Your fleet running reports

[Beany]

Missed the bit where you drop a screw into the dash and spend 20 mins retrieving it with a magnet taped to a stick.

You fucking kidding? It lives there now, and sometimes you just have to bash the panel back when it vibrates out of place.

[scotta]

Mini reshuffle. Bought Mrs A another mini.

https://x.com/touringthecars/status/171 ... W4X4vHqmfw

[Sundayjumper]

Mini reshuffle. Bought Mrs A another mini.

https://x.com/touringthecars/status/171 ... W4X4vHqmfw

I don't think I'd ever seen pics before. We did exactly the same move - R52 to R57 - and although the R57 is a better car (faster, more refined, blah), I do miss the simplicity of the R53. The R57 feels a bit lardy by comparison.

[scotta]

The 52 was a good car. Was starting to need a few things - clutch being the main issue. Got the 57 for £2900 and sold the 52 for £1750 so was a decent upgrade.

couple of jobs needing done on the 57. Central locking wasnt opening the drivers door. There was a new locking unit that they supplied. so i've fitted that. Climate panel LCD was not working correctly. Found another unit on eBay for £56. Fitted that over the weekend.

AC isnt working. Best case it needs a re-gas.

Front buses were an advisory. That looks like a PITA job though as the whole subframe on the front needs to come off.

Wheel bearing got noisy on the drive home from collecting it. Typically fine when i test drove it. Local garage did that on Friday £155 which i thought was decent. However when it was in they noticed a rear tyre had split in the innder sidewall. Car was MOT'd the day before we bought it so either they missed it or it happened on the way home. Chinese ditchfinder so was getting replaced anyway. Two new Kumho Ecsta's going on tomorrow.

Oh and the ECU light keeps coming on. VANOS error. Ive removed one of the actuators and cleaned it. See how this goes but the garage said it could be the timing belt has stretched slightly and might need replaced. Not a job i can do myself either so it will need to go in for that if its needed.

So yeah... Bit of a bad start to ownership on this one. im £360 in so far on repairs.

[mik]

Front buses were an advisory.

You wait all day for a front bus to come along, and then two come at once.

[Sundayjumper]

Oh and the ECU light keeps coming on. VANOS error. Ive removed one of the actuators and cleaned it. See how this goes but the garage said it could be the timing belt has stretched slightly and might need replaced. Not a job i can do myself either so it will need to go in for that if its needed.

Which engine is this ? Ours had the VANOS error, I bought generic Chinese actuators and they've been absolutely fine. Very very easy job to change them too. Worn timing chain (not belt !) is definitely common, I've done two of them now, and even though our R57 didn't 100% need a new chain*, it does run much better now.


* I thought the cam chain guide was broken, I pulled everything apart and it wasn't I'd already bought the new kit so it would have been stupid to not fit it.

[Delphi]

Felt this may resonate..

This is one million percent accurate.

[jamcg]

Try working in a renaulsport twingo engine bay. It’s like that for everything.




Stolen pic from when they were new. Everything is a bit crusty now on mine at 13 years old

[Mito Man]

That coil pack wiring reminds me of changing plugs on my Mito. Access wasn't an issue, it was just that almost every bit of plastic I touched disintegrated and broke, including the coil packs.

[jamcg]

That coil pack wiring reminds me of changing plugs on my Mito. Access wasn't an issue, it was just that almost every bit of plastic I touched disintegrated and broke, including the coil packs.

Handily if you ever use the wrong screw or even use the right screw without a washer in the scuttle panel it breaks the bottom out of a plastic insert, which then leaks rainwater directly onto the right hand coil, absolutely destroying it and causing misfires

[scotta]

Oh and the ECU light keeps coming on. VANOS error. Ive removed one of the actuators and cleaned it. See how this goes but the garage said it could be the timing belt has stretched slightly and might need replaced. Not a job i can do myself either so it will need to go in for that if its needed.

Which engine is this ? Ours had the VANOS error, I bought generic Chinese actuators and they've been absolutely fine. Very very easy job to change them too. Worn timing chain (not belt !) is definitely common, I've done two of them now, and even though our R57 didn't 100% need a new chain*, it does run much better now.


