Piston slapper

We have a 1,200cc petrol) Panda that is 6 years old this month and has done about 45,000 miles. Should the cam belt be replaced at this mileage? There is some confusion about this. Also the dealer said...

Irradiated

I bought a nine-month old Vauxhall Vectra 2.2 litre automatic (mileage 10,000) in September 2004 from main Vauxhall dealer. In January of this year, still at only 37,000 miles, the car broke down. The...

Unwarranted attention?

I have recently been quoted £230 by BMW, to change the oil on my 123d M Sport Coupe. This is the first service as indicated by the on board computer. A colleague put me in touch with a BMW trained specialist...

Pole fault

I have a 2006 VW Polo Sport 1.9TDI so it is now 4 years old and has done 18,000 miles. It is about to go in for its annual service and MOT and the garage is recommending changing the cambelt. Is this really...

Why are some franchised dealerships so uninterested in selling cars?

We have been trying over the past couple of weeks to buy a car with around £12,000 in cash, but Nissan dealers and Vauxhall dealers seem singularly uninterested here in Chester. Trying to get any of them...

Why are some traders reluctant to have mechanical checks performed on cars they are selling?

I'm looking to replace my E38 7-Series BMW with a 6-year-old 745. I've looked at a couple and phoned one trader to arrange to view the car, who asked what my plans were after viewing it. I said that I...

Dealer, or no dealer?

My Lexus GS300 is now in its 3rd year, with 14,000 miles on the clock. I am not really impressed with my local Lexus dealer, and am considering a service elsewhere. Are there any pitfalls or considerations...

Strutting German

Many thanks for your advice on the quotation I obtained from Mercedes Watford of £ 2,700 odd to replace a pair of front suspension struts and provide a new pump to the system on my 2004 E class Mercedes....

Za fearer

I purchased a 2006 Vauxhall Zafira from a dealer, in March 2010. Mileage 59,000, current mileage 61,000. 1600cc. A flashing engine management light was rectified by a garage recommended by dealer, and...

Sister act

I wonder if you could help? My sister bought a Vauxhall Astra from a private car dealer. Not sure how old, but it’s certainly not new. She got it for £800 and has had nothing but problems with it since,...