The new news 24 thread

[danthecapriman]

Had a productive day today. Glorious weather out today so job number 1 was to replace the Volvo's front indicator bulbs. These being the US style twin filament amber bulbs which are quite unusual in this country but I got some off eBay. Easy job but necessary as the amber coating was peeling off the old originals. Results are now a good amber glow from the indicators.

Went out for a drive in it afterwards just for the hell of it. Drove brilliantly, nice and smooth after its oil and filter change last weekend.

 

Next job was a bit more work in the Transit.

Cut some wood trims for finishing off the kitchen units in the camper back end, then varnished them. They just need to dry off then be permanently fixed in place tomorrow. Also ordered some new seat foam for the bench seats/beds. Wasn't cheap but should be perfect for the job, nice and thick!

Also noticed one of the rear door seals was letting damp past it, wetting the floor near the bottom of the door. On checking why it looks like the seal rubber has flattened with age leaving a poor seal.

Easy fix was to peel the join between the top and bottom halves of the door seal apart then thread in a decent length of spare rubber fuel hose to beef up the old rubber seal. Seems to have done the trick so far.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

The mini rebuild thread is yours too right?

[17-Coffees]

Was at the Classic Car auctions in Errol today for a look around, some interesting things...

The R129 generation of the Mercedes SL, a very handsome looking car im sure we can agree. The R230 gen is also a nice enough looking thing.

I had the displeasure of seeing this bastard creation today...

 

 

The naff wrap caught my eye from across the room, then the blingy alloyds...then I seen roof and window lines in relation to the rest of it...Then it clicked. I've not felt this sorry for a car in years. 

While myself, Supernaut and another friend was having a poke around it in amazement at how shit it was, most of the people coming up to have a look honestly looked like the type of wideboy who thing it looked good and would keep it how it was...

 

Thankfully, I spotted this Alfa 166...3.0 manual! Having a spot for Italian luxo-barges I took the opportunity to have a look. 

 

I was amazed at how the interior made the car feel much smaller and sporty that the size of the thing would lead you to think! Really impressed! 

[Mally]

I was on your side until you mentioned the minis.

Any work is never wasted. Keeps you fit if nothing else.

[phil_lihp]

Next job was a bit more work in the Transit.

Cut some wood trims for finishing off the kitchen units in the camper back end, then varnished them. They just need to dry off then be permanently fixed in place tomorrow. Also ordered some new seat foam for the bench seats/beds. Wasn't cheap but should be perfect for the job, nice and thick!

 

I need to sort out some proper bed foam for the Hiace, can I ask where you got yours from?  

[tooSavvy]

SiC "..I did briefly consider raised digits but I abandoned that idea when the numberplate man at the show said they were 60 quid. These were £28.."

 

Mine were a LOT less than £28 m8

 

 

TS

* or do you mean plastic letters clipped on?

[Jazoli]

I’ve been offered a 2001 C Klasse by a friend’s husband. It’s a C200 Kompressor - he is taking a company car as he’s customer facing and needs to look a bit more successful than rusty rear arches perhaps suggest to prospective clients.

 

Anyone know much? From memory it’s the coupe version, about 130k and has MOT until August.

 

Are they any kop? Mum has a 2006 DERV but I’ve somehow never driven that either!

They are ok ish, fairly robust but not without their common faults, they can be pricey to fix though, check everything works and that it idles properly from cold, I'd have another if it was cheap enough.

 

Expect no better than 28mpg average if it's an auto.

[SiC]

* or do you mean plastic letters clipped on?

Yes that. If I was to go for a pressed yellow/white plate, I'd rather go for the black/silver.

[drum]

Was at the Classic Car auctions in Errol today for a look around, some interesting things...

The R129 generation of the Mercedes SL, a very handsome looking car im sure we can agree. The R230 gen is also a nice enough looking thing.

I had the displeasure of seeing this bastard creation today...

27858882_10156016365546132_7319434546928343272_n.jpg

 

28058388_10156016365556132_5152010736972719602_n.jpg

 

27867621_10156016365561132_1998685403447073744_n.jpg

The naff wrap caught my eye from across the room, then the blingy alloyds...then I seen roof and window lines in relation to the rest of it...Then it clicked. I've not felt this sorry for a car in years. 

