Gooner II V6 - Reliable motoring at its finest*

[SiC]

Well you can disable the TPMS completely pretty easily, but that's cheating!

[SiC]

I am starting to wonder what I'll do next once I get everything working and have nothing to fiddle with.

 

So far (touches the fake wood) its not even had a brief, potential FTP murmur* or any sign that its impending any doom.

 

 

Sorry to all those reading this thread and hoping that there will be cataclysmic meltdowns and electronic mayhem. It looks like, for the meantime, it's actually a reliable (albeit thirsty) means of wafting transport.

 

How boring.

 

 

 

 

* excluding the fact that, despite having unlocked the car the alarm went off when I opened the boot, or that the card-less start sometimes requires the card putting in before it starts, or that the GPS signal cuts in and out, or that .....

[Kiltox]

The alarm going off when you do xyz is a very common facelift Lag II feature - I don't think it's one that can be fixed either!!

[stripped fred]

Just wanted to say I enjoy your updates as I'm sure others do too. I admire your persistence, ingenuity and dogged spirit. The ideal Gooner owner!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

£400 to get the cambelt done at a renner dealer? that sounds like a BARG.

[Supernaut]

All this fannying about with TPMS sensors... I just keep a foot pump with a gauge on it in the boot of the car. If a tyre looks suspect, I put the pump on and check, then I can pump it back up if I need to.

 

Bloody modern tat.

 

 

Good work though! Electrics make me nervous.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

If you take your Renner to the main dealer you'll be entering a world most of us don't know about, where you get your car valeted without asking and can slurp poncy coffee next to a pot-plant

[SiC]

The alarm going off when you do xyz is a very common facelift Lag II feature - I don't think it's one that can be fixed either!!

Here is kind of a solution.

 

Before:

 

After:

 

I've been meaning to see if there is an alarm connection like on the Megane & Scenic (like I did to yours). Turns out there is one too. Tested it by waving my hands inside, unlocking the car with the emergency key and popping the bonnet open. No noise, nothing.

 

I can put up with dodgy electronic - except if they're making a racket in the early hours and won't stop! No one listens or takes notice of these things 99% of the time anyway.

[SiC]

If you take your Renner to the main dealer you'll be entering a world most of us don't know about, where you get your car valeted without asking and can slurp poncy coffee next to a pot-plant

It's all very fancy in our local one now! Its a combined Citroen/Renault/Dacia dealer. Interesting how its divided up. Citroen section is all bright colours, trendy design and fashion. Renault has rows of tablets that you can configure your car and placards/info on all the tech in the Renaults. Dacia section has 4 plain white walls, the 3 different models on show and a desk with a salesperson sat behind it.

 

 

 

Took it into my local friendly garage for another gearbox fluid change, plus a inspection service & engine oil. I always like to get a pro, that I trust, to give stuff I've just acquired a good look over. I asked about the wheel rock that I get which happens at slow speeds and worsens the faster you get, at a peak of around 50mph, then it eases off. Couldn't see anything on the alloys that looked buckled.

 

Track-rod ends were worn though, so will get them replaced soon - I will probably get them to throw the second hand ABS module on there for me while they're at it.

[Parky]

If you take your Renner to the main dealer you'll be entering a world most of us don't know about, where you get your car valeted without asking and can slurp poncy coffee next to a pot-plant

My experience of Renault dealers is

 

"yeah, it was fucked when you drove it in mate.....well you say the engine was ok but it definitely isn't......well you say you drove it in, how do we know you didn't tow it....yes we did see you drive it in but we didn't hear it, you could have been churning it on the starter....well you say we drove it onto the ramp but we can't comment on that.....and that dent was definitely there when it arrived....that's seven hundred with the vat, how will you be paying?"

[SiC]

Now 1 Month, 3 Days and over 1000 miles in. Still loving it (mostly). Only moans is that the Bluetooth handsfree is a bit rubbish quality and if you tap the indicators to change lane, it doesn't do 3 flashes like most modern's do (damn I'm picky). At 20MPG around town it does like a good swig of jungle juice, but then I have to excuse a 3l petrol auto for such things.

 

Drove it back in the dark for the first time yesterday. Not sure if the HID auto-leveling is working properly, as the lights seem a bit low (i.e. could be fail safe position). Does a neat thing where it raises the dipped lights fully up when you put main beam on too, for extra brightness/OMG BLIND THE OTHER DRIVER WITH MY HIDS.

 

In terms of fixings, friendly local garage got the trackrod ends changed (as worn). Seems to mostly have cured the wheel wobble thankfully. They also fitted the second hand ABS/ESP module I provided.

 

So I've gone from:

 

To:

 

No more spanner warning light!

 

Now just need to get a tyre sensor for the one that's missing to remove all the error+warning messages.

