February 2005
Just like to share this with you all as I'm feeling a little smug.
This week I have been working in a house on the main road leading into a village.
Suffice to say, a lorry got into difficulties as it was trying to manovre and was met head on by another lorry.
First lorry has to back up, move forward etc to allow 2nd lorry to pass (lights were with 2nd lorry).
When the lights changed to the first lorry, he must have missed a gear. He rolled back and then engaged the clutch, not before he totalled the corner of a felt roof at the front of a property fronting the main road.
I got all but one letter or his reg and went to inform the owner of reg, description, time of incident.
I received a call from the Police that day asking me a few questions, really testing my memory and confidence in what I had told the owner. And was advised I receive a questionnaire to fill in.
I have it on good authority that the lorry has been traced and hopefully the owner will receive the necessary funds to have the repair carried out by a competent tradesman. I of course handed the owner my business card with my contact details on it:)
H Read more
SWMBO has expressed an interest in a Mitsubishi Spacewagon Ovation (to replace our existing Spacewagon) with a OIW prefix on the registration plate. Are these legal in the UK and does anybody know of any pitfalls in buying an ex Irish motor ?
I'm not particually bothered about resale as it is pretty cheap and wont be worth much by the time she's abused it ...:-)
Thanks P Read more
As with any car, a quick look at the first page of the service book will reveal who the supplying dealer was and whether the car is an import or not. Number plates and V5's are no reliable indicator.
My Outback was delivered with five identical wheels and tyres, the tyres are Yokahama, I have never heard of this make (not that that is significant). Are they any good or a cheap first fit by Subaru? I'm pleased with the full sized alloy spare anyway. Read more
I bought some for my BMW a few years ago, they were appaulling in the wet. They usually do badly in tyre tests in magazines, but they are heavily marketted as sponsors of motorsports they also supply tyres for many types of motorsports, so you would expect them to be better.
I have some performance chips to solder into the BOSCH ECU of my 1998 2.5TD Vauxhall Omega. I bought an identical replacement ECU off ebay, but when I fit that, the car refuses to start, if I put mine back it fires at the turn of the key.
I am wondering if this is some sort of security/immobiliser thing where chips in the key gets authorisation from the ECU to start?
My car came with a security code on a card in case the dealer needs to replace keys etc...but the seller of the new ECU doesn't have these.
Is this the problem (NON-MATCHING CODE) or am I barking up the wrong tree? Thanks
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There is a way round it. If you are trying to fit a secondhand ecu you will also need the immobiliser which fits round the ignition barrel and the ignition key from the same donor car. The chip for the immob is inside the plastic bit of the key and the immob and ecu will still talk to each other.
Andrew
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Simplicate and add lightness!!
Would any backroomers know how to have a drivers seat upgraded to something more comfortable. I would like to do this for the drivers seat of a Mk3 mondeo. So far Googling has not helped - I have found recaro seats and they do some comfortable looking ones but no-one seem to offer a fitting service.
Any help on who may do this and/or similar experience would be much appreciated. Ideal would be somewhere that has one to try first and then fitted if seems suitable. Read more
There may be a performance/tuning company near you who modify/prepare rally cars etc, who do this sort of conversion and will be conversant with the problems.
Maybe Recaro have a list of recommended installers?
Aprilia posted last year that the IAM advises selecting 3rd on an Autobox when in a 30 zone. I've been trying this, and owe Aprilia a virtual pint, as I would otherwise almost certainly have shot past a speed trap at more than this. I wondered why this is best practice.
1. To stop the 'box from searching? Or
2. To stop the 'box from changing into 4th, without the driver 'realising' and thus permitting his speed to creep up if he is paying more attention to the engine pitch than the speedo - as is likely in a town environment with lots to look out for?
The combination of these two factors means I now do this whenever I remember - most of the time. I am much more likely to be able to keep my speed down to 30 when in a 30 zone.
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It's a long time since I drove auto (or even a petrol), so since getting the Omega, I've taken easily todropping it down a gear.
