83C

That DS looks very at home there.

More A8 stuff: oil and filters change. @Kiltox did mention it needed a service when I bought it, so amongst the boxes of Range Rover parts arriving there were also 10 litres of 5w30, an oil filter and an air filter. Its the first time I’ve used the Lidl oil pump: Genuinely a game changer. If you’re putting off an oil change because you don’t want to be scrabbling around under the car, spilling oil on your drive etc, get one. 8+ litres out and into a couple of bottles within 10 mins and no mess. I’d still be wanting to do a full sump drain every 3rd change just because it’s likely there’ll still be a few hundred ml’s of old oil that the pipe down the dipstick won’t have picked up, but even draining via the sump plug you’ll never get all the schmutz out without also removing the sump itself and giving it a proper bath. Filter housing wiped down, new o-ring on the housing cap, and new filter in and pre-filled as much as possible: Never hurts to fill an oil filter up with oil, this took a good litre and a half to bring it up to the level seen here. Don’t fill this type of filter housing to the brim, or it’ll overflow when the cap is screwed down. New air filter as the old one was a bit grim (though by no means the worst I’ve seen): All cleaned, plastics all wiped down, all done. Less than an hour including a brew stop and dealing with the kids asking questions. It was only as I was cleaning the cover that I noticed the Audi badge missing - it’s irritating me enough now that I think I need to order one…

The front bumper is a bit mangled on the A8, and the n/s fog light surround was completely missing. Thankfully a new pair of grilles were supplied with the car so on they went this evening: Much better. Just some duct tape residue to remove, and then an attempt at getting the bumper and wings to fit together properly at some point.

So with the A8 in, there have been two departures from the fleet - last night someone asked me if i'd be prepared to sell the bus. It's been laid up in Devon for the last 4 years and I've not had chance to do anything with it, realistically it would be next year before I could do anything. A price was agreed, deposit paid and now I'm crating up the spares that are here ready for collection. The new owner has been after it for a while, and it seems all the stars have aligned to get it undercover and properly cared for so I'm relatively happy to let it go. Maybe I'll own another bus in the future, but not yet. Also, the ZT has just departed for pastures old - a previous owner (not on here) spotted the advert on Facebook and came this evening to see it, and then departed with it. Sad to see it go to be honest, but I don't have the time to do anything more with it and even doing any filming ground to a halt thanks to all the rain. Next up is a bit of work on the Range Rover, the inner track rods are rattling like a skeleton wanking in a biscuit tin and it's due an oil + filters change, so its coming off the road for a few weeks while the A8 takes over daily driving duties.

The Nova ‘Spin’, which I’m fairly sure is the one thing I’d rather not happen when driving a Nova. Would have been followed by the Nova ‘Understeer’, Nova ‘Slide’, Nova ‘Skid’ and Nova ‘Smack into a wall’.

And home. Cruise control almost all the way, 41.9mpg achieved which isn’t bad at all for a big old barge. Thanks again to @Kiltox for a nice easy transaction.

Derv station shot:

Abandon all hope all ye who enter: Anyway, I’m off out of the black hole of despair, been there three times today and that’s four times too many. Onwards with some inspiring* views:

So, off we go again:

Tanat Valley 471. 1989 B10M. Looked a bit tired, went very well. 402 (1992 B10M) was definitely tidier and better inside, but didn’t have the go to match the show: Mind you, I’d have taken K2 anywhere in preference to the trio of these: Javelin/UVG piles of absolute wank. A heavily drugged sloth could move quicker, and the driver’s area was cramped and uncomfortable. Utter shite.

I’m keen (especially as it’s very local) subject to the caveats of actually being available and my family not dumping a fair sized problem in my lap the day I’m planning to attend…

It would have gone well because by that age Plaxton’s built in age-related lightness programme would have been well advanced!

Must have been something not quite right with that, early B10Ms were usually solid performers. My regular machine 15 years ago was a B10M/Jonckheere Deauville and although it was a bit tatty compared to the shiny later one it was also a much better hill-climber. The Driver on the shiny motor was most upset that I’d stomped past him with a full load on compared to his half load on going uphill.

Caernarfon? Just call any local you run into ‘cont bach’. They’ll love* your appreciation of classical music. *Really, don’t do this. This bad advice has been provided free of charge by a rum-fuelled idiot.

Had something come up so I’m not going to make this unfortunately. Bugger.

Today I took the Arnage and the ZT to a local car show. Loads of cool and different cars there, it was good to talk to plenty of people pleased to see the ZT there as well. Photo dump:

I’ll bring the C5 on the condition someone else leaves with it!

Llyn Dulyn I think, on the north eastern slopes of Carnedd Llywelyn.

There’s a nice Citroen C5 on here that would be well under a grand, and the owner might even take the ZT as a p/x…

Which is why you learn a school run in the afternoon. Do NOT ask for directions on the AM run, you’ll never find the school.

Pretty damn good value I’d say. Want to swap for a C5? No? Fair enough…

53 is late for an Omega, I think production stopped in June 2003. Very partial to them, had at least 4 if I remember correctly.

I took the easy option and bought a machine with DiagBox/Lexia all loaded and the cables bundled in ready to go - took a few minutes to work out how to use it but once plugged in it was fairly straightforward, helped along by watching a few of @richykitchy's videos.

Success, the C5 now has working brakes again courtesy of an old laptop with Lexia loaded on. Bleeding process is a bit long-winded but the fluid is pretty much all renewed, new discs and pads all round, new rear calipers and hard lines. The £600 car now stands me in at £1250 including the brakes, laptop and consumables, so clearly good* value for money. Watch out for the sale post in the next few weeks once Mrs. 83C’s Mini returns with a repair bill that dwarfs the C5’s total costs so far.