Suttys trials and tribulations of automotive products. NEW ENTRANT.

[bangernomics]

When you consider you, the wife and kid in that, what a job it did for you. Wouldnt like to be in a smaller lump of metal in those circumstances.

Was thinking the same. Very lucky and as much as it is easy to focus on the moment it is helpful to reflect on the outcome more-so.

[sutty2006]

Manifold off. 
 

4 out of 6 downpipe flange bolts broke off. 
 

the offending bolt, now loose

 

 

new manifold gasket

 

 

new rocker cover gasket.

 

 

wish me luck getting the broken studs out 

[Noel Tidybeard]

[sutty2006]

One came out fine with the help of the welder. 
 

 

glued a nut on

 

and it flew out

 

 

 

[sutty2006]

The rest I wasn’t so lucky. 
 

ended up getting the helicoil kit out again

 

then found the down pipe gasket in the kit was too big 😭

 

fuck it, I’ll reuse the old one until a new one can be sourced 

[sutty2006]

Well it’s all built up and running but that gasket is blowing it’s arse off. 

[Noel Tidybeard]

ah that legendary german reliability & build quality!

[beko1987]

1 hour ago, sutty2006 said:

Well it’s all built up and running but that gasket is blowing it’s arse off. 

At least it'll all come easily* apart to fit a correct sized one anorher* day. 

Turn the tunes up and go for a drive in it 👌 

[sutty2006]

13 hours ago, beko1987 said:

At least it'll all come easily* apart to fit a correct sized one anorher* day. 

Turn the tunes up and go for a drive in it 👌 

Last night I went for a drive in the only car I have road worthy 

 

 

[grogee]

2 minutes ago, sutty2006 said:

Last night I went for a drive in the only car I have road worthy 

Calendar shot! Looks fabulous. 

I often ponder about how weird it is being on this island so far north in the hemisphere. We have occasional glorious midsummer evenings like this, and 360-odd days of truly shit, dark, grey and cold bollocks. 

Is it worth it? 

[Matty]

27 minutes ago, sutty2006 said:

Last night I went for a drive in the only car I have road worthy 

 

 

Being a previous GTE hatch owner, a late GTE coupe in exclusive spec is somewhat of a dream car for me. It was one of the few cars ive owned where i found it perfect as is and never felt the need to change anything.

[sutty2006]

20 minutes ago, Matty said:

Being a previous GTE hatch owner, a late GTE coupe in exclusive spec is somewhat of a dream car for me. It was one of the few cars ive owned where i found it perfect as is and never felt the need to change anything.

That’s exactly what this car is. My dream car. Perfect in every way. Doesn’t need modifying in any way (other than maybe speakers) and this one is one of the most original ones around. 😎

[vaughant]

On 23/05/2026 at 14:19, sutty2006 said:

Here’s some pictures my chauffeur took

 

 

Fuck me but it stood up well though as you're here to tell the tale 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼.

I drive past Newpaaaaarrrrrtttt everyday near enough so holler if you need anything else picked up for securely reasons and either posted on or pony express.

[andy18s]

1 hour ago, sutty2006 said:

That’s exactly what this car is. My dream car. Perfect in every way. Doesn’t need modifying in any way (other than maybe speakers) and this one is one of the most original ones around. 😎

Where's the 16v hatch,or did you sell it as well?

[N Dentressangle]

That Manta is superb.

You can keep the Ferraris - the Manta's one of the best looking cars ever IMO

[vaughant]

4 hours ago, grogee said:

Is it worth it? 

Nope. 🤣🤣

[vaughant]

Bit annoyed with myself now as I was going suggest after it happened that you could borrow my Laguna for a bit if you needed a car ASAP as I'm always going past that direction which would have swallowed all your bits up with ease 😐😐😐.

However I think the MOT is due 🤣🤣🤣🤣.

[vaughant]

I've never had any joy with BMW's and waterpumps as well. 

