April 2006
Good afternoon all!
There was a comment recently on another topic from someone who said that when he advertised a car on the web version of autotrader, he was flooded with "I can sell your car cheaper" messages, but no real buyers. Several people suggested using e-bay instead.
For some rather complicated reasons, I will be returning to the UK in a few weeks time to sell a 1 year old Volvo XC90 (2.4d SE right hand drive, exported on purchase and which I will first re-import - it has the full UK guarantees etc). I can only really spare about 4 or 5 working days in London, before needing to return overseas. I have approached several dealers, who have made a few offers. Obviously they need to make their own profit, and what they have offered has been two to three thousand pounds less than similar cars I have seen advertised on-line. I would therefore really rather sell the car privately, but, never having sold such an expensive car previously, wonder whether I would be able to do this in the limited time available.
What I had been thinking of, before I read those other comments, was advertising the car in autotrader a week before returning to the UK (I would price it sensibly to sell quickly), answering initial questions by e-mail (sending further photos if necessary), hopefully arranging some viewings for when I get to the UK, and, ideally, completing the whole business in the 4 or 5 days. Does anyone think that this is completely impossible?
Would I be better off trying to do the same on e-bay, or is e-bay better suited for older/cheaper cars (I searched a couple of days ago, and there was only one XC90 on sale)? I have never used e-bay to sell anything more valuable than tenner or so, and am a bit nervous about the various pitfalls!
Or is there a better way of selling such cars (a better website than autotrader, for instance)?
If everything fell through, I could leave the car unsold in London for my parents to keep an eye on, and return in late May for a second attempt... However I would rather not do this!
Thanks in advance for any advice anyone can offer!!
\"Archie\" Read more
Hi, I wonder if anyone can help with advice on a small problem with my otherwise-briliant Nissan Almera: an uncooperative 12v socket.
I hadn't bothered with it so far, but set off last week on a long journey (900 miles in 4 days) and tried to plug in the charger I'd bought for my Nokia mobile phone. No luck, so my mobile conked out while I was away. Grrrrr! :(
It's a standard charger, bought from Tesco, worked fine in other cars (VW, Volvo etc): it has two springy things on its shank, and a pin wot sticks out at the end.
When I remove the cigarette lighter and poke the plug into the socket, it won't go all the way in, and the little red light on the charger doesn't shine.
I then thought that it might be a good idea to try the cigarette lighter, and it doesn't work either :(
Peering inside the socket, I see that at the inner end of the socket there appears to be some sort of padding or something like that. Does anyone know if there is something in there I should try to remove, or is this a back-to-the-dealer situation? Read more
The socket on ours works fine - both the lighter, and a speed camera detection thingy I plugged in to test it.
I did notice the adapter only went part way in until wiggled it a bit, then it clicked home.
Sounds like it's the fuse in your case.
heater only works when turned on full no4.does not work on 1 2 3 as anybody else had this problem can it be repaired help
Read more
Less than 3 yrs old? If so, then let the warranty take care of it.
If not, the resistor pack used to be situated right by the blower motor on earlier Vauxhalls, but no idea if that's where it's situated on the Veccy-C.
We are thinking of hiring a 7-seater MPV for a holiday (fly to Europe and hire there), we have 4 adults and 2 children in booster seats plus luggage for 2 weeks.
Current thinking is either
1) 2 medium sized cars...flexibility, definitely ok for luggage space,
2) 7 seater MPV (VW Sharan?) which is a similar cost to hire as two smaller cars, but we each have less driving to do, smaller fuel costs etc, but not sure how much luggage space will be affected by using the rearmost seat.
Any BR people have experience with long trips in this type of vehicle?
cheers
StarGazer Read more
Thanks all for the speedy responses...confirmed what I sort of suspected. The caravelle is a special request at some of the 'more remote' parts of Europe we hope to visit, so I think we will end up with two cars, just checked with Avis, two Passats will be approximately £300 cheaper than a VW Caravelle for the same period.
But cost extra for fuel and tolls.
Cheers
StarGazer
I've got a Volvo 240SE fitted with a Volvo TD-603 Radio Cassette player.
Problem is that the battery was disconnected; and now the Radio Cassette needs the 4-digit security code to allow it to operate.
I haven't got the security code, I've checked all the manuals I got with the car and I can't find it anywhere. I've also asked the former owner, but no joy!
How do I get the security code?
Read more
Thank you, Xileno, Armitage and Cliff.
Today I went to the Warrington Volvo showroom where I explained the problem.
The service department man made a perfunctory attempt to establish my identity and gave me the correct number; process took less than 30 seconds and was free of charge.
