August 2006
Got a 2.5se Legacy tourer which is working out just fine after 6 months of owning it.
But I have a real itch for a Spec B.
Anyone done this move with a Subaru dealer? What was the cost to change with similar age/mileage examples? Read more
I've recently bought a W-reg Nissan Almera 1.4, and have noticed a knocking noise coming from the offside-front corner of the car, when travelling at speed (from 50mph ish).
Sounded at first like a dodgy driveshaft, but I took the car to a good local garage, and they did a "pre-MOT inspection", found no problems with the wheel bearings, driveshafts or CV gaiters. Brakes were also fine. The only thing I've not considered is tracking - could this cause a constant knocking?
Knock is also apparent when steering lock-to-lock (i.e. parallel parking). Any suggestions welcome.
Thanks. Read more
tracking wont cure knocking .
you did the best thing get someone else to look at it and they failed
its strange it only does it from 50 mph and parrallel parking,i would still consider it to be a cv joint
if it was my car the next thing i would do is jack both sides well clear of the ground and run the car up to 50+ and listen for the noise at a careful distance trying to pinpoint it,maybe the garage could do this for you as im sure they will have done it before on a car
i would make sure there is no excess travel in the strut top mountings as well this could well start knocking at 50+ and also in the parking routine (cant spell excersize)
My friends Peugeot XU 1.9 petrol engine is oil smoking from start-up at tickover or fast tickover speeds, hot or cold.
1) What should the Compressions be when doing a compression test.
2) Can the Valve stem seals be changed in situ, without removing the Cylinder head.
I know the cam will have to be removed, but can it be done? Read more
I totaly agree with oldman peugeot petrols run at 150 to 175 psi your engine is suffering from valve stem oil seals going hard this is a commun fault of thios engine,however saying that when I worked for peugeot the way we did it was take head off then check for bore wear or heavy blue tingeing of bore liners. or you can do what we call a cylinder leakage test as this will show up any ring problems[megrandad] if heavy oil contamination of bores this is due to ring failure[megrandad]
Just a question for some research that I am doing.
Are new car dealers agents or principal in a transaction.
An agent is someone that acts for the principal (owner of the goods) and as such never owns the stock that it sells.
A principal makes or buys thier stock then sells it on.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks
Read more
Thanks everyone for your help.
I have decided to go back to a BMW 320 Touring. Saw and drove one at the BMW garage today 04 reg 320d SE M47 auto leather & wood 38,000 miles. One owner. They are asking 16,405. Cost to change (px Picasso) £11,000 incl full tank diesel.
How does that sound to you wise Back Room boys? (and girls)
They also had an 03 with cloth 39,000 miles for £14,905 Cost to change 9,500 I thought the year and the leather should be worth the difference, is that right? Read more
>>their cars sell pretty quickly (as you will see from sold/reserved tags on the other cars they have or had).>>
Pull the other one...:-)
One of the oldest tricks around in car advertising.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
Hi
I would be grateful for some advice/views on the following - I need to buy a Mini One for my new business which will do around 20-25k a year. I was going to buy a new one on the basis that the residuals are strong but am worried about the new models effect on this (I need to have the car in the next 2-3 weeks so cant wait for it). Leasing is an option but with the mileage I am doing this will be expensive. It has to be a mini as we are branding it.
Any advice would be gratefully received.
cheers
tim Read more
The question was so Mini I didn't even spot it in that paragraph.
OK, as some of you will remember from my recent thread I'm looking to change cars very soon.
What I need to know is which one is likely to be a better bet in terms of depreciation and to a limited extent, reliability.
The cars I'm looking at are:-
1999 - 2000ish BMW 318 Ci Coupe - probs about 80K - 100K on the clock
2000 Mercedes C-Class C180 (Probably very high mileage, any model, but if it was a Classic it would have to have a few options on it)
2000 - 2001 Audi A4 saloon (high mileage again)
My heart tells me that the one I want most is the Merc, but the problem is that there are *very* few available within my budget of £7K, they are almost all exclusively the old style one with only the odd Classic model new style thrown into the mix. What is reliabilty like on the early C-Class? I don't want to buy one and then be spending a fortune on daily repairs!
