November 2004
Hey not sure if anyone has any pointers - after a recent collision my 306 fans only blow straight at you in the car and not the windscreen - which funnily enough is a bit of a pain in the nether regions seeing as winter insists on filling my insides with steamy windows, anyone got any suggestions. My dads a mechanic and can't seem to sort le problem despite being a whirlwind (pardon the blowing punn) of knowledge.
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My Brother is planning to sell the above car. He is the second owner and has had the car for about 5 years.
Other details:
Metallic Calipso Red
150k miles
Full SH, BMW until 100k, independent specialist after
In last 6 months: 4 new disks+pads, 2 new tyres, new radiator and hoses, battery, front shocks.
10 CD changer
Aircon (not working)
Remote locking and alarm
Toad CatII immobiliser
Elec roof
Elec heated mirrors, alloys, computer, nice multi-adjustable seats as std on SE.
Would be grateful for any ideas of value, or anything else helpful.
Thanks,
Andy Read more
Just to update, he's sold it. I didn't mention here that it had horribly rusty rear arches (that put a few viewers off). Accepted £1850 against the asking price of £1950, so I think he got a result , especially at this time of year.
Andy
I've got oil on one cylinder & have tried rotating the spark plugs around the cylinders as well did a compression test on all the cylinders which confirms that valves for that cylinder need replacing.
Also, there is a clearly audible noise coming from the engine which is from the hydraulic lifters on that cylinder.
Together with renewing the head gasket, decarbonising the head & renewing the timing belt/tensioners, how long would this job take for one person?
Do i need to renew the caambelt?
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Re: the cambelt.
You've got to take off the cambelt to remove the head anyway, so for the sake of £15 'ish for a new belt, it's false economy to use the old one again.
How many miles has the car done? It might be worth considering replacing the waterpump while you've got it all apart.
Although an extra expense, I'm not sure if you need to also replace the cambelt rollers and tensioner as well.
Good place to source the parts www.autovaux.co.uk
Is the gearlever gater on the 1.6se 2003 leather or not? I am sure it is, the steering wheel is leather, the handbrake is leather, but Vw have replaced the split one with leatherette and say that this was on before but it looks different. Read more
does a diesel have cheaper road tax >
its banded now isnt it?
thanks Read more
Hmm - after a new air filter, my diesel was only just registering on the emissions test. I'm sure that it will continue polluting for many years to come, even if I'm still paying 165 quid in road tax.
Incidentally, do buses have to pass an emissions test? Some around Leeds can envelop you in clouds of thick black smoke.
Have a look at this report in a local paper.
www.kentonsunday.co.uk/editions/2004_11_07/pdfs/ro...f
It seems excessive and heavy handed by the council to blockade a car in, even though warnings were issued.
On the other side it could be that the householder does not have a legal right of crossover to the road, but I would have thought an estate agent (and his legal representative) would have been very aware of a problem like this when buying the property.
What are your thoughts? Read more
Seems a typical "my convenience over-rides everyone else's safety"! Good for that council - if they genuinely believe it is dangerous to have that driveway where is it then block it off!
I realise this may not be a big deal for 99.9% of BRoomers, but I am so pleased with myself I need to broadcast it here...
On Saturday I drove in France for the first time (and survived, didn't make any mistakes or cause any problems). This is a seriously big deal for me, who has been to France every year for 12 years and always bottled out of driving at the last minute.
So I only drove for 20 minutes, but it was a good mix of roads and conditions, and has given me the confidence to do it again next time.
All made a lot easier by being in our own car rather than a hire car, and have decided that despite the cost, next hire car will be an auto, so there's one less thing to think about.
Mr R is of course pretty pleased about this development too.
There. I feel better now. Read more
Thanks for all the wise words and encouragement.
I don't really know why it was such a block - I'm quite happy (and safe!) driving here. I suppose I'm not a 'natural' driver.
Way back when I was having lessons, once or twice I hid in the house and didn't answer the door to the instructor! An expensive business! An intensive course (and a different instructor) turned out to be the answer.
Anyway, we'll be back in France or Spain in the next few months, so no excuses for not driving now...
Pretty much as the title suggests. I've just managed to haul myself into the living room and watch (a re-run) of 5th Gear on Discovery Home and Leisure. What a fantastic program. I occasionally catch bits of it but this was the full episode.
It was the one about bulletproof cars and at the end, Tiff Needell and Adrian someone or other (quite a good reporter actually) were telling you how to attack cars which may have it in for you!
I caught one the other week about Killer Luggage and I have to say, I think it's actually better than Top Gear. The reporting is funny, accurate and every last one of them knows what they're on about.
Did Needell, Henderson, and Wilson leave Top Gear or did TG ditch them?
Don't get me wrong - Top Gear is good. Hammond knows what he's on about, Clarkson is...well...I suppose at time, funny - even though I disagree completely with what he says most of the time but James May - well - I'll leave that to you.
--
Adam Read more
>>More and more cars have 6-speed gearboxes these days. >>Makes 'Fifth Gear' lose its meaning a bit like Transport 2000!
I remember seeing Tiff have a go at Top Gear using exactly this idea. He was test-driving a 6-speed 911 or something, and he said something along the lines of "I find that top gear is a bit long, but when you change to 5th gear, that's when the fun really starts"
Personally, I think Top Gear is great. It's a different show to 5th Gear, and to compare them is like comparing Crimewatch to The Bill, because they've both got the police in them.
Hello
I'm sorely tempted by a very reasonably-priced 51-reg Voyager CRD. It's covered 62,000 miles. Service history - all at Chrysler main dealers - is as follows:
14,395 miles
30,574 miles
48,765 miles
61,946 miles
With a new clutch at 55,651 miles. I'm concerned, though, that the servicing isn't all it might be. Am I right in thinking that the service interval on this car is 12,000 miles? Or is it one of those clever jobs that examines its own oil quality and tells you when it's time for a service? The interval between 30k and 48k seems awfully long, and I'm worried that this could have a detrimental effect on the engine's long-term lifespan.
What do you think?
TIA
James Read more
I reckon this has done its mileage quickly, mostly motorway stuff from the sound of it.
I would tend to agree from the mileage at this age, but i wonder why the clutch has gone at 50 odd thou if its spent its life on the motorway.
Like above, probably worth a go if you can get the price down.
The Vauxhall Omega uses the Heated Rear Window as its Radio Aerial. I presume there is some form of control box that enables the HRW to be used as an aerial.
I have a CDX Diesel Omega (Year 2000 - new style) and have a problem with the Radio. It keeps on cutting out as if the aerial has been disconnected and only comes back on if I select the HRW, or switch the HRW off. I suspect that this is caused by a faulty control box or a dry connection.
Does anyone know where the Control Box is located.
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Thanks for the link. I was not aware of that user group. I does look like it may be an earth judging by the other responses. Thanks to all.
Dave
Browse
maybe a snapped flow control cable. Does it sound like it is operating the flap?