* I thought the cam chain guide was broken, I pulled everything apart and it wasn't I'd already bought the new kit so it would have been stupid to not fit it.

PSA 1.6 Cooper N/A

Yeah - one bolt on the actuator. I had the exhaust actuator out on Sunday. Cleaned it up with some brake cleaner and an airline. TBH it looked fine when i took it out. No gunk on it. Car has a FSH with the oil being done about 400 miles before we picked it up. Still getting the code in the ECU but its not throwing the CEL...Yet.

Yes i meant chain not belt. Not a job i would tackle myself i don't think.

Where did you get the actuators? I can get new ones from the local factors for £70 each.

[scotta]

Front buses were an advisory.

You wait all day for a front bus to come along, and then two come at once.

Shut it you. Bellend.

[scotta]

Oh and the ECU light keeps coming on. VANOS error. Ive removed one of the actuators and cleaned it. See how this goes but the garage said it could be the timing belt has stretched slightly and might need replaced. Not a job i can do myself either so it will need to go in for that if its needed.

Which engine is this ? Ours had the VANOS error, I bought generic Chinese actuators and they've been absolutely fine. Very very easy job to change them too. Worn timing chain (not belt !) is definitely common, I've done two of them now, and even though our R57 didn't 100% need a new chain*, it does run much better now.


* I thought the cam chain guide was broken, I pulled everything apart and it wasn't I'd already bought the new kit so it would have been stupid to not fit it.

PSA 1.6 Cooper N/A

Yeah - one bolt on the actuator. I had the exhaust actuator out on Sunday. Cleaned it up with some brake cleaner and an airline. TBH it looked fine when i took it out. No gunk on it. Car has a FSH with the oil being done about 400 miles before we picked it up. Still getting the code in the ECU but its not throwing the CEL...Yet.

Yes i meant chain not belt. Not a job i would tackle myself i don't think.

Where did you get the actuators? I can get new ones from the local factors for £70 each.

IMG_8182.png (153.9 KiB) Viewed 1642 times

I was taking the "Outlet" to mean the exhaust side. Not sure though.

[Sundayjumper]

Where did you get the actuators? I can get new ones from the local factors for £70 each.

Ebay. In Aug 2021. So I can't guarantee they're still the same but the seller is still in business and has these listed:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125939349761

They were £27.59 back in 2021, even cheaper now.

[Sundayjumper]

I was taking the "Outlet" to mean the exhaust side. Not sure though.

Take them both out, swap them over, see if the error moves to the inlet ?

[scotta]

I was taking the "Outlet" to mean the exhaust side. Not sure though.

Take them both out, swap them over, see if the error moves to the inlet ?

Decent shout.

[duncs500]

My friend had his Mustang wheel retrimmed and it’s beautifully done. He asked for less padding, red stripe at the top and to match the old and it was a great job. That was with Royal steering wheels. He did mention one guy wasn’t pleased but he sent it back and it was redone with no arguments. I think it was a Mustang group buy deal or something.

Dave!

Ah, this is timely, need to get the Elise wheel done. Had come across these guys as an option but forgot about them so it's handy to have a reminder / positive review.

[John]

I've used Royal a couple of times, very happy with them.

[duncs500]

I've used Royal a couple of times, very happy with them.

Cool, thanks John.

I was thinking to send the sill covers to Allon White, and they may do wheels too, but I think I'd be better to send it to someone who specialises in wheels.

[Swervin_Mervin]

My BiL has just had his E60 wheel retrimmed by Royal and is very happy with it. I've been thinking about it for a while I must say, but now I've fanciful ideas of trying to find a heated E90 wheel from somewhere and retrofitting. I don't think it was a UK option, and perhaps not even an EU option.

Update: Turns out it was an E92/93 option - not available on the E90/91 oddly There is a guy on ebay selling retrofit kits, but it's not cheap at £450. And the wheel would likely still need a retrim.

I'll check out the guides that are online - it looks like you have to make a fairly simply loom to tap into another feed e.g. cigarette lighter or tap a new fused outlet.