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Trending topics in September 2013
Questions from September 2013
Can you recommend a good set of winter tyres for my BMW 3 Series Touring? I wanted to use the same set as my four-wheel drive X1, but my local dealer told me the steel wheels and winter tyres cannot be...
My BMW 320d with 17-inch alloy wheels needs new run-flat tyres. While I have winter wheels with 16-inch steel rims and Dunlop tyres (205-55-16), which are great, I would like a better summer driving experience....
My mother needs a small economical car that’s reliable. She drives around town most of the time and once a week she does a return trip of 100 miles to see her mother. Any suggestions? She has a budget...
My BMW 3 Series has wider rear wheels: can I fit the front size tyre 225/45/R17 on 8.5 inch wide wheel to improve the ride?
I own a 2005 Ford Mondeo that's covered 147,000 miles. The car has started to make a rattling noises from the engine. I’ve spoken to a mechanic and he says it could be a DMF issue, which will be very expensive...
I ordered a Renault Captur DCI 90 Expression two months ago and was told it would be delivered in November. However, the dealer has now told me they have no idea when the car will be available and it might...
I am considering buying a new shape Mercedes A-Class; it will cover about 15,000 a year and I’m considering a diesel. However, with DPF problems considered, is this wise? Or should I buy a petrol?
My mum owns a 2008 Vauxhall Corsa since new, but has had nothing but trouble with the automatic gearbox. It has been recalled and had its gearbox replaced and fixed many times and it seems unfair that...
The ABS warning light has come on my 1995 Jaguar XJ6. Can you tell me what’s wrong? Is the care safe to drive, or should I take it to a garage?
I purchased a 2011 Volvo V60 from our local dealer a few weeks ago. Before I agreed the sale, I walked around the car with the agent to inspect it – it looked almost flawless in the sun. However, two weeks...
For the past two weeks my 2010 Skoda Favia vRS has been consuming a lot of oil. The dealer has had two attempts to fix it (a breather modification and then a new engine) but the car is still using a lot...
With some good advice from you, I purchased a new BMW320d last year. Overall, I'm delighted with it. However, there’s one slight problem – I cannot discover exactly what changes when I select sport mode....
I bought a Rover 45 yesterday and as I was driving home the revs were bouncing up when parked at lights. Today, the engine light came on and the car died and refuses to start. Any idea what could be wrong?
I have just purchased a 2010 KIA Sportage from an authorised dealer; however, the state of the seven year warranty is starting to worry me. Looking at the paperwork, it seems that it hasn't been serviced...
My Mercedes-Benz E-class is very heavy on fuel, yet it has next to no acceleration. What’s going on?
We are about to change our Ford Fiesta 1.6 Titanium manual for a new automatic car. We have really enjoyed the Fiesta, but have heard varying reports about Ford automatics. Should we look elsewhere or...
My son exchanged his Peugeot for a three year old diesel version, along with extended warranty. Last week the car suffered a burst a steel injector fuel pipe and the car was recovered by the RAC. My son...
I own a new Toyota Auris Hybrid and I want to fit steel wheels with 195/65/15 tyres to replace the current alloys with 225/45/17.
My local dealer has told me this is not possible, so I have contacted...
I live in the Republic of Ireland and want to sell my 2001 BMW M5. The market here is very quiet, so I want to try and sell it in the UK. Does it need a UK MoT? It has the Irish equivalent (NCT) and is...
The near side windows, central locking and electric mirrors on my Skoda Yeti have failed, just six months after the car's three year warranty expired. My Skoda dealer (who sold me the car new and have...
I have a 2001 Ford Focus 1.8 petrol. The car has covered 71,000 miles and is suffering from a speedometer fault. The issue is intermittent and it will stop for a few miles then start working again. Do...
I have a 2009 Volkswagen Eos and some of the LEDs in both rear indicator units have failed. I thought the advantage of LEDs is that they do not blow like ordinary light bulbs, could this be a indication...
I’m coming to the end of a 12 month lease of a Hyundai ix35. During the past year it has been trouble free, with my only complaint being its lack of ride comfort. Which of the current crop of crossovers...
We are looking to buy a new family car to replace our aging Ford Focus and have so far narrowed down our choices to the new Focus and the new Volvo V40. The car needs to be big enough to fit our (rather...
My Skoda Superb interior lights will not work when the doors are opened. How can I fix this?
