Your fleet running reports

[Gwaredd]

The Alhambra (yes, we've still got it edition) failed its MOT for the first time in ages.

Split CV boot (annoying as I'd replaced the other side about a month ago and it was fine when I eyeballed it)

Perished dust covers on both lower ball joints ( expected, as this had been an advisory for the last 3 years but thought I'd chance it again )

Rear brake imbalance, which turned out to be a seized slider pin on the caliper.

Some fucking idiot had fitted a new rear spring upside-down (me ) so that was an easy fix and tbf, there's no way of telling until it's fitted and under compression. I didn't check afterwards though, so my bad. This was only an advisory item.

The most annoying fail was too much play in the O/S front upper strut. Strange as I'd replaced everything with new a year ago. I took it all out ( a right ballache) to inspect it and everything looked fine. Not even slightly worn, but when I put it all back together, the play was still there. Hmm... Only thing I could do was fit another new top mount rubber bush, which I did and and this cured it.

Turned out the old (new) bush was a faulty item. The mould was wrong so the bush was sitting too low on the top mount bearing allowing a bigger gap between the bush and car body. Once again proving the old adage correct, even if it's new, doesn't mean it's any good.

Total cost to repair it all was a shade over fifty quid.

The Auris SR180 (hidden gem edition) however, passed yesterday with zero advisories.

[Jobbo]

If there’s no way to tell visually which way up the spring goes before it’s fitted, how does it make any difference?

[Gwaredd]

If there’s no way to tell visually which way up the spring goes before it’s fitted, how does it make any difference?

I guess the coils are wound with different tension, as when compressed, the 'softer' spring is at the top, the firmer at the bottom. Fitted upside-down, the softer coils were compressed much more resulting in them touching slightly. No differenmce in ride height or ride comfort though.

[integrale_evo]

Had to change the screen wash pump on the sister in laws 1er today.

Pain in the bum that was, it’s tucked at the back of the wing, so wheel and the full arch liner had to be removed, and it’s a very tight fit with barely enough flex in the pipes to get to anything.

Also gave the wheels a clean and they were gross with tons or crusty, rusty brake deposits. Nasty old acid wonderwheels did a great job. A couple of stubborn spots left because I didn’t want to spend all day on it.

[John]

I should know better at my age than to muppetise cars but I like the led strip between the lights that I've seen on a couple of mx5s, 15 minutes later...

[Delphi]

Had a semi productive afternoon. Fitted new horns to the 928. A previous owner had fitted just one and it was knackered which mean it sounded like a clown car. Refitting the wheel arch liners (there's two that overlap) was a bit of a faff but got there in the end.

Tried to fit the remote central locking module I'd bought. Turns out that at some point in its life the car has had an after market alarm and the loom for the central locking module had been butchered. Found a metric fuck ton of old wires from God knows what (presumably old stereo installations). Removed what I could and decided to leave it at that as I was running out of time. As the module is just underneath the stereo and I've also got a new stereo to fit, I'm going to set aside a full day to rip out all the old shit (there's two aerials!!) and get everything sorted properly.

[McSwede]

In the topic of kitchen stuff I’ve been meaning to mention this:

https://www.lantana-home.com/lantana-2- ... can-opener


We got one recently and it’s bloody brilliant.

I have one and can confirm its awesomeness

[Jobbo]

After realising I'd been getting a regular 45-50mpg out of this tank of fuel I decided not to fill up on Friday and to see if I could make it to work (70 miles) when I only had 60 miles' remaining on the range indicator this morning. I only gained about 5 miles over the journey and the noise it makes when you hit 0 remaining is quite a shock, but it's only a warning bong. Filled up just now, got 71.73 litres in (really brimming it, not just stopping at the second click as usual) against a quoted capacity of 73l. Didn't quite make 700 miles on the tank but got closer than I ever did in my Merc with an 82l tank:

That's only 44mpg calculated, but would be about 44.5mpg if I had used 71l since the last fill, which is probably more accurate since that time I didn't try to squeeze extra in after the pump clicked off. Annoyingly more inaccurate than I'd previously calculated.

The only deliberate economy driving I did was this morning, doing 64-65mph on the motorway - inspired by Joe Achilles feat of getting from London to Madrid on a single tank in a 730d:


Clearly my Audi isn't as efficient as the BMW, but that's 2wd and has a bigger tank. Now I've found the Eco mode (only used it for the first time this morning) I wonder if I can achieve a 50mpg tank average? Doubt I have the patience to be honest...

[Rich B]

I drove to pick my bike up yesterday - 30 miles around the M25/A3/Sutton. The traffic was moving steadily so not much point in trying to beat it. A new record (and one I soundly ruined on the way home).



Positively frugal!!

[Broccers]

My 3.4 boxster did 34 mpg on the way up to N yorks.

While here its decided to turn on its engine warning light. Who knows what expense that will be. Seem to work ok so I am ignoring it.

