The new news 24 thread

[xtriple]

Just been and struggled in a footwell. Air con/heater fan u/s so new (s/h actually) one procurred from Jaguar spares of all places - £35. Bit of an awkward sod to get out but once you know, dead easy. When I took the cover off the heater box, half a gallon of water poured out, think that's bad.... So all the carpets and under dash trim is out and sat in the garden sunbathing! Got the new one in easily, new pollen filter and all back together and I appear to have 5 speeds on my fan! Yay!

 

Obviously the water leak from the blocked drain in the scuttle has killed the fan, really wet in/under there. Obviously been a problem for a while as the carpet wasn't fitted properly so been out before to dry out.

 

Quite proud of myself: since I've had this car I've done quite a few bits to it. Fan, headlights, roof fixed, wheels painted (badly) new badge, drains front and rear cleared, checked filters and changed a couple, and taken the under dash out on the drivers side in an attemt to fix the brake light switch, still got to do that when the CORRECT switch finally arrives. Good fun fiddlin' wiv the car, missed that with the dollop.

[Ghosty]

Anyone handy with paint fancy spraying some door bottoms for me? Can provide paint, either Halfords rattle cans or some custom mix stuff for compressors etc, tea/coffee, and beer money.

[Guest Hooli]

Just been and struggled in a footwell. Air con/heater fan u/s so new (s/h actually) one procurred from Jaguar spares of all places - £35. Bit of an awkward sod to get out but once you know, dead easy. When I took the cover off the heater box, half a gallon of water poured out, think that's bad.... So all the carpets and under dash trim is out and sat in the garden sunbathing! Got the new one in easily, new pollen filter and all back together and I appear to have 5 speeds on my fan! Yay!

 

Obviously the water leak from the blocked drain in the scuttle has killed the fan, really wet in/under there. Obviously been a problem for a while as the carpet wasn't fitted properly so been out before to dry out.

 

Quite proud of myself: since I've had this car I've done quite a few bits to it. Fan, headlights, roof fixed, wheels painted (badly) new badge, drains front and rear cleared, checked filters and changed a couple, and taken the under dash out on the drivers side in an attemt to fix the brake light switch, still got to do that when the CORRECT switch finally arrives. Good fun fiddlin' wiv the car, missed that with the dollop.

 

Hurrah for LGD being good for your mental health

[bramz7]

Tipo probably off to a new home tomorrow morning. Sadly it's now decided to drag up some of the window mechanism with the window on the front passenger side.

Would it be too risky to take the door card off tonight and try to sort it out? Or do I just knock off some £££ to the new owner?

[xtriple]

As an added bonus, the air con works! Freezing cold air puthering out of dash vents and only on the second speed plenty of flow. All the carpets are still out in the sun but it seems to be the rubbery padding on the back of the carpets (they are moulded round all the air distribution gubbins and wiring guff) that is holding the water. Jus tgiven them a squeeze and loads of water came out. I fear it's going to take some time...

 

Non motoring news... I took the dogs down to Ilsham valley where we often go and ended up sitting on the grass watching the Red Arrows. Those boys are MIGHTY impressive when you actually see them up close.. at one point I reckon one of their number went over us at about 300 feet (perhaps less) and the noise and speed was spell-binding! There were loads of us 'dog walkers' down there, and not one of the dogs was bothered by the noise in the slightest. Chester did look up at one point to see what all the noise was about. Phoebe, played with her ball, as usual !

[SiC]

Good fun fiddlin' wiv the car, missed that with the dollop.

Sounds like you're enjoying this car 50000x more than the Bentley. The fact that it's not perfect and needs a bit of TLC (like most 10-20yr old German cars) also means you've got stuff to fiddle and play with thus not getting bored with it.

 

Is the Bentley all gone and been paid for now?

[tommotech]

Having threatened to bridge the Renault Scenic I investigated options for replacement. The honest answer was that nothing appealed and I don’t want to be buying anything substantial for at least two years, plus we know the Scenic well after 10 years of ownership.

 

Looking at the alternator properly it looked like the pulley had, in fact, collapsed. This was confirmed on removal of the alternator and googling showed this as a common problem. A new pulley was procured for £30, delivered and the Scenic is back on daily duties.

 

The collapsed pulley seems to have shat it’s rubber coupling and the poly belt grooves had broken in to two pieces, the engine is certainly quieter with the new item installed.

 

 

 

 

Only thing to sort for the MOT is the airbag rotary contact, a couple of tyres and the front brakes need replacement. On balance we’ve decided that it’s better the devil you know, for now at least.