 

On the Intake of the airbox, there is a great big resonator/muffler chamber attached to it. So big it actually spans into the bumper area infront of the ABS module. When the garage reassembled the car, they appeared to have not fully reseated the resonator/muffler connector that connects onto the airbox...

 

... turns out it sounds FREAKING AMAZING with it partially disconnected. So much so I've left it like it! When you used to get into higher revs, it was a very muted sound. Now, revving it, it blimming barks out. Not only that, if you keep the revs low (sub 3k), it is still pretty quiet. Just want I wanted to happen!

 

My original plan was to take out the mid silencer, but my concern was that it would make an irritating droning noise when cruising. However this new "mod" appears to have got exactly what I'm looking for.

[Guest Hooli]

Intake noise is almost always better than exhaust noise

[SiC]

Married and 2 weeks of honeymoon in USA, come back and it's raining.

 

Wife's cousin took us to the airport in the Laguna and as a thank-you for that, we put him on the insurance so he could blast around in it while we were away. Think he liked it a fair bit more than his povo spec Mk4 Golf 1.4. I did find out on the journey there that his breakdown cover didn't him. I can't say I wasn't a bit nervous about him getting home.

 

Good news is that after 2 weeks, the good girl (car, not wife) started ok and taking us back home from the wife's parents home. Not only that, taking us home in the rain.

 

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Welcome back SiC!

[25v6turbo]

More good news for you!

The cambelt has been done.....

I almost bought this car and looked into its history,there was various invoices for work carried out in the past but no cambelt proof as such so I rang the garage and they confirmed the cambelt had been done,give them a ring a really helpful chap remembered the car and dates etc

 

Not sure why this is underlined!

[rantingYoof]

Wowsers, +£399 RIGHT THAR.

[dugong]

If you take your Renner to the main dealer you'll be entering a world most of us don't know about, where you get your car valeted without asking and can slurp poncy coffee next to a pot-plant

Yeah, I took my Leon to the local scalpers for its first service and they gave me a lift to work!

 

They then rang up a week later trying to skin me for some front tyres. I think they're paid to say 'MAIN AGENT PARTS AND SERVICE' every sentence.

 

Dealer: "Well, we've noticed your tyres are at 3.5mm at the last service so they need doing."

 

Gong Du: "The legal limit is 1.6mm and the car doesn't do many miles."

 

D: "It doesn't matter, they'll wear down quickly."

 

GD: "I have access to many other cars and the tyres don't need doing yet, they're nowhere near the TWI."

 

D: "Well, this is serious, your tyres will be dangerous soon; we'll get you booked in today."

 

GD: "I've owned enough cars to know the difference and I regularly drive a live axled turbo car in the pouring rain; I haven't died yet."

 

D: "Thanks to our MAIN AGENT PARTS AND SERVICE counter we can do you a pair of tyres at a really competitive price. We use MAIN AGENT PARTS AND SERVICES you see."

 

GD: "I'm not buying new tyres for it now. They don't need doing now."

 

D: "We can do the tyres for £239.11 today because of our MAIN AGENT PARTS AND SERVICING offer."

 

GD: [losing patience]"Look, that's a fucking rip off, I can get them for way less than that from a trade contact."

 

D:"We can price match thanks our MAIN AGENT PARTS AND SERVICE deal....."

 

GD: "Really? You can do a pair of Dunlop BluResponse 205/55 16 Vs for £53 a side?"

 

D: .....silence

 

GD: "Right then, don't call me again scalping for business."

 

Apparently they're 'never had a complaint' about this method of business and have promised to 'look into it' for me.

 

I'm sure SEAT UK will be thrilled one of their main agents mithered a scribbler (then again, they weren't to know that).

 

Er...sorry, as you were.

[SiC]

More good news for you!

The cambelt has been done.....

I almost bought this car and looked into its history,there was various invoices for work carried out in the past but no cambelt proof as such so I rang the garage and they confirmed the cambelt had been done,give them a ring a really helpful chap remembered the car and dates etc

 

Not sure why this is underlined!

Oh wow! That's great thing to hear

Could explain why the belt looks in such good nick.

 

Did you happen to remember if it was the first or the second owner who had it done?

The first owner had it serviced at Tate's of Brighton way. That doesn't exist as a Renault garage anymore (other brands under their name do though).

 

The second owner seemed to have all the work done at Motor & Mowers (!). He remembered the car, but said all the details had been deleted from his system, as the previous owner moved away. He did mention that the belt was not done though and seemed pretty sure about that.

[25v6turbo]

PM sent

[SiC]

I thought I'd do a small update as its been a while. Not really much to report apart from I still have it. She's still running very well and literally zero FTP incidents and nothing really gone wrong at all in the nearly 5k we've done in it since buying it.

 

Feeling brave I've taken it through the car wash several times. Any Laguna II owner knows this is a brave thing to do and need a lot of trust that it's not going to FTP on the way out. A bit like when a cat rolls over on its belly, it has to really trust you to not attack you. I didn't dare leave it running while it was in there though, something complicated with a electronic handbrake that auto applies when you stop the car. 