[sutty2006]

6 hours ago, andy18s said:

Where's the 16v hatch,or did you sell it as well?

Still got it. Mothballed in my unit. I reinsured it when the gold one sold with the intention of putting it back on the road with the cash from the sale. Now I don’t have that cash anymore 😭

[sutty2006]

The BMW will be fixed this week and back on the road hopefully by Friday. It will then be put up for sale at cost price. 
 

today I’ve been and viewed a car and put a deposit on it. 
 

2014 Skoda superb 2.0 diesel automatic. 
 

 

picking it up on Saturday. It’s been well looked after. Lots of service history for haldex servicing and gearbox servicing. 4 fairly new tyres. 

[Wibble]

42 minutes ago, sutty2006 said:

The BMW will be fixed this week and back on the road hopefully by Friday. It will then be put up for sale at cost price. 
 

today I’ve been and viewed a car and put a deposit on it. 
 

2014 Skoda superb 2.0 diesel automatic. 
 

 

picking it up on Saturday. It’s been well looked after. Lots of service history for haldex servicing and gearbox servicing. 4 fairly new tyres. 

Excellent choice sir! Love mine and hope this serves you well.

[N Dentressangle]

Probably the best idea. Sounds like you're due a nice, reliable, economical modern.

There's a time for bangernomics, and now doesn't sound like it.

[Mally]

Has it got a manufacture's towbar fitted? I almost got one years ago on Motability, but my late wife had difficulty getting in and out so we got an Alhambra with all the bells and whistles instead.

[vaughant]

2 hours ago, sutty2006 said:

The BMW will be fixed this week and back on the road hopefully by Friday. It will then be put up for sale at cost price. 
 

today I’ve been and viewed a car and put a deposit on it. 
 

2014 Skoda superb 2.0 diesel automatic. 
 

 

picking it up on Saturday. It’s been well looked after. Lots of service history for haldex servicing and gearbox servicing. 4 fairly new tyres. 

Great choice 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼. 

When @Coprolaliacollected the TDI engine from me I was genuinely shocked how big the boot was, fantastic size and a good height for loading. 

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 You've had a good buy there, you deserve a bit of luck 🥰🥰

[sutty2006]

12 hours ago, Mally said:

Has it got a manufacture's towbar fitted? I almost got one years ago on Motability, but my late wife had difficulty getting in and out so we got an Alhambra with all the bells and whistles instead.

I don’t think so, unless it’s got one of those flip down jobbies like the a6 Allroad I had. 
 

 

[Mally]

1 hour ago, sutty2006 said:

I don’t think so, unless it’s got one of those flip down jobbies like the a6 Allroad I had. 
 

 

That was the type on the car I viewed in the showroom.  They told me how much it cost.  Over 1K. iirc.

Cost me £600 for factory fit on the Alahambra which I thought was a bargain in comparison.

[JakeT]

Well annoying on the water pump on the 5 series. It’s why old BMWs end up being well shit (as an owner of two and has fitted many pumps). Skoda looks ace though, my wife used to work for Skoda and I’ve tried a few superbs. Enjoyed them all!

[sutty2006]

Update on the bmw. No local motor factors stock this radiator. Nor can they get one. My go-to guy at a radiator specialist place says they’re unobtainable through all of his suppliers. 
 

I’ve had to order one off eBay. That’s another delay 🤦‍♂️

 

update on the Carlton. Gasket ordered yesterday. Might see that by Friday. 
 

I will probably have 3 working cars on the road by the end of the weekend. 

[sutty2006]

BMW jobs. 
 

new pollen filters

 

new front wiper blades fitted, I tried to do the rear, but GT have given me two incorrect rear blades now, and I give up. So they can have that one back.

 

 

[sutty2006]

I ordered a new badge for the BMW the day after I bought it. It arrived today, a bit late but hey, it ain’t going anywhere! 
 

it’s the little things that improve a car. The paints not brilliant underneath but again, meh. 
 

 

 

why do I do it?