The new news 24 thread

[richardmorris]

44 minutes ago, Lord Sterling said:

Well, finally....

I've discovered where the aircon leak is coming from;

The condenser. This time I'll be taking the car to an air-con specialist rather than a garage that simply bashes it and claims I need to pay for another one. If I had an extra week, I'd get these guys, friends of my Dad to do it.

We also finally got the garage lock fitted and done. However, in the middle of this, I got called back home (Brussels, not UK) as my brother was ill, I took him to the doctors and waited for him whilst I admired the shawarma sandwiches;

Then  Fatha_Sterling required my help to finally get the garage, so uad to drop brother off back home and head back to the otherside of Brussels. Inpassed near to where I used to live near the European Union building and Kitty O'Shea's

Got back to the garage to try and sort the lock, the garage is a great place for some moody shots:

We finally got the lock and bars fitted properly and all is well again.

Tried the Jag for size whilst we popped out to get some extra keys cut:

 

I am happy to recommend a mobile guy who covers Surrey if thats any good? He did a new condenser, pressure switch and compressor for my w124.

[wuvvum]

I had a missed call and voicemail at 01:56 this morning, which is unusual (these days at least - I used to have a pisshead mate who would ring up at all hours and leave long rambling messages when he'd been on the cider, but I sacked him off in the end because he was too much of a pain in the arse).

Voicemail turned out to be from my friendly local plod who had called to say they'd spotted that the Merc (which is down the road on the car park) had its hazard lights flashing.  Of course by the time I picked the message up they'd been flashing for so long they'd pretty much run the battery down, and I had to fire up the Toyota and put the jump leads across.  I left them connected for a while as there was no way the little 063 battery on the Toyota was going to start an OM642, and while I was waiting I fitted the new PCV valve which arrived in the post today (that was a nice easy job once I'd spotted the hidden third bolt).

Last time I drove the Merc I got a "door open" warning for the driver's door - that turned out to be because I'd had the door trim off to fit the replacement speaker and I hadn't refitted the little trim piece round the latch which is what pushes on the pin switch.  So I replaced that and assumed that it was sorted, but the fact that the (thankfully silent) alarm system had gone off suggested that all was still not well.  But I took the car for a drive once the Toyota had put enough charge into the battery and I didn't get any door open messages, even going over bumps and round corners.  So I'm not sure what's going on there.  I've left it unlocked for tonight, I'm going to drive it in to work tomorrow and keep an eye on it out of the office window to see if it starts playing up again.  Not a major issue at the moment as I don't really need to lock it either at work or at home, but I'm intending to drive it to That Europe in a few weeks and I think it'll be advantageous to be able to lock it when I'm parked in the middle of Brussels or wherever.

[BorniteIdentity]

Spotted this rather special old thing outside work today. 

 

I know precious little about this sort of thing, but knew immediately it was rare.  Seems I was right.  https://all-things-automotive.com/2020/10/02/motoring-misfits-rolls-royce-silver-spur-turbo-r-by-hooper/
 

That NWS number plate makes me think it’s owned by someone in news at the BBC. Someone who gives zero shits about paying £30 in charges per day and probably the same in fuel. Good lad. 

[EyesWeldedShut]

13 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

Spotted this rather special old thing outside work today. 

 

I know precious little about this sort of thing, but knew immediately it was rare.  Seems I was right.  https://all-things-automotive.com/2020/10/02/motoring-misfits-rolls-royce-silver-spur-turbo-r-by-hooper/
 

That NWS number plate makes me think it’s owned by someone in news at the BBC. Someone who gives zero shits about paying £30 in charges per day and probably the same in fuel. Good lad. 

For some reason I never assumed that you worked in Broadcasting House itself 🤷

The Langholm there was still owned/used by The Beeb back when we used to sneak a cuppa in the seventh (?) floor canteen and Mr. Saville had his pied a terre just up the road in Park Crescent. 

His white Roller was often parked in the bays where that blue on is. I don’t think he’s making a comeback 

[BorniteIdentity]

1 minute ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

For some reason I never assumed that you worked in Broadcasting House itself 🤷

The Langholm there was still owned/used by The Beeb back when we used to sneak a cuppa in the seventh (?) floor canteen and Mr. Saville had his pied a terre just up the road in Park Crescent. 

