Your fleet running reports

[integrale_evo]

Doesn’t sound like damp, sounds like a module that’s absolutely soaked.

My x5 had some odd electrical gremlins when one of the water drain guides was misaligned and water was pissing into the sat nav dvd drive.

I’d imagine there’s a module either underwater or getting a regular flow of water through it.

Light control module, body control module, ecu compartment etc etc. all good fun

[Beany]

Doesn’t sound like damp, sounds like a module that’s absolutely soaked.

My x5 had some odd electrical gremlins when one of the water drain guides was misaligned and water was pissing into the sat nav dvd drive.

I’d imagine there’s a module either underwater or getting a regular flow of water through it.

Light control module, body control module, ecu compartment etc etc. all good fun

Yeah, boot is the most likely culprit for that, but apparently should be possible to narrow it down a bit by following this:
https://www.bmwgm5.com/K-Bus_Troubleshooting.htm

I'm not doing that at 8pm in the rain though, it can wait till tomorrow.

[Sundayjumper]

I'd better add this here, there's a few jobs for me to do this week, then it's over to Gavster for future updates ! To begin at the beginning, here's the ebay listing:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256283698961

Bargain-tastic. From Googling, the steering issue could be a sticky UJ (just need to douse it in WD40) or a dodgy electric power steering rack (PITA & several £s). Based on the description saying it's "jerky" I felt it was worth a punt. An auction ending one day before the MOT runs out is always exciting - totally smacks of an owner who knows it's not got no chance of passing But they're not complicated cars.

I picked it up from near Bournemouth yesterday. It had clearly been sat a while. The woman said "a couple of weeks". I'd wager several months. It started fine and manoeuvred onto the trailer no problem though. Back home and tyres pumped up and I took it for a spin. Immediate findings:

* It's not fast
* Engine pretty smooth, warms up quickly.
* Engine is tiny, lives under the floor in the boot.
* The gearbox is a 6sp automated manual (just like my 360). Works fine. Shifter on the centre console, no flappy paddles, doesn't have a full auto mode.
* Brakes very spongy.
* Steering as expected, definitely the UJ, stiff at dead ahead & 180°, free at 90° & 270°.
* Some rattling & clonking from the front.
* Exhaust backbox has lost its outlet that directs the gases downwards, it's firing them into the inside of the rear bumper.
* Tailgate struts completely useless.

I ordered basic parts for a full service. Filters, six (!) spark plugs, and a new thermostat.

This morning I started off with some quick winning. The rear quarter windows are plastic and were faded very badly. Rub them down well with fine wet & dry then machine polish with some cutting compound. Same as you do with headlights. It's surprising how much it lifts the appearance. It gets rid of the "slightly neglected" look. A normal wash helped the rest of it but the whole think could do with machine polishing really.

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Rain stopped play mid morning.

This afternoon I got stuck in to the front end. The undertrays were hanging off, missing a few fixings. Sorting that *might* cure some of the rattling. Brakes look OK, I'll flush them with fresh fluid. The bleed nipples ARE NOT SEIZED !! Track rod ends very obviously f**ked. Interesting design on these, the body of the ball joint is attached to the hub, the taper attached to the track rod, the opposite way round to most cars. This means you can in theory replace the joint without needing to do the tracking afterwards. It also uses an identical joint for the wishbone-hub joint. Which looked pretty ropey too. Removed both from the passenger side and the wishbone one is actually very badly worn. This will definitely cause some rattling. The car will be getting subjected to a lot of London speedbumps & potholes so in addition to the ball joints we're doing top mounts & bump stops. The original bump stops are already disintegrated into dust. ARB & wishbone inner bushes all look fine. They can stay.

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Also ordered a new exhaust back box, which is integrated with the cat, so it's getting a new cat as well.

Small cars are brill when it comes to buying parts. All of the above (service parts, suspension parts, exhaust) have come to a very reasonable £255.24. I'm sure there will be a few more bits needed but we should end up with a well sorted, freshly MOT'd car for < £1k

[dan]

Small cars are brill when it comes to buying parts. All of the above (service parts, suspension parts, exhaust) have come to a very reasonable £255.24. I'm sure there will be a few more bits needed but we should end up with a well sorted, freshly MOT'd car for < £1k

Nice work.

This week i've ordered 4 fuel injectors, a fuel pressure regulator and some fuel pipes and fittings for my elise that came to over a thousand quid

[V8Granite]

To fit a new crank sensor, remove front panel trim, remove lower strut brace/ boost tube, remove air-con pipes and let hang, remove oil filter.

The car runs well and from removing the old sensor it could have been the cause of my random EML I was getting, so fingers crossed.

I did find I needed a new front crank seal though. It could be our last year with the car though as the bodywork is not holding up well. Also general Audi quality, especially within the engine bay is pretty poor. VAG quality feels like a thing of the past.

Dave!

