The new news 24 thread

[HMC]

More Range Rover fettling this weekend.

Thankfully the rear upper tailgate isnt an MOT issue. Its basically glass with a bit of rust around the edges.

 

It needed new front discs. Had to take the hub apart and repack the wheelbearings whilst at it.

 

 

cleaned up the brakes and fitted new pads. Welding a couple of bits on the rear inner arches is up next, and after that another visit to the MOT man......

[richardmorris]

I'm just thinking aloud here so bear with me, I found this 190E 2.0 Auto for sale today in a driveway. Been garaged since 2009 it's recently had a load of work done and a 12 month ticket written out for it.

 

Now what are these like? This one's done 118k and is full loaded with electric windows all round, sunroof and alloys and is up for £995ono. I like them but being a auto is of putting and I imagine it's not cheap to run.

 

20140727_131843.jpg

 

20140727_131900.jpg

 

 

If looked after it will outlive you.

[phil_lihp]

The CG125 did a weird thing yesterday.  It's been running a treat after a couple of good blasts around the area (top speed appears to be 55mph which seems reasonable) and I took it for a short ride to the local Morrisons last night.  On the way home there's a steep hill which once I was on it, as usual, I kicked down a gear and opened the throttle wide.  It pulled away perfectly normally and then, abruptly, lost all power.  Luckily I had a wide, lowered pavement to bail out on before the car behind ran over me.

 

It restarted easily and ticked over fine but the moment I tried to rev it, it just stalled.  I spent a good 10 minutes poking at it and scratching my head whilst noting that the sun was about to set and I was 2 miles from home, halfway up a steep hill with no breakdown cover.  Eventually I tried putting the choke on - it started, surprisingly, but then died almost instantly as you'd expect.  I put the choke lever back and found it wouldn't start at first - it took several kicks before it fired, at which point it suddenly burst into life, revving freely.  It behaved perfectly all the way home after that and was fine again today.

 

No idea what that was all about but assume it was something to do with the choke, although I haven't touched it in days as it starts first time from cold in this weather with no choke.

 

Considering this is the first time it's been used in 15 years, I'm a little impressed it hasn't had more issues really but it just seems to be getting better with use.  

[twosmoke300]

They have tiny tiny jets which block easily , esp the pilot jet.

 

Clean them out and fit a fine filter in the fuel line.

 

Worth a try anyway

[phil_lihp]

I did wonder about the carb, thanks, you're probably right there, since it's little hiccup I've noticed is now idling more smoothly and seems a little more eager to rev so I wonder if a bit of dirt was dislodged when I opened the throttle. The fuel filter is a good idea, I will try that if it shows any more signs of a problem.

[trigger]

Mega excited! I now own a 1991 Mercedes 190E 2.0 Auto!

 

I went back on the way home from the inlaws and had another look after comments on here and a post on Facebook. There's a couple of scabs underneath but nothing that's a issue at the moment, everything looked good, I could see on the mot certificate on the passenger seat that there was no advisories on the mot so decided to knock.

 

A old chap came out, turns out it belonged to his son, he couldn't drive anymore so they garaged it in 2009 but now he's emigrating to Switzerland and it needs to go, It started up well, It ticked over nicely, I couldn't really drive it as it's on SORN and on a busy road but it went in and out of the gears nicely although I can tell it needs a good run to free it up.

 

No rust or stonechips on the body, everything works except the electric aerial,  2 spare alloys in the boot, new front struts, ball joint, passenger window motor and brake caliper too.

 

Electric windows all round, electric roof, CD player, wood trim, first aid kit etc and MOT until May 2015. After a bit of haggling he agreed on £650 which covered his garage bill.       

 

I go back to collect it next Saturday. Now I need to learn up about them! I'm guessing it fuel injection and has a cambelt, right?!

 

[EssDeeWon]

No, those Mercs have chains 

[Lacquer Peel]

'E' is for 'Einspritzer', German for fuel injection.

 

I find those Mercs a bit dour, they don't do much for me, but it looks quite appealing.

[steve_earwig]

Re. all that photovoltaic stuff a few (hundred) pages back (not getting much time to do anything just now) we have a 10KWp system in the pipeline (there's a bit more sunshine here). Right now we're having the roof changed in preparations (and I won't go into last night's monsoon with only half a roof...)

