April 2004
have been offered a 525d SE with 79K miles and fully loaded, on an 02 plate for 17K GBP.
How long do these engines last ?- I only cover 7-8K per annum - so mileage would average out over the 6 or 7 years I would plan to keep it.
Is it a good deal ? what probs could I expect in the short term given high mileage ? Read more
Just had a oil change on my 94 reg astra 1.4, on opening the bonnet i have noticed that there is a film of oil around the bits where the head gasket is, the car is parked downhill, one of mates says that the head gasket seal is not sealed properley, does it mean that i have to skim the heads and place a new seal on the head gasket the car had a head gasket changed Read more
Not silicone grease - silicone sealant. The two are different. One remains a grease, while the other cures and becomes a rubber seal.
If you fit a new rocker gasket, then don't apply a sealant as all that will happen is the gasket will slide out when you do up the bolts due to having to compress the new cork gasket. I made that mistake.
If you use the same gasket, then the gasket will have already been compressed, and no problem adding sealant. I *suppose* you could compress a new gasket, then remove, and refit with sealant. But if you fit a new one, chances are it will seal for a while anyway.
As I previously mentioned, it's common for the rocker gasket to weep on Vauxhalls of this era. It's when it starts pouring down the side of the engine you have to consider it's time to replace the gasket.
While you have the rocker cover off, take the opportunity to also replace the wire breather gauze, which is situated in the cover.
i have been looking at a focus zetec auto, 4000 miles on a 03 plate. it was brought in from jersey when 6 months old, it is now 12 months old. garage selling said car say it has 2 years ford warranty left. can i expect any problems getting warranty work done. has anyone been in similar situations and did it get resolved.
thanks Read more
update - rang ford uk, customer services, as long as it serviced in accordance with warranty rules etc. everything is ok
She left the sidelights on. There was enough charge in the morning to turn the engine over once but it wouldn't start. After a jump start I drove for two hours non-stop and the car has been fine for a week of daily starts. But I was told today that I can never get back to full charge on the alternator and must put the battery on a trickle charger, at least overnight. As I haven't met any starting problem, is this true? Read more
I dont think you know much about BL some are still
going strong at over 200k miles.
Quite so. I have just met a man with a 1965 Morris Minor. It has done 265,000 miles and he has never touched the engine.
Exceeded!
www.punchbaby.com/media/gitfakt/clips/TV/caravan.w...v
(Note: file is approx 1.9MB download) Read more
The link should work now.
I\'ve got a Fiat Ducato van for work. Its 6 years old and done 77k. Driving home tonight, I lost most of my brakes. It turns out one of the metal brake pipes at the rear of the van is rusted and bubbled and its got a hole in it!!
How long should pipes last?? No other vehicle I\'ve had, and I\'ve had a few bangers, has had this! Read more
I ordered the pipe from the Fiat dealer and it wasn't there in the morning! Further they couldn't tell me why it hadn't arrived so they ordered another one which didn't arrive this morning either. Again no reason could be given as to why no pipe!
So I gave up and paid a bit extra to the guy who fitted it tonight to make up a new section (should have done that anyway, sorry Aprilla!) Pipe made and fitted in one hour flat.
Is Fiat UK really as useless as they seem????
I have a Blaupunkt head unit. I need to pull the unit out so I can plug in my cd changer. I do not have the extractor and I do not fancy buying one as I'll only use it once. Would you know if there are any home-made device that can pull out a radio? (Paper clips, wires, etc.)
Thanks, Gazza Read more
Welding rod is about the right gauge. Bent into a U-shape it will do the job nicely for you. (Have a look at a radio that's not in the car first, so as to work out how the clips work; you'll find it much easier then!)
Regarding HJ's Top Car report today - the December 03 Crossfire that failed to even reach 20k...
Could one comment from Clarkson regarding the dog-squatting rear end really cause this, or is the car, if you excuse the pun, a real dog...?
Maybe people don't want to pay so much money for what is more or less a remodelled old-shape SLK with the wrong badge for snobby British buyers?
mike Read more
But she's Mrs S No Dosh, whereas I'm Mr A No Dosh.
My accountant tells me the A stands for Absolutely and the
S for Still, but only if the Inland Revenue are asking.
Lovely! My faith is restored :)
I bet you have fun choosing suitable initials for the next generation of the financially-challenged ...
Where is the best place to sell my wife's 1999 T reg Ford Focus. 1.6LX 5 door hatchback, 82000 miles, owned since new & full service history. Not in too bad condition. I was thinking auction, but not too keen on private selling.
Secondly, what is it worth?
JW Edinburgh Read more
Would an eBay sale be of interest to you?
I reckon the car's worth about £4k without air con and about £4,400 with in a private sale, probably about £600 or so less at auction.
If you have the chance, you could eBay it. That way, people don't call round (much) and waste your time, you have an idea of the buyer's trustworthiness, and people are generally accepting of getting a car that isn't new but is truly as described. Being honest about a car's bad points can actually be a moneymaker for you.
Otherwise, you could take the contrary approach and decide where you'd go if you wanted to buy a similar car - 5 years old, small hatchback, averageish mileage - and see what those dealers will give you for it.
I have chance to buy my company car, a Mondeo LX estate, TDCi 115bhp, 15 months old, 32k miles, 4 new tyres just fitted, 9 months road tax. I am the only driver since new and has been serviced at the correct intervals. I am not aware of any faults with it. The offer is £6600. Is this a good deal?
Any comments welcome.
JW Edinburgh Read more
"There's probably a more liquid market for cars than for wine."
LOL
Browse
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Have a look at:
www.ukcar.com/sub_domains/cardesc.asp?stockno=4064...0
This seems very cheap. The London plates on it do rather suggest that it could be an ex-Met traffic car, although the spec doesn't.