 

My sister got married a couple of months ago. The best man was supposed to bring the bridesmaids to church in his e60 5-series. Unfortantly the groom forgot to put the orders of service into the car. So the best man had to rush back and pick them up. As time was getting tight, the decision was made that I had to take them to church. So the Laguna was duly tarted up in the very last minute with some ribbon and ...

... the executive transport is ready and awaits! Maybe crazy thought now, but I reckon in 30-40 years or so these could quite become a wedding car...

 

Now winter is closing in, the fancy toys like heated seats and heated windscreen (naturally the elements in front of the driver don't work) are becoming very useful. It's currently averaging around 18-20mpg around town and 28-30mpg on a motorway run - which I think is pretty respectable for a 3l v6 automatic. 

 

MOT is at the start of December, so next month will be the next exciting* time. The only annoyance is that the vibration through the steering wheel is still there, so I'll get that looked at when its MOT is done. I'm guessing its a buckled front wheel.

[25v6turbo]

Great to hear,my 05 plate V6 is still going well with nothing of interest to report,i didn,t even bother with a thread as there wasn,t much to report with mine.MOT time will be interesting Lagunas like a ball joint and track rod ends aswell as rear axle bushes,fingers crossed no issues there,the facelift cars are the better built of the Phase 2 I think.

[SiC]

Great to hear,my 05 plate V6 is still going well with nothing of interest to report,i didn,t even bother with a thread as there wasn,t much to report with mine.MOT time will be interesting Lagunas like a ball joint and track rod ends aswell as rear axle bushes,fingers crossed no issues there,the facelift cars are the better built of the Phase 2 I think.

You ought to get some pictures up here though! Sorry I didn't get back to you about the Laguna you was stripping for parts. I was trying to think of stuff that I might have needed, but literally apart from the missing engine cover rubber bracket thing, everything is 100%. Well I need a new tyre pressure sensor still, but given the batteries knacker out on them, I'll probably get a brand new one. The only part that I could have done with, but was too late, is a valve body from the AW55 gearbox for my Saab! Oh well.

 

I had the track rod ends done on its service a few months ago, when I do the usual thing of getting my friendly, local garage to find anything wrong.

 

The only thing I have noticed, it does a kind of double-clutch thing when pulling off. Watching videos on AW55 rebuilds, a autobox rebuilder guy said that its the line pressure a bit low when they do it. Can be upped by fiddling with a valve body grub screw, however I'm tempted to leave it alone as I don't want things to break...

 

This black one came up, which I thought was a massive bargain:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401205955859?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

I was sorely tempted to bid on it, as a estate is more useful than a hatchback and you also get a much bigger panoramic sunroof too. Mileage is a fair bit lower. Luckily it was enough of a bargain that it didn't hang around long.

 

I think they're a very underrated superb motorcar. The phase 2 to me still looks fresh and modern compared to the original phase 1 too - even though the newist is 9 years old now. Despite being not very enthusiastic about it at first, the colour of mine I've decided I really like the best too out of all of them.

[Dave_Q]

Dangerous territory putting down in writing how reliable a car has been, particularly a Gooner.

 

Ballsy move. GLWTMOT.

[25v6turbo]

No probs about the parts,i just kept on removing what I thought I should then got the rest collected,got some nice bits including what looks like a complete new set of coils,which is nice to have.

But seeing as it was a Phase 1 it didn,t have a few bits I wanted but I,ve found a facelift that is being broken,so will get the bits I need there,if you need anything give me a shout.

That black estate looked nice,the larger roof is great and I think the sports tourer is a nice looking car for an estate.

Love the colour of your Laguna,hopefully it stays reliable and get through the MOT with no issues.

[SiC]

Unless it explodes into many pieces before hand, I'm pretty sure I'll throw whatever I need to at it to get it through it. My wife and myself like it too much to not too. Also parts are mostly not that expensive anymore.

 

I really don't think it would need much though. The rear bushes were apparently in very good nick when the garage looked at them. Apart from the vibration through the wheel, it feels pretty good.

[406V6]

Apart from the vibration through the wheel, it feels pretty good.

My 406 is particularly sensitive regarding wheel balancing. When new front tyres are fitted and balanced (off the car) they're usually not right - very small wobble through the wheel. I have to pay more for an on-car balance. Whether this applies to a Laguna I don't know but may be of interest.

[r.welfare]

Lagunas and Meganes do seem sensitive to buckling their alloys, particularly the bigger (17") ones.

[Kiltox]

Will the smaller (16") wheels from a Phase 2 2.0 go on or are the brakes too big?

[SiC]

Its wearing 16" at the moment. I think its the smallest wheel that fits yeah.

[Kiltox]

Nowhere near as prone to cracking/buckling as the bigger ones, they might just need balancing.