The new news 24 thread

[JohnK]

Think I’ve officially lost my mind. I used to be a massive LR fan and had plenty of  Defenders/Disco’s in the past etc.

Those of you who are long standing members might recall the last dabble I had with an LR product back in 2016 with a drug dealer spec P38 4.6 that shit its engine in spectacular fashion when I gave it hell down a motorway slip road. It put me off for life.

A few weeks back, I decided to buy an X6 35d and quite enjoyed the driving position etc. It is well known that I’m a BMW man, so yesterday I bought another BMW engined runaround. Placing bets now on how long it lasts 😬

In reality, I paid £1000 for the L322, as long as the engine remains healthy the M57 is worth most of that back if the rest of it decides to fuck up 🤷‍♂️

Here is both of them anyway 🤣

[Schaefft]

The X6 certainly is quite a departure from any Land Rover. What's the L322 forum count at this point? Must be close to 10!

[andy18s]

37 minutes ago, JohnK said:

Think I’ve officially lost my mind. I used to be a massive LR fan and had plenty of  Defenders/Disco’s in the past etc.

Those of you who are long standing members might recall the last dabble I had with an LR product back in 2016 with a drug dealer spec P38 4.6 that shit its engine in spectacular fashion when I gave it hell down a motorway slip road. It put me off for life.

A few weeks back, I decided to buy an X6 35d and quite enjoyed the driving position etc. It is well known that I’m a BMW man, so yesterday I bought another BMW engined runaround. Placing bets now on how long it lasts 😬

In reality, I paid £1000 for the L322, as long as the engine remains healthy the M57 is worth most of that back if the rest of it decides to fuck up 🤷‍♂️

Here is both of them anyway 🤣

If it does all go south the BMW will make great running gear donor vehicle..

[JohnK]

1 hour ago, Schaefft said:

The X6 certainly is quite a departure from any Land Rover. What's the L322 forum count at this point? Must be close to 10!

Minus 1 tomorrow morning knowing my luck with LR branded motors 👀🤣

[JohnK]

46 minutes ago, andy18s said:

If it does all go south the BMW will make great running gear donor vehicle..

X Drive L322 anybody? 🤣😬

[Split_Pin]

Those L322s are a spectacular amount of car for the money, especially at that price. Plus it's bigger than even the newer models and X5 looks small in comparison, I enjoy the lofty driving position in mine. 

[JohnK]

58 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Those L322s are a spectacular amount of car for the money, especially at that price. Plus it's bigger than even the newer models and X5 looks small in comparison, I enjoy the lofty driving position in mine. 

It drives very well. Funny you say about the X5 though…. I took this picture an hour ago to send to a mate of it next to the X6. They’re actually huge cars. Perfect dog carrier!

[Lacquer Peel]

On 05/10/2025 at 17:07, Hawkeyethenoo said:

Sorry for caring when so called experts talk a load of shite. I should just have nodded my head doffed my cap and agreed. Better now? 

Why are they talking a load of shite?

[Metal Guru]

1 hour ago, Lacquer Peel said:

Why are they talking a load of shite?

Because everything has to be linked to climate change. I’m not a denier but it’s just a lazy stock reaction from journalists who don’t bother doing any research. 

[Lacquer Peel]

57 minutes ago, Metal Guru said:

Because everything has to be linked to climate change. I’m not a denier but it’s just a lazy stock reaction from journalists who don’t bother doing any research. 

It's an observable thing. I lived in Inverness shire for most of my life - the article mentions Inverness - and I've observed the climate changing in my lifetime (nearly 40).

The climate is changing and animal behaviours change in response. 

For all the things to get mad at the genocide apologists at the BBC for this is pathetic. 

[cpjitservices]

I so need an L322! 

[Fat_Pirate]

Have been using the ex-@r.welfare Qashqai quite a lot, only job to do was handbrake adjustment.  My wife rang our local garage to book an MOT for it, and he asked 'has he been buying rubbish off that Autoshite again?'  The cheek!  I've given it a good going-over and can't find any issues - it's clearly been very well maintained and the engine/box are totally bone-dry.  It's hard to believe that mileage-wise, it's now past the moon, and is 14000 miles into it's journey to Mars.

