March 2009
Hi - puzzling problem. Had a Fiesta for a couple of years and even in the hot summer the temperature gauge read cool at about 1/4 up the scale. During the recent snow I partly blocked off the radiator to get more heat into the car and it ran nice and warm at about 3/4 up the scale. When the snow went I took the radiator blocker off to return to normal but the temperature gauge has ever since stayed up at about 3/4 up the scale when it warms up. The water level is ok, has not changed and not even needed to top it up, and there are no leaks and the fan works ok.
Just cannot work out what could have happened in those snowy 3 or 4 days to make the default temperature rise from 1/4 to 3/4 up the scale.
Many thanks Read more
I seem to remember that I got a free sample of a product called ( I think ) RainDance which you put a little of in a bucket of water and threw over your freshly washed car and it completely dispersed all water from the car and meant you didn't need to chamois the car.
Being young, with time time on my hands and little money in my pockets I never really used it but recall being very impressed. Now a little older and with less time I'd like to try it again but can't find it anywhere.
Any leads on this or something similar? Read more
Supagard Hydro Coat Water Dispersant sounds as if it might be similar. tinyurl.com/d28nbl
In order to remove the carpet, the central console must come out
(I have already taken out the seats)
Problem is: how???????
Cant see any bolts screws that are relevant
Dont want to wrench or otherwise butcher
Rgds
mw Read more
You'll get an instant response on one of the MB sites. The big US ones have W126 sections. I have a W126, but haven't done the job, so can't help you directly.
USA
www.benzworld.org/
mbca.cartama.net/
www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/index.php
www.mercedesforum.com/
forums.mbworld.org/forums/
UK
forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/
www.mbclub.co.uk/
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk/public/home.htm
Hi
i am looking to replace my car and have narrowed it down to BMW 330i \ 330d or a Subaru Legacy. I was wondering what peoples thoughts were, especially on the Legacy, which at the moment looks great value for money used.
I would love the 3.0 Legacy, but understand they are really thirsty? The BMW i know is okay, as i used to run a 328i some years back and averaged 30mpg. Also. BMWs tend to make the driving experience feel special.
any comments \ thoughts \advice most welcome Read more
I had a Legacy 3.0R Spec B estate which I traded in for a Legacy diesel - the company car tax and fuel bills being the main reasons. If you see low 20's mpg you'll be doing well but it is a hoot to drive with massive grip and traction helped a bit by the Bilstein suspension - corners flat, great steering. Downside? Slightly firm ride (not as hard as a BMW 320D M Sport that I tested) and road noise and tyre rumble transmit through to the cabin at high speeds. The Spec B comes wth just about every extra except auto and sat nav. I had the auto; if I had one again I'd have the manual - quicker.
I've driven a 330d auto and to me it felt as quick as the Legacy auto once moving. Having now had 4WD in last two cars and enjoying the extra traction, grip and feeling of security I don't think I'd ever go back to 2WD. But if I did, a 330i is the type of car and engine that would do it. Or a 335i in a few more years!
Hi everyone,
I'm new to this forum and hoping that someone can help me by giving me some advice about what type of used car might be suitable for me.
The background is that I'm looking to spend £10k-£12k on a used car to replace my current car, which is an X reg 2.0L VW New Beetle. I probably only drive around 5,000 miles per year and this is mostly on long journeys that take place on dual and single carriageways.
The reason for wanting to change is partly because there are times on single carriageways when it would be really handy to have a more powerful car that could quickly zip around people going slowly in front of me, and partly just that I've had the Beetle for 4 years and feel like its time for a change to something a bit faster and more comfortable.
The only other needs that I have are that it has to be an automatic, I don't want it to any less room in that back for adults or boot space than the Beetle, I don't want an Estate car and we like the idea of a BMW / Mercedes / Audi type car more than a Ford / Toyota / Vauxhall type. We've never driven sports cars before so suspect that things like how well the car handles when you throw it round corners don't matter so much to us.
Can anyone make any suggestions as to what sort of car might suit us?
