February 2005
Hi, since changing the air and fuel filter on my clio 1.9tdi the car struggles to start from cold. There was no problem whatsoever prior to the change, but it now turns over for 10 seconds or so before finally springing to life in a puff of grey smoke. Once started it runs fine and also starts fine once warm. Anyone know what the cause may be or if I need to prime the fuel system in any way? Thanks, Mark Read more
I see, on Teletext, that insurers are pressing the govt. for legislation requiring everyone who owns a car to get it insured or face criminal charges, not just when they get caught using it on the road.
I hope there's more to this than in that report, otherwise that will also catch out the many of us with laid-up and SORNed cars.
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Discussed already I think.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=28797&...f
Hi chaps, got a few questions for you all.
As a big fan of DIY, it seems that the best way to go and buy my next car is at auction. I have no experience of auction buying, although am commercially savvy (bought and sold lots of cars privately etc.)
So far my research has got me to:
Bought a login to auctionview, looked at lots of cars for sale. Read months worth of honest john's auction reports. The car I'm after is a 3yr old BMW 330d for around £10-12k, preferably with M3 alloys and leather.
Questions for you lot are:
1. If I turn up at an auction, what should I wear? Jeans / tshirt?
2. How do I bid - hand in air?
3. If I win an auction; what's the ontop fees that I need to pay? I've heard normally 3% on top of the bid?
4. How can I pay up the money - swipe switch card?
5. When can I take the car home - presumably I can come back a few days later with the wife to be able to collect it?
6. How much can I inspect the car beforehand? Obviously I wouldn't expect a test drive but (most importantly) can I see the service records or at least a printout plus the v5?
7. Presumably the car won't be cat d / stolen? If so, would I have recourse against the auction house? At the £10k end of the scale I'd expect the auction house to be guaranteeing that the car isn't dodgy?
Cheers for your help - I'm sure this is the right way to go but would appreciate your advice. In my head I calculate that buying at auction will save me between £500 and £1500 on buying the same car privately - does this sound about right? If so I don't mind doing the research to save this kind of money...!
Ta
Rich
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I would be extremely suprised if you can get an 02
plate 330d with leather for £10k. Glass's Reckons almost £14k for
an 02 with 70k on it.
tinyurl.com/5hvc2
there's 2 on here retailing at below £14k so I was hoping to get something at auction for less than that - ok so perhaps I may need to be prepared to get a slightly older car (2000 ) for my £10k
You think that the Saxo chavs in the UK know about fitting a big tailpipe to their cars? Ha! They're mere beginners compared to the Japanese
tanetane92.web.infoseek.co.jp/20021020ocm.html
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I thought they were oil coolers, the pipes looked a bit small for intercoolers. Its an ideal place to put an oil cooler, because as soon as a stone or something hits it and breaks it, the windscreen will get plastered with hot oil, or the car will slide off the road and stop with well lubricated tyres!
Reading the paper today re Gordon Brown going off to China to see if they will buy Rover......I could not believe how poor Rovers productivity is.
Nissan up North produce 320,000 cars per annum with 1000 workers making 320 cars per worker per year.
Rover produce 106,088 cars per annum with 6500 workers making 16.3 cars per year.
Can this be true? If so, it is a complete disgrace.
I love my country and for us to support failure of this kind for decades is simply awful. We are a trading nation and this kind of failure should be allowed to go to the wall. The Chinese are supposed to be brilliant businessman, I will be amazed if they go and buy Rover. I mean what is the point?
Brand name?
Residuals?
Technology?
Real estate...might have a point there? Read more
As in another weird headlight arrangement, new badges, and >>desperate bribes to encourage folks to test-drive them?
Yep thats about it!
"Public transport schemes designed to tempt motorists from their cars are being blocked because the government needs car tax revenues, says the Times."
I have just received this item in an e.mail from The Adam Smith Institute. Has anyone read such an article in the Times?
Sorry, I'm a Telegraph reader. Read more
As far as I can tell, the seaside resort where I live had a (for a rare moment brighter than usual) council many years ago that conceived the park and ride scheme.
It started off as one Saturday in December to ease town centre Christmas shopping parking and extended a little the following December - it proved such a success that it rapidly grew to became an all year round facility with several park and ride centres around the town.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
Well...Last week I bought a lovely little Fiesta 1.25 Ghia, W reg with 29k on the clock. It's very tidy and I love it already.
But it's got to go - due to the fact that when I brake, my knee touches the steering wheel, and it's generally not very comfy. A shame as my '96 LX wasn't brilliant, but better. I thought the Ghia would be perfect.
So, it's got to go. :(
What else can I get? I'm thinking Mondeo - but I don't NEED a big car - so if there are any small cars that have the same comfort as big cars please let me know! Read more
Previous suggestion of Polo could be worth looking at.
I have a very tall brother who drives a new polo and he swears by it for comfort.
Hi all,
Was wondering what average MPG you lot get on average no your Audi 80 TDi.
Im getting just about 37MPG on my 1994 Audi 80. I drive on short stop start journeys (school run, shopping,gym etc) and my average speed rarely exceeds 35mph. Is this MPG about right? Read more
Forgot to mention:
A new fuel filter made it a lot more lively.
Hi all,
I have an Audi 80 1994 M reg. Its in a dark metallic graphite black kinda colour!!:) (dont know how to describe it exactly!)
The problem is all the car has got nice shiny paintwork bar one side!!! The drivers side. Both doors and the wing are dull anf flat, The colour has not faded but there is no shine on the paintwork. Im assuming this side may have been resprayed at some time???
Is it possible to bring shine into this side of the car to match the rest of it?
Any info would be greatly appreciated. Read more
You will have to be careful as it is a metallic.
Halfords sell special metallic paint cutting paste.
Otherwise, it sounds a bit like a paint problem.
Before spending money and using loads of elbow grease, why don't you ask your local garage their view?
Hi all,
I have an Audi 80 1994 M reg. Its in a dark metallic graphite black kinda colour!!:) (dont know how to describe it exactly!)
The problem is all the car has got nice shiny paintwork bar one side!!! The drivers side. Both doors and the wing are dull anf flat, The colour has not faded but there is no shine on the paintwork. Im assuming this side may have been resprayed at some time???
Is it possible to bring shine into this side of the car to match the rest of it?
Any info would be greatly appreciated. Read more
I personally prefer to use Farecla as a cutting compound as it comes in a number of different grades.


If all you have done is changed the fuel filter and air filter, and the car was fine before then it could be that the fuel is running back due to air getting into the fuel line. Double check whatever fuel connections you have had apart to ensure they are all air tight.