October 2006
I am considering buying an L reg BMW 318i from a work colleague. He says it could do with a new clutch which I intend to fit myself. (I have a kit car so am used to doing things like this). My question is how straightforward is a clutch change on this car and are there any special tools required for the BMW?
Also are there any known problems that can give the symptoms of a dying clutch, i.e. could the gearbox have a fault instead maybe? I do trust this guy and quite fancy the car. It has apparentlt done (only) 85000 miles and he has owned it for the past five years and has bought a newer 3 series which seems a good sign.
All help and advice appreciated! Many Thanks Read more
In the usual grid lock on the M25 this morning, between J9 and 10, my Volvo V70 was rear end 'shunted', by a Picasso. I was stationary, and the impact was quite light.
We pulled onto hard shoulder to examine damage etc. There wasn't any! We could just about find the point of impact on his number plate, but only just. Everything else was fine, although I haven't had a detailed look under my car. (I have a tow hook, so the bumper wasn't touched). There was no damage on his car at all that we could find.
We exchanged names and addresses - and I said I would call him if I discovered any damage. Incidentally, he apologised and said his foot had slipped - we were both in suits so didn't crawl under the cars....
Now the questions: do I get the car checked in a garage? Do we need to inform insurance cos etc, even if we have noi intention of making a claim?
Frankly I don't think there is any damage, so the story closes - but do I need to do anything? (Both cars are privately owned).
Views appreciated - Andy. Read more
>>I wouldn't have hit me!
It made me chuckle when I first read it. All BR's all make the occasional spelling error, gramatical error or gaff. It can be fun decoding what was intended.
Glad to note you will take more care on the road and in type - hopefully not at the same time!
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Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
I would like to import a trabant from Germany but am told that the reg plate stays with the owner and I don't fancy driving back with no reg plate or insurance. Could somebody let me know how this is done?
Read more
you can't sleep in it....
Yes you can, I've done it for most of summer of 1992. Seats stretch far enough and open fully, all you need is one of add-on headrest mods and voila. You can even hang bottom of a sleeping bag on gear handle sticking out of a dashboard to stop kicking steering wheel.
Oh, how I loved my trabbie....
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[Nissan 2.2 dCi are NOT Renault engines. Grrr...]
Can someone plz help ,
ive got rain water coming into the car and soaking the carpet , i recently had to put filler under the battery as part of it rusted away its seems to be around the foot rest next to the clutch ,
I dont have a manual so im not sure if theres supposed to be a cover on top of the battery there is on the other side but not on top of the battery any suggestions ? Read more
Can anyone help . when its heavy rain i have rainwater settling in around the base of the battery which then soaks the carpet any ideas on how to solve the problem , ive tried sealing it but its still doing it , i did have a rust problem but i filled it im not sure if its supposed to have a full cover over the battery , i dont have a manual
I have just mentioned in another thread my current experience with the auto gearbox in our C5. Basically, I took the car to the local main dealer to sort out an engine management fault and I was persuaded to have an update to the engine's software to help trace the problem. I was initially told that the original software had a fault and that the update had sorted it out. This proved not to be the case but the problem was ulitimately sorted out.
What I didn't know, at the time, was that an update to the auto gearbox software was required at the same time as the engine software was updated. The result of this software update is the characteristics of the gearbox have been changed for the worse. I, and my wife, always thought this was one of the best auto boxes we had ever experienced but now it is not as smooth in its changes and the changes are also rather erratic. It seems to change down at higher speeds than it used to when, really, the torque of the engine should be able to manage without changing gear until a lower speed is reached. For example, negotiating islands and tight bends at speeds of between 30 and 40 mph used to be no problem for 3rd gear, but it will now change down to 2nd gear at about 35 mph. Also, I recently had a very odd occurence when travelling on the A50, when I was travelling at about 85 mph and pushed the throttle pedal down to accelerate past a line of cars. The gearbox kicked down to 3rd gear which, with all of the torque that the engine has, seems ridiculous. The gearbox was locked in 4th gear at the time, there was no extra load on the car, no incline and no reason to explain this behaviour, which also happened once, recently, when my wife was driving the car.
I have talked to the technician, who did the update, and he has told me that it is not possible to re-install the old software. How they sort this one out now, I don't know, but the car is going back to the dealer next week. It is very annoying to think that I have paid for something that has made the car less enjoyable to drive. Read more
My 1997 Peugeot 306 has a fault where the airbag light often flashes on - but it's intermittent and I am reliably told usually caused by a dodgy wire connection somewhere under the front seat. I will get around to looking at it one day, but in the meantime - is this an MOT failure?
PS The handbook also says to renew the bag at 10 years old. Any idea how necessary this might be and of course - how much? Read more
A good result all round - thanks x 2.
Okay firstly thank you to the posters who responded to the rover 25 52' topic,
I'm now reduced my search down to a Honda civic 1.5i 2 door hatchback....
here is my reasoning....
Honda: good brand with low depreaciation
1.5i (lower insurance group)
2 door (looks more sporty than 4 door and plus there is only myself and my g/friend)
having had a look on a very popular auto website i've seen quite a few with not bad mileage and FSH,
what sort of things should I be looking out for if I were to get this car?
and any other suggestions for a similar car?
thank you for your suggestions.. Read more
These will have the VTEC engine, so look for the usual evidence of regular servicing, cambelt etc. Great cars, even have economy lights so you can drive errr, economically! The 3 door (not 2 door as you call it!) is the Japan version, as opposed to the 5 door UK built version, and might be a higher insurance group.
Hi
I've just managed to change my glow plugs on the peugeot partner van, 1.9 XUD, S reg.
But I didn't manage to remove the air inlet housing above the plugs, I had to struggle underneath it. Although I did manage to lift it up higher and prop it up.
How are you supposed to get it off?
The main problem seemed to be the metal stainless pipe coming from the rear of the engine, from underneath the metal air inlet manifold, it plugs into the left hand side of the plastic chamber in front of the air distribution housing. I couldn't release that chamber from the housing either, although it turned easily enough on it, I guess if I could have taken the two apart, that would have solved my problem.
I've just got the Haynes manual this morning, which is about as much use as a chocolate T-pot.
Its annoying me now, that I couldn't get it off. Read more
Hi folks,
Back in June, my wife's car was hit in a pub carpark by another driver who didn't stop. A couple of witnesses took down details and we reported the matter to the police. Fortunately the car is still driveable - dented wing and bumper.
Its now October, and we still don't have the details of the third party, or even know if they were insured. We have not made a claim through our own insurance company yet. The only response from the police so far has been to send us (and presumably the other witnesses) a form to complete describing what we saw - I asssume this means the third party is denying responsibility?
Is there any way we can force the pace? Read more
I appreciate there is a risk with no claims bonus etc but I always feel it best to manage these issues through the insurance company (based on previous experience). That is why we pay them - not only to insure us but to administer the process as well.
Hi
My 1999 206 XS has recently started to unlock itself adfte random periods of time - It happenned twice in a week about a month ago and then stopped but it has just done it again. It locks fine and i can set the alarm but then i come back to the car and the alarm is off and the car unlocked as though i have pressed the key fob. This has happenned in 2 different parts of the country so i don't think its 'interference' or anything like that. I have also noted that the alarm has twice gone off for no apparent reason, could this be linked.
thanks Read more
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I'll check the engine number but thanks, just what I wanted to hear!!! If I've looked at the right one I should be able to get a kit for less than £100 from GSF