December 2002
I am very interested to learn much more about my 320d (registered 2001 in the UK) than is published in the supplied owners' manual. Not that I want to dismantle the car, rather would like to learn a lot more about how it was put together. Nothing seems to be available for private owners from BMW themselves. USA based sources of technical manuals are plentiful but don't cater for the 320d which is not actively marketed there. Haynes haven't published a manual for this vehicle as yet. Any ideas anyone? Read more
In March I am popping to Florida for the Sebring 12 hour race. Flights and car hire booked.
Anyone know if I need anything other than my passport and UK old-style driving licence for my car hire? International licence maybe?
Thanks in advance Read more
Smokie,
"I really LIKED the two main differences in road rules - turning right on a red light, which prevents unnecessary queues forming, and overtaking in any lane on the highways, which prevents tailgating as when someone is in your lane you can just use the next one."
Glad you enjoyed the trip.
I agree with the first point in the above but the overtaking in any lane has its downside and in my experience tailgating is a problem in Florida - particularly when the roads are busy. But this has all been discussed before - do a search for 'tailgating USA'
I was there at the same time as you in the Melbourne/Cocoa Beach area. Thousands of bikers everywhere on their HDs - a great sight and enough to make the Growler drool. Even though most were ridden sedately there was a huge number of casualties - always is though. It won't be long before Florida gets in line with other States and makes helmets compulsory. Hope they will abolish Spring Break vacations too!!!
Cardew
Do I need to drain my tank before I start to use oil
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No reason to. I think you'd be better off using biodiesel though, especially if it's a more modern/expensive engine.
I recently had the engine mangement light appear on the dash, i got the computer and plug it in and it there was 2 faults, the air flow metre and something called, "No RPM signal or sensor" i replaced the air flow metre and the light has gone off, but i still don't know what the other fault is,
I have a problem starting the car from warm after it reaches its desired temperature, it just always cuts out straight away and u have to keep the revs up for a while untill it will run on its own, then it is perfectly ok, i have also cleaned the ISCV and the all the hoses to the manifold and are now free from blockages from oil.
Could this RPM problem be why i have starting problems, i also heard that the problem is linked to the crankshafy sensor or camshaft sensor but i have no idea.
please help
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>> My question is where is the ISCV located in the engine
and is it a case cleaning the connector plugs or banging
it with a stick (my level of DIY skills)?
It's situated at the rear of the injection housing, connected by two rubber hoses. Description, round aluminium cylinder, approx 4" long, by 1½" diameter. Disconnect the electrical plug, undo the two jubilee clamps and remove from car. Flush out with petrol and refit.
Telegraph of 23rd Dec reports that Dorset Council is offering free advanced driving lessons to regular users of "A notorious 19 mile stretch of road where 10 people have been killed in the last 4 years". I wonder how many "Safety C*m*r*s" have been installed on this stretch, where they might be useful? They will probably be left on 40 mph limited Dual Carriageways and other safe places where there is money to be made! (Why won't the swear word filter let me write the words in clear? They are vile devices but they aren't that bad!) Read more
There is a piece in, IIRC, yesterdays DT about a road in kent that has a bad fatality record which was to be improved but the scheme was dropped by Prescott in 1997 and even if gone ahrad with will not be completed before 2010.
In the meantime two people a year are dying needlessly.
I have a 92 carlton diplomat which has an intermitant starting problem normally she starts fine from cold but after driving 10-12 miles i stop and then attempt to restart with no luck, the engine cranks ok but will not fire, the car has a switchable auto box and the "sport mode light" flashes when the engine wont start.
If i leave it for 20-30 minutes and try again she starts right away, i have checked all the usual stuff ht leads battery connections & so on.
Everything seems to suggest a problem with the E C U
I would be extremly gratefull for any suggestions thanks and a merry christmas.
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Cracked It !!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks to Tony following his advice i checked the relays that live under a plastic cover in the engine bay, sure enough when i started checking them i found one had almost melted where it plugs in and the connections had become covered in gooey melted plastic, when the engine got hot a little bit more melted and prevented contact.
