My battery frequently discharges if left for a period of time - why?

I have a 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco 2.0 TDI. After leaving it locked in garage for four weeks while on holiday, I found that the battery had discharged and the car wouldn't start. I have already had the...

Parking charge for a ten-minute overstay. Can you advise me on what to do?

A week ago my wife and I did our weekly shop in the local Waitrose. The carpark apparently is controlled by Euro Car Parks with a limited stay of 90 minutes. My has recently had a knee replacement operation...

Who has my second key?

I bought a BMW from a Tyneside used car dealer with only one key. I spoke to the previous owner, who said there were two keys but the dealer says there was only one key. Does he have to provide two keys?...

What are swirl flaps and can they cause problems on my BMW?

A friend has sent me an article suggesting that ‘swirl flaps’ can fail on post-2003 BMW 530d models and cause serious damage. What are swirl flaps? Does this apply to my 2010 F10 model and, if so, should...

Why has Volkswagen acted so insensitively over a transmission failure in our Golf Estate?

I have just come across some emails concerning problems with DSG transmissions. We have a Volkswagen Golf Estate 2.0TDi DSG. It is just over three years old and therefore out of warranty, in spite of doing...

Why won't Skoda offer this software and shim adjustment for Roomster drivers with DSG problems?

I was interested in the letter from MG re problems with his Skoda with 1.2TSI and DSG box. Having bought a Roomster in December 2010 with the same engine and gearbox, I can understand his problem with...

I want to buy a discounted new car - is this legal and safe?

I am thinking of ordering a new Yeti S 1.2 DSG from an online car trader as the list price is discounted by 13 per cent. They told me that they hold the V5 for up to six weeks before its release and that...

The satnav in my BMW X3 doesn't accept seven digit postcodes - why?

I took delivery of a new BMW X3 in September 2011. I specified the wide screen satnav package at around £2500 and, as I had experience of using portable TomTom satnavs (with great satisfaction) for nearly...

Why is Gap Insurance so expensive?

I have just purchased an Audi A4 Allroad and was pressurised into considering Gap Insurance. Thanks to your warnings, I declined. The exact same product, for which the dealer wanted £550, was just £139...

Should I return my new car having found out that it's ex-rental?

I brought my nearly new June 2011 Audi A4 TDI Multitronic home last night, only to find on checking the logbook that the one previous owner had been Hertz. I had specifically said to the Audi dealer that...