His white Roller was often parked in the bays where that blue on is. I don’t think he’s making a comeback 

Howzaboutthatthen?

Yes, nBH (as we call it) is home. Home because I seem to spend more time there than at my actual address. 

The Langham was sold quite a while back now. By the end it was quite a sorry state, and it now looks properly lovely. It does sometimes feel that the genuinely impressive buildings have gone (Bush, Langham etc) but the new arrangement makes far better sense. 

 

[Lord Sterling]

27 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

I am happy to recommend a mobile guy who covers Surrey if thats any good? He did a new condenser, pressure switch and compressor for my w124.

Cheers, a little too far for me sadly as I'll be back up in Worcestershire next week.

Funnily enough I passing through Surrey (via the M25) in the weekend on the way back and collecting some rubber mats for the Jag.

[somewhatfoolish]

Quite an AS rolls, that stainless steel tideline must be hiding something crispy and a gold spirit of ecstasy is a bit jejune. 8.2 lambswool rugs out of 10.

[EyesWeldedShut]

3 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

Howzaboutthatthen?

Yes, nBH (as we call it) is home. Home because I seem to spend more time there than at my actual address. 

The Langham was sold quite a while back now. By the end it was quite a sorry state, and it now looks properly lovely. It does sometimes feel that the genuinely impressive buildings have gone (Bush, Langham etc) but the new arrangement makes far better sense. 

 

A lot of nBH back then had that down at heel, scruffy look that haunted a lot of public service offices/courts/cop shops and so on.

The Langham looked especially crap - but then so did a fair few of the places in the area. 
(Also just twigged that the images in the link you shared are taken in Park Crescent - could it be Mr Saville after all)

[Schaefft]

35 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

Spotted this rather special old thing outside work today. 

 

I know precious little about this sort of thing, but knew immediately it was rare.  Seems I was right.  https://all-things-automotive.com/2020/10/02/motoring-misfits-rolls-royce-silver-spur-turbo-r-by-hooper/
 

That NWS number plate makes me think it’s owned by someone in news at the BBC. Someone who gives zero shits about paying £30 in charges per day and probably the same in fuel. Good lad. 

Look at the Rivian in front of it! They don't really import these to the UK!

[Popsicle]

On 03/09/2024 at 18:17, wuvvum said:

I had that issue on the Zafira.

My centre belt always did the same on our Zafira and Vectra. MOT guy told me to remove it, can't test it if its not there.

Worth thinking about @stuboy if you can't free it up.

[lesapandre]

Volvo cutting back on its EV products in the light of emerging tariffs. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3ejye39434o

First time I've read the phrase 'mild hybrid'. 

[Arthur Foxhake]

10 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Yes, I owned that one for a bit as well - it definitely didn't hang about, I remember losing a modern Sprinter in it on the A12.  Liked a drink though mind.

Certainly did. Quite noticeable when I drove it to the Netherlands for the MotoGP.

[Asimo]

1 hour ago, lesapandre said:

First time I've read the phrase 'mild hybrid

Where you been?  Toyota dabbled with “mild hybrids” 20+ years ago.  A kind of nod to the hybrid bandwagon they had created with their Prius, but readily incorporated into an existing model.

[lesapandre]

2 hours ago, Asimo said:

Where you been?  Toyota dabbled with “mild hybrids” 20+ years ago.  A kind of nod to the hybrid bandwagon they had created with their Prius, but readily incorporated into an existing model.

 I'll add it to my lexicon of climate words and phrases:

Mild hybrid, net zero, energy security, carbon footprint, offsetting, renewable, transitioning oil,  carbon capture, biofuel etc etc.

Reminds me of "Minor Women's Whiplash" - something Alan Partridge would say. 

I suppose a mild hybrid could be any car with electric windows...

[loserone]

I thought a mild hybrid meant that it only charged the 12v battery off the alternator when decelerating 

[Sigmund Fraud]

2 hours ago, Asimo said:

Where you been?  Toyota dabbled with “mild hybrids” 20+ years ago.

This is AS, man - 20 years ago is too far in the future for many of us !

[lesapandre]

19 minutes ago, Sigmund Fraud said:

This is AS, man - 20 years ago is too far in the future for many of us !

I have never driven any vehicle built after 2002 🤣

[lesapandre]

14 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said:

Spotted this rather special old thing outside work today. 

