Your fleet running reports

[Matty]

X-Trail in for a bit of warranty work, got a brand new polo as a courtesy. What an absolute pos. Hard suspension but no handling, hard seats, rattling trim, crap interior, no power (think the base spec 3 cyl no turbo), no boot. Don't these things cost 15k?

I had one when the Up went in. I mean, as a utlity item I thought it was fine.

They're big cars these days though. I remember when Polo's were small cars!

[Gwaredd]

Buy a Honda they said, they’re reliable they said.

Pottering along minding my own business today when my S2000 starts knocking it’s tits off. Something in the bottom end appears to have suddenly let go, sounds like big ends.

It’s only got 55k on it with a full history so it’s very odd.

I'm glad I'm now not the only forum member that has destroyed an 'utterly reliable ' honda engine just by driving it.

I never found the cause of mine. Fingers crossed yours is obvious.

[Jobbo]

If only Dan knew someone who was an expert on Honda engines.


ETA: sorry Dan, that didn’t sound sympathetic. It’s a pisser, particularly since it’s your reliable daily car. I doubt there’s anyone better to fix it than you though.

[dan]

No sympathy required don’t worry, it’s a very strange one though - 55k miles, full history etc.

Three hours after the knocking started I had the engine on the stand though so it’s not the end of the world, I’m lucky I can just fix it.

[Gavin]

Mercedes is in for a Service B on Tuesday and to sort the sensor issue and then in to main dealer for a recall to change an airbag.

Given the work done since I bought it, I am hoping the B is not too expensive...

[dan]

Stripped the engine this morning, main bearing no 5 is knackered (flywheel end). Very odd indeed.





The crank had just started to pick up some shit from the bearings but as I stopped it within half a mile of the noise starting it polished out very easily. This is tremendous news as the cranks cost an absolute fortune.

[nuttinnew]

but for savability.

[IanF]

I’m just imagining the cost if it happened to anyone else on the forum (other than Harry or SJ obvs)

[JonMad]

Good sense and skills as ever Dan.

[Matty]

I’m just imagining the cost if it happened to anyone else on the forum (other than Harry or SJ obvs)

It's a rainy saturday arvo, so curiosity got the better of me. I'm guessing most people would have carried on driving to get home - new crank is £1200 alone plus everything else/labour unless....so expensive, unless you can Dan It Yourself.

TBH the answer is to buy reliable Italian cars, not unreliable Japanese ones.

[DeskJockey]

Galaxy rolled over 100k earlier and celebrated by blowing a dipped beam bulb. That's about a year per bulb, is that reasonable for Nightbreakers? I've got my lights on all the time (no DRLs).

Any worthwhile alternatives?

[John]

I've got Philips Racing Vision bulbs in the Vito and they produce a much whiter light than the standard Mercedes bulbs, not sure how they compare on life but I've had them for well over a year. ECP usually have some offer or other on for them.

[dan]

I’m just imagining the cost if it happened to anyone else on the forum (other than Harry or SJ obvs)

It's a rainy saturday arvo, so curiosity got the better of me. I'm guessing most people would have carried on driving to get home - new crank is £1200 alone plus everything else/labour unless....so expensive, unless you can Dan It Yourself.

TBH the answer is to buy reliable Italian cars, not unreliable Japanese ones.

You’re not wrong, the only working car I’ve got now is my fiat panda

S2000 engines are ridiculous, the bits cost an absolute fortune and they fetch 5 grand with 100k on them. Valves are 85 quid a piece!

[John]

You’re not wrong, the only working car I’ve got now is my fiat panda

I had no idea you had a Panda, wanna hang?

[IanF]

I’m just imagining the cost if it happened to anyone else on the forum (other than Harry or SJ obvs)

It's a rainy saturday arvo, so curiosity got the better of me. I'm guessing most people would have carried on driving to get home - new crank is £1200 alone plus everything else/labour unless....so expensive, unless you can Dan It Yourself.

TBH the answer is to buy reliable Italian cars, not unreliable Japanese ones.

Actually, I saw 3 4C’s (2 red & 1 white) at the Indycar race at Long Beach last weekend.. good looking cars and they sound better than I realised.. Are they all convertibles?

[dan]

You’re not wrong, the only working car I’ve got now is my fiat panda

I had no idea you had a Panda, wanna hang?

100hp no less!

[GG.]

So the Smart has thrown a wobbler. Waiting in a queue to fill it and rolled it down the hill in neutral instead of using the engine. Now giving time the ‘three line’ transmission error of doom and won’t start. Now waiting for the RAC to arrive as no amount of starting stopping or cycling up and down through the gear selector will bring it to life.

Also had to fill the 911 with Esso E10 95 Ron. Sorry car

[Matty]

I’m just imagining the cost if it happened to anyone else on the forum (other than Harry or SJ obvs)

It's a rainy saturday arvo, so curiosity got the better of me. I'm guessing most people would have carried on driving to get home - new crank is £1200 alone plus everything else/labour unless....so expensive, unless you can Dan It Yourself.

TBH the answer is to buy reliable Italian cars, not unreliable Japanese ones.

Actually, I saw 3 4C’s (2 red & 1 white) at the Indycar race at Long Beach last weekend.. good looking cars and they sound better than I realised.. Are they all convertibles?

Coupe's came first, then they rolled out the converibles.

I'm still not convinced by the sound - although in the US many seemed to come with the Akrapovic which do sound a little 'cleaner' (that was a rare, mega-expensive option over here). Mine with the racing exhaust option is ASBO level's of loud when it's cold and it insists on revving to silly levels before changing gear unless you remember to change up manually.

[Jimexpl]

I’m just imagining the cost if it happened to anyone else on the forum (other than Harry or SJ obvs)

It's a rainy saturday arvo, so curiosity got the better of me. I'm guessing most people would have carried on driving to get home - new crank is £1200 alone plus everything else/labour unless....so expensive, unless you can Dan It Yourself.

TBH the answer is to buy reliable Italian cars, not unreliable Japanese ones.

You’re not wrong, the only working car I’ve got now is my fiat panda

S2000 engines are ridiculous, the bits cost an absolute fortune and they fetch 5 grand with 100k on them. Valves are 85 quid a piece!

I seem to recall a few S2000s had replacement engines when they were new because owners never checked the oil level, and they can use oil.
Given that yours is low miles perhaps it’s been worn for a while.

[GG.]

So the Smart has thrown a wobbler. Waiting in a queue to fill it and rolled it down the hill in neutral instead of using the engine. Now giving time the ‘three line’ transmission error of doom and won’t start. Now waiting for the RAC to arrive as no amount of starting stopping or cycling up and down through the gear selector will bring it to life.

Also had to fill the 911 with Esso E10 95 Ron. Sorry car

Turns out it was the battery that was flat. Stupidly it will not let you turn the key to 0 in neutral so despite flicking the key as far as it would go it still has the accessory circuit on.

Normally the radio being on would give this away but also stupidly the radio stays on until you pull the key out in smart so I didn’t think anything of it. To be honest it shouldn’t have flattened the battery after 20 minutes but it looked to be an original so was probably on its way out after 5 years.

I paid the nice Mercedes assistance man 120 pound notes for a replacement as I didn’t fancy the earache of my wife flattening it again on the school run next week. I’m sure it was a few quid more than if I’d bought a Halfords replacement but not enough for me to faff around doing that and to sit there running the car for half an hour to ensure that it didn’t refuse to start the next time I switched it off.

Interestingly a young guy in a mint 1981 R107 SL (green with green carpets and tan leather - absolutely gorgeous) had done exactly the same thing. Fortunately my recovery guy got him going too.