JJ0063’s current steed - Life of an impulsive car owner [N47 CHAIN GANG]

[Erebus]

15 hours ago, JJ0063 said:

Trying to get things buttoned up ready for going away next week so decided to do the brake fluid. 
 

Followed the VCDS ABS pump bleed procedure, used the ezi bleed thing, went for a drive and now have virtually no brakes

😂 I have no idea what I’ve done. I’ve bled brakes the old school way loads of times with no issues, with this however my pedal is now stupidly soft, goes right down and even stamping on the pedal the van just gradually comes to a stop

 

Booked it back in to Formula 1 tomorrow as I have no time left before we go away and they’re the only place open Sundays, Now I’ve had all the nipples undone hopefully they won’t find a reason to not do it…

That's weird.  I've bled the brakes on my T5 a couple of times and didn't use VCDS, just did it with an Ezibleed and had no problems at all

[JJ0063]

9 hours ago, Erebus said:

That's weird.  I've bled the brakes on my T5 a couple of times and didn't use VCDS, just did it with an Ezibleed and had no problems at all

I clearly have no idea what the fuck I’m doing 

Formula 1 autocentre actually came good today, it was an older chap who you could tell was actually a mechanic rather than an 18 year old ‘fitter’

 

45 mins in and out, he said when he first opened one of the rears with their pressure thing on the system, the caliper hissed before any fluid came out there was that much air in it 😂 said it was spitting air and fluid for ages before he got a steady stream. 
 

Anyway, £40 later and I have a fluid change and it’s bled properly, pedal has never felt so good. 
 

Near enough ready for our Xmas trip now, just a few odds and ends inside like fitting some USB’s and some hooks. 

 

[JJ0063]

One really annoying thing in the T5 is the lack of cup holders. It’s got a pull out one to the left of the gear stick with the ashtray but they are sprung holders and a pain in the arse to get a drink into without using both hands, also don’t hold bottles.

 

Saw a guy on one of the T5 Facebook groups who runs a 3d printing company and had knocked up these so had to have a set. They literally push in to the coin slot under the air vents and are held in with double sided tape/wedging them in. Very sturdy and certainly can’t just fall out.

Well chuffed with them, don’t know why VW didn’t fit something in that space like a Transit has.

[JJ0063]

My old Hilka Jack seems to have something wrong with it, it’s a bit leaky and no longer seems to lift very high even if I keep topping up the fluid and bleeding it, got to the point where I don’t trust it and having a 2.8t van land on my isn’t ideal. 
 

Picked up this 3t Halfords one today as they had £40 off. Seems posh!

[EyesWeldedShut]

9 minutes ago, JJ0063 said:

My old Hilka Jack seems to have something wrong with it, it’s a bit leaky and no longer seems to lift very high even if I keep topping up the fluid and bleeding it, got to the point where I don’t trust it and having a 2.8t van land on my isn’t ideal. 
 

Picked up this 3t Halfords one today as they had £40 off. Seems posh!

Santa has been saving pennies for me to put towards exactly such an object - online I can see them at £160 - did you do a walk-in purchase?

[Dave_Q]

If it's this one it's showing up as £97.50 with trade card for me.

https://www.halfords.com/tools/garage-workshop/axle-stands-trolley-jacks/halfords-advanced-2t-low-profile-trolley-jack-with-pad-563126.html

[JJ0063]

3 hours ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

Santa has been saving pennies for me to put towards exactly such an object - online I can see them at £160 - did you do a walk-in purchase?

Ah it’s £120 on trade for the 3t, I can order for collection if you need a trade card? I didn’t realise I was logged in as trade - just assumed there was an offer on!

[EyesWeldedShut]

2 hours ago, JJ0063 said:

Ah it’s £120 on trade for the 3t, I can order for collection if you need a trade card? I didn’t realise I was logged in as trade - just assumed there was an offer on!

If you can arrange a collection in that well known Norfolk branch (Aberstwyth!) I'd be interested.
 

[JJ0063]

24 minutes ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

If you can arrange a collection in that well known Norfolk branch (Aberstwyth!) I'd be interested.
 

Nowt stopping me ordering it for collection and you collecting I wouldn’t have thought? Have to pay online though so would entail you paying me and I ordering I guess.

[EyesWeldedShut]

3 minutes ago, JJ0063 said:

Nowt stopping me ordering it for collection and you collecting I wouldn’t have thought? Have to pay online though so would entail you paying me and I ordering I guess.

I'll PM you after Christmas (unless they have a fancy sale for non-trade plebs)

[JJ0063]

So our Christmas break didn’t go to plan unfortunately! Intended to have 3 nights in the Peaks. One night and we’re home. Nothing to do with the van though!

