Supernaut's Cars - E36 323i / mk3 Megane / S1 Land Rover

[Supernaut]

The 205 is now back home, minus the grumbly wheel bearing noises. Yay!

I also now know that its cooling fan works properly due to absolutely grim traffic caused by roadworks. I drove it about 10-15 miles back from the garage, and half my journey time was spent stationary about quarter of a mile from home...

Big thanks to @Split_Pin for the lifts!

[Supernaut]

 

Latest MPG figures for the 205 are in. 48mpg over the last tank.

Could be better. However, that's with lots of short runs. There's also the fact the speedometer drive isn't in the first flushes of youth any more, so there's a possibility the odometer is under-reading too.

 

Still, that's a month of pissing about with just under quarter of a tank still left in it before I brimmed it again. It's not about the raw mpg figures and more about just driving it about without really worrying about filling it any time soon.

[Supernaut]

 

To add context: I did a roughly 50-mile route round some local lochs this afternoon. I discovered it a couple of weeks back in the BMW. That first time, the weather turned about halfway round the route, and I discovered it got very twisty and lumpy. The weather today was better, and the 205 excelled. I think my average speed in the 205 was far better.

[Supernaut]

There are advantages to living alone...

 

I'm debating whether I can summon the energy to take them back down 2 stories and fit them to the car. I'd do it one at a time to make it easier, but then I'd need to take the old wheels back up again too...

 

These wheels were an absolute bargain and came with 3 good tyres on them too. The 3 Avons are good, and there's one slightly dud (but usable) Continental. The tyre sizes are in two pairs as well. A pair of 225/50/16s (for the rear) and a pair of 205/50/16s (for the front). The Continental is in the smaller size. A matching pair of 205/55/16s for the front might not be a bad idea...

The rear pair really do look chunky.

[Six-cylinder]

When I lived on my own I rebuilt an engine in the kitchen one winter. I cleaned and prepared parts in the shed and took them in the house for assembly. Mind you I needed some help to get it out again whole!

[Split_Pin]

19 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

There are advantages to living alone...

 

I'm debating whether I can summon the energy to take them back down 2 stories and fit them to the car. I'd do it one at a time to make it easier, but then I'd need to take the old wheels back up again too...

 

These wheels were an absolute bargain and came with 3 good tyres on them too. The 3 Avons are good, and there's one slightly dud (but usable) Continental. The tyre sizes are in two pairs as well. A pair of 225/50/16s (for the rear) and a pair of 205/50/16s (for the front). The Continental is in the smaller size. A matching pair of 205/55/16s for the front might not be a bad idea...

The rear pair really do look chunky.

I lived in a top floor flat when I got the wheels delivered for my old Astra Coupe. The will was strong to fit them!

[Supernaut]

The front two are on. I'll do the rears tomorrow.

The 205 even managed to sneak in. That front left is the slightly more worn Continental, and it seems a bit low on pressure. I'll check them all with my compressor tomorrow.

Swapping the wheels over isn't the hard part. It's taking the old ones back up two stories!

[Supernaut]

[fatharris]

Looks much better with them on!

[Supernaut]

The BMW has been smelling a bit damp and steaming up quite easily.

Whilst I do resemble a wet dog, I thought it best to check the pollen filter...

What a PITA that was. I'm not going to bother putting another one in. Yes, that black mark on the ground is from the filter landing.

 

Essentially I had to remove the panel below the steering wheel, remove the ducting that goes into the foot well, then reach up behind the dashboard and go entirely on feel. The instructions online even said it needs to snap into three pieces to come out!

[Supernaut]

Positive: removal of the pollen filter has vastly improved the heating and ventilation.

Negative: the garden roller tyres on the drive wheels have noticeably increased rolling resistance and dulled the throttle response. The rears have gone from 205/55/16 up to 225/50/16.

I'm looking at all seasons in the correct 205/55/16 though. For all 4 corners too, due to the front wheels now being 205/50/16s thanks to the weird staggered tyre set up the seller had on these wheels.

[Supernaut]

Guess what?

 

It was purely user error. I'd refitted the panel under the steering column (after doing the pollen filter) incorrectly, and it was catching on the throttle pedal rather significantly. DERP.

[Split_Pin]

Free fixes are the best ones.

[Supernaut]

Douglas Park BMW of Stirling. Great* bunch of lads.

I went in there this morning to drop the 323i off for its recall. Bear in mind this was all agreed over the phone a fortnight in advance.

"Do I get a courtesy car or a lift home or something...?"

"No, courtesy cars are for sales only. Not servicing." Eh? Surely it would make more sense to have courtesy cars for servicing?

"How about a lift home then?"

"No."

"Well I'm not dropping it off then, as I'm stuffed otherwise!"

Then I walked out and got back in my own BMW 323i. Then drove over to Pittenweem for the afternoon.

 

How the flying fuck am I meant to get home after dropping my car off at a dealership in an industrial estate on the outskirts of Stirling roughly 5 miles from home, with no nearby bus links or anything? Fuck right off you bunch of chancers. I expected better from BMW of all companies.

