September 2006
I'm planning to buy 2 new tyres to replace both nearside tyres. I'm wondering will it be better in terms of durability or thread consumption if these 2 are fixed in the front or at the back or other combination? Read more
There is a company, with a base alongside the M3 - near Fleet, called something like Internet car Sales (or Showroom).
Can anyone tell me correct name and URL please?
What are they like? Read more
Put a question up on bmwland and I know you will get feedback.
*nod* *wink*
Make sure you turn the engine on for any test drive so that you can verify the warning lights and service indicators - know what to expect on the model in question.
Have a very good look to spot any repaired accident damage.
/nod /wink
My apologies if this topic has already been discussed and I've missed it........ There are ads advising drivers who have had an accident that wasn't their fault to go to them,( 'No win/no fee' type solicitors) to get everything sorted out. They shout out that you would not be out-of-pocket, and would keep your no-claims bonus. How does this stand against every insurance policy I've ever had having a clause insisting on disclosure about any accident? Surely if this accident is not revealed to your insurer they can void the policy? Read more
If I'd have been on the ball, I would have done!
hi john i have had a 03 plate hdi for 13 mths its done 37500m al servicing done by main dealer, i have now developed a starting fault,after about a minute it would start but today it would not start for a lot longer, i have dropped it in to local dealer for a plug in to the computer at £65.00 need i be dreding the outcome
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There are some outstanding bargains to be had if you can find a car with the PD engine of your choice, but without the VW or Audi bonnet badge. The VW content of my "clone" seems to be about 99.5% - so no problems getting cheap spares from other sources.
If you go for a PD engine, check that you can live with the long term maintenance requirements of the Euro cat IV variants. I believe the particulate filters on some of these have not been trouble free. My choice was the cat III engine - 130 PS (engine code AWX). Look after the timing drive on these engines.
659.
2001 1.8 LX.
Is it normal for the air con to drip constantly when on? I havent noticed it before but today I filled up with petrol and noticed quite a large puddle under the car, just rear of the bulkhead. Anyway....I called out the breakdown people and they looked at it and said it was "normal". After feeling a bit stupid, I carried on but checked again later.......still doing it. If the air con is switched off the leaking stops.
Does the air con have fluid to run it, or is it just excess condensation??
Sorry to sound so stupid but I havent has the luxury of it before!
Your comments appreciated.
Craigh Read more
In reply to "Waino", I find it confusing how the airflow direction knob automatically turns on the air con when in the windscreen position. Also the recirculation button does not work until the direction knob is in certain positions!
But........the air con DOES clear the screen when normal airflow doesent!
Craigh
I have a Fiesta Freestyle 1.25 zetec on an 02 plate. The car is looked after, serviced and has done only 15k from new. Today I've been under the bonnet and discovered a smashed hole through the top of the rocker cover, spewing oil everywhere. Now, I don't know the first thing about mechanics - how can this happen? There have been no warning knocks, bangs etc. The only unusual thing over the last week is that the car seemed to be pulling 'fumes' through the air vents/blower. I'm gobsmacked and panicking about the potential cost of this repair. Any info/guidance/help would be much appreciated. Read more
True, although when I changed the plugs on the Fiesta I could see the benefit. The leads and the plug wells looked like new, even on an 80,000 miler. Very effective at keeping the crud and moisture out.
But I do hate these whole underbonnet covers like well, most cars have now.
Cheers
DP
Hi all,
I drive a 1981 BMW 635csi which has an unusual brake circuit. As the car is RHD there was no room for BMW to fit a servo behind the brake pedal on this model so BMW opted to use twin remote servos instead. Each servo has a "line in" from the master cylinder and then one servo powers one (of two) pair of pistons on the front callipers and the other servo powers the other pair of pistons on the front callipers and the single pair of pistons on the rear callipers. So the brakes overall are four pot at the front and two pot at the rear.
the issue I have is that in slow moving traffic the rear brakes bind and the pedal gets very firm indeed, I have not noticed this problem happening at cruising speeds. Another potentially related problem is that the first press of the pedal after start-up seems to take a while to take up the slack, i.e. the pedal seems to move a fair way before the brakes start to operate.
