April 2009
Is anyone having problems with their BMW auto stop start engine. Mine keeps cutting itself back in after 47-90 seconds - not even getting me through most sets of traffic lights, let alone a traffic jam. The engine worked perfectly throughout the winter months, but has again started cutting itself back in. I have now identified that when the outside temperature is above 9.5º and the air conditioning is turned on (it has been at 20-22º since I purchased the vehicle, even during the winter when the car functioned correctly). I have this week been out with the service manager who has now told me I need to turn the air conditioning off completely in order for the engine to function correclty!. BMW are due to test the vehicle again next month. In the meantime this vehicle is driving me insane . Read more
Hi,
Is there anyone on the forum that has a subscription to Which? magazine or similar that has recently done an article on tyre tests for mainstream cars?
I need to replace some 185/60H14s and I'm after a very quiet tyre (ie low road noise)that offers good grip in the wet. I know Which? regulary does tests but I'm not a subscriber.
Faiing that can anyone recommend a quiet/grippy tyre?
Honest John - is it possible to have such a review on the website?
Cheers. Read more
I have been into a few tyre factories in my time and they way they make them is mainly to satisfy the customer from a optic point of view the tests that you see are done to such extreme limits the average driver will never ever come across these conditions.Most manufacturers have factories in china producing almost identical tyres with the same tread pattern but under another name the raw materials are identical the only difference is the price .And before everybody starts shouting they should look at the cars produced today many of the parts including some of the tyres are pre made in China and shipped to europe for finishing so they can have the EU country of origin stamp.
I bought a new 320D SE Auto Saloon in April 2007, drove it off the forcourt on to 20,000 miles of motoring perfection.
It has had a litre of oil at around 1,000 miles and not burnt a drop since, I have put in screen wash and checked the tyre pressures now and again - and that's it.
I had the first service last month at the supplying main dealer for a fairly reasonable £230.
I was however told that I needed four new run-flat tyres (it was interesting that front and back had worn at the same rate) and was offered fresh Continentals at £480 fitted. I held on that and found some Hankook run-flats online for £230 and had them fitted and balanced locally for £60, a total saving of £190 and can report that the ride quality is a whole lot better with no detectable loss of grip.
So in summary owning a 3 Series has been a joy and I intend keeping it for another 80K at least. Read more
I had a "52 plate" 320TD Compact auto once. It was a lovely car, plenty of torque and very rapid. However, it developed a horrid tinny rattle underneath when pulling away from stand-still. Turned out that the exhaust had cracked around the area of the cat' converter. This was caused (according to the BMW "technician") by the engine trying to turn on it's own axis via the power of 150bhp. This resulted in it almost completely destroying the engine mountings, hence the damage to the exhaust.
Hi,
My wife has a driving school and I had to argue a bit with V/Hall re this problem and eventually had to get involved direct with the office and support staff of:
Bill Parfitt, Managing Director - Vauxhall Motors Ltd & Executive Director - UK, Ireland, GME Fleet/CV.
In fairness once his team were involved it got resolved quickly.
My wife has had 3 cars outwith warranty which had free engine replacements due to this fault and the first one we paid for labour not realising it was a common fault.
I also know of two other instructors who had had new engines free due to this, one was within warranty and the other is outwith.
My understanding is V/Hall are well aware of the problems associated with the timing chain tensioner faults re lubrication and this causes premature wear in the camshafts. It will be cheaper for them to replace engines for customers who shout loudest if there are problems when out of warranty. Let's face it how many customers would know to argue about it if the car is older but just getting to the associated mileage with this problem.
One of the cars I am aware of which got new engine was less than 60,000 miles all others were over that.
Feel free to PM me if you need any other information.
Cheers, Brian
Read more
Possibly legal protection cover on a house or car policy might offer advice, or are you a member of any motoring organisation, as they may be able to help?
Hi Honest John,
Seeking your help. I have a year 2000 Vauxhall Vectra LS 2litre 16v petrol manual. The engine cuts out intermittently. This happens more frequently on warmer days, and has become more frequent of recent - many times each journey. However on other days it doesn't cut out at all ! I am concerned due to safety since I lose power steering and transport two small children.
- Cut out happens when foot is off the gas and clutch not engaged - eg. when static at lights, or when changing gear, particularly at slow speeds.
- Another sympton observed is that sometimes when stationary at lights, the revs will suddenly jump up for a couple of seconds and then return to normal idle.
