The new news 24 thread

[wuvvum]

New* hub and strut fitted to the Z4.

It took rather longer than I'd hoped as both ball joints put up quite a fight, but they came apart eventually.  Fitting the new strut was easy, although I did waste a bit of time trying to get it to seat in the hub properly until I realised that you have to have the pinch bolt completely out or the locating lugs on the strut will catch on it.  Then once I'd fitted and tightened the pinch bolt I then realised I'd forgotten to hang the brake flexi bracket on it before I fitted it, so it had to come out again.

It's all back together now though.  More or less anyway - the track rod end ball joint nut is a bit knackered after I battered it with a hammer to try and get the ball joint to come out, so it now can't be tightened all the way, and the new M12 nuts I had in my stash are the wrong thread pitch.  So I've put the original nut back on for now with a load of washers packing it out so it's tight - it's going to need to come off soon anyway as I knackered the dust cover so I'm going to need to fit a replacement one of those.  I knackered the bottom arm ball joint dust cover as well, but there's quite a bit of play in the ball joint (odd as the arm looks fairly new, although braying the feck out of it with a splitter probably didn't help) so it's going to need a new arm before long, so I'm not going to bother buggering about with the dust cover on the old one.

Wheel bolts were a bit of a twat to refit as well - to start with I thought I'd bought some weird spec hub with a different thread for the bolts, but turned out it was just where the hub had been sat around and the threads had gone badly rusty.  Plenty of grease on the bolts and winding them in with a long bar soon sorted that.

I went to see a mate last night and mentioned my BMW suspension woes, and he offered to lend me his big 230v rattle gun to see if that'd get the other side pinch bolt out in one piece.  I was dubious, but somewhat to my surprise:

So that's a relief as it means I don't have to change the hub on that side, so no buggering about with ball joints (assuming I can persuade the strut out of the hub anyway...).

[Mrcento]

Christ, either there's an epidemic of Mk1 Qashqais having the exact same unlucky accidents near me, getting hit in the exact same place, or there's a sudden epidemic of the rear arms snapping, because that's 4 of them now in the past 2 weeks i've seen parked half up on pavements with the drivers side rear wheel bent in (Usually steering the car towards a lamppost, parked car or pedestrians).

[reb]

Today I'm going to sit in my mum's kitchen to bash out some work on a project that I've been putting off. Cheaper and quieter than Costa, while still not having the wealth of distractions featured in my own house.

Of course, I forgot that the bus times are completely different on a Sunday which has knackered my schedule for the day. Oh well.

[richardmorris]

Spotted out walking this morning. 

[beko1987]

A water main exploded Friday under the main Thame bypass, and it's currently shut. So me and the boy went to explore the 'forbidden other side' of it and took the litter picker

We got bored of laughing at the idiots ignoring the road closed sign, that big blue thing is a horse box who reversed badly the half mile back to the diversion! 

Was alot of hidden grot, I found 5 massive cable ties though which I bought home. Sort of ones I'll stick in the car to hold a broken suspension or body part together with to get me home if needed 😂

[Lankytim]

Finally found time to replace a corroded fuel pipe on the 145 today. A few months ago I removed the tank to clean and repair it and disturbed some of the existing steel pipe work near the rear axle. As this was corroded it immediately sprang a leak. Very annoying.

The corroded section was removed and a length of rubber fuel pipe clamped in to replace it. After priming the fuel system the 145 sprang into life first turn of the key and settled down to a nice idle. 
 

I nearly gassed myself but I suppose that just adds to the giddy delirium you get when you finally fix something shite related! 

[Zelandeth]

25 minutes ago, Lankytim said:

Finally found time to replace a corroded fuel pipe on the 145 today. A few months ago I removed the tank to clean and repair it and disturbed some of the existing steel pipe work near the rear axle. As this was corroded it immediately sprang a leak. Very annoying.

The corroded section was removed and a length of rubber fuel pipe clamped in to replace it. After priming the fuel system the 145 sprang into life first turn of the key and settled down to a nice idle. 
 

I nearly gassed myself but I suppose that just adds to the giddy delirium you get when you finally fix something shite related! 

Note that hose you've used isn't going to be a long term fix with ethanol in fuel these days.  You need something that's got the R9 rather than R6 suffix.  Though most stuff from mainstream motor factors these days will turn to powder in six months irrespective of what it's labelled as.

You're much safer buying from specialists such as these guys these days as they actually care what they're selling.

https://www.glencoeltd.co.uk/cohline-fuel-vacuum-hose/

 

That's the sort of job I'd find all sorts of excuses to leave for another day though, looks like the one end was quite a faff to get to.