So far I have rebuilt all 4 callipers (the rear ones twice in one year) and checked the adjustment of the handbrake (this operates like a brake drum inside the hub of the brake disc with cables operating a lever which pushes apart the shoes) and have replaced all the flexible hoses except the rear ones which I could not get undone without damaging the brake line.
I now suspect a faulty seal on the brake servo powering the rear brakes, i.e. under high manifold vacuum (engine idling) the remote servo is leaking slightly and is therefore the servo is operating slightly. Is there any way I can test this?
Does anyone have an exploded piccie of how these things are put together?
Any help or advice gratefully received
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Yes, the brake pedal going hard is what first made me think of a problem at the master cylinder side of the servo - but, once your car is running again, you can check it out.
The upstream / downstream diagnosis logic I quoted above is how I would track down the fault if the car were in front of me - a properly working master cylinder should vent the brake lines to the reservoir when the pedal is released.
But, your pedal going hard could also simply be that the servo isn't working properly, and isn't assisting your foot, thus, the pedal feels harder than normal.
I suspect £60 is a drop in the ocean compared with the costs for new or reconditioned units - but it may be worth making sure why these second hand units were removed from the seller's car before buying them though!
Number_Cruncher
When my son was given some Muc-Off bike cleaner for his birthday I was somewhat sceptical about the claims on the container, I thought it would either be useless or strip away all of the grease, most of the paint and half the driveway for good measure.
/www.muc-off.co.uk/bicyclemuc-off.html
As it happens he also got a new bike which is not yet ready for a good clean so I tried it on my four year old mountain bike that has only ever had the chain lubed and has never really been cleaned at all beyond hosing off excessive mud.
So I sprayed it with Muc Off, left it a few minutes and hosed it off, really quite amazing, grease deposits, chain lube, mud and dust, the dryed on remains of a squashed slug, it all just came away, it looks almost as new with nothing more to do other than wiping away a few stubborn marks.
I am worried about getting it into bearings etc because it must be a powerful degreasant so I dont think I will try it on the motorbike or cars, also it probably strips polish of paintwork, however it is refreshing to find something that pretty much "does what it says on the tin" !
Anyone else tried it? Read more
MachineMart traffic film remover works a treat as well - probably the same stuff inside. However, this stuff lasts forever, you dilute it to ridiculous lengths. Spray on with an old kitchen sprayer, leave for five minutes and rinse well. Like all these products, don't leave on bare alluminum too long.
www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=050430110
The Legacy needs new tyres - been quoted £121 a pop fitted at Costco for Michelin Pilots (215/45R17)
ATS quoting me £450 for all four fitted but forgot to ask what make.
Comments please on
A) Pilots
B) any good deals on quality brands at present on the hgh street.
Cheers Read more
Nankang NS-2's are highly rated and at £50 each plus fitting, seem to be a bargain. Nankang seem to be in a similiar position to that of Toyo a few years ago, with good tyres at a good price, once word gets around and they start selling in good numbers expect the price to rise!
In my opinion Toyo's are too close in price now to Goodyear's etc to be a good buy like they used to be. The price of success?
This is quite funny and sort of motoring related...
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/5...m
Experts studying chimpanzees while investigating the evolution of human social behaviour have uncovered their ability to safely cross roads.
They said the discovery has shown chimps' ability to cope with the risk of man-made situations.
Some additonal details added to give people a clue as to what your link refers to - DD Read more
My GF and I were talking about how integent monkeys were (forgotten which kind) since they could be instructed by sound and vision to do diffrent tasks. The only thing was that the monkeys had nothing active to say. Humans can create conversation, monkeys can only communicate very select need like 'Hunger'.
However upon further reflection this may be flawed. Animials as simple as rodent's, like skwirrals can work out how to get through the most complex assult courses to get food, working out one step at a time. Prehapps the key was the moneys were able to process more than one step at a time within their heads.
In applying animal phycology to roads would it not be best to ask weather they looked just one direction, or both directions before proceding to cross?
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Even on my RWD car the front tyres wear quicker than the rears-I don't do any wheelspin starts tho..