August 2003
Does anyone know if the wiring is already there for foglights on a Mk 3 (bubble shape) 200?
I fancy fitting some from a scrappie but have had a look and con not find the wiring any where.
I was wondering if there is a kind of 'link' to be fitted when the kit was originally bought, and therefore my car hasn't got it.
Also, some swine has left a lovely big scratch in the paint work, about 20 cm long and 7mm and its widest, along the front wing and onto the drivers door.
Does anyone have any idea how much this would cost to have sprayed because it looks ghastly. The paint is metallic and I dont have the bottle to do it myself. Read more
my mate suggest my front wheels need tracking,
what other causes is there and how much tracking usually cost? Read more
Hmmm, I was going to move this across to Tech Matters, but looking at some of the answers, perhaps not!
My 330d has developed a nasty whine - it started at 63mph, but is now present at most speeds. Seems to be speed related.
The dealer has changed the diff (£1100!) but it has made no difference. They now reckon it must be the propshaft bearings. I'm not so sure - it could be a gearbox bearing? Has anyone come across anything similar?
The A/C has also packed up so its going to be an expensive service when it goes in next week - I'm glad its leased and I'm not paying the bill!
The car is just coming up to 73,000 miles on an X plate (Sept 2000).
Tim Read more
An update on this whine.
I booked the service with a different BMW dealer this time and asked them to investigate. They took it on three test runs and on their rolling road with a stethoscope and they're sure it is the gearbox.
Although the car is under 3 years, the mileage (73k) takes it out of warranty but they're going to see if BMW will contribute.
I've heard of BMW 3 litre diesels knocking out the diff before, but this is the first time I've heard of the gearbox. Hopefully mine is a one-off. Not that its failed yet - it still works fine, if getting a bit whiny (is that a word?). I guess the torque of the diesel is much higher than the other engines.
If/when the dealer get the go-ahead to replace it I'll tell you guys whether it fixed it.
I got a letter this morning from Ford, noting that I had taken out their free insurance deal they are now offering me 6 sessions of advanced driving tuition with the AA dricing school.
The sessions cover All Weather driving, Night Driving, Skid Control, and Higher speed Motorway Driving. Probably some other bits and bobs as well.
This is all free, and I get to go out in a nice Focus Ghia, all at Ford's expense. :-) Obviously I'm going to accept it, providing it isn't a pass plus certificate, which I already have. I feel that a free opportunity to brush up on some driving skills which may have started to slip after a couple of years at the wheel is too good to pass up!
I think this is very charitible of them, although they obviously think that by offering this they reduce the liklihood of them receiving a claim from me. Still pretty clever though.
Anyone else had a similar offer?
Blue Read more
That's right, it's over 2 years now, plus as they already entered into the contract and had signed on the dotted line there's not a lot that they can do about it! :)
Blue
Does anyone know the name/email address of company which sells these for side windows? Read more
climair was the one I had heard of & forgotton about I was hoping someone could remember it. Thank you so much
Does anybody know if the footrest by the clutch on a RHD C5 can be easily removed? I know on some cars (eg the Octavia, I think) it is simply bolted on, which seems logical as obviously it is country-specific. Lifting the carpet is an obvious way to find out, but not easy to achieve in practice as it seems to be stuck. If I know the footrest can be removed, then I'll cut round the carpet at that point - and gain some much needed space for my size 13 feet (well, left foot anyway).
Any help appreciated..... Read more
Interesting! Must have a poke at my carpet in the morning! Yes the carpets are a bit thin. I've got the 'Exclusive' which has carpet plus separate carpet mats. It makes it a bit more comfy but both lots are fairly thin - reminds me of the old Renault 12. The French seem to put much more emphasis on practicality than finish. Of course another consideration is that the C5 is an awful lot of car for the money and you 'gets what you pay for'. I just try to be extra careful and treat everything with respect (and thick rubber mats!)
Graeme
Nice car, but it doesn't seem to like long journeys. After 25 50 miles it runs really rough and the engine management light comes on. Attempt to restart produces high revving. Once towed home the car starts and runs perfectly. Vaux tried a new EGR valve, but hasn't worked. Anyone got any ideas or had a similar problem.
