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91

General Car Chat / New DPF check - this should see a few sheds off the road

« on: 21 June 2017, 13:27:37 »

This should get the diesel haters moist with anticipation.  From next year it looks like a DPF delete is likely to be picked up at MOT time with potential fines for the owner.

https://autotechnician.co.uk/roadworthiness-will-bolster-dpf-checks/

I reckon this may well see a few mid 2000's diesels hit the scrap heap or traded in, I know of a few people who opted for the delete rather than the cost of a new dpf.

92

General Car Chat / Best price for air conditioning re-gas?

« on: 20 June 2017, 10:55:52 »

I've seen a few folk on here bemoaning the demise of their A/C, the Swede is still cool but was struggling to keep up with ambient temps over 25 degrees so I think a re-gas might help it along.

The best price I've found so far is my local Formula one autocentre at £40 (this includes a £5 discount voucher code). Just wondered if anyone has bettered this recently? 

93

General Discussion Area / When did our national flag carrier become a budget airline?

« on: 19 June 2017, 07:18:31 »

Flying LHR-WAW today on British Airways and truely shocked how much they've gone downhill since I last flew with them around a decade ago.

They seem intent on providing the full budget airline experience. All the way from the scrum to get on the plane first, to charging £2.50 for a cup of sh!tty instant coffee. Were I using my own money I'd feel done I'd coughed up the £175 difference over a Ryanair or Wizz air fare.

In the future I'll be sticking with Lufthansa and Emirates I think, both cheaper and better, trashing my luggage notwithstanding 

94

General Car Chat / 1500 miles with the Big Turnip

« on: 11 June 2017, 22:44:27 »

I may have only had the Swede 10 days, but I've already added nearly 1500 miles to the clocks so I thought I'm in a decent position to offer an update/initial opinion.

Things I like
- the seats, probably the best I've ever sat in, longest journey I've done so far is just under 200 miles and I've never never had so much as a twinge from my back. Infinitely superior to the CDX seats and imho slightly better than the elite seats- although I've not done more than about 20miles in elite seats, so perhaps a bit premature.

- the economy, 38-40 on short runs is nothing to write home about, but at sensible motorway speeds (70-80), 47-50 is the norm.

- big fuel tank, 750 miles before I have to queue up behind the cretins putting £3.24p worth of diesel into their Japanese Tupperware boxes

- controls - everything, and I mean everything is incredibly intuitive, cruise, radio, everything just works and it's obvious how it all works

- stereo -  it's an 11 speaker, 2 amp, Dolby pro logic thing and (in cd or USB mode) easily lives with the £1,000 Harmon Kardon system that I had in the 1 series. I've never heard an omega Bose unit so can't compare.

- brakes - like the omega, they're powerful but not in the overly-assisted, wooden way  of some modern cars.

- boot divider- only a small thing, but it's an adjustable band of material that stops your one bag from distributing its contents all over the boot. I don't know why every saloon car doesn't have one.

things I don't like
- diesel noise. The car sounds like it's broken, all the time - a necessary evil though . Until I become as wealthy as lord opti anyway 

- folding mirrors - it's great it has them, but they're on a switch on the dash, even worse they cut off with the ignition, so you stop the car, switch off and then remember you want to fold them and have to switch the bigger back on again.

- rear visibility - I've already ordered a sensor kit, cause I have no idea where the back end is!

- turning circle - hugely inferior to the omega, and wouldnt embarrass an ocean liner!

- front tyres - they're brand new, black and round. Beyond that they have no redeeming features. Thankfully I'll chew through them in about 6 months and can swap them out.

Overall I'm hugely happy with the car, and imho it compares favourably with the much newer mondeos, insignias etc which I looked at for similar money. 

95

General Car Chat / Best way to join wires - car electronics

« on: 10 June 2017, 18:14:56 »

Bit of an amateurish question - so bear with me.

I have a few jobs on the Swede that require me to join wires to the harness or add additional circuits in off the fuse board.

For the joints/connections I'm tempted to solder the wires and heat shrink the joints. This "feels" a better way than those crimp connections (which I also have plenty of). But I'm conscious that soldering creates a stiff section in the wire that could stress and break over time  .

What are your thoughts? Is there an alternative method I haven't considered?

96

General Car Chat / Getting scratches out of interior plastic trim

« on: 07 June 2017, 13:52:32 »

In the absence of any real problems to address on the Swede, my natural inclination to fettle has drawn me to try and sort out some (very) minor niggles. Today's being scratches on the interior trim. There are a number of these, mostly around the ignition key. Doubtless where the previous owner simultaneously tried to start the car, open a packet of Werthers Originals and locate his driving glasses 

Anyway, I've seen a variety of methods talked about on forums ranging from acetone and blowtorches  to a variety of tins of snake oil. However, I was wondering if anyone here had reliably repaired such marks, and if so, what did you use?

Piccy:

97

General Car Chat / Improving headlights

« on: 01 June 2017, 23:33:04 »

So, having just nipped out in the turnip to pick up some necessities before I watch question time, I've established that one of the things that I liked better in the omega were the headlights.

 The original buyer of my car clearly didn't think seeing in the dark was all that important, so they didn't tick the xenon box.

