November 2004
Hi backroomers,
You might have read my whinge a few days back about being unable to sell by 5 series BMW privately. I since dropped the price to £9200 and still no interest!
I was thinking of plucking up the courage to go to a BMW dealer, to see what they'd offer me for it, for cash. I'd heard that this amounted to hopeless act of desperation, but wouldn't a BMW dealer be more likely to offer me more than I'd get as a trade-in anywhere else? After all I've seen Approved Used BMWs of a similar age/mileage to mine, so all they'd need to do is service and valet it and stick it on their forecourt at a grossly inflated price. So I wondered if they might offer me a decent price. I thought most trade-ins went straight into auctions, so you can never hope to get a competitive price.
Am I being hopelessly naive? What do you think I should be trying to get for it selling it this way - it's a 2000(W) 523i SE, with a bit over 50k on the clock. Full BWW history obviously.
If I'm only going to get peanuts, I won't bother - I'm not that desperate... Read more
Hi,
Im now the not so proud owner of a VW Passat 1992, 1.6 TD estate....
On the fuel gauge it says 15 gallon as the tank capacity. Can anyone confirm this as correct?
The gauge is a bit dodgy, going from full to half full now and again, so Im not actually sure whats in it, but I put 10 gallons in the other week and got 550 miles from it before I copped out and filled it up again! Thats 55 MPG, so if it holds 15 gallons, I will get 825 miles froma full tank!!!There is no way that is right (though i pray it is!)
Can anyone shed any light on this?
Cheers,
T
--
Remember, fun is the key, but remain seated at all times or you may die. SHABBA! Read more
The '94 Passat estate had a 70litre tank, which equals 15.4 galls. After nozzle shutoff, if you had the patience, you could get another 20 litres in to brim it. Are you sure you are filling up to the same point? If you really do brim it, you will have an excellent range (I regularly got 700+ miles on a tank (63 litre) on my 110bhp TDI Passat saloon; I cannot say what the range was on the estate, as my wife drove it). 55mpg would be good for the TDi estate; the TD's were thirstier.
Forester 2.0L XLn (not the power crazed XT version)
Anyone know what causes this problem?
On pulling away engine feels slight missing on easy wind up. However, if want to pull away fast (not that I really want to drive like that)feels ok. On descent of a slope, barely touching pedal, feels like it is missing too. Went to France recently, drove back from Brittany. On motorway car was fine at cruising speed. However, when at toll booths and pulling away, felt like it was missing until got back to cruise speed again.
Only done 3 thou in car since June.
Gone back twice to dealer who "can't replicate customer fault" and nothing shows up when plugged in to computer. Whatever happened to mechanics? Read more
Thanks for the advice.
BTW, it was missing before I went to France, so can probably discount that. However, will bear in mind for the next trip (regular visitor)
Sitting half sleepy at work typed my name out on the personal number plates section on this site.
Stunned by this shocker of a plate
J9 , the price for it being a mere 99995 squid!
Wonder what car these would be found on- possibly a Carrera/968??
Anyone know any outrageous prices paid by auction for a number plate.
I have heard an auction bidding war for a number plate 1ENT,between 2 ENT consultants both bidding to get it.
Apparently the auction closed at 75900.
Incidentally that went on an XK8 worth less than the price of the plate! Read more
You can get quite reasonable plates in the date letter/number/three letter format. One reason for getting one is if one has difficulty in remembering "ordinary" numbers - especially under stress!
I have bought some replacement headlight and sidelight bulbs for a Jan 2001 Legacy outback they are Philips Blue vision H7 12v 55w bulbs, and the sidelight bulbs are W5W 12v 5w bulbs. Are both of these suitable for this vehicle and is it easy to change the bulbs? Does anybody have these bulbs fitted to their car- are they any good.
Read more
The battery in my MB E320 Coupé is just giving out after eight years (I think it's the original). Checking around, I find (incl. VAT):
Halfords 75Ah (HB096) £64.99
Bosch 72Ah from GFS (German, French, Swedish) £52.88
MB dealer 62Ah £79.59 (including £13.10 for acid as a separate item)
MB dealer 100Ah alternative £121.58 (ditto)
Bosch it is then, and not just on price grounds.
Acid as a separate item? Read more
I recently had to buy a new battery for our old Volvo. I was tempted by the prices for Bosch in Euro Car Parts but thought that the postage/delivery on such a heavy item would kill any savings so plumped for a Halfords ultimately.
The original Volvo battery had lasted nine years - impressive I thought. I had a Samson battery on a Renault 21 diesel once - that was a good quality battery
I noticed today that Makro are selling 2 litre packs of synthetic oil 10w-40 for £2.99. 5 litre packs are £12.99 - all plus VAT.
I can't remember the brand name, but it's manufactured by Tetrosyl and meets the spec for a number of makes including BMW, Vauxhall etc.
Anyone know if this is woth buying? Seems cheap. Read more
I can recommend ASDA for cheap oil, 5L of semi synth texaco havoline for diesels is £8.97 and i think £7.50 for 5L of the sam oil for petrols.
This same oil is around 13-15 quid at motor factors halfords etc.
Hi
looking for a new shape Mondeo 1.8LX sub 90k miles
one owner full ford SH
looking to go to the BCA in Nottingham
which is the best auction type to try ie Ford Financial, Fleet & Finance etc
are there any better ones for what i am looking for
Cheers Read more
www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/index.htm?news_id=1786
The £20 L-reg Mondeo? My pitiful attempt at a joke...
I would like to replace the parcel shelf speakers but was wondering if I will need to buy adapters or a set of 6 x 9's will go straight in.
The standard speakers look a funny shape.
Any ideas? Read more
...And if the parcel shelf is as flimsy and flexible as it is on many cars, spend a little time and money making it more rigid. For twenty quid and a few hours of your time, this can often bring a benefit (much 'tighter' more controlled sound) far greater than fitting hugely expensive speakers but allowing the shelf to continue flexing. After all, why bother upgrading speakers at all if they are not fitted to realise most of their potential (without the more extreme effort of making sealed enclosures, etc)?
I have done this a number of times on hatchbacks that I and friends have owned, always to great affect. Usually involves a couple of hours spread over two evenings, some fibreglass mat and resin, a transverse strip of 1"x1.75" timber (pine is fine and not too heavy), and depending how fussy the owner is regarding finish, some felt and Copydex(tm), or simply black spray paint.
HTH.
A friend of mine has a VW Bora - seems a nice enough car however now one of the brake lights has gone. Look in the book to find what bulb to buy and it says that all bulbs should be replaced by the dealer.
Is this a scam so the dealer can charge £15 for a £2 light bulb?
Or is it really impossible for the user to fit a replacement?
What happens in France when you are supposed to carry spare bulbs if:
a) the manual doesn't tell you what bulb to buy.
b) you can't fit it yourself anyway.
By the way, anybody know how to do it? Read more
The bora manual 'recommends' that bulbs are changed by a dealer, but if they are 'ordinary' bulbs, they can be changed like any other ....
But, particularly with the fronts, there is precious little room in which to do it - I think of myself as being of 'compact' build with small hands, and when I changed mine, it was a struggle.
If you can find a lady with long, strong fingers, you've cracked it !
Browse
It's also worth making sure your presentation is as thorough if you're trying to sell to a dealer as it would be to a private punter. They're human, and a nice shiny, clean, cared for looking car with all its paperwork will attract a better offer than a dirty, unkempt one. Just don't expect more than book...
Another thought: I've sold things successfully through owners club / enthusiast web sites before. You could try:
www.bmwcarclubgb.co.uk/index.html
www.bmwland.co.uk/talker/index.php