April 2015

bojag.sjr

I had a diagnostic test on my S Type and was told it had quite a few things that had to be repaired. It all started with a loss of power when driving up hill. I'm told I need two new cats, four Lambdas new plugs and ignition coils, all a result of engine backfire. I bought all the parts, only to be told that it could just be air loss from one of the many pipes attached to the engine. If all these parts need to be replaced, would the engine still run, and would the tick over be erratic? I ask because it starts first time, idles well and is not frowning out lots of fumes from the exhaust. If you have any ideas, please let me know.

Bojag.sjr. Read more

bojag.sjr

Me again. The mechanic that has been trying to find the problems with my car, has run a second diagnostic. Apparently, the first one he did was incomplete. It passed the cats etc, has being okay but wouldn't go any further. Hence the reason for him not finding the fault. Also, the jag mechanic didn't get back to him. This leaves us both in limbo. Anyone know how to clear the code that is preventing further diagnostics, as the second test was the same?

bojag.sjr

MrBrown

I am planning to claim damages from a car dealer for breach of contract. I'm trying to understand what would be reasonable in making the claim, as I'm first going to give the dealer the opportunity to compensate me, then I will proceed to court.

I put a deposit on the vehicle over the phone. I had to drive 100 miles and 2.5 hours to get to the dealer. My decision was based upon all of the information that had been given to me over the phone, and on the website - in terms of adverts etc (I have paper and electronic copies of all of them).... Read more

slkfanboy

thats totally unreasonable

Mitchmit hell

Hi I have a eleven plate Astra with 18000 miles when should the automatic transmission fluid be changed thanks Read more

elekie&a/c doctor

There is no specific change interval for the autobox oil listed in the service schedule.Perhaps it may be an idea to contact an autobox specialist to ask their opinion.

daveyjp

A BMW 320i GT x drive and it left me underwhelmed.

Excellent interior and very well equipped, but it had a manual gearbox which was very notchy, a heavy clutch and it required far too many revs to prevent stalling, but it does auto start if you do stall so they have thought about it!

I couldn't see the bottom info screen of the dash when the steering wheel was set correctly, a problem when a warning went off as I couldn't see what it was.

You can't raise the drivers seat whilst sitting on it, it only lowers to its full extent. The salesman informed me it has to be done from outside the car. That's handy when you have two drivers of a car.

I now know why BMW drivers don't use indicators. They have tried to reinvent the wheel like Vauxhall did years ago and the system just isn't very good.

It does however have a proper handbrake, but of course no spare wheel.

I'll keep the B class for now.
Read more

daveyjp

On every car I have owned when you move the indicator stalk to turn left or right the stalk stays in position. Move it back from this position to the centre to cancel.

A quick flick on modern system gives three or four flashes for overtaking exiting roundabouts etc. very useful.

BMW have decided that when you want to turn left or right and indicate for longer you move the stalk to the full poaition, but rather than stay there the stalk goes back to the neutral position whilst the indicator flashes. If it doesn't self cancel from the steering wheel how do you cancel it? Move it in the same direction or move it the other way?

Its a change which isn't required and is therefore a reinvention of the wheel.

Jetsam1

Hello,

Well as the Dacia plan did not work (part self employed and new rules for financing) we are now saving up for a used MPV. Seeing plenty of the S-Max/5008/Mazda 5 around (all in the same ball park pricewise but most going over 100,000 miles) but maybe considering a larger van based MPV for business use as well as a family bus. Had a Jumpy as an interim emergency hire car last year and was not too bad really, pretty car like just brand new and everything was a little stiff and BIG!... Read more

Jetsam1

Fortunately there is a law that taxis must be bright yellow here! Hard to hide that! At least 6 months away yet but getting the research done early.I'm not adverse to higher mileage per se (had a 2006 Astra estate bought t 112,000 and was rock solid).

Trilogy

This is a superb video. vimeo.com/125071241?from=outro-local Read more

C4HDi

Hi folks

I'm gradually beating my C4 into submission and catching up on jobs. I've filled the Eolys tank this morning - I only realised I had one recently when the SERVICE light popped on!... Read more

Gibbo_Wirral

If you need your COMM2000 fixing rather than replacing I can highly recommend a chap in Bradford. He lists the repair service on Ebay for around £29.

Gadget75

Just been told one of my Alloys is cracked, BMW did a run out test (0.7mm) and no visual impact damage. Have been told as it is not the style (225) that had a problem with cracking they won't have anything to do with it. My wheels are the 19" 313 style and only done 24000 miles I am surprised by BMW's it's your problem not ours attitude.
Anyone else had a similar problem if so did you manage to resolve it.
Cheers Read more

Coombs33

Just been told one of my Alloys is cracked, BMW did a run out test (0.7mm) and no visual impact damage. Have been told as it is not the style (225) that had a problem with cracking they won't have anything to do with it. My wheels are the 19" 313 style and only done 24000 miles I am surprised by BMW's it's your problem not ours attitude. Anyone else had a similar problem if so did you manage to resolve it. Cheers

A friend at work had the exactly the same issue both rear wheels cracked expesive job replacing the wheels and tyres. He was told by a friend who works at BMW to change the wheels. He said the wheels are not built for the roads he drives on as its normally fast country road prone to having pottholes and poor tarmac.

craig-pd130

At the M62 summit yesterday, I was rather surprised to see a VW Passat CC ablaze on the hard shoulder. Everything forward of the windscreen was on fire, with flames going several feet into the air.

Luckily the car's occupants were well clear of the blaze. Given how fiercely it was burning, I could only think a fuel line had broken in the engine bay and had leaked in quantity into the engine. ... Read more

Ben 10

Sorry to rain on the parade. But cars on fire do not explode like they do in Hollywood.

In 32 years of operational fire service, I never had a car on fire explode as they do in the movies. And I attended hundreds. Cars, caravans, buses and lorries.

What can "pop" are the gas filled struts, tyres or windows. If they were liable to explode into a fireball we would never walk up to them. H&S would see to that. We would wear breathing apparatus so as not to breathe in carcinogens. So the main dangers are pieces of "shrapnel", toxic smoke, running fuel, chemicals and passing traffic.

The possibility of things going bang depends on how long the vehicles have been burning and how hot certain points on the vehicles have got. Main thing if you develop an engine fire is to pull over, switch off, pop the bonnet catch if you can, evacuate and call fire brigade.

ike2

I currently drive a 2010 Skoda Octavia 1.4 TSi DSG Elegance estate which ticked all the boxes when I bought it. My needs have now changed and I am trying to figure out what car would now suit me best.

There are usually only two of us plus a labrador in the car but sometimes I need to take out a total of 6 adults plus the dog and need a car that will accommodate us all. I do @10000 miles a year mostly on A roads, B roads and country lanes as I live nearly an hour from the nearest motorway.... Read more

ike2

Yes, I know, if it looks too good to be true............

I haven't actually lost out financially so do not feel that DTD need to compensate me for anything, especially as they have been let down by the supplying dealer. All they have lost is my goodwill, and that of everyone I have told about it!!...