This would not stop it running but if you stopped the engine it would not start again.
As a temp solution i have just wiped the contacts but will need to get a new relay.
Many thanks to everyone for all your help & suggestions
My tongue in cheek "thumbs down" back fired on me - apologies and thanks for all who freely gave time, advice and knowledge, didnt mean to sound like an ungrateful person, but was delighted to have solved the problem without cost - a normal reaction I think. Once again thanks all, and I will be a lot more careful with (my) sardonic humour in the future. Live long and prosper and a merry 2003 to all. Read more
df,
I guessed you didn't mean the "thumbs down" to be as critical as it looked and I'm sure we all appreciate your thanks.
Have a good Christmas.
I had occasion to call on the assistance of the above when car broke down on journey to the ferry port. This meant that if the car could not be repaired that day a hire car would be provided. Since it was a Sunday it was soon agreed that a hire car should be organised.
Since I had European Cover, expected that a hire car would be legal for the journey I was to make. Car was collected and found to have none of what I consider to be standard items when crossing into Europe; no fire extinguisher, no first aid kit, no replacement bulb kit, no warning triangle, no headlamp beam deflectors and no GB plate (not even Euro number plates). I am also a bit worried about the paperwork supplied - it certainly did not seem adequate to persuade some of the foreign traffoic enforcement bodies that I was entitled to remove the vehicle from UK and insured to drive it. However, the paperwork is not the main point. I have written to RAC about the lack of the basic items above; the response so far is that no hire company supplies these items and that a normal car going abroad would carry an extinguisher and first aid kit. I did, but by the time I realised thay were not supplied my own car was 90 minutes fom me and travelling in the opposite direction to my ferry.
How can i make a supposedly responsible organisation like RAC recognise that some of us like to be legal and not to go overseas in breach of the regulations of another country. In addition, unbolting the fire ext. form my own car would leave me with the option of having a lethal weapon in the cabin should a collision occur and the extinguisher take to the air, or not having it to hand if it were needed.
I have written again to point out that only two of the missing items were addressed in their reply and that there assumptions are unreasonable in these circusmatances of breakdown.
Any other experiences out there?
JohnM
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I don't think that it's unreasonable to expect a 'EU' pack to be offered as an option... and if you've got European breakdown then the pack should come as standard. I certainly think you should be offered some sort of compensation (even if you didn't get stopped by foreign police) - this perhaps should free cover next time you travel abroad.
Putting the kit in all cars would lead to a marked increase in cost of a hire car - extinguishers would go missing, First Aid kits (if not nicked) would need to be checked and/or replenished each time the vehicle is returned. The other items (triangle & bulbs) would also be attractive to some people. So I don't believe they should be standard (though the GB plate should be), however I agree 100% that if you have European cover then a 'pack' should be provided.
Hi
Does anyone know a good cheap source for second hand bumpers, plastic bonnet trim and NSR light Cluster for my 96 Renault Trafic in the Westcountry, or even nationally, where delivery is not a problem?
This van appears to be in shockingly good condition with the exception of these and a few minor dents. As it is being kept as a domestic pet, I wouldn't mind lavishing a bit of attention on it. Obviously the top of my priorities is a full service and pre MOT inspection including a cambelt change.
Many thanks to everyone who steered me away from the LDVs in my last thread. I hope I haven't just traded one mistake for the other. I picked this up this evening at a pre arranged rendevous with some extra diesel in the tank. Just out of interest with the PAS it is a fantastic drive. The company whose name appears as the last owner has agreed for me to phone them back tomorrow to get some more history on it as well.
All the best
Hugo
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The boot light on my passat has stopped working which is annoying this time of year - i believe it operates on a ball type switch? Is this easy to replace or fix. I am always a bit wary of removing panels in case i damage permanently - but would rather try than pay VW. Read more
JonL
Many thanks JonL - I did spot the screws and I swapped the switch all for £5.71. Now I can see the boot in the dark!
Neil
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hi is your bmw 136 bhp? what do u think of it?