Ask a Shiter

[Tamworthbay]

Mercedes Vito with a crew cab in 114CDI flavour. 100,000 miles and clean.

If I’ve been offered it for £900 should I snap it the hell up? Anything significant to look for?

Rust? Not sure about the newer ones but boy can they rust. I looked at them for a camper conversion but insurance costs were stupid compared to a Fiat or ford equivalent for some reason so may be worth checking that out.

[D Spares & Tyres]

At that price? V5. Tampered with VIN plate

 

Bargain

[Fabergé Greggs]

Yeah it doesn’t seem too rusty, and I thought it seemed like a flipping bargain but I don’t really keep an eye on these things..

[clayts450]

STREETWISES; contemporary reviews say the pezzer is the one to go for, because the (faster, more economical) diesel is a bit clattery. I don't mind clattery.

 

Is there any advantage to the petrol?

 

Can't comment on the diesel, aside from more weight, but if you do go petrol try to go for one with the 103hp 1.4 lump rather than the 84hp (admittedly the 84hp to 103hp conversion is pretty straightforward if you can find the better throttle body).

 

My little fella is the 84hp version and whilst it holds its own okay, especially in city traffic, it can be a bit asthmatic on motorways, particularly if trying to overtake stuff uphill ! Entirely competent though and has done me a fair few 250 mile round trips without complaint.

 

It is a competent little thing though, and as Rich notes R3s are eminently chuckable, with the Streetwise having the added advantage of big wheels/tyres to take the strain. Mine always feel very well planted on the road.

 

There are some very very rare 1.6/1.8 CVT K-series versions in existence, but not many at all of these around.

 

In terms of spec, SE is best or the rare Olympic if you can find one. The earlier ones (up to 04 reg) are better in terms of accessing the Pektron BCU which will fail at some point in time (usually relays pop)

 

Didn't you have an L-series one for a short while ?

[Tamworthbay]

Yeah it doesn’t seem too rusty, and I thought it seemed like a flipping bargain but I don’t really keep an eye on these things..

Get it bought if it’s not rusty

[Fabergé Greggs]

Mercedes Vito with a crew cab in 114CDI flavour. 100,000 miles and clean.

 

If I’ve been offered it for £900 should I snap it the hell up? Anything significant to look for?

I’m off to take a look. The guy says “it could maybe do with a service or injector check, runs fine and passed MOT but just being cautious- sounds a little bit off”

[D Spares & Tyres]

Probably got the black death then... Can be fixed with patience.

[Kiltox]

Do we reckon I could use a slide hammer to straighten this sill enough to refit the black plastic trim??

 

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

Do we reckon I could use a slide hammer to straighten this sill enough to refit the black plastic trim??

 

70B1E665-5FEE-46E1-9ACB-9A3965FEA0BA.jpeg

 

Can't be acessed down the inside/interior? Flat wood and scissor jack to get most out? (No idea what the shape or profile is - so this may be bollox)

[mrbenn]

What about some of those sucker type dent pullers? I bet they'd make an improvement, at least.

[Tenmil Socket]

I sold a car a number of years ago with a private plate. I'm interested in trying to buy the plate. The car is sorn but MOT expired. Is the a way to go about this?

[MorrisItalSLX]

I imagine you would have to contact the current owner and see if they want to transfer it over to you, SORN and no MOT should not be an issue.

[Tenmil Socket]

I imagine you would have to contact the current owner and see if they want to transfer it over to you, SORN and no MOT should not be an issue.

 

That's what I thought but I don't know who owns the vehicle now?

[DodgeRover]

That's what I thought but I don't know who owns the vehicle now?

Then you are buggered unless you can track them down via an owners club etc. DVLA will (quite rightly) not release the owners details.

[garethj]

I've rather over enthusiastically tried to open the door of a Lancia Delta Integrale and snapped it. It is made of a flimsy plastic handle with a metal covering. Typical Fiat junk.

 

What is the strongest glue I can buy? Q Bond won't work on this. SIkaflex is probably too flexible. Any ideas? Or a cheap handle? Do any other Fiat items fit?

Maybe something like araldite? It’s not so much the glue that will help but how much you can brace it. Can you drill and pin the join so it’s a metal pin that takes the strain?

 

Bond area is important too so anything like a splint you can hide around the back will help to take the strain and give the glue more area to work

[barmatt]

Having a bit of a sort out of tools in the workshop and these have been sitting in the bottom of a box of random crap for ages, any idea what they are? because I haven't got a clue.

 

 

 

 

[Guest Hooli]

Old soldering irons I think, you heated them in a fire (hence the big end to hold a lot of heat).

[barmatt]

Old soldering irons I think, you heated them in a fire (hence the big end to hold a lot of heat).

 

Thanks, I just put that into google and that's exactly what they are. The mystery is solved.

[JeeExEll]

^ Fantastic guess

 

http://www.oldhandtools.co.uk/huge-copper-headed-soldering-iron-by-toga

[busmansholiday]

Yep, I've got one, dad taught me to solder using one. Heat it up in the gas flame, just remember you have to file them smooth every so often as the solder eats the side you keep using.

[DodgeRover]

We got taught to solder with those at school, kids today have it easy.

[Tamworthbay]

I would love to see you solder an RS components Christmas tree with flashing LED kit with one

[skattrd]

Ferries, can you just rock up at Dover\Calais and get a reasonable priced crossing or do you need to book in advance?

[Kiltox]

Can't be acessed down the inside/interior? Flat wood and scissor jack to get most out? (No idea what the shape or profile is - so this may be bollox)

I had a quick look ages ago and this didn’t look like a go-er, no room to get to it

[DodgeRover]

I had a quick look ages ago and this didn’t look like a go-er, no room to get to it

I think borrowing or buying a snap on (or clone) with the little glue/ weld on tags would be the easiest way to get that back out and straight

[Split_Pin]

Are main beams/flashers part of the MOT test? Asking for a friend*

[Guest Hooli]

Ferries, can you just rock up at Dover\Calais and get a reasonable priced crossing or do you need to book in advance?

 

When I tried that it was about double the price of booking in advance*

 

*I stood in the booking office at Calais and used their free wifi to book the next crossing online for 50% of the cost from the booking desk.

[Tamworthbay]

Are main beams/flashers part of the MOT test? Asking for a friend*

My V70 flashes with the lights on sides but when on low it just cycles the high on and off so there is no option to flash with one tug (o er missus) so I guess it can’t be an MoT fail.

[Guest Hooli]

Are main beams/flashers part of the MOT test? Asking for a friend*

 

Have a look..

 

https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/manuals/class3457/

[Eddie Honda]

Ferries, can you just rock up at Dover\Calais and get a reasonable priced crossing or do you need to book in advance?

When I tried that it was about double the price of booking in advance*

 

*I stood in the booking office at Calais and used their free wifi to book the next crossing online for 50% of the cost from the booking desk.

 

Aye, just rock up, then book online (Not sure what time the close off the bookings for the next ferry though)