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91

General Car Chat / Re: Anyone know much about these ?

« on: 28 August 2014, 16:42:02 »

Just pondering possible Omega replacements if mine don't behave.. Not an easy task especially finding something to outmatch a 3.2 Elite,. Which ain't thousands of £££  .. Saab being the cheapest option so far.

Short list really..

Saab 9-5 Hot Aero
Lexus LS430 mini face lift post 2003/53 there about's
BMW E60 530i

It's just a phase most likely currently in the hate part of the Omega Love/Hate relationship 

If you are looking at the SAAB estates, then don't rule out the 9-3 with the 2.8 V6 turbo (the turbo X being the 4wd version with the upgraded turbo found in the Insignia VXR) or the Vectra C estate with the same engine.

Equally as good at load lugging as the Omega and pretty much the same ride and build quality. But not sure if thats a good or bad thing!!!!!

92

General Car Chat / Re: Anyone know much about these ?

« on: 28 August 2014, 16:38:45 »

Ps, I heard talk of cracking or rusting baulk head issues, with certain Saabs. No idea if true or which models...

Watch the wheeler dealers episode on the 9-3 convertable and they go into it along with fitting the Abbot racing rubber and metal thing that stops it happening.

From memory if the steering rack moves on the bulk head when parked and turning the steering wheel its too late

93

General Car Chat / Re: Leaving

« on: 26 August 2014, 14:08:59 »

Check for underseal.

Monaro's don't have enough for UK roads, if it hasn't been done get it checked and then get it done.

94

General Car Chat / Re: Need to find out what Vehicle this is from ???

« on: 26 August 2014, 14:00:45 »

The damage to your car looks like the arse end of a lorry turning thats caught it, its not car on car damage.

No paint markings left as it will be the 'under rider bar' or tail lift thats hit it, driver most likely didn't realise they had done it hence no note.

Was there an entrance opposite where the car was parked?

95

General Discussion Area / Re: Factory work/pain

« on: 21 August 2014, 13:54:46 »

In my yoof when I spent upto 16 hours a day in a potato packing plant, .......25kg bags....... etc etc 

LUXURY!!

I had to get up in the morning at ten o'clock at night half an hour before I went to bed, drink a cup of sulphuric acid, work twenty-nine hours a day down mill, and pay mill owner for permission to come to work, and when we got home, our Dad would kill us and dance about on our graves singing Hallelujah

You try telling kids of today that


 

Thank you Monty Python :-)

96

General Car Chat / Re: It's only a car....

« on: 18 August 2014, 16:37:06 »

I bought mine in July 2006 for £2250, and while I'll be the first to admit it's certainly not the best example on the forum, we're still together!!   

You try buying a 6 year old V6 executive motor these days for the same money! 

Will a 2.8 V6 with a turbo do??

£2500 for an executive car, elite spec, in tip top condition, with more bells and whistles than the Omega under 80k and no timing belts or cam covers to worry about and costs same to tax and insure as a 3.2 :-)

Ok so maybe a year out on the age when I bought it, but close enough :-)

Reason I also have the Omega is because I needed a cheap weekend car (the turbo is a daily driver) thats a capable tow car and I can throw my sailing gear in the back as well as use it for overnight accomodation at an event if its too wet for the tent.

The Omega ticked the boxes and as I had already had a couple I 'knew' what to look for and expect.

Don't really 'love it', enjoy driving it but if the money was no object it would be replaced with a VXR8 estate or E class, however money doesn't grow on trees and I would rather have no mortgage in 5 years than have to pay that for another 20 and have a nicer car on the drive

:-)

97

General Car Chat / Re: Cordless Impact Wrench Review

« on: 18 August 2014, 15:53:19 »

The charger also plays a tune when you slide the battery in and when its charged :-)

I have been gradually changing my older DeWalt 18V NiCad stuff to the LXT Makita kit, the batteries do seem to last in the various tools.

98

Omega General Help / Re: Spring assisters...

« on: 18 August 2014, 15:43:19 »

My old CDX saloon had new springs on and with 3 in the back it was bottoming out on Norfolk roads, although new the springs appeared to be a bit weak, I had to tow a caravan that we had borrowed for the week (they took it up and set it up we then went up for a week and towed it home), I was a bit worried about towing and bottoming out possibly damaging the jockey wheel, so I found a car spares shop, picked up some spring assistors, fitted them and towed the caravan home with no issues.

They worked perfectly fine for many many miles after that and never had and issue with 3 adults in the back again.

Cheapest and easiest option that didn't really affect the car and without doubt should be the first port of call before swapping dampers over everytime you want to tow something.