 

We get a lot of power cuts here so what I originally wanted was a decent UPS capable of running the PC and maybe the telly too for an hour but there isn't anything under silly money. So then I thought about all this free energy coming from our nearest star and I thought, what about a small PV powered set up with a couple of batteries? T'wife was reluctant but what finally swayed her was they do a feedin deal here like the UK, something like 2.6 times what we pay - nice! Then I found out that, in the even of a power failure, it'll also be cut off - Whuh? How stupid would that be, all those panels on the roof, sunshine but no power? Stuff that. So I did some more investimugatoring and foud that it can be switched over so I still have power, it's just isolated from the mains. Ok, but what about at night? well, then I'll need batteries, lots of them.

 

We've actually gone to a guy who will arrange it all for us. I know this sounds like a cop-out but we are more than familiar with Croatian bureaucracy, there are thousands of suits (and suitesses) in tiny grey offices everywhere doing their bit to slow everything down and I really didn't want to spend 2 years sorting the paperwork out, going here with this form only to be told we need to go there with that form, people not answering the phone, people answering the phone but telling us complete bollocks, going to see people in officies that are meant to be in but don't seem to be there right now, would you mind waiting? (I said we had experience...) Btw when PV statrted up you needed 84 bits of paper to get it up and running, you need 88 for a nuclear power station. It's supposed to be a little more straight forward now but...

 

SO anyway yes, roof going up. Last Friday our PV man came (his name is an unusually memorable Denis) to talk to the roofers and do some measuring. After he'd done all that he started going through all the paperwork we need to get for him so we can get going. Among the questions he told me he also needed answers for are do we want to do this as individuals or as a company? Umm, eh? He says this can make a bit difference for tax, but we would need to actually produce something or the other. How about dog shit, we've got plenty of that (we have 4 dogs)? Yes, that'll do (chortle chortle). Next up he tells me we're going to have to have a name for our solar-powered generator. "Oh good grief, what sort of name?" "Well, how about Dogshit1?" This I liked, he only said it as a joke but...

 

And then one of our dogs bit him, so I guess the price is going up

 

Oh no, it's raining again, time to check the saucepans and buckets.

 

Anyway yes, loads of dosh, but it's either that or it sits in the bank evaporating. Denis reckons standard system at the current rate pays for itself in 6 years, the rule will change in January (of course) but hopefully not too much. Also, I realise having all the batteries and such is going to put the price well up (I have a figure, it's huge) but I know myself, if I didn't have it I'd regret not spending just that little bit more for all the knobs and whistles too.

 

Post posted, time for the saucepans.

[bub2006]

If i recall correct all 190e were fuel injection,the 190 was carb.

[gordonbennet]

And the electric aerial is easily fully stripped, with a bit of luck a clean up and relube and it'll be working fine, seldom see an electric aerial working on any car on the road now so do yer best there...good car those and picked up for a song, well done.

[xtriple]

190s are brilliant cars. Chains can rattle and if they do, change it pronto - I didn't and the bugger snapped! Still only a few valves were bent and MB were the cheapest place for the parts (and I get trade at all the factors!). Mercs of that era are usually lovely, well built things and if they have been looked after, last forever,

[trigger]

Cheers. It seems to run quietly but It needs using as any cars that's sat in a garage for 5 years is going to need a little TLC and freeing up.

 

First job will be a good clean and service, after that look into the aerial, It might have snapped off to be fair, I'm glad it chain driven too, one less thing to worry about!

[EssDeeWon]

More about this 75....The owner has been very helpful in digging out service history even though we have struck a deal @ 700 notes.

 

Turns out there is a receipt for a new clutch kit and slave cylinder in July 2009, it then had another slave cylinder in Nov 2012 and clutch was checked as being 'OK' and 50% worn. Sound quite normal??

[cort16]

The 190 looks nice I always thought they looked like solidly built cars

[Sloth in a bowl]

I've just spent the evening cutting up and chiseling into chunks of wood to act as shaped spacers to go between the trolley jack and axle stands and the rear beam for the Kia as part 1 of operation rust protection.

 

Is anybody else this sad?

