April 2005
My driver's door window stuck open earlier today. I've closed it using the ignition key. The internal switch for the doorlocks doesn't work either. So I can't open the windows, or operate the locks without the key. I gather there's a special fuse for this somewhere. Can anyone tell me where it is? Read more
My '96 Pug 106 1.5 Diesel is suffering from a form of 'vibration' at idle speed. It's most apparant when sitting in the car, and it feels like the engine is rocking from radiator to bulkhead. I first niticed this about 4 months ago but it quickly went away (driven 5,000 miles since then), this time I've not been so lucky.
When revved above normal idle speed the 'rocking' goes away, the car hasn't consumed any oil in 5K miles and doesn't smoke on start up or acceleration. The car accelerates smoothly, and there is no vibration on the move, I can't hear hear any unusual noises at idle or when driving. I can't see anything that's loose, and the engine mounts look OK - I'm very grateful for any ideas as to the cause. Read more
Firstly inpect all engine/gearbox mounts for aging/splitting. Check for minor air leaks around the manifolds and clean all the emission control pipework. Then run some good quality Millers or Forte Diesel fuel system cleaner through it foa 1000 miles and see how it goes then.
I happened to look at the DVLA website yesterday and being bored decided to have a bit of fun by taking all their practice theory tests , two each for cars, motorbikes, lorries and buses.
I have not looked at the Highway Code in anger for around eight years when helicopter junior was taking lessons.
Despite that, with a bit of common sense and guesswork I managed to pass seven of the eight tests and only failed the other( the first lorry theory test) by one point.
IMO the tests are much too easy but what do you think? How would you improve them ? Read more
When the theory test was introduced in July 96 the pass mark was 26. This was only ever meant to be a temporary mark until the DSA had monitered the success rate. After three months it was raised to 30, where it remains today.
I hope this post is within bounds. Apparently "tens of thousands of wealthy Chinese are flocking to Germany to hire cars to whizz up and down the autobahns at 150mph". A representative of one of the car hire firms, when asked if he thought it was dangerous said; and I paraphrase; some of them stop on rounabouts and ignore red lights and on the autobahns a few stop on the hard shoulder to make tea and let the kids run around, but nothing serious.
I think that last remark may have been a bit of Teutonic sense of humour. I rang one of my mates in Bremen, a German and he fell about laughing. He has seen nothing to worry him on his travels.
The same article said that the Chinese road toll is 600 KILLED daily; blimey I know there are a lot of them but keep that carnage up and pretty soon your'e talking big numbers. Read more
China has the fastest growing economy in the World.
So expect to see a lot more of them, everywhere.
HJ
Too right, HJ. Six Chinese illegal immigrants were found stuffed into the back of a small truck, stopped by police in my little local market town. They certainly do get everywhere.
Does anyone know anywhere in the Kent/SE London area where I could get a set of 17" Style 57 Star Spoke alloys? Other than through a BMW dealer.
I've tried Google but it mainly keeps bringing up the wheels as part of some ads for the car itself. Read more
Thanks Trancer, it did the trick.
Please, just humour me, I'm way behind in the tech race!
I'm probably going for TomTom, and have a few questions.
1. I understand it comes loaded with a UK map, but presumably this needs periodic updates, is this done via a weblink, and is there a charge, or do they send out a new CD now and then?
2. Static speed cameras: Are these on the system or is this an option?
3. Laser warning: I assume this is not part of the system, and something like RoadAngel is required?
4. I assume it can't pre-warn you of traffic incidents to avoid, do other systems have a live sat link for this info?
5. I'm on a Mac, and have heard I will need software called "TamTam" anyone using this?
Right I'm off to fire up my valve radio while I think of buying one of those new fangled mobile phone thingies the young cats seem to like.
Be gentle. Read more
The new tomtom is a good piece of kit. My only gripe at the moment is that when driving with no destination selected there are no audible alerts for POI's. Everything shows on the screen - just no alert.
All works OK when a destination is selected.
