November 2003
Had new tyres fitted the other day, but one of the fitters must have gripped the B-pillar through the window, because the light grey cloth trim has four big oily fingerprints on it. I pointed this out and the tyre depot (after checking in vain whether a nearby car parts shop had any suitable cleaning fluid in stock) said they would pay for whatever cleaning substance was necessary. Does anyone know what I can use that won't end up just smearing the marks over the cloth? Also, I don't want to use a solvent if that will risk unsticking the cloth from the B-pillar or leaving an unpleasant smell in the car. Should I just get it steam-cleaned? How much is that likely to cost?
Thanks in advance.
andymc Read more
Excuse my ignorance on this subject.
I have recently been given a company Mondeo to use whilst I am on secondment. The car is leased from ALD.
I put it into garage today as it was due service and MOT. I collected car to find out that it had failed its MOT due to a sensor for airbag not working. They also replaced 2 rear tyres and replaced front springs as well which had seized up.
My question is how do lease companies work with garages, how do they know when they are getting fleeced? If this was my own car I would be demanding to see the springs and I certainly wouldn't be getting tyres from a dealer. I have also posted re the MOT on the technical forum to be advised that airbag is not part of MOT!
Do the lease companies do random checks? Presume they get discounts but enough to not check up on garages work?
Any thoughts? Read more
>>My question is how do lease companies work with garages, how >>do they know when they are getting fleeced? If this was my >>own car I would be demanding to see the springs and I >>certainly wouldn't be getting tyres from a dealer. I have >>also posted re the MOT on the technical forum to be advised >>that airbag is not part of MOT!
>>Do the lease companies do random checks? Presume they get >>discounts but enough to not check up on garages work?
The lease companies are reported to do spot checks, but over the many years of having a company vehicle I know that they are ripped of time and time again by garages. I have had everything replaced from phantom brake discs to clutches and this applies to all makes of vehicle, I have even informned the lease company of this but still it goes on.
chris
I'm looking for a turbo diesel estate for around £2-3,000 (nearer 2 hopefully) and have narrowed it down to two - a VW Passat or a Peugeot 405. There are more 405s available than Passats, of course, and the money gets you a newer model - but are they going to be as reliable as a Passat long term? I'm not an ace mechanic (at all!), so the priority is for something reliable, economical and reasonably good to drive. Am also a bit wary of them being cabbed - so any tips for spotting this?
Any advice from previous/current owners much appreciated... especially if you've owned both!! Read more
Test-drove Passat, 405 and Sierra estates in early 1990s with a view to buying a new one. Ended up with something else but that's another story.
Passat was best by a significant margin, followed by 405 with Sierra a long,long way behind.
At this age/mileage, condition and how the car has been looked after will be far more important than setting your heart on buying one make over the other. Look at both, and look through the service history, bills, old MOT certs etc. Look at the tyre wear - is it even across the tyre widths on all 4 tyres, what about the spare - is it unused? is it inflated?
How does the car drive? STeering whel "upright" when car is going straight, or is it offset?
Look into panel gaps and around rad grille - is paint clean in the grooves, indicating a possible respray following an accident?
Good luck with your search.
since it's last service at 23300 miles, the car has been "leaping" and jerks every time i ask for more than usual acceleration i.e. going uphill or accelerating more than v gradually. this happens in all gears. it is fine once i stop pressing on the gas pedal hard. it also seems to require more gas than before to get up to speed. what's the most obvious thing i should check? Read more
I am considering buying the BMW diesel, possibly N or P reg. Does anybody have any comments on the quality of the engine? Read more
My "unless I'm very much mistaken" bit was just my way of trying not too sound pompous (I know, I know!) and I can assure you that both the 325TD and 325TDS were indirect injection. The difference was that the TDS was intercooled.
I can't argue about the rate of sooting on that particular engine compared with other engines of the day, however an IDI engine will normally be dirtier than a common-rail DI engine and it was that comparison that I had in mind.
Our Polo is going to be up for sale very shortly because we are buying a new MR2. Can't wait!
It is a November 1997R with 110k miles, FSH with additional oil changes, 12 months MOT. Recent disks/pads and drums/shoes. I am the 2nd owner and have owned it since Nov 1999 and 22k miles.