My car went for its fifth annual service and MoT at 39,000 miles. It failed because the brake pedal rubber was worn. In my judgement it was showing a fingernail size piece of metal through the bottom right...
My beloved 1997 Discovery automatic is dying and I don't know what to replace it with. I have a budget of approx £23,000 and initially thought of a Freelander, new, or on my budget, more likely used. I...
I am now 82 and my wife is 78. We are still both capable drivers. We recently moved into a city environment, well served with shops and free public transport. Earlier this year we got rid of our car after...
I run a Citroen C4 SX HD1 110 diesel that is now eight years old, with 93,000 miles on the clock and still running fine. The car is serviced according to the handbook by the local Citroen dealer. Financial...
After the high kerbs of the chicanes on Copse Hill, Wimbledon caused considerable damage to my car, I challenged Merton council. They replied via their insurers, Zurich, maintaining that the chicanes are...
With a budget of £10,000, what Focus or bigger-sized diesel auto would you recommend secondhand? I'm running 30,000 miles per year, so it shouldn't be too expensive to run in fuel/parts, and needs to be...
My granddaughter has a 3-month-old Nissan Juke and last weekend she approached a T-junction, did not see it, went straight over the T, up a bank and through a six foot high dry stone wall (don't ask!)....
I appreciate that diesel has many advantages but I have always been concerned that even with the best systems, NO2, PM5s and more especially PM2.5s could be a health hazard. Now, according to ‘Autocar’,...
Regarding your reply concerning a laid up camper van and resulting slipped cambelt, what advice can you offer owners of camper vans regularly laid up for long periods to avoid such mishaps?
Becoming senior citizens, my wife and I have decided our existing car is no longer appropriate to our changed needs. We shall be looking for a small 4-door hatch, automatic, with a 1.4 engine although...
I have a BMW 3 Series Touring diesel automatic bought from new in September 2006. I have had 50,000 miles of excellent trouble-free motoring and arrange regular servicing at the local BMW dealer. Recently...
The front Pirelli P Zero Rosso tyres of my Mercedes-Benz ML last only 4000 miles. The rears show no sign of wear. The car has 31,000 miles with full MB service history. Mercedes says this is normal for...
I bought a 2013 E-Class Mercedes-Benz two weeks ago. Since then, while driving, suddenly I hear a loud two bleeps and see a warning triangle light up. The car has been twice to Robinson Motors, Cambridge...
My 12-year-old 320i SE automatic salon BMW has provided good and relatively trouble-free driving for the past six years. Unfortunately, the steering has recently become stiff and noisy, and my local BMW...
I am having new alloy wheels fitted to my SEAT Ibiza Cupra and came across ‘Alloygators’ fitted for protection. Have you heard of these? If so I would value your opinion of how good they are.
I own a 1999 Peugeot estate car, which I inherited seven years ago. At the time I obtained a valuation, for probate, from the Peugeot garage that had been servicing the car for several years. They said...
I’m looking for a replacement key for my Mercedes-Benz CLK 240 Coupe W209, registered March 2004. Please advise where to purchase for best price.
I am changing my car shortly and would like to know which small to medium-size family cars are not fitted with low profile tyres.
If I approach a dealer offering a secondhand car for £10,000 how much discount might I expect? What should be my starting bid?
I currently drive a 2007 Discovery 3 HSE with 75,000 on the clock. It has been problem-free and an excellent car (my fifth Discovery). I am considering a change at some time in the next year, and have...
My main car is a 5-year old Jaguar XF 2.7 diesel. I have loved the car but with annual mileage now of only 7000 (it has 31,500 on the clock) I am starting to think of replacing it with another XF, but...
The stop-start on my wife's Fiat 500 often either fails to cut the engine when in neutral at traffic lights, and this is accompanied by a dashboard warning symbol, or else it cuts the engine properly but...
My 2002 Rover 75 CDT has been a good car for me over the past eight years but is now suffering from an overheating problem when towing my caravan. It was fine when I towed to Norfolk in April, but I had...
You mention that it is not illegal to warn approaching drivers of the hazard of a speed trap, unless the person warned was in fact already speeding. I remember reading recently of a speed trap set up where,...
We have a 2002 1.9 Mitsubishi Space Star which has reached the end of its life. We do not replace our cars on a regular basis and are somewhat out of touch with the current market. We need a replacement...
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