 

I know precious little about this sort of thing, but knew immediately it was rare.  Seems I was right.  https://all-things-automotive.com/2020/10/02/motoring-misfits-rolls-royce-silver-spur-turbo-r-by-hooper/
 

That NWS number plate makes me think it’s owned by someone in news at the BBC. Someone who gives zero shits about paying £30 in charges per day and probably the same in fuel. Good lad. 

Hooper had form on bling - they built all the 'Docker Daimlers' - this is their 1955 'Golden Zebra' car. Zebra skin upholstery and gold-plated brightwork.

Their original factory was up in Hendon - site now occupied by a Screwfix outlet...

[comfortablynumb]

58 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

I have never driven any vehicle built after 2002 🤣

Driven, yes 

Owned? No fucking chance 😁

[horriblemercedes]

14 hours ago, somewhatfoolish said:

Quite an AS rolls, that stainless steel tideline must be hiding something crispy and a gold spirit of ecstasy is a bit jejune. 8.2 lambswool rugs out of 10.

It could be, but I think it has been there from new. Tacky Hooper styling

[egg]

Today years old when found out....at one point Renault did disposable cameras to use if you were involved in an accident, or had to send a picture of faulty wiring to the main dealer

[Asimo]

I really like the way Hooper has fitted the rear window. No wide, black glue band, not even a rubber gasket is visible.  Shame about the purple sticker.

[Asimo]

17 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said:

Someone who gives zero shits about paying £30 in charges per day and probably the same in fuel.

MOT mileage history suggests it uses less than a tankful of petrol per year.

[Ohdearme]

So what does happen when you sell a shite car to the unwashed of Facebook?

Not me but distant family member (partner of sis in law) that punted on a £500 Pez Vectra…

And yes, the sellers natural home is also FB marketplace.

Couldn’t post this on PH or the grammar police would have a field day.

 

[Ohdearme]

And another thing, why exactly does a person in public office, Lord Mayor of Barnsley, need a ruddy posh arse probably £250k number plate?

Would buy a fair few school dinners that, or at least five tanks of fuel for the 7 series.

 

[Momentary Lapse Of Reason]

17 minutes ago, Ohdearme said:

And another thing, why exactly does a person in public office, Lord Mayor of Barnsley, need a ruddy posh arse probably £250k number plate?

Would buy a fair few school dinners that, or at least five tanks of fuel for the 7 series.

 

THE1 was issued by Barnsley in March 1960.

My bet is that it has been on the Mayor of Barnsley's official car ever since.

[Ohdearme]

1 minute ago, Momentary Lapse Of Reason said:

THE1 was issued by Barnsley in March 1960.

My bet is that it has been on the Mayor of Barnsley's official car ever since.

Well, they should flog it and feed a few kids tbh.

I doubt the reputation of Barnsley’s highest ceremonial office rests on the masses finding out the town funded BMW is perhaps an ‘06 and not a 73 plate or whatever.

 

[Ohdearme]

34 minutes ago, Ohdearme said:

And another thing, why exactly does a person in public office, Lord Mayor of Barnsley, need a ruddy posh arse probably £250k number plate?

Would buy a fair few school dinners that, or at least five tanks of fuel for the 7 series.

 

This has also just reminded me I turned down a lift home from Staines to Weybridge for Cheney Hawkes many years ago.

He was not in a BMW, if I recall correctly he was in a Toyota Lucida minivan in that two tone purple grey spec

[320touring]

1 minute ago, Ohdearme said:

This has also just reminded me I turned down a lift home from Staines to Weybridge for Cheney Hawkes many years ago.

He was not in a BMW, if I recall correctly he was in a Toyota Lucida minivan in that two tone purple grey spec

Apparently it was the one and only built to that spec

[somewhatfoolish]

1 hour ago, Asimo said:

I really like the way Hooper has fitted the rear window. No wide, black glue band, not even a rubber gasket is visible.  Shame about the purple sticker.

I think the small rear window was an option, on the long wheelbase Spirits anyway.

48 minutes ago, Ohdearme said:

And another thing, why exactly does a person in public office, Lord Mayor of Barnsley, need a ruddy posh arse probably £250k number plate?

Would buy a fair few school dinners that, or at least five tanks of fuel for the 7 series.

 

It was very likely attached to something shite like a Austin Sheerline.