Seems to work well, too, but it does make you double check, when stopping at lights, that you've not just moved the lever back to drive, rather than neutral.
& Mrs V, since doing her Police style, Ride Drive day, is also running the Mx5 in 3rd, around town.
VB
OK its Friday,lets indulge in a little nostalgia and see what were backroomers favourite cars when growing up,and did their choices have any influence on what they have owned or own now.
For me ,and I canot remember which came 1st,I loved the Capri 2.8 and even the Capri ?laser? Thought they looked really cool.then the Renaul Feugo. Guess I was drawn to coupes! I did for a year or so own a ford Probe!
I guess most my favs were fairly mundane,and I had many dinky replica's of my favs. Many, thinking about it, (I grew up in the 70's) were Fords (Consul,Zephyre)
I was mad about Magnums Ferrari ?308 I think that still is in my present top 5.
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Ever since seeing the film "Vanishing Point", I have always
wanted a Dodge Challenger. There are a few over here that
come out to classic car events, and they are amazingly low
and lean, with the coke-bottle side profile and the ring-type
grille.
Not as nice as my Series 3 XJ12, though, so I'm not changing.
I feel sure that this topic must have been covered at some earlier point,but,if tyres with a speed rating different to that specified in the cars handbook are fitted, what would be the outcome if that car was involved in an accident?
This is just a hypothetical question following a general chat with a mate - honest!
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Hi,
The trouble is that these links, no matter how useful, don't answer the question. I don't know whether anyone can, short of quoting a legal precedent. After all, some bloke in a forum said it was alright doesn't have much sway in the High Court.
My guess is that if the tyres were found not to have (or not in any way be suspected of having) any part in the accident then no further action would be taken. If a tyre had failed or contributed to the accident in any way then there may be some comeback. Even then if there were for instance a structural failure at a speed within the tyre's speed rating then there possibly wouldn't be any action over wrong fitting. If there were a structural failure whilst travelling in excess of the speed rating then a great deal of blame could fall on the user and/or fitter.
Rgds.
I see the European lottery jackpot is a whopping 23 million tonight. That is a serious amount of cash for anybody. Even after all the usual donations and gifts to friends, family and my favourite charities, it would still leave... oooh... 23 million burning a hole in my pocket.
No doubt it will be won by a criminal or a nerd who plans to treat himself to a top-of-the-range Astra, but what if it's you? When the cheque clears on Monday morning what would be the absolute first car dealership that the back-roomers would visit and what would you buy? Would you stop at one or two or would you have your own fleet? Would any one of you actually drive round in the car you?ve already got?
My choice is easy, Audi A8 W12 (well I?ve got two kids) Read more
I like playing this game.
1998 RUF CTR2 Sport (580hp nutter 993 turbo)
Jensen Interceptor cabrio
1973 911 RSR 2.8
Citroen DS Decapotable
Touraeg V10 TDI
959
Ferrari Daytona
drool...
I have had advice from Fuchs that the new BMW LL04 is launched. The product is not available in the UK just yet but expect it on our shores very soon!
Details of LL04 differences I have so far are as follows:
BMW Quality Longlife-04 Approval
In connection with the introduction of the new Diesel particulate filters, beginning with the series E90- and E87-engines, a new engine oil (Low Ash) is also mandatory.
For these diesel engines the existing ?Longlife-01? is replaced by the new ?Longlife-04? quality.
The new ?Longlife-04? oil fulfils also the requirements for gasoline engines and is compatible with the existing ?Longlife-01? and ?Longlife-98? specification.
?Longlife-04? is also applicable in all MINI engines, except for engines demanding ?Longlife 01 FE?.
I hope this is of interest and I'll keep you posted on availability for UK market.
Cheers, Simon
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thx for that...
i have an e46 318ci,,and it uses the longlife01,,so it is of interest to me :)
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Not a dig at lorry drivers. A tilt at another windmill in another thread (see Caveman's thread about the number plateless Metro)