The new news 24 thread

[Split_Pin]

Hammerited the inside of the strut towers on the Audi today. They looked ok but I wanted to tidy it up a bit as there was some surface corrosion.

While the wheel was on but in the air I checked the ball joints and there is no movement at all! Not sure whether to just keep the ones I have ordered or return them. It came to about £40 quid but most of that was on postage. I'd have to pay that again if I sent them back so it seems a bit pointless. I was convinced that's what the noise was however I should have checked. Anyway, as long as it's not those safety critical items, I'll just file it under ignore for now.

[NorthernMonkey]

1 hour ago, Cavcraft said:

Just looking for an old car dealer on line, and looks who's back:

 

https://www.carcraft.co.uk/

 

Seem to be some sort of middle men now.

Bit of a bullet/foot interface there.

It’s all well and good reviving an old name to boost your online business, albeit one that’s rarely that successful...see Woolworths etc

However, that relies on the old name in question being one that has some affection in the eyes of the public.

Unfortunately, they’ve chosen to go with one which still has very strong negative connotations, with a lot of people still paying the price for involvement with its previous incarnation.

[NorthernMonkey]

The fact they’ve felt the need to add this to their website says it all really! 

[Aston Martin]

Fuck sake, just bought a technically 4th car.

On the plus side, I don't pay or collect until December when the Cacti goes back.

[17-Coffees]

“I’m removing the speed limiter!”...

 

Ill be sure to post back, be it from home or the side of the road....

[EssDeeWon]

On 9/6/2019 at 7:41 PM, sims00 said:

So a collection happened today after work... massively long shift but I was looking forward to this all day. 25 mins down the road.

It's absolutely GORGEOUS and genuinely, immaculate is the word. Garaged most of its life with low long term owners, mainly BMW stamps and receipts. It's a dream. Full electrics, heated seats, ice cold climate, etc etc. I love the velour. Smooth and plenty of power on tap. In love.

Lovely E39 there, these things are great.  Well bought sir.

[dome]

7 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Hammerited the inside of the strut towers on the Audi today. They looked ok but I wanted to tidy it up a bit as there was some surface corrosion.

While the wheel was on but in the air I checked the ball joints and there is no movement at all! Not sure whether to just keep the ones I have ordered or return them. It came to about £40 quid but most of that was on postage. I'd have to pay that again if I sent them back so it seems a bit pointless. I was convinced that's what the noise was however I should have checked. Anyway, as long as it's not those safety critical items, I'll just file it under ignore for now.

I've been unable to diagnose worn bushes myself before but on a ramp with a bfo pry bar these things often become apparent. I'd hold on to them. 

In saying that, there's a noise from my Audi that sounds an awful lot like a front top mount. I've had the whole front end in bits but never found it and neither has my MOT tester. 

[Split_Pin]

5 minutes ago, dome said:

I've been unable to diagnose worn bushes myself before but on a ramp with a bfo pry bar these things often become apparent. I'd hold on to them. 

In saying that, there's a noise from my Audi that sounds an awful lot like a front top mount. I've had the whole front end in bits but never found it and neither has my MOT tester. 

Yeah I have a few noises like that on the Clio as well. I'll just turn up the radio for mow and hold onto the BJs!

[paulplom]

Is that a fair enough price for the sabb before I book it in?

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

[Cavcraft]

Better view this morning.  Might have to do the old note under the wiper thing.

[Saabnut]

1 hour ago, paulplom said:

Is that a fair enough price for the sabb before I book it in?

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk
 

Looks about right to me.

[paulplom]

Looks about right to me.

Champion, I'll book it in when I get 2 minutes.

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[MikeR]

FTP on sons Focus  this morning , turns over but no go ......

he has been playing cambelt roulette .....

waits for further news .....

[richardmorris]

I have a new toy to play with for a bit. Very comfortable it is too. 

Second part of the winter car swap achieved this morning, torrential rain on the m6 saw the 2cv crawling along at 50 with rain dripping down from the dash. Now left on le drive du les six cylinders for this beast. I’m currently in Oxford having lunch, about to head home.

[SRi05]

9 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

I have a new toy to play with for a bit. Very comfortable it is too. 

Second part of the winter car swap achieved this morning, torrential rain on the m6 saw the 2cv crawling along at 50 with rain dripping down from the dash. Now left on le drive du les six cylinders for this beast. I’m currently in Oxford having lunch, about to head home.

Fromage Frais.... 

[Spurious]

What a lovely XM.

Did it ever get the upgraded headlights. The series 1 XMs had a poor dipped beam but most of the series 2 was upgraded except for some of the early series 2 XMs.