[Lankytim]

2 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

Note that hose you've used isn't going to be a long term fix with ethanol in fuel these days.  You need something that's got the R9 rather than R6 suffix.  Though most stuff from mainstream motor factors these days will turn to powder in six months irrespective of what it's labelled as.

You're much safer buying from specialists such as these guys these days as they actually care what they're selling.

https://www.glencoeltd.co.uk/cohline-fuel-vacuum-hose/

 

That's the sort of job I'd find all sorts of excuses to leave for another day though, looks like the one end was quite a faff to get to.

I do need to stock up on ethanol friendly fuel hose, this will do as a temporary fix for now though. Accessibility wasn’t too bad once the back end was up on axle stands. 

[Joey spud]

I went to an Autojumble today in Maidstone,to be honest I thought they didn't exist anymore but yep £3 entry to the indoor venue. It was quite busy and I spent some money.

I give you fingerless gloves £1,trim removal tool £2,box of nitriles £5 and a very respectable but grubby HS4 SU jetted for a 1300 A series for £12 (I will get this Morris Minor running properly).

[egg]

Canterbury resident Eric Dixon, 100, still driving after reaching milestone birthday...(been driving since he was 13 he reckons!!)

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/i-m-100-still-driving-and-have-no-intention-of-stopping-300408/

[lesapandre]

Brewing up a massive storm here in London - some railway lines already out with falling trees - just got home on the last through train.

Looks mega in other parts of UK. If you don't need to go out don't.

Keep safe folks.

[wuvvum]

Aye, it's a bit breezy here an' all.  Waiting to see how many of the car / bike covers survive the night...

[Rust Collector]

6 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

Aye, it's a bit breezy here an' all.  Waiting to see how many of the car / bike covers survive the night...

I’ve only just worked out that all the old car batteries I’ve been hoarding make ideal tethers for the straps on the corners of the covers. I’ve thrown some old tyres on all my covers and tarps too for extra protection*.

[Split_Pin]

My house is moving (I'm in Central Scotland). Even the gable end is making strange noises.  I've lived here 12 years and there's never been wind strong enough to do that. I've just double checked my house insurance as I think I'm going to need it by morning.

[Rust Collector]

I’m interested to see if my fence stays up now that it’s 90% concrete spurs. When I was out stowing the bins in a safe place earlier it didn’t appear to be moving at all.

The roof of my utility room is making weird noises though. It’s like there’s a weather strip missing and it sounds like a demented harmonica.

If my house falls down then I guess at least I’ll have an excuse not to do the clutch on my Lada.

[SiC]

My sister, her son and my brother-in-law has hit a tree down in the road around a corner, along the A4 near Silbury Hill. Airbags didn't go off but the front is crumpled and the windscreen smashed. A '22 plate 5 door Bini so very modern. All okay but a bit shaken.

While I do love older classic cars, I fully appreciate that modern metal is so much safer and you can often just walk away with no damage to the people on board. No doubt the car probably did emergency braking before they even realised or had time to slam on the brakes. Making it just a low speed prang rather than something much more serious. 

[RoverFolkUs]

I have to say I'm starting to get a bit narked with the running costs of the Focus.. last tank to tank average was... 29.9mpg! For a 1.6 petrol manual.. it's not even quick.

[SiC]

12 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

I have to say I'm starting to get a bit narked with the running costs of the Focus.. last tank to tank average was... 29.9mpg! For a 1.6 petrol manual.. it's not even quick.

I don't think any Fords petrols of that era were very good on fuel?

That said, I think I got low to mid 30s in my Focus Mk2 1.6 3dr. While not bad, its similar to the 1.8t (which has a lot more power) in my TT on similar journeys (i.e. short distances to the train station). 

If its any consolation, my E320 did 20mpg on a 15 mile round trip journey 🤣

[RoverFolkUs]

14 minutes ago, SiC said:

I don't think any Fords petrols of that era were very good on fuel?

That said, I think I got low to mid 30s in my Focus Mk2 1.6 3dr. While not bad, its similar to the 1.8t (which has a lot more power) in my TT on similar journeys (i.e. short distances to the train station). 

If its any consolation, my E320 did 20mpg on a 15 mile round trip journey 🤣

Yeah you're right, they weren't. It never used to be brilliant but this is the first time I can recall it averaging less than 30. I suppose in fairness to it, with the recent weather it's spent another 10 minutes or so warming up/defrosting on a few occasions. And now come to think of it, it had its MOT on this tank so spent at least 45 minutes idling for that. 

That was my thinking, 30-35 is easily achievable from something like a 1.8T TT which obviously is a bit quicker and deserves to use the extra fuel. 