Bodywork is better than most of the age I have seen though obviously not perfect. Front end has recently been tidied and rid of 110k miles-worth of stone chips(courtesy of Toyota dealer who damaged it) with new bonnet, headlamp and grille. There is 1 patch of rust about 1" diameter on the osr door. There are 2 or 3 other very small supermarket type dents which have not damaged the paint.
Valuation via Autotrader comes at £2671 dealer, £2405 private, £1852 px, £1791 trade.
I would really appreciate informed opinions of real-work value for a fairly quick private sale. I would also value any opinions from anyone without trade knowledge, comments such as "seems fair, I'd pay that if I was looking" or, "sounds too much to me, I could get a xxxxx for less."
Many thanks,
Andy
(ps. I will advertise on here in a couple of weeks' time, but if anyone is really interested post or email me.) Read more
It's got high milage, it's rusty, got 5 doors and it's that awful dragon green colour.
You wouldn't get more than £2k out of me, but luckily I'm not after another Polo. Decided to go for a Megane next - 5 star crash rating :-)
hi folks,
why don't twin-wheeled vehicles have to be fitted with gaurds behind the rear wheels?.
just had a twin-wheeled tranny-van hurl a slightly larger than fist-sized cobble at me and the missus,it smashed w/screen-but luckily didn't come through!. scared the carp out of the pair of us,by the time i'd calmed said missus down,and taped screen up, said tranny had vanished off face of the earth.
luckily, it was my friends car (D-reg carlton)we were using,and he was quite chuffed, he got a new screen and i paid him the £50 quid that his insurance would cost.
meanwhile, we had to trudge around town for an extra 41/2 hours while it was being fixed, (apparently it had to be glued?-in)and i got soaked,while missus was buying new dress.(said it was best cure for trauma!)
billy
Read more
ooer spooky! a bolt from the blue!
my mate lost one a couple of years ago....kept wondering why his head kept falling off...........;-)
My son's 306 went in for an MOT today. Needed new tyre but then passed.
However, my son has noticed a small oil leak over the last few weeks, was a bit concerned about it and asked the mechanic to take a look. Mechanic's verdict? New head gasket!
Son obviously worried, so asks me. My first reaction is "get a second opinion." Further questioning reveals no evidence of oil stains on engine block, no loss of coolant, no mayonnaise under oil filler cap.
Car only does low mileage (3,500 since April), mostly shortish journeys.
What does the team think? Read more
When you say top end is that below cylinder head or above most popular leaks are from cam/cover.rocker/box and is easily rectified Not saying it isn`t head gasket but it`s unusual espescially if it is running ok let me know
I was just driving onto the return ferry at Calais on Saturday night fully loaded with goods for personal consumption when I pulled on the handbrake and felt a loss of all resistance. Immediate thought was the cable\'s snapped. Crew very helpful though - I left it in Park and they chocked the wheels on one side with thumping great rubber lorry chocks!
Anyway, I\'ve just been to the dealer and they say it needs a new handbrake lever. Evidently the nipple (as they called it) the cable fits on to had sheared off. In the old days it would be a quick weld and away you go but these days it entails having to wait for a replacement lever to be delivered and going back to get it fitted. Hopefully tomorrow afternoon (assuming they don\'t use Royal Mail for parts delivery!). Meanwhile I\'m not fully legal of course.
What a waste and what a cost - luckily I\'ve still got 6 months of the warranty left otherwise I\'d have been tempted to find a local blacksmith\'s shop.
Terry Read more
The one on a Caterham 7 is almost impossible to use from the drivers seat. Mine was only ever used during the MOT test
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I read often, only post occasionally
Had my Corolla 1.4 vvti (old shape) air filter replaced at a Toyota garage ... where I think the filter is (front), looks like it's not been changed ... ? Anyone know ? Read more
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Yes, you're probably right - I was thinking the same thing yesterday. Thanks for the responses folks, I'll let you know what happens. I'm not expecting the tyre-fitter to argue with anything under £20 (of course, whatever it costs is whatever he'll have to pay, but I always hope for a peaceful existence), so I guess that a valeter would hardly charge as much as that for just a B-pillar.
andymc