Thanks,
RickyP Read more
I would second (or third) the BMW 330i in either Coupe or Convertible form. If you want more of a cruiser you could also consider the 530i which is likely to be similarly priced, almost as good to drive as a 3 Series but with a better ride.
Reliability wise, look for a complete service history and keep it stamped up. My last company car was a BMW 530d which had 150,000km on the clock when it went back. Never missed a beat and, apart from the stone chips, polished up virtually as new.
Alternatively the Subaru Legacy has a nice 3.0 litre flat six engine and 4wd but I personally wasn't keen on the interior.
Hi All,
The normal drive is fine but there is a vibration from about 60 mph on up on highway.
I can feel quite strong vibration but sometime disappear viber for short time and go on
from 60 mph over. Please advice me to get rid of vebration then I will appreciate. Read more
Thanks all of you.
I will check step by step as you adviced me.
I have a 2000 Premacy 2.0 diesel TDI GSI. It has recently developed an intermittent problem: sudden slight loss of power, glow plug light flashes. Pull in, switch off, switch on again, problem solved. This happened twice, both times when accelerating uphill near cruising speed. Then it happened a third time and the problem persisted for several miles, to the consternation of my wife who was in the car on her own at the time.
The car is currently in the local Mazda dealer, whom I have no confidence in at all. I took it there on the assumption that they could plug in a computer and look up the fault, but apparently they cannot do that, and instead seem intent on replacing the engine one piece at a time until they find the broken bit. I could have taken it to my local trusted independent to do that, at half the hourly rate!
Has anyone else had a similar problem, and suggestions about what the cause (and cure) might be?
Many thanks in advance. Read more
As the owner of a Mk 3 Mondeo I have taken a close interest in the new Mk 4 and I can't recall having seen on the road any models other than diesel powered ones (on the basis that the 'TDCi' badge indicates a diesel engine).
Does anybody know if Ford have only released diesel engined versions so far? Read more
Company cars, and the fact that the weight of cars in this class now render the smaller petrol engines completely useless. The bigger engined ones are great, but expensive to run.
Diesel is the only way to get decent performance and reasonable running costs in a car of this size.
Some clot has dented the door on my wife's car.
I have managed to polish out the marks but there are a couple of creases.
Can anyone recommend a dent repairer like Dentmaster in the Midlands or North Staffordshire area please and the likely cost.
Cheers.
Read more
Ta Mick.
Evening all,
My good lady wife is in the final stages of a PGCE course and is expected to take up her first teaching post in September. With the expectation of having a goodly commute, we have decided her 1970 Beetle (pink!) will not be up to the task, especially as the pitter patter of tiny Dieselboy feet will follow in a year or two. So, with great regret, the Beetle will be replaced with a modern Euro (or Jap) box.
This is where we have no idea what we want, or need. I run an Alfa 156 2.4JTD Sportwagen, which I would expect to be able to cope with pushchairs etc. Initial thoughts were on a Grande Punto 5 door, probably in diesel form with a 30 mile each way commute in mind. It seems the budget of 5-6k would get a 2006/2007 model. However, I think we need something bigger, maybe Zafira sized. Autotrader tells me a 55 plate Zafira can be had for our budget., however this would be a 1.6 petrol My thinking is it's more bang for our buck than the Fiat.
I'm only musing really, but would welcome any thoughts. For example, should she run my Alfa and I potter about in a £200 banger (my commute is 5 miles each way)? Should I buy a bike?! Should I accept the laughter and pointing and potter about in her pink Beetle?!
Cheers,
DB
Read more
Some good advice already here...
For what it's worth shelve the Punto idea; ours fell apart after three years. The Mazda 2 that replaced it has been 100% reliable, now five years old. We are both teachers, if it helps - (no, it doesn't I hear you all say) and our main car is a berlingo. One of four in the teachers' car park. It does what it says on the tin.
Browse
I would suspect a faulty temperature sensor, or it could be that debris was trapped in the thermostat preventing it from closing fully, the forced increase intemperature opened it, releasing the obstruction so it is now closing properly allowing the temperature to reach normal. If the latter is the case, it will be accompanied by an increase in heater output.