hammerite on the affected areas with a few inches overlap over the good bits, don't get this stuff near any joints.
Did a Mk1 Fiesta a few years back in exactly the same area, rear axle and trailing arms. Lasted at least three years and the next owner picked up on it when they looked over the car. He was happier that it had been caught and treated than left for a number of years.
Google sent me to a superb Indian website. Roadtests and links. Well worth a visit.
www.cybersteering.com/
Even better if you got the link correct DD. Read more
The Galloper is still around. That original Mits it's based on(Pajero it is here) was still the best one they ever made for serious 4WD stuff. The new ones are too fat and overloaded with stuff, wheeas the originals did what they were intended. Used 'em for weekend wadi-bashing in Oman a few times. I can see how they'd work well on the sub-continent.
deleted Read more
1. I would be grateful if other subscribers didn\'t contribute to trash like this, and simply ignore it.
2. If you feel a thread warrants the attention of a moderator, then you can email either Mark or myself at mailto:moderators@honestjohn.co.uk with the details. Thank you to the two people who drew my attention to this thread, btw.
3. fish boy is no more. He\'s had, ahem, his chips.
--
Dynamic Dave
Back Room Moderator
mailto:dave_moderator@honestjohn.co.uk
I have been offered a vehicle that was subject to Category D Insurance Loss, it was stolen & recovered and reasonablr lightly damaged.
Can anyone advise what exactly Category D means and it what extent it should affect the current value.
Thanks
Tony in Enfield Middx Read more
The extent to which it will affect the current value depends entirely on the age of the vehicle and what it is.
A Category D is a car that is repairable but it is not economic to do so because of the insurance company's policies or at the rates they would be expected to pay. These can then be bought at auction and repaired by people who will then sell them on at a profit. To a certain extent, you are taking a chance on the quality of the work that they do and the parts that they use - although that's not to say that the work done isn't very good.
As a rough guide, a 25-30% reduction is the minimum you should be looking at, plus the cost of getting it inspected. You'll also have difficulty selling it on or trading it in as it will always fail an HPI check. Certainly don't look at it as a way of making a quick buck or avoiding depreciation - if there was money to be made on it, the guy selling would be making it.
Well, I\'m very tempted with a new Fiesta Zetec with 2 years free insurance. I\'m keeping this short \'cos I foolishly lost my last post and can\'t be bothered to re-type!
I reckon that I can afford to buy it and save about £2,800 in insurance premiums over my current car. That means that in effect, I get to do an almost straight swap of my 02 Ghia for an 03 New shape Zetec with A/C.
Has anyone driven the 1.4 new shape Fiesta? Any opinions on it\'s handling and the responsiveness of it\'s engine? Also, what is the tyre life like? I\'m concerned \'cos I really don\'t wanna replace the tyres all that often on 15\" Alloy wheels.
Oh, and is anyone interested in an 02 reg Fiesta Ghia 5dr? It\'s got too much to list, but here\'s some of my favourite bits:
Air Con
Leccy windows
Remote deadlocks and alarm
Heated screens and heated power mirrors.
CD Player.
Just been main dealer serviced and done 10K.
I\'m looking for about £6,500ish on a private sale.
Blue Read more
Finally got the mats for it yesterday, after it turned out that the salesman I was dealing with had left the dealership, it was agreed that I would be called about the mats, 5 days later no call so I went in.
After a bit of faffing about they came back with a full set of carpet mats, handed them to me and didn't ask for any money, so I just walked out, assuming they were now a gift to make up for the mistake made by the salesman. I'm a much happier customer for that, and actually tore up the stroppy comments card that I had written as a result.
So, now that the whole deal is complete, I can say that I *would* recommend Jennings Ford.
HJ - if you're reading this I would still love to hear your opinion on the deal. I wanna know how I did in reality, rather than the dealer's "I'm making no money" story. :-)
Blue
Hi,
My son has taken the kids' Fiesta (1991 1.4 CVH) to London (I live in the Midlands) and the radiator has perforated. He was towed to his flat by the AA and the guy kindly removed the rad telling him you can fit a new one yourself. What the lad didn't realise is that there appears to be more than one rad fitted to this car. Or is there?
Can anyone help with advice?
Also I need a supplier in the South London ( SE23 ) Honor Park area that he can pick up an exchange rad from by Thursday or a reliable garage or mobile mechanic he can use. Any offers?
Mick Trott
telwebsite@aol.com Read more
I got mine from Big M Motor supplies in Lordship Lane, not an exchange but just over the counter, I think it was about £47. (Thats about 5 minutes away from Honor Oak) It was very easy to replace as its only held on by two upper bolts which are easily accesible. The bottom of the rad has two lugs which drop into slots in the body work. Apart from the two radiator hoses and the three bolts holding the fan housing thats all there is to it. Took me about 40 minutes.
Hi all - We will soon be the owners of another car an have an insurance question - yes another one !
Volvette is 27 and is applying for her provisional licence. The car we are buying is intended for her when she passes her test (but NOT before!) and my feeling is that I should buy it for her and register/insure it in my name initially. I'd then try to get her listed as a named driver so I can give her a little practice at the same time as she is taking lessons. As soon (or long, as the case may be :-( ) as she passes her test, I'd then register the car in her name and she'd insure it herself as the main driver in order to build her NCB.
For us insurance is important and we don't want to take any chances on that score so I suppose I'm hoping that someone far wiser than me will reply to this post and tell us that what I'm suggesting is indeed the best way to proceed.
PS I know this subject comes up periodically so if anyone can post a link to a suitable thread please feel free and I'll look there. Thanks all ! Read more
Fair enough, good luck.
.jpg)
"The driver is a 20 year old who works part time as a firefighter and had been called out to attend a forest fire."
Nice car for a 20 year old! What's his day job, I wonder?