September 2004
Hi, last year the front right wing of my car got a bit mashed when a girl in a corsa went into the side of it in a carpark (grr), and my motor was taken away to be fixed. when it came back, i found that they'd gotten some paint on the front bumper, anyone know how i can get the paint off without roughing up the bumper? it's a mk 1 punto 60S, the bumper is just all black plastic, not painted or anything, i'm not gonna try paint stripper because i'm guessing it'll just melt the bumper or something! (or am i wrong?)
any ideas would be much appreciated!
Thanks Read more
went to garage to buy car and now im stuck as to what to buy !Like the new shape Vectra , but they also had a 406 glx hdi 110 , the vectra is a 1.8 ls .both 2003 year , god im in a dilema !heeeeeeeelp please . Read more
Nothing really wrong with the 406 or the Vectra, however Peugeot's 110 HDI is definitely a better engine than GM's 2.0 DTI.
Got to drive them both and make your decision.
With the 407 out, the 406 be better value.
Trying to insure a Passat 130 sport with TUV standard, 13mm wheel spacers but I'm being declined!!
Any one know a friendly and cost effective company??
K2 Read more
Adrian Flux gave me a very good price for my (very slightly) modified Rover 220: cheaper than everyone else's quote for the same car unmodified. 08700 777888.
-Mark
Every time a new shape Beetle passes me, I can't help but think how "uniform" they all look.
In the past, Beetles were THE car for customising in every shape or form. Then it became THE fashion to have an original, untouched Beetle, "straight out the packet" as it were.
Now, other than maybe blackened windows, I see very few new shape Beetles that have anything other than standard spec.
Is it a case that it will take a few years before these start to get modified? Is it maybe the 2nd or 3rd owner before this kicks in? Will they go full circle like the original Beetles?
Are cars like Beetles "personalised in a professional, mature sort of way" as opposed to the Saxo brigade who have it "customised" by the time they get it home from the garage? And, ironically, end up with a Saxo that is the same as every other one on the road!
Or are there just very few modified Beetles in Central Scotland? Read more
Howdo,
Yeah - it's going well. That SCAT shifter is excellent! Didn't take long for me to fit it and it makes such a difference!
Haven't spent that much to be honest. An Empi stinger exhaust - that's about it.
Cheers,
DB
Hi, I'm looking to trade in my 96 N Omega for a 95 N Mercedes 220E Estate with 89k on the clock and full service history.
Can anyone give me any advice on this car please? The car is up for £3650 with 12 months mot and tax.
Thanks in advance.
Darren Read more
Very good car at what seems a fair price. By this time Merc. had got the W124 very well sorted indeed.
Things to check:
1. The 220 uses the later generation of MB engines - not quite as trouble-free as the legendary M102/103's so check for head gasket failure (feel around the head-block join for oil leaks).
2. Check the rear self-leveling suspension (pump on engine - pipes to shocks at back) - costs and arm and a leg if it goes wrong.
3. They are not particularly powerful cars - so not really a good towcar in 220 form - if its been used for towing then check out the autobox for signs of overheating.
4. Aircon (assuming it has it) needs to be checked - aircon reliability has long been an MB weak spot.
Rust is not yet a problem with these cars (unless accident repaired) and the rest of the car, suspension etc. should be sound if the mileage is genuine.
It seems that journos in the motoring weeklies have a complex about using manufacturer's real names. So they substitute a description of the manufacturer's badge, all in the name of good writing. Hence Ford is 'the blue oval', Vauxhall 'the griffin' and Mercedes-Benz is 'the three pointed star. I've even seen BMW referred to as 'the blue propeller'. Yet these terms are hardly shorthand, and I now find they are over used to the point of being obtrusive. Why not just stick to the real names?
In the past I suppose the jargonists would refer to Dagenham, Luton or Stuttgart but in these days of globalisation these descriptions have lost some meaning.
We also have:
the green oval - Land Rover
the prancing horse - Ferrari
The lion - Peugeot
So here are some more suggestions:
The two silver ovals in a bigger silver oval - Toyota
The silver H - Honda
The other silver H - Hyundai
The four silver rings - Audi
The Gold L - Lexus
Any more, real or imagined?
Cheers, Sofa Spud
Read more
All current makes :
? black circle flanked by silver wings
? four cirlces, linked horizontally
? slightly fat rugby posts in a larger square
--
Lee
MINI adventure coming to an end
To start my car i usually put the key in, enter a code then a green light flashes on the display and that means i can start the ignition. But the green light is automatically on when i put the key in the ignition initially. Basically it starts without entering the code. No code needed.
Citroen Saxo 1.1 sx 1997 r -reg immobiliser in console.
Please advise.
Thanks. E. Read more
Hi
Turn the ignition on, green light on, Enter your 4 digit code, After the 4 beeps & 4 flashes from the green light enter C 0 C on the keypad.
Then turn the ignition off, get out shut the door & wait a minute.
Get back in & see if the keypad is behaving itself now.
Its most likely a dirty electrical connection somewhere, But getting hold of the wiring info for the keypad is very difficult im afraid.
Off to France in a couple of weeks via Dover. On checking the AA route planner it mentions major works on the M25 after junction 1a. Can someone in the know tell me what the M25 is like at the moment.Should I expect major delays.
I'm also undecided whether to go via the M40 or down the M5 to the M4. Any advice appreciated. Read more
Hi. Thanks for all the replys. The ferry leaves at 6.15pm. I'm planning to leave home around midday, once we've dropped off the ankle biters (a whole weekend kid free-bliss).
The web-site not seems to work so I hope the Mods would not mind me using the BR to call for Andrew or Adam.
Would you kindly send me an email to
garrison_tsang"at"lycos.co.uk
please?
My Nissan QX was high in CO though managed to passed its MoT in Apr after much revving. I have had the car "sniffed" again in Aug and CO is still high, though within MoT limit. HC is very low, sometimes below 10. I suspect sensors are at fault and want an expert opinion, before I changed all the sensors and the cat.
Thank you very much. Read more
I have also found that you can 'feel' a slow sensor when cruising at steady speed (say 40mph on a flat road). You can actually feel engine output fluctuating with the rich/lean switching.
I may be obtuse but I can't think of a good reason why people blank out their number plates when posting pictures of cars, for example in "for sale" ads. I have racked my brains and can't think why someone who is on the level would do this. Can anyone explain?? Read more
Similarly I've seen a few pictures of (marked) Police vehicles in the local paper with the number plates blanked out.
It's mentioned in this thread. Note the warnings of using it.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=23963