April 2024
Bought a car from a dealership around 70 miles from where I live at the end of October, around 33k miles on the clock. After only ten days I got a dashboard light start to come on each time I turn the ignition on with an exclamation mark in a triangle saying engine fault: repair needed followed by airbag(s) or pretensioner seat belt(s) faulty then ‘risk of particle filter clogging: see handbook’
Contacted them straight away about it and they booked it in for an initial diagnostic in their workshop for two weeks later. I then noticed a creaking type noise driving at low speeds under the driver footwell and mentioned this also prior to diagnostic. Verdict from the initial diagnostic was that shock absorbers needed doing and that the dashboard lights were an electrical fault and they would need their subcontracted electrical specialist to have more of a look at it. I was informed that when they had a date of availability back from said electrics specialist that I could bring it to them, have the shock absorbers done then the car be taken to the electrics specialists garage same day.... Read more
Hi all, a couple months back i noticed specs appearing all over my Red A class, 2016, i since found out that this is a common problem with 2 or 3 specific shades of red used on merc vehicles. I contacted the Merc dealership & there workshop assessed it and said they would make a case for repair to Merc UK, they admitted they had seen this before on other cars. Merc come back with a 50% goodwill saying the car come with 3 years warranty which is now obviously passed. Ive heard there is a separate warranty or cover on paintwork but im finding it difficult to get a confirmed timescale for that, does anyone else know if there is such a thing? Or have they experienced this with their own Merc? I dont see why i should fork out a couple thousand for the respray of my car just because the paint used by the manufacturer clearly isnt up to the standard i would expect from a premium car brand, even more so the fact had i a car the same age in any other colour this wouldnt have happend. Any feedback appreciated please Read more
I do see a lot of old French cars in the supermarket car park with lacquer peel paint problems, and a lot of them are red.
A guide to DIY repairing clear coat damage, but remember, it has to be warm when you spray, so as you feel warm in a tee shirt in the shade, and don't use the dupli-colour type cans. Get some quality two-pack aerosols, where you trigger a valve in the bottom of the can to release the catalyst into the paint before shaking the can....
Car failed mot because lambda reading is 8.199. It's been running fine and fuel consumption normal. Any ideas what could be the cause? Halfords who did the mot wouldn't even look at it. Told me I needed to go to bmw dealership but it's going into a local garage. Read more
<< " Any number seriously divergent from 1.0 would mean an engine in dire need of tuning. A figure like 8 would mean the engine was getting hardly any oxygen at all."
but if its the wrong way around, it all falls neatly into place. >>...
Hi Everyone,
I'm thinking of buying my first car and looking for a bit of guidance as to whether the one I'm looking at is good. I don't know anything about cars, just that low mileage is better. ... Read more
<< But what definitely is the case is that short journeys where an engine and drivetrain doesn't get up to operating temperature is bad for the car. It is also definitely the case that urban running (potholed streets, lots of stopping and starting, sharp turns etc,) is worse for a car than sitting for mile upon mile of smooth motorway or dual carriageway at the legal limit. >>
Quite true. But low mileage (again) doesn't necessarily mean the car has always done short trips. All the 205s I have owned during the last 20 years or so have done between 1000 and 2000 miles a year making occasional (about every 2 weeks) round trips of up to 80 miles. In fact the most recent car has surprised me by averaging 54mpg - the best I have had from a 205 1.4 petrol - by doing most of it at 40 to 60 mph.
Hello
can Anyone help / advise..?... Read more
What does apply is the english law of contract. You contracted with the vendor (seller) to supply a vehicle with a "consideration" ie the money you paid the vendor.
That makes it a legal contract in law....
Hi everyone,
I'm coming to the end of the PCP for my (71 reg) Dacia Sandero, which is the bi-fuel model. This really helps me keep costs down, as I do around 18k miles a year for my job. Sadly, it's getting much harder to get hold LPG where I live (and the price has doubled in three years)... Read more
That's true. I didn't check the fees etc. I bet the amount will plummet as well as I'm not finishing the finance until September. A grand in my hand would be fine.....
Hi people
... Read more
Give the top of the dash , above the instrument pod , a thump with your hand to see if that reinstates functions .
The daughter of a friend "likes the colour" of this car for sale on a used car dealer forecourt for £12,995.
Registered in September 2016 and described as full service history (yet to be confirmed regarding how full and evidence available). Current mileage displayed as 27,936 is backed up by the last 5 MOT's with tyre wear advisory shown on the last one. Otherwise nothing whatsoever apart from a rectified misaligned headlight which I need to investigate.... Read more
I certainly wouldn’t pay a premium for one thinking it was actually a Merc.
I'd guess other people who wouldn't do that might still pay a premium for other other people thinking it was actually a Merc
Otherwise no raison d'etre, as nieman would buy one.
Hello, I have recently had an issue where by breaks stopped working on the motorway and drive with an oil warning light for a few miles before I could pull over. I have since learnt of the issue with regards to this model. I have been quoted 1.7k for the wet belt to be repaired, however have been advised that it would not be known if the engine is damaged until the repair is completed (due to driving with the warning light on). Are able to give 3-400 for sc***. It is a 2015 plate with 100k miles. Any comments/advice would be welcome as unsure how to proceed with this. Many thanks
Hpi / direct injection petrol engines very often don’t idle with the throttle butterfly near the closed position, so the vacuum at the manifold is not sufficient for the brake servo . A mechanical driven booster pump is used to overcome this situation.
OK, Apology to OP. Didn't know that.
Another "New Car Thing".AKA Progress....
Looking to buy new 2024 hyundai i10 1.2 petrol auto this month, ticks all the boxes except one. I'm concerned about the amt auto box, is amt any good or should I look at another make with cvt? I do not want a hybrid or electric car. Read more
I'm concerned about the amt auto box, is amt any good
We had a Suzuki Ignis with an AMT for three and a bit years up to last Oct. Based on that, the answer to your question is, no, not really!. ...
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In fairness to the dealer concerned (and we haven't heard their side) the car has covered 9000 miles so has hardly blown up out the door.
There seem to be two faults: the DPF fluid and pump and maybe an airbag light. The airbag light if it came up soon after purchase the seller should have rectified. The DPF fluid depends on how soon after I guess but fluid is really a service item and the pumps do often need doing at the same time. It isn't the end of the world, £150 for a pump, £30 for the fluid and about an hour's labour. It is not unreasonable that doing a high mileage a purchaser might have to do this. This is really basic car maintenance stuff these days....