[Liggle]

I got a similar response when my e93 went in for recall work

[paulplom]

Put your push bike in the boot.

[Supernaut]

I got through to the service department today.

Less than 3 minutes on the phone and they confirmed they'll collect it from me on the 16th and have it back the same day.

 

Far more polite and helpful than the shiny-suited salescunts.

[DodgyBastard]

I'm not sure why you'd bother with any main dealer recall, in my limited experience they will poke at your car and tell you it's knackered and you should buy a new one.

[Cookiesouwest]

Just now, DodgyBastard said:

I'm not sure why you'd bother with any main dealer recall, in my limited experience they will poke at your car and tell you it's knackered and you should buy a new one.

When Honda did the recall for window switch pack on our two 2005 CRVs, they didn't offer a courtesy car. But they did let me book 1hr timeslot.

And they did it within the hour and didn't try selling me anything.

[Supernaut]

22 minutes ago, DodgyBastard said:

I'm not sure why you'd bother with any main dealer recall, in my limited experience they will poke at your car and tell you it's knackered and you should buy a new one.

It's a safety related recall for a steering column joint, and apparently they did most of the E36s last time but about 100 or so slipped through the net. Or so I've heard.

If they do try to sell me anything I'll just politely but firmly say "no thanks, when can I get it back please?"

[juular]

22 minutes ago, DodgyBastard said:

I'm not sure why you'd bother with any main dealer recall, in my limited experience they will poke at your car and tell you it's knackered and you should buy a new one.

Generally agree about the lack of competence / usefulness of anything main dealer related, but would the insurance have something to say about ignoring a recall related to steering?  I'd be concerned that would be handing those ubercunts a perfect excuse on a golden platter. 

[Ghosty]

My mum had her old Mini sent to BMW once or twice - she was offered a courtesy car but they didn't have an auto to give her (she was sending an auto in) so they had it collected instead. 
You'd think they'd have an automatic courtesy car to match customers' needs surely?

[Supernaut]

I don't even need an auto, they just point-blank refused a courtesy car at all. Stating it was for sales only.

 

What's the chances they're just saying that because I have an older vehicle? I bet if somebody came in with a 2 year old X5 needing 4-figures worth of work they would get a courtesy car no questions asked!

[JimH]

23 hours ago, DodgyBastard said:

I'm not sure why you'd bother with any main dealer recall, in my limited experience they will poke at your car and tell you it's knackered and you should buy a new one.

When you look at how confected many safety* critical* recalls are you do wonder if they are a wheeze to get the details of current owners from DVLA in order to get a bit more foot fall in the showrooms. 

I was reading the safety* critical* recall for the 2000 Range Rover V8 I had which was required to fit a modified gasket to the throttle body heater. Under certain conditions this could leak and cause coolant to pool on the rocker cover underneath. The water could evaporate leaving behind coolant and this constituted a fire risk. 

I think the phrase is

 

[Six-cylinder]

When my last Range Rover went to the dealer for a transfer box recall they wanted to charge me £10 a day for loan car insurance. I thought that was acceptable to try another new Land Rover product, but no they had a Mondeo to offer so I let them collect and deliver instead.

I am surprised the 323i missed the recall as the car has had a settled live with several long term owners. Even when it came back into my name I had it 15 months before they contacted me

[Split_Pin]

There's an airbag recall for late Audi Cabriolets like mine but it must be for a very specific batch of airbags. Some cars registered on the same month as mine have been pinged but as yet there's nothing showing on DVSA for my car.

I was initially disappointed as it all sounded rather interesting but if I'm honest I dont really want yet another garage poking around it.

[Supernaut]

I am quite conflicted as I don't like having garages poking around my cars much either.

However, they are a main dealer (although in some cases that's worse).

When they collect it I'll be taking note of the mileage on it, put it that way!

[juular]

13 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

I am quite conflicted as I don't like having garages poking around my cars much either.

However, they are a main dealer (although in some cases that's worse).

When they collect it I'll be taking note of the mileage on it, put it that way!

Take photos too, main dealers have damaged wheels and bodywork on my cars in the past. 

Not to put you off or anything, defo get a steering recall done IMO.

[captain_70s]

Vauxhall recalled my Corsa as they'd managed to fit the wrong springs at one end. Fair enough.

Toyota recalled my Yaris because if you got cleaning fluid in the window switch it could get sticky and short. I've always worked under the assumption that most electrical components don't like being doused in liquid but hey ho.

Corsa was fixed while I waited, couldn't be arsed sending the 'Yota. I was 20 at the time so most places wouldn't give me a courtesy car anyway because YOOF.

[reb]

I'm still annoyed that VW "washed" my golf when it was in for a new key. It was properly filthy beforehand, they just vaguely pointed a pressure washer at it leaving big chunks unwashed and there was still a load of brake dust between the spokes of the wheels which got wet and promptly dribbled round onto the faces. Maybe I enjoy having a filthy car?