The new news 24 thread

[Cord Fourteener]

Making Halloween goo in my catch tray, courtesy of the Volvo.

Turns out the coolant pipe hose clamp to the bottom of the radiator had failed, scary!

 

[Split_Pin]

19 minutes ago, LabRat said:

Just dropped the MG6 off for it's mot. Fingers crossed the inspector is in a nice mood this morning! 

Fingers crossed for you man, how old is the car?

[LabRat]

It's a 2012 car, so theoretically, there shouldn't be too much wrong... But then it is made of solid chinesium!

[SiC]

Swap the yellow and red leads on the harness behind, the positive and switched lives are reversed on VAG shite.

I think they already are as it turns off properly with the ignition off without loosing the time. It's when you unplug the battery or disconnect the harness from the HU that it forgets everything. I'd have thought radio tunings, region, display brightness, beep mode, etc would have been stored in an EEPROM on this age stereo.

[brownnova]

You know you have the right sort of mates when they send you screen shots like this… not even anyone off here! 

[Split_Pin]

35 minutes ago, LabRat said:

It's a 2012 car, so theoretically, there shouldn't be too much wrong... But then it is made of solid chinesium!

Don't these have an updated K series or something. I'm quite intrigued by them. I havent seen one for a wee while come to think of it.

[Eyersey1234]

6 minutes ago, brownnova said:

You know you have the right sort of mates when they send you screen shots like this… not even anyone off here! 

 @dollywobbler another car here for you to add to your collection 

[LabRat]

2 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Don't these have an updated K series or something. I'm quite intrigued by them. I havent seen one for a wee while come to think of it.

Yeah, they have a strengthened version of the 1.8 k series- uses extra webbing on the block, updated thermostat design and an alloy inlet manifold amongst a few other bits. Apparently some brave, brave bastard  has got 280bhp out of one... Theyre 160bhp as standard.tl preserve the chocolate gearbox.

The engine is lovely, unfortunately the rest of the car can be temperamental as hell and parts are nigh on impossible to source outside of AliExpress. 

[LabRat]

 

Not as bad as feared, I've got a decent pair of used springs courtesy of a fellow masochist and a mobile mechanic has agreed to fit for £50.

Apparently the brake lines have a bit of rust, but nothing 10 minutes with some sandpaper and grease won't cure. 

[Split_Pin]

That's not too bad, under £100 all in, including the cost of the test.  Can't be too bad these cars then!

[LabRat]

2 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

That's not too bad, under £100 all in, including the cost of the test.  Can't be too bad these cars then!

The biggest headache is parts supply- MG UK/ SAIC have dropped all official dealer support for the 6, so you have to either have a good source of 2nd hand parts, or be prepared to pay extortionate amounts for parts from Summit Motors/Brown and Gammons.

There is also AliExpress, but they tend to supply parts for the Roewe 550 (a LHD 6 basically) so are fine until you need things like door locks, or RHD specific parts. 

Shame, cos underneath it all is a decent handling car. Certainly far better to drive than the OMGHGF brigade make it out to be!

[SiC]

Pretty bloody good mpg for a petrol


Kinda feeling for, what I now affectionately term, this little shitbox. Not sure if it's because it's so worthless that it's the most zero shits you can give about motoring. Economical, chuckable, light+easy to drive, anonymous, simple and super cheap parts. Seats are comfortable, interior isn't too grim and lights work well.

Just been out to get a pollen filter and new droplink. £16 for both.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

1 hour ago, LabRat said:

Yeah, they have a strengthened version of the 1.8 k series- ..... Apparently some brave, brave bastard  has got 280bhp out of one... 

Sounds a bit like he did it to find out the point at which it would go "bang"....

[LabRat]

Apparently it's still in use as a daily. Not sure I'd be that brave... My gearbox is decidedly crunchy in 3/4 when it's cold, and that's as standard!

[Dyslexic Viking]

Today a news article has been published about my great - grandfather's resistance during the war. He made illegal newspapers from a secret room in the attic. He came through the war unharmed but his brother was unfortunately arrested and tortured and ended up in a prison camp but also survived. Pictured below are them and a friend at work in the secret room during the war.