Decided to replace the growly lift pump in the 607 too.  The trouble with this car is I can never find any guidance online on how to do jobs - I spent a lot of time getting frustrated trying to remove the old one, until it dawned on me that the big arrow on the top of it might have some meaning - it had a slot I hadn't noticed... spilt plenty of diesel inside the car, naturally.

I was planning to sell the 607 but it looks like the market for big wafty cars is a bit flat, at least on here.  I do like it, compared to the Nissan it's a majestic sea turtle of a car, serenely gliding along the motorway.  The Nissan's smaller footprint and hatchback are proving very useful though.  Dunno.  Seems excessive to run 2 cars when I do so few miles.

[stuboy]

Some stuff to entertain or bore u..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[bramz7]

@Fat_Pirate

607 you say?!

 

In Delta news, in what is perfect timing, the gearbox has started whining. Whilst it is tempting to assume it's just a characterful transmission noise, it probably isn't. I've made contact with a local gearbox place to (hopefully) get it looked at. Maybe just a fluid change? Maybe the oil leak I am aware of is actually also the gearbox. 

Bastard thing. 8 days and 200 miles or so. Why do I do this?!

 

Good thing I have a K11. 

[Fat_Pirate]

2 hours ago, bramz7 said:

@Fat_Pirate

607 you say?!

indeed - still undecided on whether to sell it though.  Be warned it's a bugger to park - it has sensors but the system is entirely dead, and I can never determine where the boot ends.

[bramz7]

@Fat_Pirate

If you do, let me know and I may be willing to take it off you. I loved my old one, albeit it had (working) parking sensors! 

[Yoss]

I've just come back from a few days in CZ as some of you may have noticed on other threads. But I think this was my highlight as it was so unexpected. I'd just got off the Metro station at Opatov to go and look at the paneláks and I could see this interesting looking truck just the other side of some grass. I wondered if it might be a Liaz (old Škoda truck division) but as I got closer I realised it's only a bloody Tatra 815.

Then as I was stood there basking in its air cooled two stroke V8 goodness when another one came creeping round the corner. 

Bloody hell. 

What they were doing was reversing one in to a big hole filling it with dirt then driving up to this point where the second one would take its place and the first one would then reverse up a big pile of dirt and dump its load. 

A job for which they would be perfect with their six wheel drive and legendary off road capabilities. 

I could have watched this all day but unfortunately had other places to be but of all the times I've been to CZ this is first time I've ever seen any proper Tatra action. 

[Christine]

 

For pass MOT ! 

 

 

 

[grogee]

51 minutes ago, Yoss said:

I've just come back from a few days in CZ as some of you may have noticed on other threads. But I think this was my highlight as it was so unexpected. I'd just got off the Metro station at Opatov to go and look at the paneláks and I could see this interesting looking truck just the other side of some grass. I wondered if it might be a Liaz (old Škoda truck division) but as I got closer I realised it's only a bloody Tatra 815.

Then as I was stood there basking in its air cooled two stroke V8 goodness when another one came creeping round the corner. 

Bloody hell. 

What they were doing was reversing one in to a big hole filling it with dirt then driving up to this point where the second one would take its place and the first one would then reverse up a big pile of dirt and dump its load. 

A job for which they would be perfect with their six wheel drive and legendary off road capabilities. 

I could have watched this all day but unfortunately had other places to be but of all the times I've been to CZ this is first time I've ever seen any proper Tatra action. 

Excellent, and one of them is painted in Yoss (TM) bleen/grue colour. 

Is it a 2 stroke dizzle? 

[Yoss]

21 minutes ago, grogee said:

Excellent, and one of them is painted in Yoss (TM) bleen/grue colour. 

Is it a 2 stroke dizzle? 

I think so, but certainly air cooled. 

[Yoss]

37 minutes ago, grogee said:

Excellent, and one of them is painted in Yoss (TM) bleen/grue colour. 

Is it a 2 stroke dizzle? 

Okay, maybe not, after a little browsing I can find no mention of it. Great looking thing though, look at this. 

