Your fleet running reports

[Sundayjumper]

With the bumper off you can also reach the lower three spark plugs. Again, #3 was a bit dark, but not as bad as the upper #3. Most interesting though was that the lower three spark plugs were a different brand to the upper three. The lower three were OEM spec NGK (same as the replacements I ordered), upper were Denso. I think someone "replaced the spark plugs" without knowing there's six not three, or CBA doing the lower ones because you need to remove the bumper.

And in a stroke of luck, I mangled the lead to #3 so we're getting a full set of six new leads. We should be in tip-top condition now.

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[MikeHunt]

There's a very limited selection of bigger-engined cars now - you might have to go full M/AMG/RS to get something which feels like a decent alternative. Or a Panamera perhaps?

I’m basically going through the same thought process as last year when I purchased the 550, I was looking at the likes of Bentley GT, S class coupe and Panamera. I decided that all of these were more costly to buy and run, although the v8 Panamera sport turismo is very tempting the more I think about it.

[Sundayjumper]

Get the Bentley. It's a big step up from the BMW.

[Mito Man]

Don’t buy the Bentley if you are planning on buying a newish one and want to continue the Bentley full service history. It will be borderline extortion.

[Beany]

I've got access to the K-bus, er, bus bar.

That glove box sure as hell needs a good tweek to pop out doesn't it?

Having a cuppa and resting my poor back before going back and unpinning lines one by one till it hopefully springs back to life. I'm guessing it's either the CD changer or the convertible roof wiring that's shorted, as I don't think there are any other modules around the boot.

(I'm at steps 7&8 here - https://www.bmwgm5.com/K-Bus_Troubleshooting.htm )

[MikeHunt]

Don’t buy the Bentley if you are planning on buying a newish one and want to continue the Bentley full service history. It will be borderline extortion.

This was my concern and looking at invoices of used cars confirms that, the extended warranty was circa £2k/year and would pay for itself.

It is a big step up but so is the cost and I don’t think anyone gets into a v8 Bentley and doesn’t wish they had a w12.

[DeskJockey]

Minor frustration with the Zoe. The SatNav live traffic doesn't work. You can't buy a subscription for it (ostensibly because something Brexit related not letting Renault UK do something), so they're giving updates away for free which is great.

Unfortunately the car doesn't want to acknowledge there's a valid contract for the live data. I can see it in the control app, but the ICE still shows everything as expired in August last year. So far they've been unable to fix the problem. It is taking a very long time.

[Beany]

BODGED IT LIKE A FUCKING PRO

I don't appear to have a convertible roof module (or at least, it's not behaving itself) and I don't seem to have AC compressor clutch activation - but everything else - windows, dash binnacle lighting, indicator lights, windscreen wipers, washers etc - is back.

I AM A GENIUS (who will troubleshoot this properly after he's done 100 miles and back to the company meeting next week)

Boot is still getting a bit damp, might be the tonneau cover seals letting water in, but with the roof not working, I'll need to raise it by hand, which is not easy single-handedly.

Regardless, I suspect some seal inspection will sort the cause, and some electrical contact cleaner and dielectric grease may well sort the rest.
For now though, the car is usable.

[integrale_evo]

Mito is giving more frequent multiair faults, misfires briefly, drops you back to normal mode and throws the engine light then drives fine.

Fault relates to one of the multiair solenoids ( cylinder 3 from memory, and always the same one ) seems to get worse in cold / damp weather.

It’s not total failure but as far as I know there aren’t any serviceable parts just have to swap the whole thing which is around £900. Couldn’t sell it like it and I expect a trade in / wbac valuation would be more than £900 less than I could get privately when fixed.

[Explosive Newt]

I drove the tesla through a few areas of flooding last week (yes this was foolish) and have lost a wheel cover. Don't seem to be in stock on the Tesla site so I have to decide if I buy a 2nd hand one off ebay or go wheel cover less.

[Mito Man]

I’m in the shit.


I’ve been trying to plug in a wiring harness connector for 45 minutes now. My hand it too fucking big and it’s gone numb at this point. I’ve ended up removing all the trim in the front. I think I’ve fucked it…

[Beany]

As I did similar yesterday, you have my sympathies....

[Mito Man]

I’ve plugged one end in, but in doing so pushed the other wiring harness lead further up into the confines of the dash

[Matty]

I drove the tesla through a few areas of flooding last week (yes this was foolish) and have lost a wheel cover. Don't seem to be in stock on the Tesla site so I have to decide if I buy a 2nd hand one off ebay or go wheel cover less.

Post pics and let strangers on the internet decide.

[Gavster]

Popped over to Casa SundayJumper to pick up my new car. It’s the red and black one…

[Gavster]

And front end off for new springs, wheel bearings and top mounts. Also unblocked windscreen washer and adjusted the dropped drivers door. It’s coming together nicely!

[Matty]

I think I’ve fucked it…

Kids these days have never read a Haynes manual. "Fitting is the reverse of removal". Easy.

[Mito Man]

I’m seriously about to have a melt down, I’m getting so many error messages, the car thinks the 12v is dead.

[integrale_evo]

By coincidence I watched a vid last night about a Tesla with a blown headlight, which the next day caused the low voltage system to shut down so you couldn’t move the car.

Turns out the light was full of water, and unlike a normal car where it might just stop working of blow a bulb or fuse it upset the car enough to make the whole thing immobile.
£900+ vat for the light. Actually wondered if you’d be able to claim on insurance for it ( initial failure was a stone chip on the bottom edge)

[Jimexpl]

Someone decided to bounce off the Land Rover last night without leaving a note -

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Annoyingly it’ll need a new back door also as I parked right up against a bike locker and the spare wheel has pushed the door in.

Passer by said it was a dark car and the guy was taking ‘balloons’.

Found some plastic from his car with a part code and date on - 1 or 3 series , Feb 2017.

Found the culprit this morning -

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Of course the police don’t want to know, so I guess my insurance will take the hit when they deny it.