June 2006
I have just booked my car in for its service at a vag dealer in Glasgow. Going to cost me £220 including vat (longlife service). Is this a reasonable price for a first service. Car is 18 months old with 16000 miles. Read more
Thought this may help others with similar problem.
Symptoms are car makes knocking/rattle type sound on startup.
First thought it was the coolant pipes knocking aginst bulkhead wall, but that was all secure.
Finally located problem with engine mounting bracket on timing belt side. Had to remove bracket by supporting engine with jack. On removal, problem was very apparent as the threaded rubber mount had worked loose. Toggling the loose rubber mount made the knocking noise. Unscrewed rubber mount fully, applied threadlock compound and retightened. No more knocking on startup! Read more
Is it possible to fit another make of wheel, ford mondeo vauxhall saab etc to my volvo they are 16 inch 5 stud. Read more
It all depends what the PCD and offset are from your Volvo wheels.
As a rule, other wheels will not fit unless they have the same PCD and a similar offset.
...I was doing a lot of motorway journeys."
I have seen and heard this a few times. Can someone please explain why someone would do this, as it baffles me.
On a motorway I might as well be driving an auto as it goes in fifth gear and stays there. Around town is where I'd most likely want an auto.
Why are some people so dense?! Read more
Having driven hundreds of cars in the motortrade and from a Daihatsu Sirion auto to a Rolls Corniche, for the majority of the time, Id always choose an auto and if possible, a diesel one as it overcomes the fuel consumption issues to an extent.
The Rolls was by far the smoothest ive ever driven, but in general, the japanese were the nicest.
I find I can concentrate on driving more when in an auto and generally less stressed, plus the creep is very useful for inching into spaces. I must admit, ive never come across a tiptronic that i could actually be bothered to use more than once for the novelty value, no point paying for a car that changes gears itself then doing it yourself!
That said, I have a customer with a Passat diesel with DSG and he thinks its superb.
Can anyome recommend a good/cheap place in the oxon area to get an automatic gearbox fixed or replaced?? Read more
Premier Gearboxes & Clutches
Unit 5, 17, Pony Rd, Cowley, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX4 2RD
Tel: 01865 777744 Classification: Gear Box Manufacturers & Repairs
These might be worth a call
I have to say it, a triumph of German engineering and design.
I discovered on Friday that I have synchronised electric mirrors. ie the left moves in a mirror fashion of the right. The degree of syncronisation is astounding.
I can twist the mirror upwards and inwards to its full extent and see the england flag mounted on my rear window fluttering. If I look to the left mirror I can see the *other* flag on the other rear side window as well.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF > Read more
Its buried so far into the computer interface on mine that the dealer needs to plug in his computer to find it.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
I had the following video clip sent to me earlier this evening.
This 3150 m long tunnel in Russia is the longest in-city tunnel of Europe.
There is a river running over it and water leaks in at some points. When the temperature reaches -32 degrees like it did this winter, the road freezes and the result is the attached video taken during a single day with the tunnel cameras.
Enjoy.
video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4847819447844455299
{Add http:// to the start of the clip and copy / paste into your usual internet browser.}
Read more
read my post from yonks ago steelspark
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=58...9
I drove one today (brand new 200 miles on the clock) 4 adults for 190 miles. What a super little car, far better (in my opinion) than the equivelent Focus. Comfortable, well geared, well made, spacious cabin and boot. Strange electric power steering caught me out once. Downside was the incredibly noisy tyres. I was collected at my destination by SWMBO driving (rare) my car. Bearing in mind the difference in price between the two, the Astra shines.I wouldn't be disappointed by one if I had one (especially with a bigger engine). Mind you the 535 doesn;t alf fly in comparison....! Nice car. Read more
I haven't driven the new astra nor the new focus but on looks alone the astra would be my choice. It looks a much better design than the focus with it's strange angles and lines.
A long time ago I saw Valeo XTRM replacement wipers on the Valeo website, they are flatblade wipers that fit into standard wiper arms rather than into special arms as found on VW's, Mercs, new Pugs and Citroens etc. www.valeoservice.com/html/unitedkingdom/en/produit...C
I asked the local parts supplier and he had heard about them, but had a January date for launch, then April and now yesterday I visited to buy a replacement pair of blades and the manager refused to sell me a pair!
He refused because he remembered I wanted the flatblade wipers for my 2002 Citroen C5 as it eats wipers very quickly. (I think it is because the blades are tucked under the bonnet edge and in a warm draught which dries the rubber).
Anyway, XTRM blades are promised for this week! WIDA components in Bradford are promising to have them in! I will report back later. Read more
Having had the blades fitted for two months now, they are still very good.
There are almost zero references to the blades if you google for UK results only. I'd have thought that websites and retailers would be shouting about them.
Ben
My 1985 saab 900 has recently started acting unusually.
The clutch appears to be not working when its cold. If you start in gear with the clutch down, it wants to inch forward when its in 1st (though doesnt seem to do it in reverse), so the gear is already engaged. If you start it in neutral, the gears dont want to engage. After a few minutes of warming up though, its fine, and the gears change as smoothly as they ever did. Whenever I've had a clutch go before, its just gone... Does it ever happen like this, or could it be something else thats causing the problem? Read more
Good Afternoon,...
Browse
Car was serviced yesterday at Verve Glasgow (Dalmarnock Branch). As usual got the phone call to say that I needed new windscreen wipers, new bulb for tail light and my back pads have only about 3000 miles left. All of which I knew about as I checked the car before it went in. To my surprise these where only recommendation no mention that we can do these for you at xxx price. Also said car will not be ready at 13:00 as they had found a leak in my radiator and they where replacing it under warranty.
Went to collect the car and instead of being handed the keys and left to wander round trying to find the car as another extremely large VW dealers does at the other end of the city. Who I will never use again or any members of my family. I was asked to take a seat and a driver will bring it round to the front door.
As people are always downing VW main dealers I feel they did a very professional job.