Drove up to Bakewell yesterday, let the dogs out for a wee and our Pug, Nala, pissed pretty much pure blood. FFS. She’s got bladder stones and we thought they were under control - clearly not. 
 

Agreed to stay yesterday then get home today so we can get her on some medication ASAP. 
 

Managed to get a drive in through Winnats Pass and part of Snake Pass this morning. Horrendous weather but last night the diesel heater was bloody brilliant and the van was much comfier than the T6 we hired before. 

[JJ0063]

Got the bug for a car again. 
 

Not going to be letting the T5 go as I bloody love it but I also don’t have any spare cash. Could result in a shite car being bought in the new year, or if I can find a sensible interest rate then possibly a small loan for something as I’m debt/loan free for the first time in years so the obvious man maths thing is I’m now £150 a month better off so why not waste it again. 
 

Should’ve leased a Maxus.

[timolloyd]

Someone on here had an absolute bargain of a V50 that needed very little work and wasn’t worth that much. 

[JJ0063]

2 minutes ago, timolloyd said:

Someone on here had an absolute bargain of a V50 that needed very little work and wasn’t worth that much. 

Funnily enough it was a friend of a friend who bought it off me, it shat 2 injectors in Scotland last month but he replaced them and actually sold it again on Xmas eve for a £700 profit 😂

[Dave_Q]

I hear those 330d coupes are a good steer

[RoverFolkUs]

Make sure you have your de-bobbler handy 😂

[JJ0063]

3 minutes ago, Dave_Q said:

I hear those 330d coupes are a good steer

You wouldn’t believe my old 335D was also for sale last week and is now sold 😂

One thing I’m considering is a 330D touring and getting rid of Mrs JJ’s Fiesta, I was chatting to her today about what car she’d like next and her reply was “a really quick one like the blue bmw” 😂 she loved driving that. Need a boot because Labrador though. 

[Matty]

1 hour ago, JJ0063 said:

You wouldn’t believe my old 335D was also for sale last week and is now sold 😂

One thing I’m considering is a 330D touring and getting rid of Mrs JJ’s Fiesta, I was chatting to her today about what car she’d like next and her reply was “a really quick one like the blue bmw” 😂 she loved driving that. Need a boot because Labrador though. 

No man with a fear of disappearing money ever sold a fiesta to buy a 330d 😁

[Bren]

I looked at e91's after selling my e60 - my bugget could only extend to a four pot.

To me most of the six pots - petrol and diesel - were priced far greater than they were actually worth.

[JJ0063]

2 minutes ago, Bren said:

I looked at e91's after selling my e60 - my bugget could only extend to a four pot.

To me most of the six pots - petrol and diesel - were priced far greater than they were actually worth.

Oh totally agree, I’ve always found 5 series equivalents much more sensible on the pricing!

It’s only an idea to be honest. I always knew I’d want to get back in an M57 but I also like the T5 an awful lot more than I expected. 

Mrs JJ’s little 1.4 diesel fiesta has racked up about 17k in the last year, it’s on nearly 150k so I’m expecting it to start causing me issues soon so it feels like a good excuse for me to retain BMW ownership whilst getting her in something better. She also really likes the BM’s and is a secret speed demon and loved driving the 335D. 
 

I might look further into getting something like a 3k loan, plus say £1500 for the Fiesta and putting her in an LCI E91 for ~5k or something. I’d even consider a cheap LCI N47 and having the chain done myself tbh.

[tom13]

On 26/12/2023 at 21:10, JJ0063 said:

Oh totally agree, I’ve always found 5 series equivalents much more sensible on the pricing!

It’s only an idea to be honest. I always knew I’d want to get back in an M57 but I also like the T5 an awful lot more than I expected. 

Mrs JJ’s little 1.4 diesel fiesta has racked up about 17k in the last year, it’s on nearly 150k so I’m expecting it to start causing me issues soon so it feels like a good excuse for me to retain BMW ownership whilst getting her in something better. She also really likes the BM’s and is a secret speed demon and loved driving the 335D. 
 

I might look further into getting something like a 3k loan, plus say £1500 for the Fiesta and putting her in an LCI E91 for ~5k or something. I’d even consider a cheap LCI N47 and having the chain done myself tbh.

Why so set on an LCI?

[JJ0063]

9 minutes ago, tom13 said:

Why so set on an LCI?

Well, I’d sooner go for an F series but the budget would only stretch to a shitter. With the E91 I just really don’t like the pre LCI tail lights and wouldn’t want to spend a fair wedge on something quite so old.