I remember using Nightbreakers in an early XM and they were still pants.

Shame cos it was a good car besides that.

[taxi paul]

In terms of rattle can painting I am about mid table second division. Sort of not bad but could improve. However when it comes to spray can laquer I am in the alfies chippy north west division five. Never mind nothing that a bit of wet and dry and polishing wont sort out. More runs than Geoff boycott. 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

10 minutes ago, Spurious said:

....series 1 XMs had a poor dipped beam but most of the series 2 was upgraded except for some of the early series 2 XMs.

I remember using Nightbreakers in an early XM and they were still pants.....

Presumably anyone who drives/drove a Vauxhall Calibra could compare notes.....

[dozeydustman]

Today is officially the start of things getting colder. I've just made the first Bovril of the season.

After all when it's cold, you drink Bovril. It's the law.

[Six-cylinder]

44 minutes ago, Spurious said:

What a lovely XM.

Did it ever get the upgraded headlights. The series 1 XMs had a poor dipped beam but most of the series 2 was upgraded except for some of the early series 2 XMs.

I remember using Nightbreakers in an early XM and they were still pants.

Shame cos it was a good car besides that.

This a 1997 so fairly late and dip seems fine. High beam seams to give more light but does not lift the beam, can high-beam be adjusted separately?

[Aston Martin]

On 9/7/2019 at 3:03 PM, richardmorris said:

Summer car swap going to plan. 200miles non-stop in the fiat in 3hrs 20mins. I overtook a Ferrari on the m40 too!

 

 

 

 

What the hell is this 2CV longtail? 

 

It's amazing.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Just now, Aston Martin said:

What the hell is this 2CV longtail? 

 

It's amazing.

Extended storage box?

[Six-cylinder]

37 minutes ago, Tadhg Tiogar said:

Presumably anyone who drives/drove a Vauxhall Calibra could compare notes.....

I had a new 1994 Calibra 16v Red Top as a company car and the lights were crap, the rest of the car was great especially the engine.

[richardmorris]

18 minutes ago, Aston Martin said:

 

 

What the hell is this 2CV longtail? 

 

It's amazing.

Experimental Kamm-tail effect!

its a fibre-glass boot box extension. Doubles the size of the boot. It does very well at improving the aerodynamics though- 70 is quite comfortable with room to accelerate. Although the 107 size primary jet helps this a lot.

 

i know nothing about the XM yet. It cruises quite nicely on the outside lane of the m4 ( speed cameras - ha!), doesn’t seem to accelerate briskly, but does gain speed somehow. It also doesn’t fit well in my space.

[Cavcraft]

1 hour ago, Tadhg Tiogar said:

Presumably anyone who drives/drove a Vauxhall Calibra could compare notes.....

 

Calibra headlights are like Blackpool Illuminations during a WW2 blackout compared to Ford Puma ones, trust me.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

2 minutes ago, Cavcraft said:

Calibra headlights are like Blackpool Illuminations during a WW2 blackout compared to Ford Puma ones, trust me.

Time for a useless headlights / Prince of Darkness comparison thread?

[Spurious]

Time for a useless headlights / Prince of Darkness comparison thread?

Anything with Lucas sealed beams. Three settings; dim, dimmer and off.

Amazing how much a proper set of halogens in a LR Defender 90 helped.

[wuvvum]

I actually found the sealed beams on my MGB to be surprisingly adequate.  The current owner disagreed however and replaced them with halogens.

[Spurious]

I actually found the sealed beams on my MGB to be surprisingly adequate.  The current owner disagreed however and replaced them with halogens.

Perhaps it was living in a really rural spot at the time. It used to expose poor headlights badly.

I replaced the wiring for the headlights I do admit for the Defender at the time. And then tended to run the ultrabright halogens. Less burn time out of them but worth it on unlit country roads.

For what it's worth, there's a bin in my local halfords with loads of the +90/120/150% brightness halogens. Got two +90 Bosch H4s for a tenner. Which is good value.

[Spurious]

I actually found the sealed beams on my MGB to be surprisingly adequate.  The current owner disagreed however and replaced them with halogens.

Perhaps it was living in a really rural spot at the time. It used to expose poor headlights badly.

 

I replaced the wiring for the headlights I do admit for the Defender at the time. And then tended to run the ultrabright halogens. Less burn time out of them but worth it on unlit country roads.

 

For what it's worth, there's an odds and ends bin in my local halfords with loads of the +90/120/150% brightness halogens reduced. Got two +90 Bosch H4s for a tenner. Which is good value.