[twosmoke300]

I was just saying to the wife yesterday that they were good cars and I should get one sometime . You beat me to it Mr trigger

[Sloth in a bowl]

More about this 75....The owner has been very helpful in digging out service history even though we have struck a deal @ 700 notes.

 

Turns out there is a receipt for a new clutch kit and slave cylinder in July 2009, it then had another slave cylinder in Nov 2012 and clutch was checked as being 'OK' and 50% worn. Sound quite normal??

 

Either a clutch works or it doesn't, 50% worn sounds like a pulled from an arse figure and any modern clutch should last at least 10 years and preferably the life of the car if made properly.

[Lankytim]

Changed the waterpump and cambelt on the Multipla today. It was surprisingly easy, although it all looked well overdue. The waterpump looked ancient and felt a bit grumbly. The previous owner said he thought the previous owner had done it. Obviously bollocks.

[dollywobbler]

To be honest, this is my biggest problem with 75s. The clutches are just ARSE. We can thank BMW for that. 

 

Anyway, we had a few drops of rain here early. My wife had gone about 4 miles away to visit a friend. Can practically see them from our house - just the other side of the valley. I was a bit surprised when both wife and 2CV came home SOAKED. Yes, dear Mrs DW had been forced to hastily put the roof back on and in that time, the 2CV and she got mightily drenched. I had to wipe drips off the interior mirror and dashboard. I then drove the 2CV into the garage and left the door open for the night so she can dry off. Poor thing. 

[HMC]

Top bombing trig!!!

 

That Merc looks lovely! As someone said, those have timing chains and from its age that will have a duplex chain too so nae bother. Looks very tidy, I recon you've got a great deal there for 650. Think I've still a stash of bits like service items, an upgraded metal thermostat cover and other stuff I can bring to the next shitefest if you still have it!

[Skizzer]

Well done Trig, I have a yearning for a 190E and am jealous.

 

Does that mean you've sold that lovely Acclaim then? (Sorry, I've been busy lately and not paying much attention.)

[ruffgeezer]

Another potential C15 enters the fray, current paypal and biscuit tin accounts sitting at £500, so just 2 weeks to edge that up to the £850 for a non shite one, that is of course assuming I don't blind buy the 3rd...

[cort16]

Are the slave cylinders on the 75s inside the gearbox like on focuses ? Now that's a shit design. I saw tidy 53 plate giffer owned focus go over the bridge because of a slave cylinder.

[RobT]

Yup, that is indeed the ex-Bollox, ex-Six Cylinder, ex-Mastervan, ex-Phil_lihp 220SLi which now resides with RobT.  Glad to see my incredibly amateur paintwork repairs are holding up, it looks proper shiny!

Ha, I did wonder if anyone would spot it. I went to the retro autojumble at Brooklands today and wimped out taking it into the display area. Had a good day but on the way home the M25 was shut both ways due to an accident, and being near the front of the queue I saw the air ambulance land on the opposite carriageway. A precision bit of flying by the pilot there!

[320touring]

The hundred quid 735i is home in one piece. .and pez station shot added to the collection thread

 

Woop:)

[dugong]

To be honest, this is my biggest problem with 75s. The clutches are just ARSE. We can thank BMW for that.

[AROnline]HOUSE![/AROnline]

 

You could have also have won:

 

1. The MG6 is great value at £20k

2. Who cares about residuals?

3. The Rover 800 is far better than a brand new Jaguar

4. If I saw a BINI at a show I'd cover it in excrement and set it alight

5. MG Motor is run by all ex-Rover staff

6. MG has an extensive dealer network

[Junkman]

[Junkman] A proper Rover 75 doesn't have a clutch. [/Junkman]

[cort16]

I had a young lad conk out outside the house in a brand new bogo Dacia Sandero. I  was milling around and asked if he was okay to see his Mrs in the passenger seat clutching a massive happy 50th birthday birthday cake. Turned out he'd ran out of petrol. I did offer him a lift around to the petrol station but I think the daggers from his Mrs was melting the side of his face off so he said he was waiting for his dad to come and rescue him. I only offered because I wanted some of the cake.

[dugong]

[Junkman] A proper Rover 75 doesn't have a clutch. [/Junkman]

[dugong] A proper Rover 75 is a P4. [/dugong]