[HMC]

E46 MOT looming. Rear arches bubbling. No sharp metal projections but some of the edges of the paint are sharp to the touch. Wonder if that's a fail ? Easily sorted I suppose.

[cort16]

Gaffa tape it if you’re not sure. I used a LOT of gaffa tape to get my old p6 through its mot as the door bottoms were so rough .

[HMC]

My plan b is to buy angry dicky's rover 600- which is tempting whether or not the BMW fails. Having a non crusty car is good for the soul after all.

[xtriple]

Sounds like you're enjoying this car 50000x more than the Bentley. The fact that it's not perfect and needs a bit of TLC (like most 10-20yr old German cars) also means you've got stuff to fiddle and play with thus not getting bored with it.

 

Is the Bentley all gone and been paid for now?

Yes, gone but not forgotten. It will be some time before I recover from that sod!

[puddlethumper]

My ongoing 305 van problems might be coming to an end on Monday. Yay !

The injector pump had seized, resulting in recovery, after which some scrote stole it.

After getting a pump from a scrappy, thanks D Spares, it didn't work as it should.

Took it to a pump specialist who informed me that it was totally fucking fucked mate.

Back to scrappy who swapped it. Wasn't sure he would. Back to mechanic, coz I know eff all about this kind of stuff.

What with work, and my mechanic being somewhat busy, to say the least, this has all taken about six weeks. 

My mechanic has now had a breakdown, not the mechanical sort, and looks like being gone for a couple of weeks. Had to get it towed to another mechanic, who I also use quite often, who is going to sort it on Monday. It's the only thing that's gone wrong in eight years so I can't complain too much.

I bought the ex FOAD, knob van,which shat its master cylinder three days ago. Been driving around on handbrake and gearbox. I'm sure there are those who will shout about nuns and kittens but I've driven worse and the nuns and kitty's were, mostly, unaffected. The ex knob van has done what I wanted over the last 4/5 weeks and although to pay for it has reduced my earnings by about 20% in that time, it's been well worth it. 

If anyone is interested, ex knob could be up for grabs in the not too distant future. 

After driving the ex knob for a while I can't help noticing the difference between it and mine. Eight years ago I chucked a Xantia  lump in mine after the Plug one went tits up, after a mechanic in Holland changed the cam belt but not the tensioners. Afterwards I thought it went really well, although I didn't have anything to compare it with. 

I have now come to the conclusion that a Shitroen 1.9 has better acceleration and top end than a Plug one.

The head on the Shitroen is different than the Plug. Well, by sight, and yeah, I've been to bloody specscammers. 

As they are the same basic engine, which went into loads of chod, what would Shitroen have done to make the difference ? Higher compression ? I'm sure someone will let me know.

Fingers crossed I'll be on a barge in Dutchshireland next week. Mmm ! Palm beer.

[clayts450]

These bolt grip nut removers (aka hammer a smaller socket over a seized bolt) seem to be mega cheap at Screwfix at present (half the price of other places, £11.99), but are collect only - your mileage may vary, but managed to bag a set to collect from Basford, Nottingham

 

 

 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/irwin-5-piece-bolt-grip-nut-remover-set/96028

[Lord Sterling]

I applied for a garage through Birmingham City Council several years ago. They've only just got back to me to ask if I'm still interested in applying for a garage. I replied saying that I am still interested providing they actually offer me a garage this time and not just keep my name on a list that'll sit around collecting dust.

 

If they are actually offering me a garage it'll be just in time seeing as Ma now wants to actually 'retire' her Micra.

[dollywobbler]

My ongoing 305 van problems might be coming to an end on Monday. Yay !

The injector pump had seized, resulting in recovery, after which some scrote stole it.

After getting a pump from a scrappy, thanks D Spares, it didn't work as it should.

Took it to a pump specialist who informed me that it was totally fucking fucked mate.

Back to scrappy who swapped it. Wasn't sure he would. Back to mechanic, coz I know eff all about this kind of stuff.

What with work, and my mechanic being somewhat busy, to say the least, this has all taken about six weeks.

My mechanic has now had a breakdown, not the mechanical sort, and looks like being gone for a couple of weeks. Had to get it towed to another mechanic, who I also use quite often, who is going to sort it on Monday. It's the only thing that's gone wrong in eight years so I can't complain too much.

I bought the ex FOAD, knob van,which shat its master cylinder three days ago. Been driving around on handbrake and gearbox. I'm sure there are those who will shout about nuns and kittens but I've driven worse and the nuns and kitty's were, mostly, unaffected. The ex knob van has done what I wanted over the last 4/5 weeks and although to pay for it has reduced my earnings by about 20% in that time, it's been well worth it.

