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7561

General Car Chat / Re: MOT

« on: 13 April 2010, 10:15:27 »

Failed!!!

Offside front brake disc contaminated by oil.[3.5.1g]

The inside of the disc was discoloured, and it clearly collected some diesel when I gave the filter the diesel magic recently. It passed all the braking tests OK. Had the (fairly new) disc off today and it only took ten minutes to polish the surface stain off, of course they wanted to fit new discs and pads (also new), no thanks. Back in next Tuesday. Good job I gave myself three weeks spare. Minor advisories only.

Thanks for the good wishes chaps. I'll post the result next week.

So not so bad then

Shall have to remember to watch the diesel filter changes myself then, if that's the cause :-?

Mick

MOT today = PASS 8-) 8-) 8-)

To avoid this embarrassment again Mick, I removed the header tank from its mounting, while still connected, to improve access to the filter water drain, then ran a drain pipe through the wheel arch to a container. Works a treat. Also with the tank to one side, it is much easier to remove the filter, if necessary removing the whole unit from its mounting. Remember to anneal - or preferably replace - the copper washers, 14p each from stealers.

7562

General Car Chat / Re: MOT

« on: 07 April 2010, 19:19:59 »

Failed!!!

Offside front brake disc contaminated by oil.[3.5.1g]

The inside of the disc was discoloured, and it clearly collected some diesel when I gave the filter the diesel magic recently. It passed all the braking tests OK. Had the (fairly new) disc off today and it only took ten minutes to polish the surface stain off, of course they wanted to fit new discs and pads (also new), no thanks. Back in next Tuesday. Good job I gave myself three weeks spare. Minor advisories only.

Thanks for the good wishes chaps. I'll post the result next week.

7563

General Car Chat / MOT

« on: 05 April 2010, 22:49:56 »

MOT tomorrow!

7564

General Car Chat / Re: darth lo knee

« on: 25 March 2010, 18:04:27 »

Top man Daz

7565

General Car Chat / Re: The Gold Elite on holiday....

« on: 23 March 2010, 13:24:38 »

nice pictures, almost given me some inspiration to go out with the SLR today, but alas, i will crack on with the police car and wait for a sunnier day!

I hope that's not the SLR I used to shoot!

7566

General Car Chat / Re: Tyre wear and tramlining

« on: 12 January 2010, 18:09:02 »

Just swapped my four tyres for new and there is an instant difference to the handling and accuracy on the road-the tramlining has reduced massively too.

Removed 4x Federal SS535 225/55/16 V, fronts with 4mm, rears 2.5mm-this was done because I got a screw through one of the decent fronts which was too close to the edge to repair and the rears were almost out.  I kept the one 4mm tyre in case anyone needs it to make up a set.

I always keep a matching set of 4 tyres on the car and looked at the options.  I wanted Contis but cheapest was £380 for 4 fitted (cheapest supplier plus local fitter) so I looked around.

The identical Federals were £230 fitted as above, but they tramline spectacularly and I have read good things about (Chinese) Triangle Talons being ok as budget tyres so have had a punt at them

Cheapest was £168 delivered plus £10 per tyre fully fitted-£208, but that meant waiting for delivery while I had a slow puncture, so negotiated with local dealer who had them in stock and agreed on £220 for 4 fitted:- £55 each, including new valve, balancing with the decent stuck on weights and old tyre case disposal.

They have the rim protector style that I like and an attractive tread pattern and I have felt an instant grip difference, but will hold judgment until I have run them for a few months....

I wonder how well they will wear and what the grip will be like in various conditions?  Hmmmm.
Cheap enough, but good value?

Worth knowing that there are permitted repairs to this sort of damage. Most tyre depots don't do it, but we have a specialist here who does, its saved me twice in the past.

7567

General Car Chat / Re: Aero Flat wiper blades..

« on: 17 February 2010, 22:09:47 »

Better investment is rain-x majority of the time you dont need your wipers 

Apart from the fact it smears your windscreen

And seems to do nothing but fog your windows up.

Never had either of these problems. Fogging of the windows is usually caused by dampness inside the car and smearing is the fact your wipers are not operating to their best 

The rain-x actually helps the wipers clear the water as its easier to push off the window, but as I said you dont really need them its only when you arent going fast enough that it doesnt clear (usually clears above 40mph)

3 different cars of mine it did this too.
1. 2001 Astra Van
2. 2002 Astra Van
3. 2005 BMW 320d

But full marks for perseverance!

7568

General Car Chat / Re: Anyone know about Ford TDCi?

« on: 14 February 2010, 22:38:50 »

IIRC there was a 115 at that time, but nothing higher than that

I've tracked it down it is 128bhp

7569

General Car Chat / Re: Anyone know about Ford TDCi?

« on: 14 February 2010, 18:31:25 »

If it's the 130 it's a great engine when working right and pulls really well 

Thats what my lad's got, ex-plod, but was in great shape at 30k when bought. I often wonder whether they had tuned a bit as well, as it goes like the proverbial off a shovel. 8-)

What year is it because after 2006 the police were using a 155 bhp 2.2 TDCi as well 

Its a 51 plate first reg 10/02 (?) and has the more powerful of the two engines on offer then. I think its a 130, but seem to remember a higher figure quoted to me by Ford stealers.

7570

General Car Chat / Re: Anyone know about Ford TDCi?

« on: 14 February 2010, 18:08:37 »

If it's the 130 it's a great engine when working right and pulls really well 

Thats what my lad's got, ex-plod, but was in great shape at 30k when bought. I often wonder whether they had tuned a bit as well, as it goes like the proverbial off a shovel. 8-)

7571

General Car Chat / Re: Anyone know about Ford TDCi?

« on: 14 February 2010, 11:12:48 »

The only thing i know about fords james is that they are shite.

Not the ones I've owned : Sit-up-and Beg Popular, Mk1 Consul, Mk2 Zephyr, Mk1 Cortina, (admittedly that was crap), and, vicariously, the above mentioned son's Mondeo Tdci.

7572

General Car Chat / Re: Anyone know about Ford TDCi?

« on: 13 February 2010, 19:09:04 »

Dunno, but my son's Tdci went into limp mode, with gloplug light permanently on, and it turned out to be the injectors required reprogramming, which cost about £80 IIRC. However, they did say this might not fix it for long and then it would be new injectors at some ghastly price. However, that was about 18 months ago, and still OK touch wood.

HTH

7573

General Car Chat / Re: At Last, Some Good Luck!!!!

« on: 14 February 2010, 11:31:10 »

Vauxhall main dealers are shocking on their parts side, in my experience anyway.  The stealing tossers took £1.50 off me for a frigging 1mm ball bearing for my door lock (when the lock failed), if I had realised they wanted that money for it, I would have gone elsewhere for the sundries...

The last thing I tried to get was the Crankshaft senesor for my tractor, they told me there were only 3 in Europe, all strangely in Spain...

One thing I am fortunate for, is I have a good personal relationship (No not that kind!) with the Stores guy at my Stealers, and he has always gone the extra mile to help out.

7574

General Car Chat / Re: Mercedes E320 Avantgarde

« on: 08 February 2010, 09:51:31 »

Unknown on the price as of yet will be doing some haggling.

??

7575

General Car Chat / Re: Mercedes E320 Avantgarde

« on: 07 February 2010, 22:38:39 »

I was looking at one of these last year to replace the Omega, but could'nt find a facelift (post 06) Estate at the right price. Be interested to see how you like it.