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I assume that Vaux fitted a new valve as there was a code flagged by the EM light. I have had instances where on a run, as the engine gets really hot, bits of carbon break away from the passageway through the head that feeds exhaust gas to the valve wedging it open and flagging the fault. I resolve it by making and fitting a stainless steel blanking plate under the valve.I doubt you will get Vauxhall to do it though so find a trusted independent to check it for you.
Andrew
Simplicate and add lightness!
I just got given an mr2 mk1, the body works in pristeen condition as well as the interior but the head gakset has gone :(
The problem is the guy stripped it down 9 months ago and left it, it was all kept dry and theres just a touch of surface rust in the cylinders, nothing to worry about there though.
Has anyone any ideas the likely cost of a head gasket being fitted? I have the gasket set and the engine is stripped, so it needs fitting and rebuilding back up, any help is greatly appreciated :) Read more
There may be a good reason why the gasket went, ie overheating. Therefore you need to have the head checked, and then pressure check the system to make sure the heater hoses and radiator aren't leaking. Otherwise you'll be doing it a second time.
Hi all
I'm in need of your valuable assistance yet again.
As I've previously mentioned on this forum my diff is howling (2.0 litre 1993 Carlton CDX with cat 143,000). I have the chance of a replacement diff (some sortin' out to do yet on just how good it is) but....it's from a 3.0 litre Carlton without a catalyser.
Apparantly the final drive ratio is 3.70:1. On mine it's 3.90:1.
Will this difference be a problem? I know nothing about this sort of thing so am totally in your good hands.
If it's possible to fit this replacement, with the differing ratios, what would change? i.e. mpg? performance? would the trip computer still 'compute' correctly in terms of consumption etc.?
Incidentally, I notice that cat and non-cat versions of exactly the same engine differ in their final drive ratios....why would the cat necessitate this?
Lot of questions I know :)
As usual thanks for any help, advice or guidance
Many regards to all
Bob
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Thought I'd just keep you informed.
I sorted my differential problems out at last!
The howling was definitely getting worse, and after taking advice from this forum, decided NOT to buy one off Ebay (from a 3.0L Carlton....mine's a 2.0L).
I used one of those broker type (no pun intended) setups on the web who, after you enter your requirments, distribute them to various dismantlers around the country. I must admit that I had no real hope of anything coming up trumps (cynical I know...but past experience and all that) but the next morning I received two emails and telephone calls quoting very reasonably for what I needed.
Less than twenty four hours later I received (from Lea Valley Motors, London...highly recommended!!!) a good 2nd hand diff for £120 including VAT and delivery to the North East!
A day and a half later (and one kackered owner) and the car is running as quiet as the proverbial church mouse!
The original diff was well and truly goosed, turning the rubber flexible drive joint by hand when it was off felt all notchy and gravelly....stiffened very noticably after being left for a few minutes too (bearing?)
Thanks to all who helped.
Best regards
Bob
My mum has just been ripped off. She bought a Y reg, 14000 mile Punto 1.2 base model at deleted. There are two major flaws. First, a mate tells me that her boyfriend\'s dad works there and is convinced they don\'t service the cars (I checked - thick black oil on the dipstick.) Second, she was charged just under £6000 AFTER trading in her P reg Rover 111. Granted, the 111 was neglected. Mum was led to believe she was getting £2000 for the Rover. Basically, it seems that the Fiat had a stupidly inflated price tag reduced to a slightly less stupidly inflated amount by thetrade in of the Rover.
Basically, I need to know what the law is on rejecting a used car when there is nothing seemingly wrong with it. All she could go on is the fact that it seems to have not been serviced when deleted claim to service all cars they buy.
If only I\'d gone along!
Cheers
(No naming and shaming, thankyou.)
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Blue - it is outrageous. I knew about the Mias available for (to be specific) £5695 at *a different dealer* ;)
I told her all about it and was told that she was meeting a salesman, who would be better help, and not to interfere. Consequentially Im quite cynically amused but the nice son in me wants to find out if there are any options - I'll give Trading Standards a quick ring to see if they can offer any advice and if not ,at least I tried.
Thanks everyone for the advice!
Browse
"Chips Away" will fix the scratch for around £100 and do a good job.