Cars of Crackers

[Crackers]

[Crackers]

Great car this, looks lovely with a proper wash, but... 

...the timing chain started rattling this morning. 

I'll get it done, but not looking forward to the bill (as I'll have the oil pump and maybe bearing shells replaced while they're in there).

[Tickman]

With your luck with cars have you thought about a bus pass?

Seriously though, it seems stuff like this is a service item on BMW's.

[beko1987]

I've seen M539 restorations on YouTube do the entire job inc stripdown and reasembly in 7 edited minutes, doesn't look too hard and seems to be a job that they all need at some point. 

If the rest of the car is decent it probably is worth* doing 

[straightSix]

I think it was the place @JJ0063 used that seemed to be pretty much a drive in drive out a few hours later for the chain 

[Crackers]

Where's the chain? Back of the engine. 

What's also at the back of the engine? 

Well, apparently half the scuttle panel, which had been previously bodged and must have fallen apart this morning. 

Tomorrow's cold start will decide if this has saved me £2000.

[JJ0063]

3 hours ago, straightSix said:

I think it was the place @JJ0063 used that seemed to be pretty much a drive in drive out a few hours later for the chain 

Fingers crossed the OP’s day has been saved by the scuttle but yeah, BM Mini Tech in Colchester are fantastic. Used them a couple of times for chains.

[beko1987]

2 hours ago, Crackers said:

Where's the chain? Back of the engine. 

What's also at the back of the engine? 

Well, apparently half the scuttle panel, which had been previously bodged and must have fallen apart this morning. 

Tomorrow's cold start will decide if this has saved me £2000.

That might cause a rattle 😂 

[Crackers]

A happy update - yes, it was that scuttle panel finisher falling off that caused the noise. I've no idea what it was hitting, but it made exactly the same "running" noise as a stretched chain slapping on worn out chain guides.

I can get a new one through work pretty cheaply so that's a bonus. 

I had it absolutely full to the brim with a load of kit from work the other day and it didn't even notice. 

I really do like it. 

[S2000]

Thank Fuck….. I do miss it, such an opulent place to be!

[High Jetter]

47 minutes ago, S2000 said:

Thank Fuck….. I do miss it, such an opulent place to be!

Looks like Dover customs! 😀

[Crackers]

2 years ago today I made one of my most regretted decisions ever. 

I sold the Saab. 

I shouldn't have done that. 

It went on for a few thousand more miles before expiring badly in France with its 3rd (I think) owner after me. 

If I'd kept it and it'd blown up, I'd have happily shoved another engine in and kept it going. I utterly adored that car and despite its various flaws, nothing will ever come close to replacing it. Utterly, utterly fantastic machine.

[hairnet]

is this a pretense to another buyage?

[Split_Pin]

Some car that was, fastest thing I've ever owned. A real executive express.

I only sold it to liberate funds after some house renovations.

[Crackers]

On 17/09/2026 at 00:36, hairnet said:

is this a pretense to another buyage?

Sadly not. Good Saabs are really getting thin on the ground now.

If another one came up in the same spec, I would have a very hard time not buying it.