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• Low annual mileage cambelt changes 17 Oct 2003 (Forum)
  Car is garaged at night, so no frost damage or excessive condensation to worry about. What is/are the time-related factor(s) to consider? Any thoughts?
• Filling with oil 6 Oct 2003 (Forum)
  This warning in repeated in the owners manual. I have been working on cars, both personally and 'professionally' since the early 1970's and have never come across this before. Why shouldn't the oil be filled with the dipstck removed? It is just and ordinary dipstick and pokes down into the sump in the normal way. Can anyone suggest an explanation - its important enough for them to fit a warning sticker about it?
• New car? 6 Oct 2003 (Forum)
  I know there are other, less flashy alternatives, but i\'m led to beleive that the beemer is the \"driver\'s car\" choice, which is what i\'m after as opposed to out-and-out luxury. So gentlemen (and ladies), your thoughts please? Particularly: 1) performance/handling 2) running costs 3) reliability (remembering for the sort of money i want to spend (3-4k, it\'ll be the wrong side of 100k miles) 4) will people really think i\'m a pink fluffy dice ?
• FAO Fitz & Bighammerman - VIRUS WARNING 26 Sep 2003 (Forum)
  You keep sending me emails with the virus attached!! I have tried replying to you by email, but all I get is "The user(s) account is temporarily over quota." from your service provider, NTL. Not only is this an inconvenience, as the files you keep sending me are over 350kb in size; but more importantly you are posing a risk to my pc by also infecting mine.
• Stupidity 24 Sep 2003 (Forum)
  It doesn\'t sound that bad apart from the fact that there were three small children in the back of the car that weren\'t strapped in. If you\'ve ever seen a small child lying in a pool of blood by the side of the road it\'s something that you will never want to see again. I just can\'t believe the stupidity of the person driving. We are constantly bombarded with messages about using seat belts, using them in the back and as parents about the use of proper car seats.
• Alfa 156 AirCon! 1 Sep 2003 (Forum)
  My Father has a Primara and my Wife a Citroen Xsara and both cool the air much quicker compared to mine. I did telephone the dealer and they hinted that all the 156's were like that. Its a company car and I wondered if other 156 drivers have been pleased with the aircon or have experenced the same as me? My car is black which does not help so the air con has more work to do.
• Minis everywhere 19 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  Just a short note, I happen to live in West Oxfordshire and over the past few weeks signs have been appearing for the 'mini in the Park' day, well last sunday was the day and lo and behold there were Minis everywhere. From a Austin Cooper S to the latest offering from BMW, rally prepped versions to fully customised, all in mint condition. A sight to behold.....20 or 30 in a row on the small country lanes around where I live. Brought back memories of learning to drive in a Mini (WHW 474T where are you?).
• Clocking 11 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  A second-hand car was bought from a Car Dealer who said he had done a HPI check. The car was bought as it was low mileage but I suspected otherwise: but the MOT\'s showed a low mileage. I have now traced a point, prior to the first MOT when there was a very high mileage noted, but VMC will not disclose where this info comes from. They use Data Protection as a reason not to disclose to anyone other than the Motor Trade.
• \'Tar\' on paintwork 11 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  Just been giving my white Xantia a bath and on the whole, it\'s come up quite well. the nearside wing and some of the door panels are a bit dull, so I was going to use T Cut on those, However, I hve noticed small specs of what looks to be tar on the painwork below the outside rubber trim.
• Mondeo 1.8TD G/Box oil change? 5 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  Ford say you should never need to change it, so is it something more (mechanically) serious? What oil should be used if a change is recommended?,Do I have to use FMT?. It,s a 1993 model (with no extraneous noises from gearbox). Any ideas? Many thanks Steve
• Good old-fashioned cassettes 28 Jul 2003 (Forum)
  For the record, I only have a tape player and I can muster the best of Paul McCartney, Tony Bennet Swings, The Three Tenors, Round the Horne Vol 2 and several home made ones including The Rocky Horror Show, Barry White, Robbie Williams' Swing When You're Winning and a 70;s compilation. Christ - I'm only 29!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cheers Rob "Lord of Lard"
• Engine running away 24 Jun 2003 (Forum)
  Also when I press the clutch in fully, at red lights say, the engine revs getting me some funny looks. Obviously I\'m taking it in ASAP (it\'s due for a service soon anyway) but does anyone know what is wrong? Is it a broken component, or something that needs tuning/tweaking? I\'m thinking the electronic management unit needs replacing/tuning but then I know almost nothing about engines.
• LPG Conversion on a Volvo 22 Jun 2003 (Forum)
  My question is do LPG converstions work well with turbo cars?, A lot of discussitions I have seen are on V8 or V6's. Is there any reasons why a high pressure turbo sould not be converted? Also I belive that there is a new generation III, were performance and fuel economy is not lost? I have also spoken to my insurance company who have put a very little extra cost on this car been converted to LPG.
• I need references to DVLA problems 18 Jun 2003 (Forum)
  I know a reference must exist some where to a fire at Swansea DVLC, as it was then known in the mid 80's. DVLA steadfastly refute this, though I know I read it in the papers at the time it was a kinda 'Buried' story). I passed my test, I was issued a licence, I was summoned for failing to produce and charged TWICE with'Driving without A Full Licence'.
• 306 airbag light 20 May 2003 (Forum)
  There has been the occasionl mention of the 306's airbag warning light staying on because of a break in the wiring to the seat belt pre-tensioner under the drivers seat. This seems to be true because moving the seat can cure/cause the problem, so I removed the seat and stripped out the wiring and put a circuit tester on it but could not find any breaks at all, not even in the 2 pin connector under the seat.
• Rip off UK 20 May 2003 (Forum)
  Local Mercedes dealer is selling 1.8 classic c lass with leather and auto at 108,000 dhs which is 18.4k uk sterling plus 1 years free insurance. New shape Toyota Camry\'s start at approx 60,000 dhs Rip of Britain.....god bless here.... any thoughts....
• 205 Knocking from Front 20 May 2003 (Forum)
  (I am fairly sure it is not the CVs as it is not a 'click', and does not happen on full lock. I took it to the garage this morning, and they have replaced the N/S front Roll bar Drop link and the OF Front Strut top mount. They also gave me an advisory that the front engine mount is worn, but not badly enough to warrant replacement. After the repair, the knocking is better on left turns, but now is there under hard acceleration, even when going straight.
• Am I Victor Meldrew? 2 Apr 2003 (Forum)
  I would have spoken to him about it but SWMBO thinks it is better to leave it rather than risk upsetting the neighbours who are easily upset. I know I am being territorial, but I would never consider parking on someone else?s drive. Am I a git? Jon
• vw with idle and decelerating problems 20 Mar 2003 (Forum)
  I have just purchased an approved used vw bora 1.6 S (registered in 2000). It seems to have a regular miss when idling (that is noticable inside the car) and also I it is impossible to get the car to decelerate smoothly. When the car is in neutral if I increase the revs to 2200 and then try to ease off to 1800 the revs just drop to idle and the accelerator pedal is pulled away from my foot!
• First time buyer-how can i make a best 3 Mar 2003 (Forum)
  Hi, I've just passed driving test at the third attempt( oh my god!) and thinking of buying my first car. The car I have in mind is new Nissan Micra S 1.2L 5dr automatic ( list price is £9395) The standard options are: PAS, ABS, front e/w, immobiliser, remote locking, radio/cd player. As I have no experience in bargaining with a dealer, I would like some advice as to how much discount I should be aiming at realistically; and what figure I should start off with as an opening offer?