The new news 24 thread

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

The Mini got through its last five or so MOTs without issue, so I figured a big fail was in the offing this year and it was no surprise to see a load of yellow crayon on the rear subframe. I compiled a list of things wrong with it and sent it off to a local specialist. In addition to the rotten bits on the bottom of the subframe, the top didn't look so rosy either:

 

 

 

Needless to say, it was hiding rot on the body too.

 

I got the car back yesterday evening with a fresh MOT and a new subframe which is shinier than the bodywork. It's also had a whole host of other work done, too numerous to mention. It's a joy to drive again. The engine steady mount has new bushes so it doesn't violently CLUNK when coming on and off the throttle and it's been tuned up a bit so it feels quicker. It really is a fabulous car to drive. 

 

Not all sunshine and roses, the exhaust downpipe join failed the same day I collected it, so I had to waste hours doing that today. 

 

 

Hours, because I did it once and it failed immediately, so I had to do the whole damn thing again. I've done this so many times over the last few years I've got it down to a fine art. 

 

 

A nice view of the well thought out fuses. They're factory (maybe not the blue one - dunno what that one's for), and there's more inside the car. The handbook page for fuses is something like - "tail lights: look behind the insulation in the engine compartment for an inline fuse with red and white wire, or maybe it's one of the fistful of inline fuses behind the dash trim panel, who knows? This is what you get for buying a 1959 car in 1993."

[Guest Hooli]

Makes a lovely change for someone to type Mini & show pics of a Mini. Those bloody BMW 0.5Series that have stolen the name will never be Minis.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

It was four pictures of rust and failure, but I get your point. 

[ShiteRider]

Bad news: a friend is borrowing the Disco and apparently it's started doing about 6mpg. My random guess from 200 miles away is that the air flow meter has gone a bit Land Rover on us.

 

Good news: it's Keith the Dog's birthday today. He's five. Here he is celebrating with the present Mrs S gave him, a turtle called Amy.

 

image.jpeg

 

Edit: bollocks, sideways photo because iPhone. Oh well.

Don't know what i love more, the fact he's called keith or the fact he looks like a diddy lion.

[plasticvandan]

My method of fitting mini (and minor) pipes was to use a bit of paste on the lip,then use a jack to push the pipe tight on the fannymould,then attatch and tighten the clamp

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

That's what I do too. Irritatingly I have to jack the car up about 2cm with a second jack to provide clearance for the first jack.

 

As soon as there's pattern parts in the exhaust I'm sure it never fits together properly again. 

[Ghosty]

Binis aren't all bad, you know...

 

Not great, but they're good for a modern.

[dollywobbler]

Ah, the good ol' bastard clamp. Ugh.

 

Hope you've soaked the new subframe in Dinitrol or something.

[RobT]

The Cavalier is in for its MoT this week...

It passed today with just a few advisories, so hopefully that's another year of cheap Vauxhalling ahead. Jobs to do now to set it up for winter are a service, coolant change, new wipers, and a couple of rear tyres. They passed the MoT fine but are old and crap budgets, and I had a moment on a wet roundabout a few months back where I ended up pointing the wrong way. It was mostly due to my idiocy as I knew I was going too fast, but I'm sure shite tyres didn't help the alarming way the back end just broke out.

 

I'll also treat it to an ATF change as it's due, and a cambelt - been playing roulette for 18 months as I've no idea when it was last done.

[Lukas]

You all know, I am not ver friendly minded to everything VAG. But somehow, I feel attracted to this as a winter-car to keep my Pajeros out of the salt:

 

http://www.gebrauchtwagen.at/detailansicht.php?id_fahrzeug=6804263

 

But after I asked Google what problems might occur, I am sick of it before even looking at this ******. The 2.6 V6 seems to be one of the most troublesome engines

in the older Audis. Not for me, thank you. 

 

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

So, the Mini's back box was gently knocking against the new subframe, so I moved it on its rubber 0.005mm. This, with the inevitability of a sunset, has caused the downpipe join to start blowing.

[Cavcraft]

Skizzer's Status Quo dog has actually made my day.

[Six-cylinder]

You all know, I am not ver friendly minded to everything VAG. But somehow, I feel attracted to this as a winter-car to keep my Pajeros out of the salt:

 

http://www.gebrauchtwagen.at/detailansicht.php?id_fahrzeug=6804263

 

But after I asked Google what problems might occur, I am sick of it before even looking at this ******. The 2.6 V6 seems to be one of the most troublesome engines

in the older Audis. Not for me, thank you. 

