July 2009
I was reading in the latest Autocar that both Mercedes-Benz and BMW are developing 3-cylinder petrol engines for the base models in some of their ranges - in M-B's case, even possibly the C-Class. The next BMW 1-series is being designed to cope with the particular vibration characteristics of 3-cylinder engines. These engines, which would be turbocharged, would provide similar power to equivalent 4-cylinders but with better economy because of lower frictional losses, even though they need a balancer shaft.
VW seem to have dropped their 1.4 TDI 3-cylinder diesel in the new Polo in favour of a new 1.6 TDI 4-cylinder.
{Typo in header corrected} Read more
My Mazda 323 seems to be rotting away at ever-increasing speed. I have about £9k to spend and am thinking of an Impreza 2.0R estate. I like the Subaru 'engineering' ethos, the non-mainstream image, the 4x4 handling and I think the 2.0R has enough performance for me.
However, I'm a bit concerned about the likely cost of repairs - Subaru seem to be among the most expensive cars to fix when they do go wrong, and I guess consumables like exhausts are likely to be very pricey. I'm also wondering how long Subaru dealers are likely to survive in the UK.
So, would the sensible option be a petrol Focus. What do backroomers think?
Pete Read more
Do consider a BMW 5-series Touring of the E39 generation (1997-2004). Even a late model should leave you some change! The six-pot petrols are fantastic, but a wee bit on the thirsty side and, curiously, the bigger ones seem more economical than the smaller ones. They'll do 40ish MPG on a good motorway run, though! A 530D could be worth looking at, though. All E39s are endlessly reliable, don't need anything doing at all even to quite silly mileages. A good independent garage could save you money on the usual consumables, though. Scoobies are nice cars but the ride quality ain't great and the quality of cabin materials leaves something to be desired - oh, and they're at least as thirsty as any BMW six-pot. Focuses do have reliability issues and they rust - I'd avoid if I were you. Hell, you can get a late-model E38 or even an early E65 7-series for that sort of money...
How do you position yourself to easily work in the footwell? It's very difficult, and very uncomfortable indeed, to have to twist around part-in and part-out of the door. This is possibly an H&S issue.
N.B. This is a serious enquiry, aimed at those who do this day in, day out. I would have posted this in "Technical" - as it's a general "How to do it" article that must apply to people working on any cars - but "Technical" *requires* a make/model - to my mind, a "general issue" option would be worthwhile.
{Moved to Tech Matters} Read more
I would concur - remove the seat.
Being commented on in another forum - "seen" with behind the grill blue lights stopping people in Kenilworth .
Surely this can't be true - they're £100K? Read more
Would that be Squires Gate Lane by any chance?
If you take a car to a non-franchised garage, and ask for a 12,000 mile service for a specified vehicle, for which you are quoted £x, what do you expect?
1. Oil/filters etc. to be included in the price?
2. The service to be according to the manufacturer's book requirements, or to be a random selection of fluid/part changes according to the whim of the garage?
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My MB indy does whatever is needed as a normal annual service which i get done at MOT time, he'll fix what he finds wrong, he doesn't need to ask permission as he's honourable and trustworthy, but then his regular customer's are too which is just as well as it takes months to get a bill from him.
Most of his customers are like us long term, and i just keep a note of stuff that is getting to time eg. i had gearbox oil changed again this year, and i give him a list of anything that i want seeing to over and above the usual standard service.
He probably wouldn't suit someone who is really a dealer only customer used to spotlessly clean smart suited receptionists.
Hi, I have just had my Lambda sensor replaced on friday and have noticed over the weekend that when I switch off my ignition, my temp and fuel gauges shoot up to the 12 o'clock positon and remain there till I restart the engine, whereupon they show the correct readings. Could the replacement of the Lambda sensor have caused this problem?
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My 02 TDDi did this from not long after new. Gauges worked perfectly in use, so I never bothered getting them looked at. The fuel and temperature gauges would drop to "zero" as the ignition was switched off, then pop back to vertical a second or two later.
I happily ignored it for three years and it never caused a problem.
Hi,
i have anb r reg 2.1 td, the problem is there is a clicking noise from the heater blower. some times when you turn on the Recirculation button it stops but not all the time. also if i turn on the air con this seems to help.
any one got any ideas
thanks Read more
I've found the previous post.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=24817&...e
Have developed a deep rattle from boot area over a period of several weeks. Any slight bump in the road and I get a knock. Sounds like a loose silencer mount, but have checked, all solid Any ideas? Read more
>Tapered bush bottom rear nearside shock. £200 all in..
Result!
If it had needed new shocks you'd have been looking at about £500 for the XK. Around two and a half hrs labour plus £110 per shock. Plus VAT.
Kevin...
hi all
After drowning my spare key (door opening buttons dead but not the transponder that starts the car) I bought a spare off Ebay (£31) which included a spare uncut blade so I could have the original copied. I've successfully reprogrammed it so that it opens the doors etc and starts the car. But - the metal 'key' part on the fob was identical to mine, and indeed opens the door manually and turns in the ignition switch with no problem, ie is identical to the cut of the original key.
Now, given that that this key was bought from a random supplier off Ebay (it was used) then I'd like to know:
How many key combinations do Ford produce, ie what are the chances of having an identical key supplied to me like this, it seems like a hell of a coincidence?
How likely is it that someone could use their Ford key to get into my car and help themselves (even if the alarm goes off and they can't actually start it)?
I'm quite pleased, in a way, as I can avoid the cost of having the blank cut (and indeed can flog it for a few quid!) but I'm wondering how extraordinary this is, or otherwise...
Cheers Read more
You didn't give the seller your registration number did you so he could do it for you?
When you say it came with a blank - you mean it came with a blank as well as the one originally fitted to the second-hand fob?
hello
do coil packs have a finite life or mileage on fords
They seem to be a common fault ?
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VAG (they used europes entire stock at one time there were none to be bought
anywhere)
Renault - they used the same maker and had the same issues.
early Jaguar S Types had the same, changing the packs cured it
Browse
I'd read that, but the 1.1 CZ1 I test drove at the local Mitsu dealer was awful, whereas the 1.3 CZ2 seemed pretty good, and we bought one.
However I liked the 3 cyl 1.0 old model Corsa I drove a few years ago.