Ask a Shiter

[AlabamaShrimp]

If you can feel the scratch with your fingernail then it's deffo too far gone.

Don't know if you can see if that well but this is only only bit that you can feel with your nail.

 

 

It's been failed on its test but there's a big chip further up that he wasn't bothered about.

[Mally]

Can't really tell on photo.

I have polished scratches out, it obviously removes glass, so you end up with a polished groove instead of a scratch

Only good on minor damage. Would ask the MOT man if he will accept it polished out.

If you do polish it the polish flies everywhere, managed to get it on my MGB hood and it wouldn't come off.

Chips and scratches are acceptable out side of designated areas.

[Kiltox]

What happened to FOAD's Alto thread?

[cobblers]

Loads of the buyers personal details got posted so I guess it was baleted.

[AlabamaShrimp]

Can't really tell on photo.

I have polished scratches out, it obviously removes glass, so you end up with a polished groove instead of a scratch

Only good on minor damage. Would ask the MOT man if he will accept it polished out.

If you do polish it the polish flies everywhere, managed to get it on my MGB hood and it wouldn't come off.

Chips and scratches are acceptable out side of designated areas.

I asked him on the day and he said polishing it will be good enough for him.

I'll do my best with it. At least if I cock up there's a place not far away that says they have the screen and fit them. Shame I don't have the money for that...

[AlabamaShrimp]

Loads of the buyers personal details got posted so I guess it was baleted.

Er why did a load of details get posted?

[gordonbennet]

The Merc is only taxed for 6 months but can't remember what month it's out, obviously i'll need to sorn it again.

 

Unfortunately about 3 months ago Orange ceased their email services so if email reminders normally arrive well they won't basically cos i'm now with another email service.

 

How can one find out when their VED expires please, still prefer the discs you knew where you were with them, do they still send out reminders by post?

 

Ta a bundle.

[Kiltox]

http://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk

[SiC]

One for tooSavvy. What is a (or your) ToMM?

[Eddie Honda]

How can one find out when their VED expires please

https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/

[Mally]

I asked him on the day and he said polishing it will be good enough for him.

I'll do my best with it. At least if I cock up there's a place not far away that says they have the screen and fit them. Shame I don't have the money for that...

 

You need good control of the drill, something straight like a dremel is ideal.

Take your time, use plenty of polish and clean it off to check as you go.

View through the screen may be a little distorted afterwards.

Is screen not covered on your insurance?

[The Moog]

Loads of the buyers personal details got posted so I guess it was baleted.

This. We had a complaint so have removed it.

[gordonbennet]

Thanks lads, i knew about the online taxing and online MOT history etc but for some reason didn't twig you could check road tax too.

Turns out i taxed it for 12 months after all (memory's getting worse) so will put in for refund when the weather changes.

[Ghosty]

Er why did a load of details get posted?

 

Seemed like the Alto buyer was having FOAD on so he was posting screenshots of text conversations etc, a couple of people were going all internet detective and trying to track him and his family down, supposedly to send him the V5.

[wuvvum]

I'm thinking of investing in a DS150e clone diagnostic thingummy, but I'm not entirely sure how they work.  The ones I've seen on eBay come with a box thing with an OBD2 cable coming out of it which looks like a normal code reader, except it doesn't appear to have a screen.  They also come with a CD to install the software on a PC.  What does the box thing do?  Is it some kind of interface 'twixt PC and car, and thus necessary for the operation of the software, or would I get away with just installing the software on my laptop and then using a USB-to-OBD cable?

[Pillock]

If it's like VADGECOM then the lead acts as a dongle, and the software won't work without it.

 

It may also be so that one lead can do all the slight variations and interpretations of what OBD means... Like on some cars you can recode things through that port but only if you "mod" a cable

[AlabamaShrimp]

Seemed like the Alto buyer was having FOAD on so he was posting screenshots of text conversations etc, a couple of people were going all internet detective and trying to track him and his family down, supposedly to send him the V5.

This because it broke down after he bought it?

 

Don't know where Foad is but I know I wouldn't want to drive an Alto mega distance, it's not what it's for.

[Arthur Foxhake]

One for tooSavvy. What is a (or your) ToMM?

Toyota of Much Mintyness.® ©

[gm]

I thought it was Toyota of Many Miles ?

[catsinthewelder]

Toyota of Mild Misery?

[DeeJay]

Types Old Misunderstandable Mutterings.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Thanks lads, i knew about the online taxing and online MOT history etc but for some reason didn't twig you could check road tax too.

Turns out i taxed it for 12 months after all (memory's getting worse) so will put in for refund when the weather changes.

If you get the VehicleSmart app. it has a " Your garage" section so you can keep track of MOT and tax renewells on your own fleet- just checked mine and the Mrs' Freelander MOT ran out last week, Doh!

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Renewal!

[Ghosty]

This because it broke down after he bought it?

 

Don't know where Foad is but I know I wouldn't want to drive an Alto mega distance, it's not what it's for.

 

Yes. He's up in Scotland somewhere (Dunfermline?) and the buyer was somewhere in the eastern half of England but it's not clear where, but at least as far as Newcastle.

[Hendry]

Thought you guys may have a rough idea of the value of this since my mate is looking to offload it:

 

BMW 320I (Petrol) with 2.2 M54 engine, 5 speed manual box. 

2004 04 plate

90,000 miles

1 elderly owner prior to him from brand new, even has plastic spare key and 2x remote fobs, original dealer plates, sticker, tax disc holder, original tool kit still present and unused, very original car.

2 new non rusty wings (non genuine)

2x new front springs

12 months MOT or it will have when its being sold.

Grey Green Metallic in colour

Full cream leather interior with wood trim, wood effect gear knob, steering wheel etc. 

Its a strange spec because its not an M Sport, has cream interior, standard alloys, and isnt a sporty colour but has factory optional extra M Aerodynamic bumpers package.

Spec includes: Dynamic stability control, front fogs, onboard computer, BMW business radio with 6 disc changer, auto air con, park distance control, front armrest, automatic dip interior mirror, first aid kit & warning triangle, 16" alloys, model badging factory delete, sports leather MFSW. 

 

Its got a couple of rust spots (wings were really bad but were changed for aftermarket ones which have no rust and are a good colour match)

 

Reg is SB04XLZ. 

 

Is it worth £1200?  

[Ghosty]

Sounds like it is on paper.

Seems to be £1200-1500 for a 320 in similar age/condition on Auto Trader.

[Hendry]

My mate thought he would get laughed at if he tried selling it for £750, I was convinced it was worth more, but thought id ask the experts here for a true valuation because the prices things are advertised at on ebay/gumtree usually dont have any relevance to their true worth. 

[Lord Sterling]

Quick sale, £750, if he is prepared to wait a bit, possibly haggle with a buyer and can present the car nicely in pics and words I'd say stick it up for £1350 but expect £1100/£1000.

 

Spec sounds similar to mine except engine size, bumpers, leather and colour. Mine is 1.8, cloth, standard wheels and bumpers and dark Blue metallic.

[AlabamaShrimp]

Three things the 55 Fiesta ST is revving up (goes from 1500 to 2000) when you press the clutch slowing down to stop. Any idea why?

 

As im trying to take the bits apart to see if something just needs a clean I can't, how do you take these clips apart?

 

 

 

This little sponge under the air filter is falling apart, what can I replace it with?

 

[jonathan_dyane]

My bet on the reving up would be a damaged rubber hose on the intake side which opens up with engine movement. The second photo showing the clip, insert screwdriver and twist and it should pop off however unless you have the special tool it will never go back on; best replaced with a standard jubillee clip.