That's a V10, they come in V8, 10 or 12 flavour. 

Either way I'd love one. Probably the cheapest way in to Tatra ownership these days as all the cars have gone silly money. 

[RobT]

On 03/10/2025 at 00:14, RobT said:

The Mégane will stay for a while I think, unless I suddenly decide to buy something daft now I've got the sensible daily option sorted.

Daft 33 achieved.  I was missing having some old rammel to bugger about with, and it was cheap enough to take the risk.  The people selling it were lovely, an 89 year old who'd driven Dafs for years.  His daughter dealt with the transaction, and when it arrived I found some fruit from their orchard in the boot.

Restores your faith a bit, things like that.  I'll probably start a thread on it.  Plans are to sort the brakes out first as although it's a runner they are hopeless, then do loads of rust treatment to the underside.  It's crusty but not too far gone thankfully.

[High Jetter]

15 minutes ago, RobT said:

Daft 33 achieved.  I was missing having some old rammel to bugger about with, and it was cheap enough to take the risk.  The people selling it were lovely, an 89 year old who'd driven Dafs for years.  His daughter dealt with the transaction, and when it arrived I found some fruit from their orchard in the boot.

Restores your faith a bit, things like that.  I'll probably start a thread on it.  Plans are to sort the brakes out first as although it's a runner they are hopeless, then do loads of rust treatment to the underside.  It's crusty but not too far gone thankfully.

Body looks fair, looking 4ward to progress

[catsinthewelder]

Focus had a lucky escape yesterday.  We have a storage yard near work with about 25 shipping containers (along with my trailers and forge).  It used to be a gasworks.

When the main gasworks was demolished 50 odd years ago some industrial units were built on some of the land but a weird shaped bit was kept around the outside with some old buildings and various gubbins.  The gubbins now live in a small shed in the back corner and the buildings were demolished apart from the front wall which was reduced to 8' high and the windows bricked up.  We have a line of containers backed up to this wall but had to leave a 6' gap at the end.  I generally park my car in it if the other yard is busy.

Yesterday I was down there dealing with the weeds, I'd done most of what could be seen from the road but around the car was still messy so I moved it out, there was an odd noise but never mind eh?   Collected a handful of weeds from the wall walked back to the bin and WTF?  What looked like a concrete foundation gave way under my foot and dropped me into the ground down to the thigh.  Other foot was still on the ground.  Few bruises ( mostly on the foot that didn't fall through) but glad it wasn't a customer as someone could easily have broken a leg.

Somewhat glad that the car didn't fall through either!

Put some cones over the hole, will fill it with rubble at some point soon!

 

[stuboy]

24 minutes ago, catsinthewelder said:

What looked like a concrete foundation gave way under my foot and dropped me into the ground down to the thigh.  Other foot was still on the ground.  Few bruises ( mostly on the foot that didn't fall through) but glad it wasn't a customer as someone could easily have broken a leg.

lucky escape

[beko1987]

1 hour ago, catsinthewelder said:

 

Put some cones over the hole

 

Proper fix 👌

[Joey spud]

Annoyingly my modern(ish) Honda CRV has a MOT due the first week in January a time when no one wants to be checking over a car's nether regions so I've decided I'll get it done this month whilst the weather is still good.

I wanted to splash some waxoyl around it's back end first so i popped the wheels and arch liners off to see what was what. The brake pipe entombed in mud was quite impressive.

I think arch liners are the work of Satan. But after a good wire brushing of the arches, chassis rails and sill ends lots of Waxoyl was brushed on and the liners refitted.

In the end it was a filthy but enjoyable afternoon. I also popped the rear pads out and gave them a fettle/free up and even adjusted the handbrake shoes a couple of clicks.

[wuvvum]

On 08/10/2025 at 23:02, RobT said:

Daft 33 achieved.  I was missing having some old rammel to bugger about with, and it was cheap enough to take the risk.  The people selling it were lovely, an 89 year old who'd driven Dafs for years.  His daughter dealt with the transaction, and when it arrived I found some fruit from their orchard in the boot.