[drcarlos]

I scored a nice little Soundsteam amp on eBay for £25. Old school Class A from back when they built these things properly

I think it’ll work well in the van to run the front speakers.


231C63BB-F5EC-48DA-A615-2DD7A7CBB498.jpeg

Bagged a 4 channel kenwood 648 amp for £25 this afternoon from ebay. Only 4x25w but hopefully a decent step up from the head unit amp the l200.
Went to order a wiring kit from amazon for it and while checking for speaker cables discovered I have everything I need in the garage to fit it. Happy days.

[Matty]

My 3.4 boxster did 34 mpg on the way up to N yorks.

Problem is the new fuel prices have got me itemising each mile. 25p/mile for you.

Bloke on PH is getting 15mpg from his RS6...so that's about 60p per mile...fcuking hell. A trip to the shops won't see much change from £20, that's even before you take into account all the other costs. Mental.

I'll stick with my Up, I think... (14p per mile, FYI).

[Jobbo]

53.8mpg on my way home from work today. I’m glad I found that Eco mode

[Mito Man]

Not a fleet running report but not worthy of its own thread either.
Whilst at Goodwood my dad expressed an interest at the Caterham stand and arranged a visit with the dealer in Gatwick. Of course I came along to see if my 192cm frame would even fit.
Anyway it’s a cool space, part museum, part dealership, part factory.

This was their prototype they made when they had the F1 team so it was designed in a wind tunnel. It reminded me of the Valkyrie in some ways as it had huge holes either side of the grill which then ran through the front of the car and exited behind the front wheels.


Then they had their actual F1 car minus all the running gear


The car from The Grand Tour special which James May drove


And this is the 620r which featured in a load of reviews and did the crazy Goodwood hill climb some years ago. However they did admit that it had a modified exhaust system for Goodwood which is totally illegal on the road and useless too as there’s no track which it can be driven on within the noise limits. (If fact that goes for all road legal cars you hear with super loud exhaust there, they’re all running non OEM exhausts)
In the background is where they do final assembly on the cars. So if you don’t buy your car as a kit, the kit is delivered and assembled here.

[Broccers]

My 3.4 boxster did 34 mpg on the way up to N yorks.

Problem is the new fuel prices have got me itemising each mile. 25p/mile for you.

Bloke on PH is getting 15mpg from his RS6...so that's about 60p per mile...fcuking hell. A trip to the shops won't see much change from £20, that's even before you take into account all the other costs. Mental.

I'll stick with my Up, I think... (14p per mile, FYI).

Cheers mate

[V8Granite]

The ML has an average of 20.1mpg since the service, Matt, maths is bad so stop doing it !!!

The ML has an annoying knock from the front, all arms and bushes seem tight and I’m really struggling to find it. I can’t feel it though the pedals or floor so more hunting needed.
4x Michelin Pilot sport 4 SUV going on this Friday which I’m looking forward to, Tyres are down to 2mm. Still surprises me how evenly this wears tyres, all 4 are within 0.5mm of each other. Currently on 140,000 miles and no urge to change.

The Defender is in bits, the rear axle is off as I wanted to tidy it up, replace the a-frame ball joint and re-do the axle brake lines. A couple of bolts were seized but otherwise it’s not so bad, just bloody heavy and awkward to move around. I also found a bit of rot behind a rear spring so will sort that.
The big fuel tank should go on this week aswell if I can get my arse in gear then it will have a capacity of 128litres and a range of 700+ miles on a cruise, lovely. It hit 251,000 miles before coming apart.

Mk1 TT, other than a puncture on the right rear has been going great, due an oil change and front pads soon but otherwise in rude health at 170,000 miles.

500e has been pootling about but still has a slight oil leak from the diff, could be the breather but need to investigate as it’s all in excellent condition so hoping it’s simple. Absolutely love this thing but really needs a set of tyres but they will have to wait. Now on 242,000km or 151,000 miles

Dave!

[nuttinnew]

- inspired by Joe Achilles feat of getting from London to Madrid on a single tank in a 730d:

A couple of q's about the 730 because I'm not familiar with the spec; the "Charging" display, is it a MEV or is just the alternator on the overrun, and would it have had a freewheeling/coasting gearbox at that age? Either way, 64mpg is an excellent result. It would have been nice to see the result of a cruise-control-at-the-speed-limit return to compare.

[nuttinnew]

Caterham Gatwick.
<snip>

[MikeHunt]

I should know better at my age than to muppetise cars but I like the led strip between the lights that I've seen on a couple of mx5s, 15 minutes later...

Snap! This is how it starts

I also fitted 10mm 3m red reflective tape to really make the rear led strip pop.

[mik]

In the topic of kitchen stuff I’ve been meaning to mention this:

https://www.lantana-home.com/lantana-2- ... can-opener


We got one recently and it’s bloody brilliant.

OK - this is an excellent tool! Cheers Steve!