Hello all,
I have a dilemma that I think this group would be able to assist with. I?ve decided to buy a new C class estate, but cannot decide between the petrol (C180K) and diesel (C220CDI) versions. The difference in economy is small (7mpg combined) and the price difference is huge (£3K), but I do like to extra torque of the diesel. As they both seem to have similar depreciation forecasts (56% @ 3 years) I will loose and extra £1500 on the diesel come p/x time.
Opinions please, would you pay for the extra 170nm low down. On paper the performance figures are very close for 0-60 but I can?t find a 30-70mph comparison.
TIA
Brian
Read more
I was originally going for a C220CDi that was £24,999, but, as I mentioned previously, had sold. I asked the salesman how much it had sold for & he told me £23,000 then asked me how much more I would be prepared to pay for the C270 (which was £26,999). I told him I wanted to pay less (than £23,000) as the insurance, servicing & fuel would be more expensive (in practise, they?re not).
He knocked £2500 off the price over the phone, just to get me to come in ? I gave the deposit at that point, both he & I being clear this was simply to hold the car for me to get there. I got a further £1000 off while I was there.
The things that make me uncertain I got the best possible deal where that he included a phone bracket that costs £130 without whimpering and the price I paid included Mercedes StarShield paint treatment at £299. He told me they all included that ie, I had to have it and couldn?t reduce the price by refusing it. However when I picked the car up he told me 60% of the cars they sell have it.
I think they?d had both cars in stock for a few wks, which may well make a difference. They were both Red, which looks fine, but wouldn?t have been my choice if new. They stood out as almost every other car on the lot was silver.
I also printed out, and took with me, the details of another suitable car that was at a nearby Merc main dealer and suggested that maybe I should go and look at that.
Although I've bought my wife a new car every few years, I found the whole car buying process at this level a real pain, to be honest. I opted out of a company car so was trying to make sensible financial judgements with two problems ? I didn?t have a strong desire for any particular car, and you can never really get a clear idea of how much cars are really going to cost. If I?d realised the level of discount available from MB Direct then I might have bought an E Class.
Re your Q on the Sport Edition ? I?ve really no idea. I do 30,000 miles/yr and wanted comfort - my very personal opinion is that if I?d wanted Sporty, then I?d have looked at BMW. The Sport pack as an option does seem good value ? how much is the Sport Edition model? How its residual will hold up possibly depends on whether it becomes a main stream model (like the ES versions of BMW?s). Even if it doesn?t then it may have some rarity value. Who knows?
Please register below if you don't want to post in a 4x4 thread. You may have a 4x4, you may not ever want to own one, the reason may or may not be loathing / jealousy or indifference.
This is like a vote for "none of the above" - you don't care either way because all the angles have been covered, and it will save bouncing the 4x4 thread higher by posting on it.
I thank you for your support, please wear your rosette with pride.
Next autumn, there may be a similar thread along the lines of foglights ;-) Read more
the 4x4 thread is boring enough, this is worse.
I've locked it since anything to be said seems to have been said.
Hi
I've just bought a 1996 (P) Ford Mondeo 2.0 Ghia X. The center rear inertia reel seatbelt is jammed. Apparently there is a mechanism which locks the reel so you can't use the seatbelt if the folding seatback is not fully locked home (the inertia reel is inside the seat). I've tried slamming it in a few times and this seems to make no difference. Does anyone know how to remedy this problem without destroying the seatback? Read more
Just about any Mondeo problem can be found at www.fordmondeo.org
...The best Mondeo resource on the web.
Question:
The usual hiss of hydraulic power sterring systems is surely reduced by certain sound-proofing techniques to prevent it from penetrating the cabin.
Would anyone know how this is achieved and what measures manufacturers take to deaden such noise? Read more
you would be surprised,,my bmw mini cooper had a real noisy
Like many newer cars, the BMW Mini uses electrohydralic PAS. The hydraulic pump is driven by an electric motor, which can tailor the power input to the power required for steering. This brings significant benefits in fuel consumption. Having heard one of these the other day, I was amazed at how noisy it is. I think some of the noise must come from the electric motor and control gear rapidly changing the power input to the hydraulic pump.
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I can operate the three passenger windows from each of their three switches, but not from the driver's door. The driver's door children's window lock doesn't work either.