If anyone is interested, ex knob could be up for grabs in the not too distant future.

After driving the ex knob for a while I can't help noticing the difference between it and mine. Eight years ago I chucked a Xantia lump in mine after the Plug one went tits up, after a mechanic in Holland changed the cam belt but not the tensioners. Afterwards I thought it went really well, although I didn't have anything to compare it with.

I have now come to the conclusion that a Shitroen 1.9 has better acceleration and top end than a Plug one.

The head on the Shitroen is different than the Plug. Well, by sight, and yeah, I've been to bloody specscammers.

As they are the same basic engine, which went into loads of chod, what would Shitroen have done to make the difference ? Higher compression ? I'm sure someone will let me know.

Fingers crossed I'll be on a barge in Dutchshireland next week. Mmm ! Palm beer.

The XUD was tweaked in later life, with a change of inlet port. On paper, it made sod all difference, but I reckon it does make them feel a little livelier.

[beko1987]

*august*

 

Dear Mr Watson

 

We are writing to inform you that we are increasing your direct debit amount to £xxxxxx

 

Love Thames Water...

 

[Kiltox]

I'd love a trade policy, but as I'm not 'trade', I don't think I'll ever qualify for one.

Just become a “trader” then

 

You don’t need to have a sales pitch or anything. Just flip a few cars a year (not even for a profit necessarily) and keep records.

 

It has pitfalls too though - rarely includes glass cover (or has big excesses), they only pay out trade book money for a write off, etc.

[Timewaster]

*august*

 

Dear Mr Watson

 

We are writing to inform you that we are increasing your direct debit amount to £xxxxxx

 

Love Thames Water...

 

IMG_20180603_100039.jpg

Put end of the slide in the pool and sit the hose at the top.

 

Mini water slide. They love it.

[clayts450]

I applied for a garage through Birmingham City Council several years ago. They've only just got back to me to ask if I'm still interested in applying for a garage. I replied saying that I am still interested providing they actually offer me a garage this time and not just keep my name on a list that'll sit around collecting dust.

 

If they are actually offering me a garage it'll be just in time seeing as Ma now wants to actually 'retire' her Micra.

 

This is a cunning trick deployed by social housing providers to get waiting lists down, I'm afraid, in the hope that a lot of people come back and say 'don't need one now'. You'll still be on the list, but tenty billionth instead of eleventy billionth.

[davehedgehog31]

These bolt grip nut removers (aka hammer a smaller socket over a seized bolt) seem to be mega cheap at Screwfix at present (half the price of other places, £11.99), but are collect only - your mileage may vary, but managed to bag a set to collect from Basford, Nottingham

 

ae235.jpg

 

 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/irwin-5-piece-bolt-grip-nut-remover-set/96028

These are very good, got me out a pickle with a drain plug on a motorbike which was fucking bastard tight and rounded off.

 

I didn't think Geoff Capes had owned a Yamaha SR125.

[Cheggers]

*august*

 

Dear Mr Watson

 

We are writing to inform you that we are increasing your direct debit amount to £xxxxxx

 

Love Thames Water...

 

IMG_20180603_100039.jpg

Having recently moved to a new place, the local water company wrote to tell me that as I'm on a meter my direct debit will be *only* £93 per month based on estimated usage.

 

After calling them and explaining I live alone, travel a fair amount of the time and don't have an Olympic size pool in the garden they agreed to take it down to £22 "But we will monitor your usage closely".

[Guest Hooli]

My water bill went from about £60 to £18 when I got a meter fitted, not had a year for them to review it yet though.

[Lacquer Peel]

Renationalise English and Welsh water. It's nationalised in Scotland, fixed rate for domestic water and every penny is re-invested in the infrastructure.

[Guest Hooli]

You know we have a fixed 'rateable value' for water if not on a meter down here right?

[Lacquer Peel]

Yes and it's a lot more expensive than Scottish Water rates.

[Guest Hooli]

Must be all the money we subsidise Scotchlund with then.....

 

 

 

/ducks

[loserone]

Or the lack of design and planning consideration for adequate water supplies when building huge cities in the south

[Guest Hooli]

But we've got Wales & Scotchlund as a water supply....

[anonymous user]

Welsh Water, whilst not nationalised, is supposedly a not for profit company, with everything invested back into the company. At one point it was registered in the Seychelles, which did make me wonder a bit, also they inhabit some of the most expensive office space in Cardiff, which has its own in house Costa Coffee outlet, so I suppose it makes not making a profit easier.

[Eddie Honda]

fixed rate for domestic water

Bollocks to that idea. I like many others refused to pay (we'll pay twice) and they had to get tae.