While myself, Supernaut and another friend was having a poke around it in amazement at how shit it was, most of the people coming up to have a look honestly looked like the type of wideboy who thing it looked good and would keep it how it was...

 

Thankfully, I spotted this Alfa 166...3.0 manual! Having a spot for Italian luxo-barges I took the opportunity to have a look. 

28117682_10156015873651132_1948143549_n.jpg

 

28109897_10156015873661132_2013062776_n.jpg

I was amazed at how the interior made the car feel much smaller and sporty that the size of the thing would lead you to think! Really impressed!

 

We need to get autoshite beanies or something. I was the tube merrily bidding away on all sorts.

[Datsuncog]

I had the displeasure of seeing this bastard creation today... I've not felt this sorry for a car in years. 

 

 

[Datsuncog]

Bloody typical. You wait 25 years for a copy of Jalopy Issue #1, then three come along in the space of a week.

 

 

Could be worse, granted.

 

**UPDATE: Spare copies now allocated, thanks! And check out the Shitescan thread if you fancy a downloadable Jalopy fix.**

[danthecapriman]

I need to sort out some proper bed foam for the Hiace, can I ask where you got yours from?

 

https://www.thefoamshop.co.uk

[SRi05]

Driving along a road just round the corner from the house and some arsehole waiting to turn into a side street inexplicably trys to turn into it before I pass, had to slam the anchors on and swerve almost onto the pavement on the other side of the road to avoid him by inches. Still fucking shaking. He got out to apologise to me and I couldn't even say anything, just shook my head and drove off. The positive point of the story is the Merc's brakes work very fucking well

[wuvvum]

That's unusual. Most people these days would get out and start swearing at you and trying to make out it was your fault.

[BorniteIdentity]

Driving along a road just round the corner from the house and some arsehole waiting to turn into a side street inexplicably trys to turn into it before I pass, had to slam the anchors on and swerve almost onto the pavement on the other side of the road to avoid him by inches. Still fucking shaking. He got out to apologise to me and I couldn't even say anything, just shook my head and drove off. The positive point of the story is the Merc's brakes work very fucking well

Good car that one. Well done for not spoiling it (!)

[AMC Rebel]

Why would you change the position of the terminals in the same tail light plugs, halfway through a model year.

Because accountants.

[Royale80]

I'm in Bulgaria skiing. Not much shite seen so far.

 

Haven't skied for 23 years. My 15 year old son went with his school last year. Been out for over 5 hours today-10 mins on nursery slopes, then green now on blue. I'm absoloutely bollocksed. He'll have to carry me to dinner and then the bar.

 

I,ll keep my eyes open for shite.

 

 

Steve

Rr

[captain_70s]

https://www.driving.co.uk/news/british-roads-worse-omans/

 

Entirely unsurprised, my commute around Glasgow is a bumpy, uncomfortable one where dense traffic and narrow lanes means pothole avoidance often isn't possible, there are also area of road which are constantly flooded and reduce 2-lanes of traffic into one.

 

My street is a quiet residential example, one way with cars parked down either side. It also features massive potholes and large chunks of street that have cracked and started to collapse. Just before Christmas the council came around and "fixed" this by pouring asphalt into the holes and... Erm, that was it. Naturally the winter weather means that freeze thaw action made this fail pretty much instanty leaving an even worse road surface which is now covered in loose bits of pavement which get pinged all over the place by passing traffic (including peppering my cars with stone chips) and have collected in gutters blocking the street's drainage...

 

The fact that the money is being put into trains is slightly boggling given the frequency with which they are late, cancelled or simply broken down at which point your end up using a bus which is back on the shit roads again.

[BorniteIdentity]

Just checked the MOT site to see how my old Dot’s Mercedes fared. It’s a 2007 220CDI with 70k on the clock, so should be little to concern.

 

Anyway, four days to go and Dad hasn’t put it in yet. Knowing him, he was waiting for someone to pay him first before spending.