For the record, my car was manufactured in 1991.
Thank you Volvo, your system worked for me!
Hopefully, they would have been more cautious in giving out the code if I'd turned up in designer trainers, shell-suit and baseball cap with carrier bag full of radios.
I notice that the new Euro 4 compliant Laguna 2.0 dCi has a service interval every 9K instead of 18K.
Is this to service the particulate filter and/or change the oil? Does anyone know? Read more
PSA particle filter for 1.6 Hdi was £700 fitted, last time
I asked. By the time I have 72K miles
it will probably be a lot more! It is silly
money to pay, for the privilege of getting £30 a
year off your road tax!
>>
I am led to believe (am hoping) that the exchange filters are much cheaper than I was told a new filter would be a year or so ago. £700 is a ridiculous price, when it only takes about an hour to replace it.
Hi
I would be grateful for any views from the mechanics out there.
We have just collected a brand new Nissan X-trail. After 2 weeks of driving, the engine is prone to intermitant stuttering, whether we are pulling away or cruising in the motorway. It feels as if the engine is hesitating at times. Nissan took the car last week and it drove fine with them and they carried out a diagnostic check which did not find any immediate faults. It feels like the fuel is not getting through properly at times - but then I'm not a mechanic!
Like I mentioned, it is intermitant. Saturday it drove perfectly and then on Sunday it started playing up. Nissan will take another look this week. Whilst it is frustrating for us if they cannot find any faults, I do appreciate it can be difficult for them to trace. It's just sod's law if they drive it and the engine decides to play up.
The engine is a diesel and we are following HJ's running in guidance.
Thanks.
SVM Read more
My sister's 93 reg Micra has a bad oil leak which I have traced as coming from the sump pan. There is a lot of corrosion and after cleaning this away I found the oil welling out. Any ideas how to fix it.Are there any magic compounds worth a try:I don't want to replace the sump unless this is the only way as the exhaust etc would need removed.
Also the dipstick is seized in place! Any ideas welcome Read more
Put a self-tapper in the pinhole.
Hi everyone
My father had a non fault accident in his pride and joy.
Anyway, it is worthless on the market (1985 toyota camry). The accident occured where the other driving hit the car head on. My father was on his side of the road, and the other driver wasn't.
It was a blind bend. Thankfully, it was very slow (20 mph), but the whole bumper and radiator is bent...a right off.
Now, the other driver initially said it was a both fault claim, but obviusly it isn't!
We have a witness, and I don't think the other driver will claim. He was around 26 years old, but obviously being his fault he should. He is very interested in his NCD, but my mind is set that if there is a blind bend, you take caution. He didn't, and there was little my dad could do.
What would be the next step? Any good suggestions, or places my dad can go to?
Thanks in advance. Read more
The other driver, if at fault, is obliged to compensate you for the loss you have suffered. You are obliged to take reasonable steps to minimize that loss. An immaculate, well-maintained, luxury vehicle will cost more than the "book price" to replace.
Keep a record of all costs incurred - remembering at all times your obligation to minimize your losses.
Once you've found another car of similar age and condition to the old one, buy it and then sue the other driver for the price and your costs.
Yes, you'll have to co-operate with the insurers while they faff around for weeks and make derisory offers, but the court summons will eventually stir them into action. Until they get one they won't take you seriously - IME.
SWMBO's 1995 306 1.8 Sedan was MOTd today; passed*, but an advisory was issued on the nearside rear wheel hub bearing which has a tiny amount of detectable play. I therefore plan to change the bearing this week.
Reading Haynes, change looks like a doddle of a job as the bearing comes off with the brake drum; it should then easily pull (I have a bearing puller) or push out. If I do my usual job (from kart racing days when changing main bearings!) of placing the new bearing in the deep freeze overnight and warming the hub, inserting it should be even easier.
The bearing seal appears to be simply pushed over the stub axle and easily changed too.
So, as easy as I think or are there known things to be aware of before I start, please?
TVM!
*Interestingly, after its usual Italian tune up on the way to the test station, at 11 years old and still on the original cat it had the best emissions result yet: HC 0, CO 0, Lamda 1.00. Read more
I remember trying to pull off the hub bearing on my 306 using the haynes method..... looks good on paper, but in the real world forget it!
After an attempt, I took it into my local mechaninc who pulled out the bearing with their hydraulic press, and inserted the new one, for a few quid. I did the rest myself.
Browse
Archie35 I may be in the market for your car. I have been looking at the XC70 deisel but may be persuaded. Email me the full car details and ideally a photo or two to Peter@3DAssociates.co.uk Regards Peter