Restores your faith a bit, things like that.  I'll probably start a thread on it.  Plans are to sort the brakes out first as although it's a runner they are hopeless, then do loads of rust treatment to the underside.  It's crusty but not too far gone thankfully.

Fantastic!  I had one of those, it was great fun, and much nippier around town than anything with 32bhp had any right to be.  ULEZ exempt too!

Here's mine.

[alcyonecorporation]

it has a sad pouting face and is poo brown 

 

[wuvvum]

Brief fleet update in case anyone's interested.

The replacement injector appears to have cured the misfiring issue on the Toyota.  I drove it 140 miles on Saturday, to Trigger's Shotley meet and back, and it ran absolutely fine.  I'm under no illusions that a £9.89 Chinesium injector off eBay is going to be a permanent fix, but at least now I know what the problem was I can stop playing parts darts, and when a genuine injector comes up at sensible money I can do the job properly.

I also had a go at tackling the wind noise round the driver's door window.  I had to replace the window regulator a year or two back, and for some reason the new regulator didn't wind up all the way to the top, which resulted in horrific wind noise at anything over 50mph.  So I bought a 6mm grinding shank and elongated the holes in the regulator that the glass carrier bolts through, to enable the glass to sit higher.  I then wedged a couple of tap washers (the only thing I could find at short notice which was the right size and which I had two of) between the glass carrier and the regulator and bolted it into its new position.  It's improved things but it's still not quite there - unfortunately I've made the mounting holes as big as I can without weakening the metal, so there's no more room for adjustment.  The only other thing I can potentially do is to grind out the holes in the door itself which the mounting studs for the regulator mechanism poke through, but I'm loath to do that so I might end up just putting up with it - it's no longer deafening now at least.

The Rover has had another partial ATF change.  I should really do a full change at some point but that involves undoing the pipes to the torque converter and turning the engine over by hand to drain it out, which is more faff than I had time for.  The partial change should keep it going until the spring - the fluid that came out was browner than I would have liked but not horrifically so.

I also stripped down the offside front caliper to try and sort the minor brake binding issue on longer journeys which it's had for the last year or so.  It wasn't really causing a problem (I drove the car all round Europe like it, including over the Alps, round the Nürburgring and at 120mph down the Autobahn) but the squealing noise was a bit embarrassing and it was probably affecting the fuel consumption a bit too.  It should have been an easy job - just grease everything up and put it back together, the piston and slider pins were all in good nick - but the piston dust cover had gone brittle with age and split, so I had to order a replacement and wait until that arrived to complete the job.

The Merc seems to have developed a minor smoking habit since it's been stood up.  It only seems to do it when warm, so the issue may have been there for a while (I hadn't run it up to temperature for ages) or it may be a new thing.  It smells like diesel smoke rather than oil, so I'm wondering whether an injector is sticking through lack of use.  It's not clouds of smoke but it is noticeable, especially when the sun catches it.  It might be something that's cured by a blat up the road, but with the car currently being SORN and uninsured that's not really an option.  Another month and it'll be old enough to go on my classic policy so might have to wait until then.

The Renault 6 is still sat in a corner with a broken rear trailing arm mount.  It'll be going into the garage for the winter soon, once I've cleared some space for it.

The Innocenti still has a broken driver's door lock - I was intending to look at it but given the faff I had getting the passenger side door card back on after I took that off a few months back, I decided I didn't want to risk doing the same on the driver's side.  It still locks from inside anyway.

I've done almost nothing with the Spacy - I was hoping to get it running when I had a week off work but other things got in the way.  Annoyingly I managed to lose a load of brackets and bolts that I took off last year, but the only thing unique to the bike was the exhaust mounting bracket and fortunately the spares bike still had one in place.  It probably only needs an hour or two's fettling now to get it going again but I'm not sure I'll get to it this year.

The electric scooter passed its MOT again, having had almost no use in the last year.  It did need a new valve on the rear tyre but the garage did that and charged me the princely sum of £12, so couldn't really complain.  It's still for sale in the unlikely event that anyone fancies it.

Quote

Brief fleet update

LOL.