I've been looking at HID kits online and on the face of it they seem like a solid solution. Now I am aware that they are theoretically illegal (as in they are illegal but as long as I adjust them properly there's very little chance of me being tugged for using them) and I should tell my insurer. So let's not bother with that conversation again hey .

My question is, has anyone used these kits, how do they compare to xenons and are there any alternatives, e.g. Better bulbs.

I've looked at retrofitting the pukka Volvo xenons, but it's a £500 exercise.

98

General Car Chat / Can someone recommend a decent pop rivet gun?

« on: 30 May 2017, 09:11:39 »

I have a couple of jobs coming up that will require the drilling out and replacement of some rivets. I've had a look online for a decent pop rivet gun, but all seem to come with mixed reviews, even the ones costing up to £30-40.

I'm no adverse to spending a bit on good tools, but I like to know I'm actually getting good value for what I'm shelling out. So any recommendations would be gratefully received. 

99

General Car Chat / Pleasant insurance surprise

« on: 27 May 2017, 12:22:42 »

Insured the Ovlov today, 40,000mikes p.a, fully comp, business use, £445 for the year. So cheaper than the omega 

I realise that will sound expensive to a lot of the coffin-dodgers out there, but for a young whipper-snapper such as myself, pretty good .

100

General Discussion Area / F@cking Lufthansa

« on: 24 May 2017, 13:15:41 »

Took a flight back from Lyon via Frankfurt last Friday and had my carry-on baggage taken from at the steps and put into the hold – not an unusual occurrence but still one that p!sses me off. Anyway, flight was delayed and I only just made the connection. My hand baggage did not.

I was told by Lufthansa that my baggage would arrive on the 08.25 from Frankfurt on Saturday and we needed to wait in to sign for it- again pretty annoying. However the bag didn’t actually make it until Sunday morning, by which time it was damaged (TSA lock broken, corners stoved in), open, and a number of my personal items had been stolen, including my Breitling watch (18th Birthday gift).

I am unbelievably hacked off about this and I am determined to make it as expensive as possible for Lufthansa.

I feel a letter coming on….

101

General Car Chat / My New Swedish Lady

« on: 22 May 2017, 07:22:38 »

So, I finally got my act together and sacked off the old girl in favour of a younger Swedish model, she's a big girl, but surprisingly light on her toes when she needs to be...





Sadly, due to SWMBO's health issues, a new, or nearly new car was off the cards, but I don't think this will be a bad substitute. It's a Euro 3 D5 (so no dpf), only 30k from new, 1 owner (plus dealer) 9 Volvo main dealer stamps plus 3 independents, so serviced about every 2700miles  .

I can't wait to collect, but as part of the deal I've negotiated a new timing belt and water pump, it was due 2yrs ago on age, but as is often the case not done due to low mileage. So it'll be next week when I finally get my mits on her

102

General Discussion Area / Inappropriate music choices

« on: 08 May 2017, 09:09:38 »

SWMBO is in hospital today and I'm stuck in the waiting room. She's in for a colonoscopy, and the treatment room is right next door to where I'm sitting.

She's under sedation and as they sometimes do, the quack puts on some music to work to. First song on the playlist: Bad Moon Rising by CCW.

I nearly oppsing died! 

103

General Discussion Area / Interesting interview on the link between electric cars and renewable energy

« on: 03 May 2017, 11:13:18 »

I was stuck at home yesterday dog-sitting the new pup and got to reading/watching some stuff on renewable energy, an industry which the UK Gov't are doing their damnedest to kill incidentally.

The interview was with the head of on-shore wind for General Electric and he was making the point that EV's are likely to play a key role in renewable energy as a way to load balance the network (a key criticism of renewable energy in general). His view was that the technology is coming down the track to allow 2 way communication between the national grid, EV chargers and EV cars. This will allow the grid to vary the rate of charge on EV's (or even draw a small amount of power back from them) to balance loads on the grid.

Currently load balancing is done either by cranking up or down fossil power stations or by Hydro Electric storage. Even further down the track (20yrs+), he suggested that excess electricity could be used to split water to make hydrogen to fuel vehicles less suited to electric (like HGV's). This process apparently already goes on to feed gas into the grid in some parts of the world.

I guess what I found most interesting is that it was the first time I'd heard someone talk sensibly and credibly about renewable energy in a way that "hung together" rather than just some disjointed ideas about being "kinder to the environment". 

104

General Discussion Area / One for the nature spotters - eggs in our garden

« on: 04 April 2017, 15:39:05 »

A clutch of eggs has turned up at the edge of our pond (but not in the water). Each egg is about 1/8" diameter and wet to the touch. We thought toad spawn a possibility but they seem to lay eggs in a line  .

Any pointers much appreciated .

105

General Car Chat / Has the law on private parking fines changed? Or is Scotland different?

« on: 03 April 2017, 16:28:41 »

I was under the impression that parking tickets issued by private companies weren't enforceable, although as I'm yet to receive one I haven't done much in the way of investigation on the matter.

This story from BBC news runs counter to that understanding. However as I mentioned it is a Scottish case and I know they can be funny about things. Many things...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-39478203