Curleckshun Capers, Pt. 94

[83C]

And so it begins, starting here:

 

[paulplom]

is it a ferry, plane or train? Giz a clue.

[loserone]

It's quite clearly a bed, it even has pillows!

[Crispian_J_Hotson]

Does it move?

[Jim Bell]

Hes gone to prison?

[Dan_ZTT]

Long train to Scotchland for that Maestro? Or was that someone else?

[83C]

The morning view:

 

 

And the machine that brought me here, next to the DfT's latest disaster:

 

 

Oh, hints about the car? It's as British as Queen Victoria.

[billyboy406v6]

Bon voyage, monsewer !

[Rocket88]

Mercedes then...............................!

[83C]

A quick trip on the tube brought me somewhere near here:

 

 

I always liked Michael Palin's description of the 'modern' Euston:

 

"Euston always reminds me of a giant bath, lots of smooth, slippery marble and glass surfaces so that people can be sloshed quickly around.

 

You're not encouraged to linger in the new, streamlined Euston, that's why there aren't any seats. They don't want people sticking to the side of the bar, they just check your ticket, and off, down the plug hole."

[Pillock]

Now I'm confused, I thought there was only one sleeper service and it went to Euston?

In fact I know it does, since it was there yesterday when I arrived.

[83C]

There is also a sleeper service to & from the land that time forgot:

 

https://www.gwr.com/plan-journey/journey-information/on-board/night-riviera-sleeper

[83C]

Now, as I'm getting nearer to the car, another clue. It was designed in the 1990s.

 

And I'm now at this godforsaken hole:

 

[Dan_ZTT]

Well, I was way off

[83C]

Having escaped from Birmingham, I find myself walking familiar streets:

 

 

Shrewsbury is as far as I can get by train, now it's taxi time.

[andy18s]

Long way to go just for a Subway.....

(just behind you)

[Tadhg Tiogar]

....Shrewsbury is as far as I can get by train, now it's taxi time.

 

Does that mean you're trying to head into Wales?

[stephen01]

Long way to go just for a Subway.....

(just behind you)

 

you could say he's gone from one subway to another... 

[83C]

Collected.

 

Obligatory petrol station shot:

 

[Dan_ZTT]

Oh nice. For a long time I was sure I hated these, but lately I quite fancy owning one for a few months at least, just to see what they're really like.

[cort1977]

Sleeper is great and new trains coming later this year, I iz excite.  http://newtrains.sleeper.scot/

 

Sod being herded on a 737 run by that spiv O'Leary, the train is the gentleman's choice.

[Junkman]

Oh, hints about the car? It's as British as Queen Victoria.

Mercedes then...............................!

 

BMW.

[holbeck]

Did you go that way to avail yourself of the Virgin Trains full English breakfast?

[83C]

Did you go that way to avail yourself of the Virgin Trains full English breakfast?

No, it was just that I finished work not long before the up sleeper got in.

 

Arrived back at Exeter, here it is in all of its magnificent* glory*:

 

 

 

 

It's a Cooper, has done 134,000 miles and has just about every known ailment that Binis suffer with, including:

* BCM failure

* Gearbox making funny noises in 1st

* Bushes all shot to bits

* Track rod ends rattling

* Exhaust rubbers failing

* Iffy paintwork.

 

Naturally, I bought it anyway. It does come with a set of standard Cooper alloys which will be going straight back on, and a spare gearbox that is allegedly good. To be fair to it, the poor old thing did manage to cart me 200 miles back to Exeter in good time, and not be too unpleasant doing so.

 

The eagle eyed among you will have noticed that the driver's side window has some hazard tape over it - as part of the issues with the BCM the window kept opening and closing until it stuck somewhere near Cheltenham at 1/3rd the way down. The tape is there purely to try and deflect any rainfall (if there is any) whilst I'm at work.

 

This actually isn't for me, Mrs 83C has wanted a Mini for ages. Of course, it'll be muggins here who has to look after it....

[stuboy]

least tape matches the car

[Shep Shepherd]

I used to detest MINIs with a passion, but I'm warming to the R50 version as it approaches 20 years old. Must be an age thing.

[Pillock]

I did wonder about the tape!

I passed a Fiesta on the M42 last week, drivers window totally taped over with black duct tape. He'd cut a two inch square hole for the mirror. Can't even begin to think how terrifying it would be not being able to see anything out of that side.

 

Anyway. Nice Mini! Hopefully the faults don't cause too much grief, there must be a substantial industry in refurbishing those gearboxes given the 100% failure rate.

[vulgalour]

I used to detest MINIs with a passion, but I'm warming to the R50 version as it approaches 20 years old. Must be an age thing.

 

Shat aaaaahp!  They're new, 20 years ago Minis looked like this.

 

 

They did!  I refuse to believe otherwise.

[paulplom]

Hes gone to prison?

No, there's no 3 course dinner, ps4  or 55" curved telly on view.

[83C]

First day digging into the myriad of issues with the Min today. First port of call was to try and get the window back up. The BCM (Body Control Module) is in the drivers footwell by the bonnet pull. Handily, it's just a clip on trim panel and two 10mm nuts to remove it, and then unclip 4 plugs.

 

Just as I moved it to unclip the wiring the electrics all came to life, so by jiggling the plugs I managed to power the drivers window long enough to get it back to the closed position. The two plugs at the top had loads of WD40 (or similar) in the plug and socket, so someone has been in there before. A replacement unit comes to £70 from a local specialist breaker including the chip set from the key for the RCL.

 

Next up, the gearbox. It makes a speed-related clicking noise (like a CV joint) but only in 1st gear. In 2nd-5th it's absolutely fine. There is a spare gearbox with the car but it's an unknown quantity - the seller of the car said he bought it to replace the gearbox fitted, and the replacement has been apart at some point as there is red sealant around the halves of the casing. Anyone know how to check whether it's any good without splitting it again?

 

Otherwise it got a visit to the jetwash - loads of mud underneath to get rid of before I start rooting around!