January 2009
Hi All
My trusty and economical mazda 626 is nearing retirement age. After covering 160k uneventful (but slightly boring) miles, I'm looking for something to replace it.
I am thinking of getting an E39 5 series.
Will be looking at paying ~£3-4k, so would be looking at something like a 00/01 reg.
I do around 12k miles/year, so excellent fuel efficiency isn't a major issue, nor is blistering performance. I currently get around 34mpg from my current car.
I am tending towards the petrol models, but is there any overriding reason why I should get a diesel, or are petrol models more reliable/cheaper to run (fuel apart)?
Does anyone have a recommendation on what is the best engine/spec to get? I was thinking along the lines of a 523i SE, which seems to be a reasonable compromise of 30+mpg with 170bhp and most of the ones I've seen online have decent kit as standard.
Lastly, is there anything significant to look out for on these cars?
Thanks
Jonathan Read more
Watchdog link: tinyurl.com/7dz6p3
Don't know to what extent this was just a 'scare story' but thought it was worth mentioning.
Affects 2.2 petrols, due to faulty fuel pumps and regulators. Programme was trying to get Vauxhall to pay for out-of-warranty repairs.
Our old L reg 2.0 Cavalier did the same thing a few times, including on the motorway, although that used to recover if you left it alone for half an hour or so. Never found out what caused it. Read more
I'll send SWMBO out to do it straight away Dave. Well, when she's finished the washing up anyway....
Thanks for the tip.
;-)
I remember from my childhood lots of these odd green coloured cars about, they were two seaters I think and were adaptod for disabeled people. What were these cars? Read more
As i understand it Motab run the biggest fleet in Europe,so that may possibly be the biggest in the world.
My parents are contemplating buying a new car (well one a year or so old) but due to my mother having back problems they are after a 'soft' ride. How/Where can I find out which cars may provide this - without having to read every review? They are looking at Ford Focus type cars
Thanks
Jibergurt Read more
The best ride I have had in recent cars has been an X-Trail (2004). This I replaced with a C Max (old model) which was at best very poor. Then came a Grand Scenic which which was one of the better ones. That was replaced with a Peugeot 3008 in 2011 which is the most aweful ride of any car I can remember having and is going to have to go with only 3,000 miles covered. Now, (and I have back problems) I don't know where to look, Renaults are certainly not the armchair comfort they used to be, I fondly remember the 16TX, maybe a test ride in one of the new Grand C-Max, but I don't hold my breath.
Already given the answer, Citroën C3 Picasso on the standard rims. Untouchable for comfort in its class given today's overly-stiff cars....
I am now considering an LPG van instead of diesel. Although you are very limited for choice on the (used) market, going LPG seems to make a lot of sense. Are there any serious downsides to it? There are several LPG stations around the typical routes I drive so no problem getting the stuff. I would have thought more companies (especially large fleets) would have gone down this route - partially if working in London! Read more
I'm quite happy with my LPG Mondeo V6, it's currently costing me almost precisely 10p per mile to fuel it. :-)
I've had one problem which was caused by poor routing of an electricial cable which by good fortune happened almost on my installer's doorstep at the 1000 mile checkup, once it was repaired and correctly insulated I've had no problem at all.
I get about 20% less mpg on gas than I do on petrol and I have to be honest that at the moment, this is not helping the repayment period as gas is 45.9p and petrol is only 82.9p. However, on a positive note, I believe the price of oil is due to go up so I should start saving more money again shortly!
Would I do the conversion again? Possibly not on my old Mondeo, it's an 8 year old car and it really isn't worth a lot, I'm also starting to get bored of it, however, since getting it converted I have been able to drive anywhere that I want in my old tank without giving the running costs a second thought. In other words, for my £1,650 investment I now get a lot more enjoyment and use of my car than I otherwise would have so I suppose it was still worth it.
My next plan however is to get a large luxury car like a 540i or (if I put a lot more money in the bank) an Audi A8 4.2 and get that converted, I figure that a car like that will then last me for a good couple of years.
Hi. I,m hoping someone can help me. - My good lady has a 75 diesel auto estate. It has been a great car for her - reliable, economical etc. However, the central locking has packed up. It will unlock with the fob but will not lock. The button on the central console does neither and of course, she cannot lock the tailgate (Has to lock the other doors by pushing down the buttons) The Haynes manual, for once isn't a lot of help, - it only suggests a faulty lock but as I say they all unlock except for the tailgate (Which we cannot lock to try it) and I have tried swapping that one but with no joy. Any suggestions would be welcome. Regards - Dunning Read more
Thanks . I think that must be it. Certainly the dashboard telltale light is indicating that a door is open, but it doesnt seem to be showing which (Unless they are all being reported as open) So it looks as if I will have to take all the door cards off and give each lock a really good oiling etc. Not a difficult job but time consuming.
Car 2001 (51) 1.8VVTi approx 110k.
Problem - failed emission CO2 on MOT.
This is my dads car so not aware of the full details, basically car failed mot due to tester refusing to continue because of blue smoke and emissions being well above limit anyway. Car has been with a Toyota main dealer for a week and they are stumped.
Fuel filter has been changed and improved emissions but still over the limit.
Exhaust and Cat have been swapped temporarily and not fixed the problem.
Injectors have been checked and are ok.
the actual fuel has been checked - I think.
