December 2014

rolyk

I've been having winter starting problems for the last couple of years. Initially it would start then stop after a few seconds and refuse to start again unless it was left for a few minutes. I took it into a diesel specialist last spring who replaced the crankshaft and camshaft sensors and it did seem to improve things, although it did happen on several occasions through the summer.

However, it has now become very difficult to even get it to fire. But when I eventually get it going it runs absolutely perfectly. However, the engine management light stays on for a while.... Read more

Gibbo_Wirral

That's often the way. A couple of years back my power steering went heavy. "Oooh, that's a sign it needs a new power steering motor", "common fault on these Pugs" said the "experts".

One weekend I took off the wheel, wheel arch liner, disconnected the electrical connector, cleaned it with electrical contact cleaner, reattached and sealed it, and not a single problem since.

StGeorgeII

Hi guys,

I posted to this forum a couple of weeks ago explaining I was shocked that the Internet has very little about the all new Mini Cooper SD.

I collected the New Mini Cooper SD & the other half picked up her new Cooper, I must say both cars are great, the Cooper (1.5 litre turbo) sounds nice and has lots of poke too, she is averaging around 38 MPG and I'm averaging around 50 MPG (both being driving normally)

But, I will provide you with more detail on my Cooper SD as the internet is lacking exactly that, I will be honest and remain as impartial as possible.

I previous owed a 62 plate 318i Sport Plus, a beautiful car to look at but hideous when it came to performace and MPG, I had to drive this car really hard and it offered little performace which saw me getting around 27 MPG for the privilege.

I had always said I'd never have a Mini, but when the missus was upgrading hers I test drove both the new Cooper S and Cooper SD in that order, the Cooper S was fun and made all the nice popping noises however, I disliked how you had to drive it at high revs to enjoy the car, when I test drove the SD I regretted losing the sound of the exhaust but the performace absolutely made me fall for this car over the S.

The Cooper SD is massively torquey at around 360-400 torque and around 180 brake (every website say differently) the car comes with a 2 litre twin turbo engine providing you with loads of poke that NEVER struggles, even up steep hills at 45 mph the car is screaming for 6th gear and still provides plenty of torque.

It's fun & provides the driver with lots of "easy" power, you don't need to try hard before the twin turbos kick in and take the car away nicely. The car comes with 3 settings, Sport, Mid & Green. The car performs well in all options but when you switch to Sport the car sounds better, steering tightens and the power is readily available at low revs. Baring in mind the car is small and light, that with the fact it's basically got a twin turbocharged, 2 litre BMW engine - it goes really well, it's pokey as hell and you don't spend hardly anytime filling up at the pumps!

I've been driving it hard and mainly in Sport mode and still I'm getting 50MPG, its a really nice car, if you don't mind losing the sound a Cooper S would provide (although it still sounds like a smooth, sport diesel) and you do decent journeys daily then the Cooper SD is for you, it eats up bends and flys on the motorway, when you put it in to perspective it's a small car with lots of torque, it keeps up and often destroys similar engines in the likes of Audi A3's and BMW 1/2/3 series.

Overall, in my opinion this is a great car, it makes me smile everytime I get behind the wheel, you constantly have piece of mind that when you need that extra power it is all there waiting for you.

Some may argue a Cooper S should have never been made in a diesel but I actually think it's genuis. Read more

xtrailman

To the OP

I'm not surprised that you enjoy the 2L BMW engine, recent upgrades mean that it now gives more torque at low revs, more than my CX-5, although not more at higher revs....

buddy holly

hi just bought a 98' trooper 3.0td

trouble holding fuel up runs great then nothing cuts out trouble starting back up needs priming then eventually starts then goes again... Read more

chris.o

Hi Buddy
I have seen a few of these old Troopers suffering from corroded fuel lines. Usually on the top of the fuel tank where the pipes come out. They don't necessarily leak fuel just pull in air.
Hope this helps.
Chris.

Deans not a happy bunni

Hey guys, just thought i would share my own experience with this crowd. i understand that insurance frims are out to make money and that they are a bussiness. But my passat cc had and electrical fault somewhere, and kept going into limp mode. So i called them up and the guy on the phone seemed helpful enough and sent me to an AA approved Dealer. Now they charged my the £50 excess when my car went in which was expected, no poroblems so far. The dealers who were actually very helpful and kind told me that i needed to take the VW into an actual VW garage as their computer system and all others apart from a VW dealer was not able to go more indepth into the problem only that there was a fault..... I went to others and they said the same thing. So i called the AA and they told me that i was cover for the fault but because they didnt have the equiptment to find the problem that i was liable for the repair. So i had to be the garage for labour out of my own pocket and i had to call up AA again to get my £50 back which was also a bit of hassel.

... Read more

RobJP

The AA warranty is usually a basic warranty, with not a lot that is covered on it. That's why it's quite cheap, compared to some others.

You get what you pay for.

medicpaul

As some of you may know I'm trying to find a replacement vehicle for my growing family. I have just been given second chance offer on a 58 plate 307sw. The seller seems honest and states the clutch has started to slip on the upper revs when giving it some. The price is £2450. Should I walk away? Read more

Gibbo_Wirral

Sorry I'm a bit late to the party, but avoid. If you want a reliable 307, get a 2005 2L 90bhp model.

Flash2004

Hi,

We have one car in the family which both me and my hubby use. I have comprehensive insurance on the car, with my hubby also added to the insurance. If we get another car in my hubby's name, can I drive it as a third party driver (under my insurance) before we get insurance on the car ?... Read more

hillman

“Thanks, for all the insights.. I wasn't aware about the continuous insurance rules. To be on the safer side, I will insure both.”

Flash 2004, Your reply gave me the impression that you personally will insure both cars and will thus be the ‘insured party’ for both. Bromptonaut gave the best answer in the ‘back to back’ policies....

dunnydanny

Bit of background, my car was broken into about 4 or 5 weeks ago but luckily I managed to plug the steering column bits back together and get it started again and didnt have much of a problem after that. Then about 3 weeks ago I got stuck in traffic and the engine started to overheat. I have been having problems starting it since the overheating and this morning it just wouldnt start and I'm worried that if it does It won't on the way back from work.

I have been starting it by turning the starter motor (which is fine along with the battery) over and having to pump petrol in with the fuel pedal but it has been taking longer and longer and this perticullarly cold morning I have just given up as I don't want my car stuck in work's car park.... Read more

the sheep@21

Has climate control! Inside windscreen was frozen so put heating on, suddenly after 5 main it all stopped,no heater running and the dashboard lights on heater controls all off, noticed when I turned of headlights the heater display lights tried to to come on but only faint! Please help?

Read more

normski65

Hi, Can anybody help please.

I bought my C class advantgarde from london, i drove it back to yorkshire, did maybe 400 miles.... Read more

corax

Get the battery checked out, it could be that the voltage is too low.

Agree with this. Modern cars need healthy batteries to keep all the systems working properly, otherwise they can throw out all sorts of spurious faults....

dl56uk

My car was rear-ended in a snow storm boxing day ,they other party as admited liability

I have informed my insurers,giving all details of witnesses other party details and names and adresses + i took pictures. My car was taken away today by "Just car Clinic" to be repaired. Now according to them my insurers have informed them that I am to pay a £520 excess and claim it back from the 3rd party insurers.... Read more

dacouch

See if you can spot the school boy mistake in his explanation of what TPF&T actually covers...

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