 

Now you tell me!

[320touring]

Despite not being in convoy with the SVM I happened upon a Volvo of much awesome at Tebay , as is tradition or old charter or summink

[Lukas]

Now you tell me!

 

I was surprised, I have to admit. Even Audi-fanboys, and Austria is full of them, told me that the 2.6 and 2.8 V6 engines

are quite troublesome and have a lot of common faults. 

 

I would have liked that mostly because of the blue velours inside. 

 

But as I am not an Audi-fan and it´s only a winter-car, I am not willing to bother. 

[Ghosty]

 The 2.6 V6 seems to be one of the most troublesome engines

in the older Audis. Not for me, thank you. 

 

 

Ours is about the only bit of the A4 that hasn't put a foot wrong. Responded absurdly well to an oil change and a set of plugs, too.

[New POD]

Binis aren't all bad, you know...

 

Not great, but they're good for a modern.

 

Generation 1 Binis are Great.

[fordperv]

im at a whole health consious moment in my life, today was my first visit to the gym and bloody hell im aching off now, i hope its worth it

[anonymous user]

I went to the gym once, all that lifting, pushing, grunting, sweating; still couldn't get the door open, so I never went back

[Kiltox]

If anyone wants some cheap Halfords tools I now have a trade card - I can order the 200pc socket set for £125!

[Lord Sterling]

Despite not being in convoy with the SVM I happened upon a Volvo of much awesome at Tebay , as is tradition or old charter or summink

Lol, I was at Tebay southbound services today. About the same time you posted that image.

[dome]

Sold the Jag tonight. Should probably stick to just 2 cars for a while but we'll see.

[320touring]

Lol, I was at Tebay southbound services today. About the same time you posted that image.

You should have approached and said "320touring, I presume"(A little Blantyre reference that very few would get;)

[Bren]

Just ran 5 miles - the furthest I have ran since being diagnosed with asthma. My legs are aching somewhat.....

[scaryoldcortina]

You should have approached and said "320touring, I presume"(A little Blantyre reference that very few would get;)

Blantyre - home of Dr Livingstone. I was there with the Royal Engineers in 1989 building an adventure playground in the grounds of the museum.

[Lacquer Peel]

I was surprised, I have to admit. Even Audi-fanboys, and Austria is full of them, told me that the 2.6 and 2.8 V6 engines

are quite troublesome and have a lot of common faults.

 

I would have liked that mostly because of the blue velours inside.

 

But as I am not an Audi-fan and it´s only a winter-car, I am not willing to bother.

I think the 2.6 is Audi's own V6 and the 2.8 is the VR6. Might be RONG. I've not heard anything bad about the V6 but plenty about the VR6.

 

Edit: I am RONG. Audi offered a 2.8 version of their V6 as well.

[Ghosty]

The 2.6 is an Audi unit as found in the 80, Coupe, Cabriolet, and some very early (N plate) A4s. 

VR6s are 2.8s but I'm not sure what Audis got a VR6, in the case of the A4 the 2.8 V6 is either 12 or 30 valves, and VR6s have 24. The listed displacement for UK 2.8s doesn't match that of the VR either.

[egg]

The Fusion has been in my ownership for two years. Despite shining up my headlights with Meguiar's headlight restoring kit a couple of times in that period (a la Dollywobbler with less effective results) - the headlights are dull (but not an MOT advisory)

 

With the clock change coming, I've bought a newer face lift headlight for £17 from an ebay breaker and fitted today. It's the post-2005 one with the orange headlight (which is more 'stylish' anyway in my view). I only bought one for now, as only one was available at that price and I wasn't sure the electrical connector would be right (it was).

 

I also took the opportunity to upgrade to Osram Silver Star as they are only £4.50 each. I now have a lopsided,but clearer, Fusion face. Just need to find the other one now!

 

 

 

[brickwall]

Fixed the winscreen wipers. Motor was boloxed as the return bit was goosed. Did a sort of bodge.

[Craig the Princess]

Retaxed the MGF for a trip to that there London tomorrow with lostnotfound. Needed a jump start (and will do again in the morning) and air in the tyres.

 

Looking forward to some autumnal roof down fun tomorrow.