 

Nope.

 

Got this from Mum an hour ago.

 

 

She isn’t even joking. She’s ignoring my calls too!

 

Fair play. 68 this week and not averse to being rash. Her own Mum didn’t make it to 68, and that’s always in the back of my mind. I’ll be delighted for her if she spaffs my inheritance on one. Especially if it’s a GT.

 

Big love, Ma!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tooSavvy]

^^ yupp... We're SKIing at this very moment

 

TS

[Roverageous]

Well emergency shuffling today for me after hitting a massive fuckoff pothole in the Volvo & breaking it. Two wheels knackered, two tyres knackered and suspension damage. FUN!

 

Thing is I need a car to get me to work for 5:30 every morning this week. So the 75 has had to come out of hibernation - I was a bit concerned after not even opening the garage door since the beginning of November, however a quick check of the fluids, new battery and fired up as if it was a warm start - no tappets, nothing.

 

Will be nice wafting about in this while the Volvo gets fettled!

 

[tooSavvy]

You have photos......

 

You will sue for damage......

 

$HITstyle filling loosener, eh

 

 

TS

[SRi05]

Good car that one. Well done for not spoiling it (!)

I was actually more annoyed afterwards at the thought of the car being damaged rather than me. I've grown quite attached to the old thing!

[clayts450]

Was gonna roll the sleeves up and crack on with the Streetwise this afternoon (round two of SCU removal) but PTSD decided to throw a spanner into the works. Hoping I'll get some pointers off the PTSD crowd. To be fair, Tom did warn me about keeping the car going as the battery may* fail.

 

Five weeks into ownership and I have my first fail to proceed. Think it's down to lack of use and cold weather. Been stood outside the house (on the road) for a week. Went to start it yesterday as had to jiggle my cars around as I'm taking the Streetwise off the road for a few days to sort out the electrics, so need the PT for my commute. Started first time, reversed it, moved the Streetwise, back to the PT, started first time, moved it about 10 metres. Switched off. 

This morning, failed to start. All dash lights on as normal, but limited crank, and then nothing. Tried again, just get the starter relay clicking but not cranking at all. 

Voltage off the battery around 11.5 according to one of those Chinese FM transmitter thingies - is that the problem ? Not enough juice ? 

Tried a jump start off the Streetwise, but still no dice, still the clicking.

 

Ludicrous location for the batteries on these - under the passenger seat with very little room indeed. Battery wedged in solid, can't get at terminals. You jump start under the bonnet by using a jump post for the +ve, and engine block for -ve. Looks like the seat will have to come out. Bumshitbollox

 

Have had to make Streetwise match fit again - SCU still jammed behind evap unit, put sound deadening material and mats back - shouldn't be a problem.

[holbeck]

Meanwhile in Cornwall

 

 

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/helston-crash-sees-bmw-leave-1230409

[mercrocker]

Local headline....."BMW fucks another Mini"

[SiC]

Apparently the Mini was worth £10995. Such an important fact that they had to mention it 4 times in one short article.

[twosmoke300]

Ouch - bet Mr Nichols is happy about that

[Kiltox]

Just checked the MOT site to see how my old Dot’s Mercedes fared. It’s a 2007 220CDI with 70k on the clock, so should be little to concern.

 

Anyway, four days to go and Dad hasn’t put it in yet. Knowing him, he was waiting for someone to pay him first before spending.

 

Nope.

 

Got this from Mum an hour ago.

 

 

She isn’t even joking. She’s ignoring my calls too!

 

Fair play. 68 this week and not averse to being rash. Her own Mum didn’t make it to 68, and that’s always in the back of my mind. I’ll be delighted for her if she spaffs my inheritance on one. Especially if it’s a GT.

 

Big love, Ma!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nnngggghhh

 

Only car I’d seriously consider getting ticked up for has to be a ‘stang

[SiC]

I've seriously considered it too. I'm waiting for the 2018 model to hit the shores here. With its 10 speed auto, improved safety and revised styling, I'm hoping the current ones will finally drop in value. All they've done since being released is stay at the same value but just the mileage on the second hand examples has gone up.