I'm ok with anything above 30mpg but it's still disappointing for a car that isn't powerful and has few redeeming features other than being a reliable mode of transport. I wouldn't mind 20 if it was a nice enough car, despite how painful it is! 

Part of me wants to trial a tank of E5, but then I have to remind myself I'm probably just being a bit anal about it all! 

I'm beginning to think it doesn't make a lot of sense to keep it, the Xsara Picasso is more practical, but arguably less comfortable, it's still a 1.6 petrol and is roughly neck on neck in terms of running costs. Man maths says that I should get a comfortable diesel like a Rover 75 for longer journeys and running around (ULEZ/CAZ is not a problem here, yet..) and keep the Picasso as a (well looked after) workhorse. I'm sure a diesel 75 manual will easily be capable of averaging 40mpg, probably even more on a run

I really hate these sort of predicaments 😂 I love the car (for what it is) and I've invested a lot into it recently, but I'm starting to struggle justify running it as I'm not sure what purpose its serving 🤔

I like the MK2 Focus platform but I'm not going to jump down the rabbit hole of the diesels. I've driven loads and never liked them, they're more suited to a petrol 

[SiC]

8 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Yeah you're right, they weren't. It never used to be brilliant but this is the first time I can recall it averaging less than 30. I suppose in fairness to it, with the recent weather it's spent another 10 minutes or so warming up/defrosting on a few occasions. And now come to think of it, it had its MOT on this tank so spent at least 45 minutes idling for that. 

That was my thinking, 30-35 is easily achievable from something like a 1.8T TT which obviously is a bit quicker and deserves to use the extra fuel. 

I'm ok with anything above 30mpg but it's still disappointing for a car that isn't powerful and has few redeeming features other than being a reliable mode of transport. I wouldn't mind 20 if it was a nice enough car, despite how painful it is! 

Part of me wants to trial a tank of E5, but then I have to remind myself I'm probably just being a bit anal about it all! 

I'm beginning to think it doesn't make a lot of sense to keep it, the Xsara Picasso is more practical, but arguably less comfortable, it's still a 1.6 petrol and is roughly neck on neck in terms of running costs. Man maths says that I should get a comfortable diesel like a Rover 75 for longer journeys and running around (ULEZ/CAZ is not a problem here, yet..) and keep the Picasso as a (well looked after) workhorse. I'm sure a diesel 75 manual will easily be capable of averaging 40mpg, probably even more on a run

I really hate these sort of predicaments 😂 I love the car (for what it is) and I've invested a lot into it recently, but I'm starting to struggle justify running it as I'm not sure what purpose its serving 🤔

I like the MK2 Focus platform but I'm not going to jump down the rabbit hole of the diesels. I've driven loads and never liked them, they're more suited to a petrol 

A tired/slow reacting Lambda sensor that is pulling the MPG down?

Its been very cold recently though and that will hit economy. Does it have a heated windscreen? I found mine really honked the electrical power and you could hear the alternator straining. That will knock the economy as that energy has to be generated somewhere!

As my local garage always tells me though, you may have to pay to squirt a bit more petrol in than a diesel, but the mechanical reliability/ease and simplicity of fixing/cheapness of parts is so much better with petrols. Probably negliable difference if you're not doing a lot of miles.

I know the 2004 Golf Mk5 1.6 FSI we had only did 30-35mpg and to add insult to injury, that age only liked super unleaded. The TT Mk2 2.0TFSi I had a couple of years later had far more power and did similar economy!

But then turbo cars have the advantage of offering the power when putting your foot down but if you keep off boost (or at lower boost pressures) and lower revs, then the economy of n/a. Why turbocharging has become so popular with manufacturers.

[GMcD]

35 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

My house is moving (I'm in Central Scotland). Even the gable end is making strange noises.  I've lived here 12 years and there's never been wind strong enough to do that. I've just double checked my house insurance as I think I'm going to need it by morning.

I just did the same!

I'm on the corner with an apartment/flats car park across the road so it's a bit open to the wind wooshing across it. The wind is howling, so we've decanted into a spare room at the back to get some peace. 

I went out after dinner and moved the residents bins (who have left them out all week in the car park because they are lazy fecks) into their bin store before they inevitably blow into someones car (probably mine).

[GMcD]

37 minutes ago, SiC said:

My sister, her son and my brother-in-law has hit a tree down in the road around a corner, along the A4 near Silbury Hill. Airbags didn't go off but the front is crumpled and the windscreen smashed. A '22 plate 5 door Bini so very modern. All okay but a bit shaken.

While I do love older classic cars, I fully appreciate that modern metal is so much safer and you can often just walk away with no damage to the people on board. No doubt the car probably did emergency braking before they even realised or had time to slam on the brakes. Making it just a low speed prang rather than something much more serious. 