- Also observed is on occasional journeys, the engine warning light will come on for limited periods of say 30 secs to 2 minutes. This does not always happen though.
- When this problem first appeared I took the car to a garage who ran diagnostic test by plugging into the ECU, and they found no fault.
- I've checked hoses and breather tubes - no leaks observed currently.
Could this be anything to do with a Mass Airflow Sensor ? I welcome any suggestions to get to the bottom of this problem.
{edited to include make of car, and to make use of the full width of the text box, and not just 2 thirds of it.} Read more
Hi you've done the expensive stuff first and missed the inexpensive fix you need to remove all the pipe work from the throttle body then release the fuel line if you then clean the under side of the throttle body it will reveal a tiny pin sized hole which will be blocked spray this with carb cleaner and give it a poke with a pin then re spray to clean out re assemble and your vectra will run like a dream :-D
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Been lucky enough to have one to ride over the summer (friend going abroad to work needs it "airing") I rode a VFR 750 many years ago and loved it - will I love this bike ? Read more
I've had two VFRs, the first was a 95 750 fs (in red) which was a fantastic bike. Would still have it except for a driver trying to occupy the same space as i was in.
As that was written off I treated myself to a Vtec 06' on which I've just completed a 1500 mile tour of Scotland - fantastic time and the bike performed faultlessly. As Refred commented - I can't think what I might replace it with....
Hi, just bought the above for the wife from BCA Bridgwater today with one owner 103k, 9 Honda stamps to 100k. It is utterly MINT and totally unabused and has come direct from Howards Honda of Weston S Mare who supplied and serviced throughout it's life. It's a one owner and drives like new for £3956 inc Buyers Premium. I know prices are crazy at the moment, however I think it's a good deal, do you ? The reason for this post is after doing some subsequent research I see these cars can use a litre of oil every 600 miles ? Is this right ? Also, I have seen a post somewhere where it stated to not turn the ignition off when you stop for 10 seconds ( which might save on Turbo longeavity ? ). Any advice about the 2.2 CDTI would be much appreciated. Thanking you in advance. Simon Read more
I have an 04 Tourer Exec 2.2iCTDI from new, and I never use oil between changes. When I first got it the fuel consumption was poor and it used a bit of oil, but once I had done about 9000 miles the consumption improved and no oil used between services.
I get about 40mpg running around locally, and around 59mpg fully loaded on the French autoroutes.
Hi,
My voyager is approaching 60k miles and is due a cam belt change. I have done this on various old and cheap cars but I am a little nervous about doing the job on my newish expensive daily driver.
My main questions are:
Are there any particularly tricky bits to this job on this engine?
How do I lock the engine in order to get the crankshaft pully off when it has an auto transmission?
Thanks
Jon Read more
Thank you Merlin for taking the time to be so helpful I really appreciate it, The parts are on order. Michael
there seems to be a lot of discussion re oil leaks in nissan x trail.
for some time I had a minor oil leak so took it to my local garage who tightened various things. It was alright for a few weeks but then started leaking
with a vengeance. The vehicle has just returned from garage with having had a new turbo fitted. I was without the car for 10 days as had to wait for a) quote and b)delivery of part. Apparently the ceramic seals had broken round the turbo. I now have a bill of over £1,100
Does this seem right for a car that was purchased new, is just 4 years old and only done
30.000 miles?
any comment would be appreciated
julia forsyth
Read more
very happy with our '04 2.5 petrol Auto, fully loaded, reliable and comfortable, just watch out as from 2006 they are liable for £400 / 405 a year VED ? Also, they have very chunky A pillars that make vision at junctions very restrictive..
This may sound stupid but here goes.
What's the difference between inner and outer cv boot's.
I took my car for 2 new front tyres yesterday and the bloke said that my CV boot was leaking. I have read a few posts on her stating that they cost between £20 and £40.
The problem is I dont do mechanics at all and have been quoted £220 by vauxhall to do the job. I am ringing round a few mechanics to price the job up but I keep getting asked if its the inner or outer boots. If I had any idea I could get it sorted!
Fords have told me that it would cost £40 per boot for outer and £70 per boot for inner.
Any help would be welcome Read more
The problem is owing to the clip not being strong enough for the plastic boot, it will almost inevitably snap at some point if it's the original.
I used two jubilee clips set opposite each other so as to ensure better balance.
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Waht is the problem?
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