99

Omega General Help / Re: Misfire Y32SE

« on: 15 August 2014, 12:50:31 »

Vauxhall parts world.co.uk. Based in Romford .........

Nope, they are based in Grays, 15 miles from Romford.

Vauxcentre is in Romford and a different company.

Having said that I've use both and they are good, BUT becareful as when I bought a pair of coils for my Signum 1.3.5 was a Bosch part, 2.4.6 wasn't and it wasn't clear on the website. Both worked fine so didn't really matter


*edited to add*

They are around £70-80 each

100

General Discussion Area / Re: bathroom silcone sealant

« on: 14 August 2014, 07:50:21 »

What you need is a low modulus silicone sealent that, preferably has a fungicide in it.

Pretty much anything external and non marine (as in fish tank) use is good. Needs to be low modulus due to the movement

I use ArboSil 1096, made by Adshead Ratcliffe 15 years and no mould in my bathroom so far. Its designed for bonding glass to glass in curtain wall and perimeter seals (so I get it free), has lots of flexability and good adhesion thats why it doesn't peel off surfaces like other silicones over time. Really easy to tool off as well

Far better than Dow 791, if you do go Dow then get 995 which is their alternative to 1096

101

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Re: CCR 2006 differing types ?

« on: 05 August 2014, 14:23:01 »

Displays ARE NOT the same

Head unit is swappable (with code/ divorce/ marriage etc) from car to car BUT Vectra C and Signum display does not have the 'prongs' for the 2 buttons at the top to adjust it and it is slightly bigger so won't fit in the dash so without codes its not plug and play

102

General Car Chat / Re: Turbo Diesels

« on: 04 August 2014, 13:28:49 »

So what happens if you have a twin scroll turbo?

Its spinning for longer and therefore is likely to be hotter, so do you have to leave that ticking over for a longer period of time??

But then if you do leave it ticking over how do you stop heat soak?


:-)

103

Omega General Help / Re: Stuck Barrel problem

« on: 31 July 2014, 16:48:06 »

Check the key isn't bent first!!!

Only a little bit of bend - 1mm - will stop it turning as i found out recently

104

General Car Chat / Re: Help with a choice.

« on: 29 July 2014, 10:24:01 »

                                                   

Vauxhall Vectra 2.8 T V6 VXR 5dr  2006 (56 reg), Hatchback
FULL BLACK RECARO LEATHER
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Vauxhall Signum 3.2 V6 Elite 5dr Auto hopefully about 2007?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

3.2 V6 Signum (or Vectra C) is not available in facelift - 54ish plate onwards, they dropped it in favour of the 2.8 V6 Turbo.

Ive owned a 3.2 V6 and currently own a 2.8 V6 Signums of the 2 the 2.8 is better of the two, the thing to look for is that engine has a small issue with chain stretch, Vectra & Insignia VXRs have had most of the issues, some have high millage, some low, some tuned some not, some 255 some 280's have gone, there is no pattern to it, BUT I've not heard any issues with the 230bhp version yet, even though its effectively the same engine.

Listen for a rattle on start up and during tick over.

Chains and tensioners are not a service item, apparently never need changing

Coil packs can go, there are 6 individual packs, about £80-100 each in the UK or £190ish for all 6 from the USA delivered including import tax!

Purge valves 'fail', basically the car will run and start fine, but when you fill up with petrol its turns over for about 6-7sconds before firing up, it ONLY happens when you fill up and you won't know its a problem on the test drive unless you want to put some petrol in it - new valve is less then £30 and takes 20 mins to fit

Apart form that its just the standard wear problems. The base engine is used alot in America and Australia and used in the SAAB 9-3/ 9-5

The bonus is no matter what version you go for - 230, 255 or 280bhp, a simple remap will give close to 290bhp and 400lb-ft on all of them :-)

Remember any of them registered after 23rd March 2006 is in the £490 tax band, but mine is an 06 registered on 21st March 2006 so comes in at £280/ year :-)

Another point, save money, don't buy the VXR it'll be around £5k and up, elite spec cars with same engine and more toys will be around half the price! VXR's are not all as well spec'e as you might hope

Before I got the Signum I was looking at the 3ltr ST220 and X type, couldn't really find anything 'major' wrong just they were considerably more expensive than the Signum/ Vectra of same age and same miles

105

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Re: SatNav aerial

« on: 25 July 2014, 10:38:42 »

Replacement rubbers are available, about £4 off ebay

Signum and Vectra C use the same base, so the whole thing can be swapped over if you get the aerial corrded into the base problem

Only issue is if you get a Vectra C one you need to cut the tube for the rear wash wipe off, Signum, and would guess Vectra C Saloons, don't have this issue