The new news 24 thread

[MorrisItalSLX]

Warning: This post contains Dollywobbler grade pornography.

 

Before:

 

 

During:

 

 

After:

 

 

Champion.

[Broadsword]

Driving on the M62 I saw a Land Rover Discovery bouncing at an alarming rate, sitting very low. As we drew past it it became apparent that the air suspension has completely collapsed, but the lady driving it seemed determined to keep going. Looked extremely dodgy such a heavy vehicle bouncing along on the bumpstops at 70 MPH.

[Tayne]

I assume it’s like the p38s in that it has flexible bumpstops so you’re not rendered immobile by an air suspension failure.

[MorrisItalSLX]

Warning: This post contains Dollywobbler grade pornography.

 

Before:

 

 

During:

 

 

After:

 

 

Champion.

I should add some context.

 

The previous owner of the Jag removed the headlamp wipers for reasons unknown to mankind. I have been after a pair since day 1.

Headlamp wipers for Jaguar SIII XJs are made of unobtainium as they were a very rare optional extra and when they do turn up for sale they cost a fortune.

I had tried every Jaguar parts place in Australia and even some abroad with no success until I heard of a small breaker in Sydney that only deals face to face (or on the phone if you can track down the number). I decided to take the 2 hour journey to see them.

Upon my arrival to a small building in a row of industrial shopfronts I see 4 XJs in various states of disrepair out the front and an open door revealing more dismantled XJs inside. I know I’m in the right place.

I enter to reveal rows of shelves packed full of parts and stretching back as far as the eye could see, upstairs there was an office full of parts with just enough room for the owner, Geoff, to sit behind his desk. The whole business is a one man operation and Geoff really knows his stuff, all you do is ask for a part and he disappears into the shelving, rummages around and returns with the part in hand.

It was a proper Aladdin’s cave of Jaguar parts, everything you need for every model. Definitely my go-to parts man from now on.

Naturally, he had a pair of wipers and they were purchased the second he brought them to me. They were expensive, but still much less than I have seen them sell for before.

 

[Split_Pin]

Insurance arranged for tomorrow to collect the roffle Audi.

 

The cheapest day insurance I could find was over £30 so I just took out a full policy. £16 deposit today and  £19 per month with no NCB (as I have 4 different NCBs on other policies so played it safe here). Plus it makes it easier for the prospective purchaser to have a test drive or drive it home before calling Cartakeback, depending on how the MOT goes tomorrow.

 

Whatever happens, once it goes, I can transfer the insurance to the 172 as that's coming out as soon as the Audi is moved on.

[SierraMikeHotel]

My Merc is back at the bodyshop for them to do a proper job rather than the awful bodge that they did before.

 

They were supposed to deliver it back to me today, but I had a small bet with myself that it would be delayed. Surprise surprise, it won't be done until tomorrow.

 

They've broken the Mercedes badge and are waiting for a new one to arrive.

[dollywobbler]

I should add some context.

 

The previous owner of the Jag removed the headlamp wipers for reasons unknown to mankind. I have been after a pair since day 1.

Headlamp wipers for Jaguar SIII XJs are made of unobtainium as they were a very rare optional extra and when they do turn up for sale they cost a fortune.

I had tried every Jaguar parts place in Australia and even some abroad with no success until I heard of a small breaker in Sydney that only deals face to face (or on the phone if you can track down the number). I decided to take the 2 hour journey to see them.

Upon my arrival to a small building in a row of industrial shopfronts I see 4 XJs in various states of disrepair out the front and an open door revealing more dismantled XJs inside. I know I’m in the right place.

I enter to reveal rows of shelves packed full of parts and stretching back as far as the eye could see, upstairs there was an office full of parts with just enough room for the owner, Geoff, to sit behind his desk. The whole business is a one man operation and Geoff really knows his stuff, all you do is ask for a part and he disappears into the shelving, rummages around and returns with the part in hand.

It was a proper Aladdin’s cave of Jaguar parts, everything you need for every model. Definitely my go-to parts man from now on.

Naturally, he had a pair of wipers and they were purchased the second he brought them to me. They were expensive, but still much less than I have seen them sell for before.

 

 

Video needed!

 

In other news, I'm taking part in an 'off road challenge' at the weekend. It's like a slightly less official Production Car Trial by the look of it. Can't quite decide which car to use, but Skoda is looking favorit (ahem) at the moment.

[MorrisItalSLX]

Video needed!

Small spot of bother there as they don’t actually work as such. More of an ornamental installation.

[DodgeRover]

Video needed!

 

In other news, I'm taking part in an 'off road challenge' at the weekend. It's like a slightly less official Production Car Trial by the look of it. Can't quite decide which car to use, but Skoda is looking favorit (ahem) at the moment.

