October 2017
Perhaps a week or so ago I had a rant about old diesels. An uncharacteristic rant which may have been prompted by a bad day.
I've never owned one, and my opinion, such as it was, was based more on the smell of old buses and taxis rather than on any authoritative analysis of the contribution that diesel cars make to the quality of the air in this country and indeed, across the world.... Read more
Hi my cars have been targeted for a few years now normally the tyres are slashed. But this time the radiator plug was taken out and the oil pipe was cut. The first I knew is when I was driving home after picking up one of my children from school, all the lights came on and the car died. Luckily for us someone stopped and plugged up the hole and refilled the water and oil so we could get home.
I checked the oil and water the day before this happened and it was fine.... Read more
This is technically a very intersting answer (KNEW I shouldn't have chucked that old phone away) and the "don't go it alone" advice makes a lot of sense.
However, I wonder about the vulnerability of the kit. Unless it transmits live images (perhaps its possible to arrange this with a phone-camera?) the kit might be ian incentive for attack, rather than a deterrent.
www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/bmw/x5/b...3
Note to Mods: APologies if this is in the wrong section, please let me know and I will happily shift.
Selling this for a mate so advertised on here. Never sold a car on PH so not sure what is wrong with the advert / pictures / price?!?
Any guidance would be deeply appreciated. Go easy though please
Many thanks in advance Read more
"Don't confuse the real world with an internet forum. An iPod interface is 10x more important to most buyers than detailed nuances of a service history. 9/10 people don't even look at it once you've told them it has some even if you, quite literally, open it up and shove it in their face." Got to agree. I was always amazed as a young salesman how few punters even asked about service history and even today with our easy access to information I'm still regularly asked for my opinions on cars with little or no record. The colour is more important to most buyers. I've seen complex cars like this with little or no history. I've seen them with fast fit or backstreet Joe stamps in the book and still punters would buy them. But the more expensive and complex the more likely buyers will be switched on enough to ask for a fully stamped up service record at an appropriate garage.
I totally agree -my previous comment was essentially saying what you did - too many mugs about not looking further than the badge and performance - probably why, in my view, such brands do very poorly on customer service: if they lose one sale or client, there's a long line of mugs waiting to part with their hard earned...
Met up with one of my old colleagues at our annual reunion.
Has all his own VAG software and uses it regularly to fault find on his A4 1.8 T
But his concerns about how we are being controlled secretly by the motor manufacturers is interesting.
Firstly as you know all new parts have to be coupled to the cars main computer. Fair enough but he claims that new replacement parts have a one time code to couple up . If the car is scrapped and the parts removed the unit has a one time access to couple with the car's ECU and hence will fail to work a second time
Another example he claims is the Main Dealers difficulty in diagnosing intermittent faults. Apparently the manufacturer requires proof in the way of a print out of a permanent fault before they authorise a repair under warranty. This could explain why we see so many stories here of customers experiencing major difficulties in convincing dealers of an intermittent fault because they may not be reimbursed by the delver .
He has none of these problems with his second car which is a Mini Moke. Read more
KIA already has some unfortunate connotations for some of the American war veterans .
I saw a LHD xs this morning on my way to the shops, stopped and took a look around it, and I was invited to go for a test drive on the 2nd of November.
Liked.. the looks, finally got rid of the parrot nose of previous chinese MG's A bit jaguarish in fact, headlights looked good. front and threequarters view excellent and rear not unpleasant.... Read more
I was a front seat passenger in a MG GS and I was impressed.
...
Hi All
Just got myself a 2009 petrol focus. I.m not messing about and taking chances so want to get everything done that needs done.
This is where i need your know how Im in the process of ordering a service pack, timing belt kit and a water pump. While pricing the water pump one seller mentioned that im going to need some other belts think he classed it as front accessory pack and didnt know if i needed one or two belts. Got no idea what he was on about and indeed if i do need it.... Read more
Guy was a postie nearing retirement he took me to his work on the test drive it was two miles from his home.
If he used the car for such a short journey, that's not good either....
So....last week I had a steering fault show on the dash and the steering went super heavy, then the car died, we had the car recovered to Renault who charged us £200 for a diagnosis and put the fault as the battery so £120 for a new battery and Renault confirmed this solved the issue.
Skip to 48 hours later I jump in the car and what comes up on the dash?? You got it 'steering fault' ... Read more
Thanks Charlie, I shall have a look into what you suggested . Yes I will be asking for the £200 back.
They are now waiting for a master technician to look at it. I gave them the paperwork from AA with the fault code on it. They have done another diagnosis and all of a sudden it shows on their system but still have to get a third opinion. Is this normal?
www.wheelsmag.com.au/features/1710/holden-on-to-wh...t
www.wheelsmag.com.au/news/industry/1710/holden-end...a... Read more
Not being nasty but.......
...
In the 1990's I ran a recovery business, During this time a recovered three Mercs
which had collapsed front suspension due the bottom wishbone failing. I discovered... Read more
Agreed. I'll close it but leave it up just in case another conspiracy theorist with too much time on their hands tries it on.
Bought a year old car last year, that had covered 9,000 miles. The previous owner was a lady who traded it in after only owning it for just over eleven months.
Why would anyone keep a car for just 11 months, must have lost a fortune?... Read more
Yes I am aware may come off fleets, my last car an Alfa Romeo was an ex Avis car when I bought it, had eleven years of trouble free ownership.
I never had a car that was perfect, I never owned a car I really hated unless you count my Mercedes Sprinter and the reason I hated it it kept breaking down. My brother used to change cars every few months, but he bought them second hand and would only lose a few hundred pounds at the most on each one, sometimes he even made a profit.
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