[Soundwave]

Longbridge's finest* has passed its MOT this morning, no advisories (archive picture, it wasn't that dark this morning!).

[Low Horatio gearbox]

Got rid of the modern Mazda  and got a slightly less modern Volvo.

[wuvvum]

Off on a collection mission. 

Nothing exciting, just another too-cheap-to-refuse modern.

[danthecapriman]

1 hour ago, Low Horatio gearbox said:

Got rid of the modern Mazda  and got a slightly less modern Volvo.

Ooohh, less modern? Volvo? You have my interest!

What did you get?

[Cord Fourteener]

3 hours ago, Dyslexic Viking said:

Today a news article has been published about my great - grandfather's resistance during the war. He made illegal newspapers from a secret room in the attic. He came through the war unharmed but his brother was unfortunately arrested and tortured and ended up in a prison camp but also survived. Pictured below are them and a friend at work in the secret room during the war.

Wow, what a history. All over Europe and the world people refused to give up and put themselves in harms way to carry out resistance and sabotage. 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Gave the CX the usual jet wash.

By tomorrow there'll be a liberal coating of sap again.

*shrugs*

[Low Horatio gearbox]

An slightly less modern XC90. Aka "genus nigrum necatur SUV"

[JJ0063]

Cleaned the 335D for the first time in ages and topped up the fluids.

[Fumbler]

Clutch in grandma's Rav4 is slipping again, making this the 5th clutch replacement and probably the 4th DMF replacement (if she's lucky) in her ownership. I also checked the oil out of curiosity and it's nearly on the minimum. I knew it burned oil, but considering it's only been a few months since its service and the blue clouds it belches out, I'd imagine the piston rings aren't too happy.

[Jazoli]

1 minute ago, Fumbler said:

Clutch in grandma's Rav4 is slipping again, making this the 5th clutch replacement and probably the 4th DMF replacement (if she's lucky) in her ownership. I also checked the oil out of curiosity and it's nearly on the minimum. I knew it burned oil, but considering it's only been a few months since its service and the blue clouds it belches out, I'd imagine the piston rings aren't too happy.

Maybe it's time to get her in an automatic 🤔 

[Dyslexic Viking]

15 minutes ago, Cord Fourteener said:

Wow, what a history. All over Europe and the world people refused to give up and put themselves in harms way to carry out resistance and sabotage. 

Yes it is an incredible story and can say that I am proud of this. The most amazing thing about this is that the house was subjected to several raids during the war but they never found the secret room. My grandfather experienced all this so must have been unusual and frightening childhood.

And is impressive with the resistance movement and the risk they were exposed to but they continued nonetheless. I had the pleasure of mowing the lawn of a former member of the resistance movement when I was young. And remembers well the story when he sat for several hours on a bus full of German soldiers with a radio hidden in a box full of apples and he knew well what would happen if he was caught.

 

And can add another story. A distant relative of mine was a sailor. He left home when he was about 15 and was at sea through both the First World War and the Second World War. And experienced several boats that sunk and had to desperately get out of the engine room while the boat went down, to be picked up out of the cold Atlantic, and lose and watch colleagues and friends die. This generation was amazing and we will never have such people again and they and their stories should never be forgotten.

[Fumbler]

2 minutes ago, Jazoli said:

Maybe it's time to get her in an automatic 🤔 

I can see into the future with that proposition

 

[barefoot]

11 hours ago, Cord Fourteener said:

Yes, always!

I hate with a passion this naming your cars bollocks, but in yet another attempt to fit in on here, here's a pic of Boris (the black loan car) just before 'he' went home, and then...

Followed by a lovely shot of Billy (the blue car) & Sue ( the silver car) back together again...

Cue Billy/Sue singing a cover version of Peaches & Herb, 're-united'.

Makes me want to puke my fucking ring up.

[tooSavvy]

Dunno.... ToMM© because >> it was!

And SuziQ because >> am cretin 🤪

[wuvvum]

And home.

Yes, I'm now the proud* owner of two French diesel 7-seat MPVs. Exciting shiz.