I've liked the A4 for a long time, if I got one it would probably be the diesel for residual value, but are the 1.9 TDi engines reliable or are they ridled with problems like Focus TDCi?
The BMW is a lovely car, there are plenty to choose from, and so far it is looking the most likely, my only concern is whether it has definately levelled off it's depreciation by now, especially with a new one on the way.
So, what would other Backroomers buy off this list with a budget of £7K?
Please don't anybody suggest a Mondeo, I know how good they are and if it were solely down to me it would be on my list, unfortunately my only capital here is my current Focus, and I still owe my parents for that, I've tried running Mondeo past them and they think that's ridiculous at my age (I really can't talk them round) and that the *only* type of large cars I should be looking at are more leggy examples of luxury German Marques. Basically I need to tow the line on this one. Anyway, whilst I would like to have a Mondeo on the list, I'm still not in too bad a predicament :-)
Blue Read more
Personally I wouldn't have the Merc. Had one ( year old C200K) for a month a few years back when my car was being accident repaired and looked up Honest John's site for the 'what to look for' bits and bobs (cos i'm nosey)and found it spot on.
1. boomy 4 cyl engine, if you can afford it go for the 6 cyl..........( whilst it was quick enough...Kompressor... it did
sound awfully harsh)
2. build quality issues with RHD as built in South Africa......( too true, the mirror fell off)
3. make sure tracking correct as will ruin tyres.....( i scrubbed one bald in 1 month).
Was less than impressed with the interior, bits of wood bunged in in a haphazard fashion and lowish grade plastics, couldn't believe i was in a Mercedes and to be honest, felt let down.
Am I being unrealistic nowadays to expect someone to own up to damaging the car?
Just found wife's car with damned great (foot square) mark on painted bumper, which in one place has gone down through the paint to the plastic below for at least 6 inches, so Mr T Cut isn't going to cure it.
This now matches a very similar patch on my car which was done a couple of months ago. I have had my back bumper re-painted twice (in 4 years) and the front once........purely because of parking shunts by other (unknowm people).
Both cars are parked in a quiet residential street in a nicer part of North London (apart from my neighbours/ visitors parking prowess obviously).
Should i just accept it as modern living or carry on spouting from my soap box.
Read more
Ah, the place de la Concorde.... try crossing it on foot in rush hour. Sorts out the sheep from the nimble mountain goats that one.
My 1993 1.9td seat toledo appears to be loosing pwr steering fluid from the resevior(?) i can`t find a leak,would it be pressurising some how? should i just shoot it ?as the alt belt went at 0300 and left me at the side of the m40
thanks Ray Read more
so far i`m still losing fluid from the breather on the res when you rev the engine and the steering is v-heavy at low rpm but when revved to above 2k it lightens up a lot. am i right in thinking the pump is worn out ? should i stick somr conditioner type stuff in?
Thought i'd see if anyone could give me some info regards this.
The Mrs's Ka (P Reg) failed her MOT test due to a power steering fluid leak and since a mechinic has checked it over and he says it needs a new steering rack.
I'm just wondering if the price he's charging for a new one plus fitting etc is about right, he says he's doing his best for her but i thought i'd ask the question. He has ordering a non Ford steering rack as a Ford one would cost loads more ££.
Anyway the total price he's charging is £240 and the Mrs isnt happy but she's gone ahead with it anyhow as she has her retest next week.
Thoughts? about right or not??
Cheers. Read more
I don't think your Mrs will have Arnie harms because the non-power steering lock is lighter meaning more turns of the steering wheel me thinks.
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Its not what you drive, its how you drive it! :-)
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hmm.... I've got exactly the same itch.
Mrs Wilco has 'persuaded' me to resist so far....