Glad they are alright. That's proper scary! 

[RoverFolkUs]

7 minutes ago, SiC said:

A tired/slow reacting Lambda sensor that is pulling the MPG down?

Its been very cold recently though and that will hit economy. Does it have a heated windscreen? I found mine really honked the electrical power and you could hear the alternator straining. That will knock the economy as that energy has to be generated somewhere!

As my local garage always tells me though, you may have to pay to squirt a bit more petrol in than a diesel, but the mechanical reliability/ease and simplicity of fixing/cheapness of parts is so much better with petrols. Probably negliable difference if you're not doing a lot of miles.

I know the 2004 Golf Mk5 1.6 FSI we had only did 30-35mpg and to add insult to injury, that age only liked super unleaded. The TT Mk2 2.0TFSi I had a couple of years later had far more power and did similar economy!

But then turbo cars have the advantage of offering the power when putting your foot down but if you keep off boost (or at lower boost pressures) and lower revs, then the economy of n/a. Why turbocharging has become so popular with manufacturers.

Good shout, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to observe live data to see what everything is doing

Yes, good point on the heated front screen. It does have it, I do use it and the alternator definitely screams to remind me I'm using it!

All very good points well made, thank you 

[Rust Collector]

16 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Good shout, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to observe live data to see what everything is doing

Yes, good point on the heated front screen. It does have it, I do use it and the alternator definitely screams to remind me I'm using it!

All very good points well made, thank you 

The cure for poor MPG’s is to run something with even worse fuel economy for a bit.

Then when you go back to the original car it seems really cheap to run.

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, lesapandre said:

Brewing up a massive storm here in London - some railway lines already out with falling trees - just got home on the last through train.

Looks mega in other parts of UK. If you don't need to go out don't.

Keep safe folks.

Opted for local roads rather than the exposed bypass with a bridge tonight. Smol van was still deflected at 40mph.

[Split_Pin]

I worked out what one of the buttons in the door bin of the A4 cab does, looks like a picture of a car on a hill. It turns out it's the tilt sensor that you can turn off if the car is one a ferry. I found this out when trying to Google how to deactivate the alarm as the wind was shaking the car so much it kept going off.

It seems to have died down here quite a bit but that was definitely the worst wind storm I have ever experienced in the UK.

[wuvvum]

Went to start the Z4 earlier and it just clicked when I turned the key.  That's happened before when I've left it standing for a while, but I had the battery on an overnight charge on Friday night - OK I started it several times yesterday to move it around on the drive but it shouldn't have been enough to drain the battery.  So it's either a knackered battery (which it shouldn't be as it's a fairly new Varta) or a drain somewhere.  Got out the multimeter and

Hmm, that seems a bit excessive.  That was after waiting for several minutes for everything to shut down.  So I now have a parasitic drain to trace, which is always fun*.  I've disconnected the battery for now so at least I can start it next time I need to move it.

On a related note, I continue to be underwhelmed by the performance of my Noco GB40 jump starter.  It can't start the BMW even with the battery only partly discharged, so its claim to be able to start up to a 6-litre engine seems a tad optimistic.  It's well built and chunky but it's actually no better at starting cars than my £40 eBay special, and I have to use them both in tandem to start the Z4.

[Tayne]

Take your Noco back.

Mine started the 520d with a very dead battery with no issues.

There’s some internet chat that Nocos aren’t that good as the failure rate seems high. Usually followed by stories of one guy starting 3 big block Chevys, a medium container ship and one of Saturn’s outer moons with his Noco.

Id be interested to hear what comes of your possible replacement Noco.

[RobT]

52 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

On a related note, I continue to be underwhelmed by the performance of my Noco GB40 jump starter.  It can't start the BMW even with the battery only partly discharged, so its claim to be able to start up to a 6-litre engine seems a tad optimistic.

I've got one of those and it's proved invaluable on several occasions.  Just wondering if you've got a duff one.  Mine even survived the Vel Satis fire as it was in a plastic box in the boot.  Stank of smoke for bloody ages mind.

[wuvvum]

18 minutes ago, RobT said:

I've got one of those and it's proved invaluable on several occasions.  Just wondering if you've got a duff one.  Mine even survived the Vel Satis fire as it was in a plastic box in the boot.  Stank of smoke for bloody ages mind.

It'll start "lesser" cars no problem - it started the Toyota this afternoon, so it's not completely useless.  The two jump packs in tandem have always managed to start whatever I needed them to (even the Maxus) so it's not the end of the world.

 

The power went off three times while I was typing this post.