Just having one of my curious wondering moments. Does anyone know the history of the sun visor mounted vanity mirror?

Presumably it's thought of as still popular as many car makers still spend the extra few pounds bothering to fit one. Is it really that popular? Is it really needed? Is it now just fitted out of tradition? What car had them first? Is it some sort of sexist throwback to a time when they expected a couple to be out in the car with the man driving and the woman doing her makeup?

I know it's hardly going to shave anything off the price of a new car by not fitting one, but I do find it mildly amusing when you climb into a new car full of gadgets and modern tech and a dashboard that looks like a space shuttle control desk, and then you flip down the visor, and yep, there's the little mirror.

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I am at my wits end and need somebody with the tried and tested info to assist me in obtaining a correct replacement part for the exhaust system.

My garage has stated that it is the exhaust manifold where the problem lay. They also state the manifold consists of one piece which is welded to a 'chamber' . Renault have quoted oner £450 pounds for this. I have spoken to and recieved a manifold from a parts renault specialist which does include the chamber and it has been guareenteed to fit/replace. WITHOUT this chamber the manifold sits about a foot away from the next section of the exhaust. The specialist has been re spoken to and advised of this but cannot offer an explanation but are willing to assist with the aid of photos( which are extremely difficult to take).

I need a replacement part and have the manifold with the flange on the end........... but it doesnt attach to .................... Read more

I am using a loan vehicle at the moment and it is very good. What is puzzling me is how the car knows what gear it is in to show on the dash display. I thought there would be some electrical signal from the gear selector but why does the indication go when the clutch is depressed? Then I thought that a simpler detector would be the computer comparing road speed to engine speed and therefore determining which gear is being used, but why would the indicator then go off when the clutch is depressed. Sorry for the question but sometimes you just have to know how something works. Regards. Read more

My BMW 318ci was 'wrote off' back in March 2009 after a small bump on the motorway.
It had been snowing, and the car spun round slowly, bumping into the central reservation, then spinning again onto the hard shoulder.
Now, the only damage visible was all 4 light were smashed in, and a slight dent to the bodywork above the front left wheel.
I was insured by Direct Line, and the garage who had a look at the car said it was cost more than what the car's worth, to repair it.
All my personal belongings (worth around £100) were never given back to me.

Now,I thought this sounded suspicious. I'm still paying off the finance for the car nearly 1 YEAR on.
I also completed a Vehicle Identity Check, and the results confused me.

Now, my car wrote off around MARCH 2009;
on the vehicle check it says the DATE OF LIABILITY is 01 09 2010
How is this possible, if it's "wrote off" ?

Its also says VEHICLE STATUS = LICENCE NOT DUE

Can ANYONE make sense of this for me.

Thanks

Joe Read more

Hi,
As mentioned before on DP's earlier topic,we have recently bought the above,mainly for my wifes use.I think its a great car apart from the seats,which I find are very hard and become uncomfortable on a long journey.
For any Focus owners please,is there any mods available for these seats?
Also it has been sounding rather "whirry" the last couple of weeks and my usual garage tells me it needs a new power steering pump.It has only done 9000 miles!...Is this a common problem also pls?
Cheers
Phil. Read more