Is using a 2CV deemed to be cheating?

[Eddie Honda]

as they were a very rare optional extra

Where they optional on the XJ12?

 

The reason I ask, is father Honda had a XJ12: the radio wasn't top of the range (only a MW/LW Philips 460), the wheels were steel and the engine wasn't even HE ( ) but it did have headlamp wipers. Seems an odd box to tick if they were optional.

 

GOA448W 001 by E Honda, on Flickr

[MorrisItalSLX]

Where they optional on the XJ12?

 

The reason I ask, is father Honda had a XJ12: the radio wasn't top of the range (only a MW/LW Philips 460), the wheels were steel and the engine wasn't even HE ( ) but it did have headlamp wipers. Seems an odd box to tick if they were optional.

 

GOA448W 001 by E Honda, on Flickr

I believe they were an option across the range, it does seem odd that your Dad had them on what appears to be a “base” spec XJ12 (i.e. not a Sovereign or Daimler). It also doesn’t have fog lamps, appears not to have a sunroof and I assume I’d didn’t have cruise control which makes it very unoptioned indeed. Whoever bought it new must have really wanted headlamp wipers. In fact I have never seen headlamp wipers on an XJ lower than a Sovereign, quite an oddity that.

[Eddie Honda]

It didn't have a sunroof or cc.

 

But then again it was BL at the time and they did deliver the car to the 1st owner in the wrong colour (dark red) and it was sent back for respray.

 

He was the 2nd owner and the car was five years old at the time. My uncle became the third in 1987 and he exported it.

 

It had an XJS growler fitted by my dad as there was a hole in the bonnet which was plugged by a coach bolt and large washer.

 

I believe it had electric window problems and it was problematic getting inside the doors due to additional steel plating.

 

1st owner was an army general which might explain there hole in bonnet, day one respray to black and armour plating of the doors...

 

Even at £1.60 a gallon during 1985 oil glut, it was eye-wateringly expensive to fill. Despite that it did see 140 on the clock a few times.

[trigger]

 

Anyone able to identify the car on the back? Rubbish screenshot from my dashcam.

 

Horrible crash on the A17, beavertail with the car on the back flipped into the OSF of a HGV then landed on its wheels. Chap was covered in blood.

That's awful, there's a lad on Facebook who's just bought a 164 in that colour from a barn, I hope it's not him with that one.

 

Edit - It's not that one.

[BorniteIdentity]

I WANT to see your name in bright lights tho!

 

Apologies. I actually forgot that you took that one. Upon reflection, it would have been a miracle if I’d taken it myself.

 

Honestly, it’s been a whirlwind. I’m used to stuff like this, but it’s taken on a life of its own which I’m a little surprised about. I guess everyone’s got a Mini story, and everyone has a car they wish they could have back.

 

Done.  Skizzzer with 3 zees yes?

[MikeR]

washed my car in the jet wash booth today .......

 

some body left a back window just slightly down ............... 

 

but my seat is dry ....... 

[busmansholiday]

So, Mrs BMH C3 passed it's test today with a few advisories I can live with. Cost £250 18 months ago, so cannot complain.

 

For some reason Mrs BMH thinks I want to sell it and buy some other shite...

[Skizzer]

Done.  Skizzzer with 3 zees yes?

LOL - fame at last!!! Thanks man.

 

Luckily the compliance people at work have just finished my annual re-certification as a suitable person, as that might have raised an eyebrow with the regulator...

[320touring]

So, Mrs BMH C3 passed it's test today with a few advisories I can live with. Cost £250 18 months ago, so cannot complain.

 

For some reason Mrs BMH thinks I want to sell it and buy some other shite...

She's getting the hang of being a shiter..

[dollywobbler]

Small spot of bother there as they don’t actually work as such. More of an ornamental installation.

Nowt a bit of crafty time lapse can't cure.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

At the end of the month, will be having first holiday in about five years in a mobile reception dead-spot somewhere in SW Wales....

 

WCPGW?

[New POD]

At the end of the month, will be having first holiday in about five years in a mobile reception dead-spot somewhere in SW Wales....

 

WCPGW?

Buy a map. Pretend it's 1989.

Buy a guide book.

Turn off phonez

 

Sounds fucking idyllic.

 

Note Sat nav on phone won't work hence MAP needed.

[Lord Sterling]

washed my car in the jet wash booth today .......

 

some body left a back window just slightly down ...............

 

but my seat is dry .......

Washed the Turkish bucket Hyundai today, nearly got scooshed by the car wash water as I went to adjust the wing mirror but managed to avoid it, just.