[Sundayjumper]

This week i've ordered 4 fuel injectors, a fuel pressure regulator and some fuel pipes and fittings for my elise that came to over a thousand quid

Need springs ?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235243963816

Pair of front springs, £19.78 less 20% promo = £15.82 including delivery

[Swervin_Mervin]

MOT day for the 330i today. Only done c3,400mi since last year! Passed without any advisories (engine covers don't count). Was praised by the guy at how good it is

Not so good though was realising that I'd forgotten to get the Skoda tested when it was due...back in March First time I've ever missed an MOT. I'm in more trouble with the wife though for the fact that she'll have to use my car the next 2 few days than for her being at risk of being pinged by the Police for the last 8mo

[V8Granite]

I’m sure as she was stood in a lay-by trying to get a cab in the rain as your car was being out on a lorry would be far worse .

Beany, how regularly do you drive your car ? They just hate being sat and convertibles especially. Even a 10 mile drive once a week will make a huge difference.

Dave!

[scotta]

The mini needs a battery. Any decent links for much cheapness?

[Sundayjumper]

The mini needs a battery. Any decent links for much cheapness?

EBay if there’s any special promos on. Otherwise Tayna.

[mik]

The mini needs a battery. Any decent links for much cheapness?

If you want it delivered quickly, with excellent packaging, for a good price, then Tayna

[Jobbo]

The mini needs a battery. Any decent links for much cheapness?

If you want it delivered quickly, with excellent packaging, for a good price, then Tayna

Them, and Battery Megastore: https://www.bmstechnologies.co.uk/produ ... batteries/ (also has an eBay shop, similarly good service to Tayna).

[integrale_evo]

Depends how quick you need it. Euros or Halfords have only been a few quid more than I could find online for the last few I’ve bought and been able to collect within 30mins

[Beany]

Beany, how regularly do you drive your car ? They just hate being sat and convertibles especially. Even a 10 mile drive once a week will make a huge difference.

Dave!

It gets a few miles a day, and a few hundred miles every few months. Not ideal, but it's been fine with that for the last five years, ultimately.

[Sundayjumper]

SMART

Four new ball joints fitted to the front. It's much better but we're still getting some noises. There's new top mounts, bump stops & springs on the way so we'll see if that helps.

Routine service stuff - air filter filthy, 710 level very low, can't see any coolant in the header tank. I get the feeling the car has not been serviced for a looooong time. On the bright side, the paintwork buffs up very nicely. Top half / bottom half. Spot the difference ?

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We went to Aldi.

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[mik]

SMART

It’s not looking like a £500 shitter now Steve

[Sundayjumper]

It’s not looking like a £500 shitter now Steve

According to my spreadsheet it's currently a £836.68 shitter

It's a big % of the purchase price, I know, but it's not a big number in absolute terms and there's a lot of stuff in there. In includes:

Air filter
Oil filter
Fuel filter
Pollen filter
Spark plugs x6
Thermostat
Front ball joints x4
Front springs x2
Front top mounts x2
Front bump stops x2
Rear springs x2
Back box inc. catalyst
Tailgate struts x2
Aerial
Number plate lights x2

It doesn't include fluids - I keep those "in stock" so I guess for fairness I need to work out their cost. I always buy bulk when it's on offer and this car is tiny so it's not going to be a huge amount.


I would not be surprised if we still need to spend a bit more before it's finished. I'm trying really hard to keep it under £1k.


Edit:

Oil 2.50 litres £5.94
Coolant 4.20 litres £4.28
Brake fluid 1.00 litres £3.38
Total £13.60

[Sundayjumper]

So that means an oil change (oil + filter) costs £7.53

[Gavster]

It’s not looking like a £500 shitter now Steve

According to my spreadsheet it's currently a £836.68 shitter

It's a big % of the purchase price, I know, but it's not a big number in absolute terms and there's a lot of stuff in there. In includes:

Air filter
Oil filter
Fuel filter
Pollen filter
Spark plugs x6
Thermostat
Front ball joints x4
Front springs x2
Front top mounts x2
Front bump stops x2
Rear springs x2
Back box inc. catalyst
Tailgate struts x2
Aerial
Number plate lights x2

It doesn't include fluids - I keep those "in stock" so I guess for fairness I need to work out their cost. I always buy bulk when it's on offer and this car is tiny so it's not going to be a huge amount.


I would not be surprised if we still need to spend a bit more before it's finished. I'm trying really hard to keep it under £1k.


Edit:

Oil 2.50 litres £5.94
Coolant 4.20 litres £4.28
Brake fluid 1.00 litres £3.38
Total £13.60

I am absolutely loving these parts prices

[MikeHunt]

My 550 will be fixed tomorrow, so here is a quick mini review of the 330e, after 2 weeks I cant wait to see the back of it. If it wasn't for company tax I doubt they would sell a single one of these.

The battery, drains way too fast, and then you're stuck with a gutless engine trying to pull a heavy car. I cant seem to move from standstill smoothly, there is a nasty jolt and the rear tires and spin, not sure if its down to the hybrid, but my old Z4 was rwd and a lot more powerful and never had this, maybe the tires?

Little things, the seat controls slider is furthest away from the door which makes it a pain when sharing the car. Idrive 8 looks slick but touchscreens just aren't as good as buttons and it doesn't have the BMW polish and feel, huge backward step.