March 2005
An article in todays Telegraph states "more than 100,000 motorists have each been fined more than £1500 in the past 9 months as part of a crackdown on tax avoidance". It also states that "80,000 motorists were hit with CCJ's". It appears that any driver failing to pay the £80 first fine, can result in the DVLA applying for a CCJ, which would then result in a minimum fine of £1550! Worse still, these CCJ's will be taken into account for any other credit, mortgages, prospective employers, etc, for up to 6 years after. I do not remember reading about this new twist when the crackdown all started.
Regards to you all Chris. Read more
does anyone know where I can get replacement cup holders for BMW 02 5 series.One of the arms on the drivers side is broken and therefore it does not click shut into place.BMW dealers ask £30 which is quite a whack for some plastic cup holder,I feel.Is it easy to replace DIY.
thanks Read more
tinyurl.com/4xafe
Have used this site to source bits for my BMW project. Good links out - cheaper than delaers take it from me.
Had to help our salaried doctor start his Micra on Friday. It is a 1996 and pretty basic, probably a 1.0L. He promises me it is serviced once a year.
Once started (by using about 25% throttle) it seemed reluctant to continue to tick over unless slight pressure on accelerator pedal. Suggests a fault in the cold start mechanism. Any thoughts? Read more
Sounds likely that it's flooded -- very common on these. Try a forum search (it's on the right hand side).
After 7 years with my trusty 528SE my new 535d Sport has arrived, I kept the 528 as I hardly drive it (43k) and I just could not justify changing it. I believe that when you load a car with extras it changes the economics of used car values.
Three bits of advice / thoughts please
1. Do I de-badge it?
2. I need to install a camera / radar detector but need to be fitted discretly, with possible radar unit behind front grill. Who is the best manufacturer of this type of unit.
3. Or do I get dealer to fit Trafficmaster
As an aside it looks like SWMBO will pick up the car as I have been in the Yemen drilling for Oil since 27 Dec and it looks like I won't be home until April.......rats rats rats.
For you diesel drivers it was this forum that started me thinking (PU and his 530d), I ordered a 530d with head up display but BMW could not supply and then 535d was launched, so every cloud has a silver lining.
Rgs
Jim M Read more
I've debadged every BM that I could. Not for any form of theft deterrence (for the reason PU gives) but because it reduces the prevalence of traffic light F1. If everyone thinks I'm an aspirant in a 316i, no-one bothers racing me. Which leaves me safe & smiling.
For those who think the romance and adventure has gone out of motoring, this is worth a try...
www.mongolrally.com/ Read more
>>saw one before where they drove along the coast, was it africa?
Possibly this one:
www.plymouth-dakar.co.uk/
Hi,
My insurance is up for renewal in early April for my 1982 2.8 Granada and I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations of companies that have been competitive and offer good service/action if the need arises. I'm expecting my renewal with Lynbrook Insurance (only had a classic policy for one year so far) to be approx. £230 fully comp, incl. basic breakdown and 5000 mile cap. (I'm 26 yo)
Thanks Read more
Super, thanks for your help! I'll be busy on the phone later this week.....I'll keep you updated!
Over the last few days the rev counter in my 95 Escort TD has taken on a mind of its own.
Its jumping all over the place - thought it might be the cable but no cable fitted on these things.
Where does the rev counter take its feed from and has anyone else had this problem?
Cheers
Rob Read more
Rev counter on these takes a signal from the alternator.Suggest check wiring on rear of alternator & also tightness of drive belt.(a slipping belt will give the same symptoms)
Wife took car into main dealers for scheduled servicing on the Wednesday. On the previous Sunday I went around checking the car, marking the oil filter etc, checking wiper blades front and rear which were all in perfect condition.
Wife phones me and says garage say the rear blade (a favourite in my experience)is knackered and so is the alternator belt (on a 2 yr old 25k car!)do we want them changed (at our cost, despite the car still being under warranty). Tell them no says I.
I get back home and inspect the rear wiper blade and sure enough it is ripped to a length of approx one inch from the end. Is it possible to have this much damage to the wiper blade in only 2 days without there being any ice to 'glue' it to the screen and more importantly without it being used in that time?
You may think this is small-minded but IF they are vandalising my car and then asking me to pay for the privilige, what are they doing to things which are not easily noticeable? E.g did they really put Mobil 1 fully synthetic in the car as instructed or just the cheaper non-synthetic oil? Did THEY damage the alternator belt? I'll be interested to see how long it does last despite their 'recommendation' to change it. besides doesn't the warranty cover these things?
What would you do? Read more
I always put a new blade (+holder) on the driver side as winter approaches, move the drivers side to passenger side, and when possible then use the passenger side on the rear. Maximum visibility at minimum cost. Doesnt work on the BX tho!
Almost as good an improvement as having a new screen!
--
pmh (was peter)
Has anyone any idea where to go for the batterys inside the ford focus keys, i think mine must be flat has i have to press it several times before my doors open (hope it is just the battery) Read more
The margin on batteries is phenomenal. Having paid up to £5 each previously I bought 10 of these recently for £2.90 + VAT + postage (three plippers and the kitchen scales use them!) from
www.clockspares.net/
Just put 2032 into the search box.
Is there any way of getting hold of this item without paying the rather high main dealer price, please? Might a suitable item, not made by SAAB be available, and if so from where. I just need some pointers on where to start looking. Thanks in advance. Read more
Chewed up an aeriel in a car wash on my old SAAB 9000. Once you take the aerial body out and carefully dismantle it, noting what goes where, it is a fairly easy job to put a new chrome aerial and the connected nylon cogged teeth drive into the body. Clean it all up and grease the cogs and drive wheel. It is about a 1 hour job. The replacement chrome post costs about £10-15 depending where you buy it. Many ordinary car shops stack them. In fact, it is a pretty standardised part.
Buying an aerial at SAABs is crazy given their mad prices. Its the same as buying oil or wiper blades there.
Browse
Manatee,
Ah clarity kicks in (for me) and I couldn't agree more. Its due to these care-less people that prosecution with no discretion becomes a catch all. (well catch some anyway). I have increasing numbers turning up in Courts these days and more and more of them captured by automated means. I saw a rare sight today a traffic car having stopped a car, the Officer (with whom I am acquainted) was talking to a chav type. I remember he remarked to me some months ago "you have to be very unlucky to be booked by a Traffic cop these days" hopefully it was chavman's unlucky day.