 

Started with a hoover as the interior was generally a mess.

 

Before;

 

After;

 

I don't think the thing had been cleaned for a long time before I got my hands on it. Still needs some sort of dressing on the tyres as they basically let the car down.

 

So yeah, a bit cleaner than before...

 

I also stuck some air in the tyres, back tyres were very low to a point where a passing motorist kindly pipped his horn to tell me about it.

 

WD40 was liberally applied to door locks, hinges and any other metalware under the bonnet.

[shoddybanger]

I replaced the front wheel bearing of the Trajet last weekend, as it was making a howling noise. I've never replaced a wheel bearing before, and it turned out to be a surprisingly aggravating chore. I elected to use a bearing replacement tool with a forcing screw, but in hindsight I should have just removed the knuckle and used a shop press instead.

 

Anyway, here's a short pictorial journey of my plight with some commentary added for good measure.

 

1. First I lifted the front end of the car and determined the right front bearing to have a slight play and some friction when rotated, so I removed the tire, moved the brake caliper aside and pulled the hub out of the old bearing with a slide hammer. That went as planned. After removing the hub I wrestled the snap ring for an eternity before it broke free in the groove. Took it out with a pair of long pliers.

 

2. I then set up the pulling tool and started pulling the bearing out. I used an impact wrench, and a breaker bar for the tougher bits.

 

3. I quickly realised that the largest cup in the set was not large enough to accept the bearing (a wiser person would've of course checked this beforehand with the new bearing), so I had to resort to some very precarious rigging to pull the bearing out. And of course it wanted to wedge itself inside the bore rather than come out straight.

 

4. After a long fight the bearing eventually plopped out, and I was miraculously still unharmed, despite the imminent danger of flying projectiles.

 

5. Empty bore ready to accept a new bearing.

 

6. New bearing pressed in, after yet another long fight of trying to make the bloody part go in straight and having it fight me the whole way in. One maybe considers this a high point of the whole ordeal - a moment to rejoice, even, but I was fuming and well beyond the point of being just slightly pissed with the whole task. I just wanted to slap that hub in and get it over with already. This would've been a good time to take a break.

 

7. So, in with the hub. Just press it in, right?

 

8. Well, basically yes, just remember to support the new bearing from the inner race when you push it, because otherwise you might... ah.

 

Yeah, that's what you want to avoid. Oh boy. I applauded myself for a job well buggered up at the last step.

 

I paced around the shop for a bit to calm myself down and eventually just pressed the inner race back in the bearing and rotated the hub a couple of times. It seemed smooth without any play, so while the life of the bearing was most certainly compromised, it will most likely outlive the car.

 

However, the howling noise, which prompted me to replace the old bearing, is still present. I now suspect it to be the brakes instead, so I am presently trying to motivate myself to tear into those.

 

Maybe in a few weeks' time.

[Guest Hooli]

 

Note Sat nav on phone won't work hence MAP needed.

 

That depends.

 

Google maps allows you to download offline maps, I normally do this at home to save data. It'll then use them & the GPS (which works nearly anywhere) for navigation.

[xtriple]

Calendar arrived! Yay as I have a load of dates that needed to get put on it. Oh yes, jolly good it is too Like the pics... but then I do every year.

[gm]

Mine too, and is looking good in 70's corner



Many thanks to everyone involved

[SierraMikeHotel]

Car will be staying at the body shop for another day at least... They broke the Mercedes emblem on the boot and are waiting for a new one to arrive.

[MikeR]

However, the howling noise, which prompted me to replace the old bearing, is still present. I now suspect it to be the brakes instead, so I am presently trying to motivate myself to tear into those.

 

 

have a look at any heat shields on the exhaust system , I have a noise between 30 and 40 mph which makes me think the diff is going , but when I started messing with the heat cover on the manifold so I could exercise the bolts ready for a exhaust change  ,,,, the noise went !!!

[shoddybanger]

However, the howling noise, which prompted me to replace the old bearing, is still present. I now suspect it to be the brakes instead, so I am presently trying to motivate myself to tear into those.

 

 

have a look at any heat shields on the exhaust system , I have a noise between 30 and 40 mph which makes me think the diff is going , but when I started messing with the heat cover on the manifold so I could exercise the bolts ready for a exhaust change  ,,,, the noise went !!!

 

Thanks for the tip. I will check the shields. Never would have thought to check them to be honest.

[dozeydustman]

Like a couple of others, a colander containing 12 photographic examples of some fine* vehicles throughout the ages was posted through my letterbox today. I've put it on the wall where one of my wedding photos normally lives.

 

Let's see how long it takes Mrs D to spot.....