June 2006
Can anyone tell me if the roadworks are still in place on the M1 near the junction with the M25?
I am travelling to Nottinghamshire tomorrow (Friday) is it better to go M25 to J21 and then M1 or would M25 - M40 - A43 - M1 be better?
As always, I will grateful for your advice.
PS We are planning to leave mid-morning. Read more
Okay - people I ask all disagree!
Should an automatic be shifted into neutral when at traffic lights etc? I do, because I think I'm doing my wallet a favour but is this true or can I just leave it in drive all the time...
Thanks if anyone genuinely knows (rather than guessing like me + friends)! Read more
Auto clutch boxes seem to have different requirements.
DSG system disengages clutch when car is in drive and brake pedal is pressed, but apply handbrake and release footbrake and the clutch engages and pulls against the handbrake. So for DSG handbrake and neutral fo lengthy stops.
Smart disengages clutch whenever car is stationary so no neutral required.
My 1997 2L mondeo has a problem with its auto transmission. It doesn't change to 2nd or 4th gear and the O/D light flashes. The garage told me that the 2nd and 4th brake band needs changing.
My warranty should cover this but wear and tear is excluded. Can you tell me if this should be classed as a mechanical fault or wear and tear?
How much should the repair be approximately?
Thanks. Read more
faulty transmission range sensor causes these symptons
Hi,
Just bought a 440 (banganomics experiment - don't panic!)
Got the original radio cassette in it - but as the car's battery's been disconnected for a while the thing's reset. It sits there blinking COD (which I assume is swedish for Code!) at me.
Any thoughts on this?
I saw the advice on the Phillips radio, but are there any other ideas?
Cheers
R Read more
hi all, i looking for some advice here.
about 6 weeks ago somebody ran in the back of me and today the car has finally gone in for repair, and my main concern is, am i going to get the car back in saleable condition and if i dont can i reject it?
i obviously do not want the car back if all the lines are out of sync and there is visible damage repair.
now ive been told by a mate that if the floorpan is in anyway damaged, i can reject the car and the insurance company have to write the car off.
problem is i couldnt tell if the floorpan was damaged because i couldnt open the boot...
now lets say the car comes back and its a mess, so i reject it. the insurance company will offer me trade value, which would not buy me a replacement in a million years.
but if i do accept an obviously repaired car, im going to make a loss selling.
all this coz some idiot cant find his brake pedal!
so what do i do?
all suggestions appreciated... Read more
If, by looking at it, and without removing trim and carpets, you can easily see where its been repaired then reject the repair. If you cant then its fine as no one else will spot it and hence it wont loose any residual value.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
I've been looking at the photos of BMW's latest MM (Mille Miglia) retro concept car inspired by their 328 Touring Coupe which won the Mille Miglia race in 1940.
While it might turn heads at motor shows, I do hope this car doesn't point the way for future BMW styling. In my opinion it is one of the most hideous automotive creations ever! Put it alongside the Morgan Aero 8 and I'd have difficulty deciding which car is ugliest. A bit of Z4 'flame surfacing' on its front wings shows that even Bangle's design themes have now found their way into BMW's heritage. If this car is the best they can do without Chris Bangle perhaps they'd better get him back! As for those spats over the rear wheels despite the arches being flared, doesn't that largely defeat the object of the spats in the first place, namely streamling.
What should be done with the BMW MM, then? After all the work that went into it it would be cruel to say it should be put in a crusher so I hope it is bought bay some rich collector who stores it out of the public gaze indefinitely.
Read more
Hello all....newbie looking for advice.
How unusual is it for a reg plate not to appear on the insurance companies database ??
I'm about to commit a fair sum on a vehicle, and it's plate is not found. Do I spend the £40 ??
Thanks in advance. Read more
This free search might give you a clue
www.rac.co.uk/web/carbuying/vehicle_data_search/
Good luck! I might spend the £40 the search - I wouldn't lash out £?000 on the car, just yet!
Hi,
Very interesting forum.
I've gone and got myself into a spot of bother.
To cut a long story short, car caught fire and is going to be a total loss.
Car was in very good condition and have various receipts etc to prove that I maintained it.
Somehow I managed to miss that the MOT had expired, 10 weeks ago.
Fully accept it is my own fault.
Am I screwed? Vehicle was definately roadworthy and in good condition but how can I prove it? But I no doubt insurance company will try to wriggle out of it.
Am I going to have to take this on the chin?
Any advice would be good, truly greatful to be alive but depressed at losing my car and being out of pocket by £4-5000.
Thanks,
Mike
Read more
Anyway, having got over all that it appears a successful result has occured. Good stuff.
Leaving Wardley Industrial Estate in Worsley at Shield Drive I gave way to what can best be described as an "elderly" gent in a old yellow Suzuki. As I followed him down to the East Lancs Road the road splits in two. Left only for Manchester the other side being for traffic entering the estate.
The guy stopped in front of me at the apex of the split and paused for a while. He then proceeded to ignore the No Entry signs and tried to enter the exit road. All the while I am flashing my lights and leaning on my horn. He actually started to drive down the road and would have carried on into the flow of traffic if it had not been for a truck approaching slowly and blocking his progress. I waited and watched the guy in the truck gently try to explain to the Suzuki driver he could go no further but it looked like it was not sinking in.
The mind boggles at what would have happened if he had made it on to the main carriageway as virtually everything is driving at 50-60 mph and there is plenty of traffic joining off the M60 as well.
Read more
<< I gave
>> way to what can best be described as an "elderly"
gent
>> in a old yellow Suzuki.
Why emphasise that the driver was (a)a gent, (b)elderly and (c)in
a old yellow Suzuki?
--
L\'escargot.
Welllllllllllllll pardon me for trying to outline a simple incident. Would I be wide of the mark if I suggested if I had not described the driver, quotation marks or otherwise, some may have been curious to find out?
Hey, it wasn't you driving it was it L'escargot. :)
With the kids now being considered old enough, this summer will be the first one where we will drive to the UK. Other than the problem of having a German registration in the aftermath of the World Cup (have to hope that England have at least more success than Germany!) does the BR have any tips on what to look out for nowadays while driving in the UK?
Being on the lookout for speed cameras and being careful to hide all evidence of SatNav from the lowlife come to mind.
Thanks,
BIG Read more
The big shock is roadworks.
Big Big Delays.
The AA roadwatch/travelwatch site turns purple every Friday.
Plan your route carefully and avoid peak times.
...and get the kids to count purple Micras.
Bonus score if they are driving at only 60 in the outside lane.
Browse
Having just travelled on the M25 to/from the M11 junction, I have have to express my heart felt sympathy with anyone who is forced to use this stretch every day. There is a several mile stretch of 'Specs' enforced 40mph limit and lane restrictions. I did it on Sunday mid-morning, but even thinking about what it is like in rush hour must be classed as pornographic ! As the roadworks are planned to be in place till XMAS 2007, I think it would probably be worth finding another job to avoid this mayhem.
Why do roadworks take so long in the UK ? Or is it a government master-plan to dissuade us from driving !