Looking at the 'latest post' times, I presume a load of spam came in just after midnight, as the new posts aren't there. Thank you mods. Read more

I am retired and considering buying an electric car. They have several advantage for me. No catalytic converter to nick as is a common occurrence round my way. No problem if the car isn't used for a month at a time. I'd be happy with a range of 250 or so miles but was reflecting on my trip this weekend from Kingston, W London, to Romford, East london.

On the way back, at night, cold, wet, I'd have had headlamps on, air con + heating, radio, phone charging, and stop and start driving for 2.5 hours - covering just 22 miles.I really wonder how long the battery would last stop and go with all the accessories on.... Read more

We had the battery disconnected for a few months while away, when we reconnected the radio asked for code. There were some wrong attempts, but it didn’t get as far as saying ‘locked’.

We now have the code but the radio doesn’t ask for it, I guess it might be permenanyly locked out but it doesn’t say ‘locked’, you can still use the screen, navigate, but radio/cd doesn’t function.

Is there anything we can try to do, to get it to ask for code again?

I can get in to ask for a diagnostic code (hold menu and power), but the code we have doesn’t do anything)

Also, if we do get an opportunity, is the number entry the same as other radios (eg. Don’t type 1143, but press 1 once, 2 once, 3 four times and 4 three times)

Thanks for any info...

2005 c-max, touch screen navigation radio with buttons either side.

Model:
C214 nav module (part 3m5t-18b988-ag)

Serial:
M990401

Code we have:
1143


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During a conversation recently a friend insisted that it is good policy to completely ignore the letters from parking companies that follow up their penalty charge notice. She said her son told her it is fine to do this. I was sceptical in view of the laughably named "Protection of Freedoms Act" that has been enacted for some years now. I understood this gave the parking companies the right to access the DVLA and pursue the registered owner/keeper of the errant vehicle. So if the driver ignored the letters they have some recourse against the owner/keeper. I am sure that Middleman or Bromptonaut or DVD may have some current information regarding this and I would appreciate some enlightenment. Thank you.

Cheers Concrete Read more

What utter, utter rubbish Grant Shapps is talking. Doing away with the hard shoulder on motorways is madness. GO LEFT is the advice, go left to WHERE? I drive a fairly modern car (18 plate) but the thought of having to make an emergency stop on one of these death-trap motorways terrifies me. I have been driving for over 60 years and this idea of "smart motorways" is the most ridiculous idea ever. Her's a suggestion, Mr Shapps, drive on to a "smart motorway" and stop in the left-hand lane, or "go left" and see how you survive.

Brian Robinson. Read more