Chances are I won’t bother, but I do like the idea of getting her into something a bit bigger than the Fiesta.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

1 minute ago, JJ0063 said:

Well, I’d sooner go for an F series but the budget would only stretch to a shitter. With the E91 I just really don’t like the pre LCI tail lights and wouldn’t want to spend a fair wedge on something quite so old.

Chances are I won’t bother, but I do like the idea of getting her into something a bit bigger than the Fiesta.

Interesting. After the debacle we had with Arfur Daley and his sketchy F31, we're considering finding a run-out LCI E91 with all the toys thrown in instead. 

What do you think of the driving experience of the F series? Maybe it was just that example, but we were a bit underwhelmed - in contrast, the E91 feels more planted, with better sound deadening, more solid-feeling build quality and better feel through the steering. 

[JJ0063]

33 minutes ago, Dick Longbridge said:

Interesting. After the debacle we had with Arfur Daley and his sketchy F31, we're considering finding a run-out LCI E91 with all the toys thrown in instead. 

What do you think of the driving experience of the F series? Maybe it was just that example, but we were a bit underwhelmed - in contrast, the E91 feels more planted, with better sound deadening, more solid-feeling build quality and better feel through the steering. 

I’ve never owned one but had a few as company cars, I’ve always really liked them for the biggest reason being the interior is so much nicer. I’m the first to admit I’m ever so slightly an interior snob and the biggest thing that lets the E9X down in my opinion is the interiors/dash always feels dated.

Totally agree they’re a better drive than the F series, I’ve always liked the heavy steering of the E models too.

Honestly it’s a tough one. I’d lean towards an F if I could find one in budget purely on the basis I’d feel in my head I’m getting a brand new car as in my eyes they’re still a new shape car, whereas the E9X do look a bit old now. 
 

Either are great cars and im sure we’ll end up in one over an equivalent Audi or whatever!

[RoverFolkUs]

1 hour ago, Dick Longbridge said:

Interesting. After the debacle we had with Arfur Daley and his sketchy F31, we're considering finding a run-out LCI E91 with all the toys thrown in instead. 

What do you think of the driving experience of the F series? Maybe it was just that example, but we were a bit underwhelmed - in contrast, the E91 feels more planted, with better sound deadening, more solid-feeling build quality and better feel through the steering. 

Just my two cents - combine the interior of the F series with the drive of the E series and you'd have a bloody fantastic car. 

Unfortunately of the F series cars I can recall having driven, I've been severely underwhelmed by the way they've driven. As JJ says, nice interior, but I've driven 1.5, 1.6 and 2.0 petrol (1.5 is absolutely absolutely absolutely awful 😭) and 2.0D N47 in both manual and auto flavours and I've been impressed by precisely none of them! The manuals are really not nice to drive for some reason, they just feel as though they weren't *designed* to be manual if you see what I mean? The autos did make me find them somewhat more acceptable which is unusual for me. 

I suppose one of the 6 cylinder varieties would be nicer but they're a lot less common-sight and alas, none of our customer base seems to own one as far as I can easily recall! 

For me, I'd happily overlook the somewhat rubbish interior of an E series compared to the very lackluster drive of an F series. 

@JJ0063 - if you easily get bored of an E series 335D, I seriously think you'd be bored of any F series before the DVLA have even gone to the trouble of printing the V5 for it in your name 😭🤣

[mk2_craig]

I've got an F31 manual with the 2.0 turbo and it's a nice reliable car but as others have said, unremarkable. Though it felt agile and responsive jumping straight into it from the 850 T5 that it replaced. 

I'd have gone for an auto but my wife prefers manual, and they're uncommon so it took a while to find one within budget in the right mix of trim level, colour, age and mileage. Spec wise try and find one with front parking sensors, heated seats also useful to have.

Did try out a newer 340i which was superb but ultimately unaffordable!

[JJ0063]

Soooooo.

Didnt want to let the T5 go, yet, so found a fair interest rate on a loan which if I decide in a few months time to sell the T5, the sale money from that would completely pay off the loan early and still leave money in the bank. 
 

Did consider an A4 or A6 but as we know, I always end up back in a BMW.

Found this 167k 320D M Sport touring 20 mins from home being sold by my cousins best friend, managed to secure it for £5200 pending viewing, so with a grand factored in for a timing chain, I think £6200 is still fairly good going for a non offensive colour, automatic, diesel, daily driver.

It’s got a full 12 months MOT with no advisories, full history with the most recent service being done with the MOT last month.

Lets see how we get on.. View/collect on Wednesday,  best get a chain booked in..

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Absolute bargain!

[JJ0063]

Well chuffed. 
 

I do however seriously need this Qashqai gone now, Tetris to get parked!

[Bren]

Looks nice. What does it go like?