Toyota dealer is not seeing the blue smoke reported by the tester but agrees there is a problem
As far as I know car drives fine. Although it has always used oil which is a common problem.
Tomorrow they are swapping in an ECU from another car and will reprogramme it to see if that fixes the problem. Failing that they are out of ideas. Investigative labour charge is already £400 with no resolution.
If it is the ECU what is rough cost and what other things could cause high CO2??
He wants to go armed with a list of possible things to make sure they checked all before calling it a day. Could it be something physical i.e. leaking pistons/valves etc etc??
Any quick thoughts would be great
Mike. Read more
Hi Guys,
I had a similar problem with high oil use, the reason was the tollerance between the pistons and the head block were to great and passing oil, using 1 liter per 1000 miles, took it to toyota out of warranty and they fixed it for free, great result for me.
Hope this helps
Wayne
Hi my name is Kenny . I have a renault scenic 1.9dci and recently it has developed a fault which is as follows - After start up first thing in the morning, the car is very sluggish as it accelerates thru the gears (virtually no pulling power for a 120bhp engine) when it reaches 2500 revs in either 3rd or 4th, a warning light will appear on the dash "CHECK INJECTORS". Will drive to destination (usually 4 or 5 miles)with the car not allowing me to drive any faster than 2500 revs in any gear, and stop. On start up after that, the warning light disappears and the acceleration appears to be okay (can go above 2500 revs with no warning). I have also noticed that the car is losing mpg as it is now only doing approx 36mpg where as before it would do about 42 mpg. Have had car into local garage where nothing appeared on their computer. Glow plugs have been replaced and redex has been added to a tank of diesel - still no avail. Can you help!!
Also for note of interest, just before the fault developed, the engine coolant was low (above minimum) so I topped it up with coolant (undiluted as it air temperature was getting cold). Would this have any affect and allow the car to develop the symptoms as described above?
Read more
Hi there, I know this thread was 2009. I have the very same problem , just after having a recon turbo fitted new egr valve and waste gate as well as a full service and got car back with no power and only allows 2500 revs and when it gets to this it says check injectors and then drives fine for a while. Could you let me know what the outcome was with your car in 2009. Thank you.
My 4 year old Golf is fitted with a Varta battery that has a small circular window which is usually green when optimally charged etc. This was the case about three weeks ago when I had a clean around the engine bay, which I do at regular intervals.
Yesterday when I had another clean around i noticed that the green spot was not now showing even though the car starts as though it is mid summer temperatures and there is no other evidence that the battery is on its 'last legs' so to speak.
Any comments would be welcome Read more
Ken - try using Google Chrome or Firefox instead of Useless Explorer.
Please help, i bought a 03 reg 1.9dci laguna a few weeks ago and started experiancing problems i was driving down the motorway when the engine stop light and the engine management light came on. i pulled over an it would not start again so i got recovered... a mechanic mate of mine looked at it and now its seems to be a ecu or injector fault as its losing the coding..is this a regular problem or can anyone shed any light.. hes fitted a fuel filter and got the diesel to maintain pressure but apparently the injectors are working intermitently thus allowing NOT enough fuel through hes also eplaced a turbo solenoid and cleaned the egr valve and throttle body... short of taking it to a main deal who will probably charge a fortune im and hes at a loss he did say i needed to obtain the code for the key. how do i get this what do i ask for and roughly how much is it?
much appriciated,
brett Read more
Have you taken the car to a fuel injection specialist? I had a problem which sounds very like the one you refer to. Renault said I needed an new injection pump (about £500). My local injection specilaist discovered it was the regulator valve on the pump (£55 inc diagnostics and fitting)
Browse
I, too, had a couple of Xantia's before my e39 530D. The 1.9td I had suffered a cambelt snap, well within spec. mileage, the other was an hdi 110 which suffered a head gasket failure. With these 2 cars, driving was something you did/a chore, not an enjoyment. Don't get me wrong, I'm no speeding nutcase, it's just the e39 is far more pleasant to drive.
Anyway, back to topic, as stated I've got diesel version, but also a friend has the v8 4.4 petrol version. Both are autos, he's lucky to see 25mpg on a run, roughly 17/18mpg around town, mine does 45-50mpg on a run and 33-35mpg around town. My friend did have a prob with overheating when he first bought it, this was traced in about 10 mins. to a faulty thermostat, this was changed, now no worries.
Any shimmy, check tyres pressure + wheel balance, if still there, get a quick look over from a main agent, this might sound crazy but seriously, they've never charged me to give a look over and a correct opinion on that area (worn bushes in my case)
Rear ball joints can wear, put that down to the plethora of speed humps this country now has, about an hour and a half from a decent indie.
ABS module failure, well, this really is luck of the gun, or should I say, highly unlikely luck of the gun.
The pixel problem if it occurs, can be fixed by others or by yourself. It might only happen once in a blue moon though.
Crankshaft/camshaft sensors, I suppose this could happen......at some point......it is an engine after all.
Handbrakes can seize up a bit if it's an auto and the handbrake doesn't get used much/at all.
I've heard that the cars can stop all together, if no fuel is put in the tank. But as this could affect other cars as well, it's probably not worth mentioning or scaremongering over.
As for German versus French engineering, try doing a 'door test'. Opening and closing the front/back doors and listen to the difference! Not conclusive by any means, but amusing all the same!