Your fleet running reports

[tim]

Mundaneo 2.5 TittyX Photocopier Salesman Edition

I've been getting some chirping from the "fan belt" recently, and during the floods I noticed that when the underside got properly wet it was worse, and the lights would pulse slightly and occisonally the power steering go stiff. Classic signs I reckon of the aux belt tensioner going south. Have asked a local garage for a quote. I had a quick look and there's no space to get in from above and I can't safely get in from below, so will have to pay the piper on this one.

Still it's pretty much the only thing that's gone wrong so far.

Jaguar XJ 3.2 V8 Waft-o-Wagon

Hasn't moved since March when I bought the TittyX. Starting to go green around the window seals. I really need to wash it, fix it then sell it.

[240PP]

A5 has a leaking sump. A 37hr job apparently according to the specialist. £4.8k…

New car time.

[GG.]

A5 has a leaking sump. A 37hr job apparently according to the specialist. £4.8k…

New car time.

Ouch

[Beany]

37 hours? What are they doing, stripping the engine back to the block??

[Matty]

A5 has a leaking sump. A 37hr job apparently according to the specialist. £4.8k…

New car time.

Jesus. Why the massive labour? Engine out?

[240PP]

This is a breakdown of the work required (by a different mechanic mate of a mate, so the price is different due to his lower hourly rate)

I’m still not willing to sink £1.8k into it!

[Gavin]

Well the Mini made it into the garage, no leaks, no loosened mounts or suspension bits.

It does need a new hub as that was causing the ABS light, it needs discs and pads, 3 tyres, and some other stuff this year, about a grand if all goes well, and will need "substantial work" on the "soft floor" for next year so think we will get rid, cannot say I am keen to have any of the family in such a small car when it has a soft anything.

2012 was when the N18 was dumped in the Cooper S right?

[V8Granite]

37 hours? What are they doing, stripping the engine back to the block??

A lot of cars have an upper and lower sump, the upper most likely part of the crankcase cradle or support so this can be a hell of a lot of work if it affects the timing case etc.

Dave!

[240PP]

Anyone know of any reliable sites to get an Audi spec using the VIN? I’ve tried the MyAudi app but it won’t let me create an account. Tried a few other sites with no luck. Car Vertical doesn’t seem to provide that info either.

[mik]

I’ve tried the MyAudi app but it won’t let me create an account.

MyAudi and Audi Connect support:
Tel: 0800 279 2884
email: digitalsupport.uk@audi.de

[240PP]

I’ve tried the MyAudi app but it won’t let me create an account.

MyAudi and Audi Connect support:
Tel: 0800 279 2884
email: digitalsupport.uk@audi.de

Got straight through to a very helpful German bloke. Cheers!

[Swervin_Mervin]

A5 has a leaking sump. A 37hr job apparently according to the specialist. £4.8k…

New car time.

Holy crap!

Since when did it become acceptable to make what should be serviceable items into ones that write cars off financially?

[integrale_evo]

Just had both tax and insurance renewals through for the ‘sud in the same month

£59 to insure, zero tax. An expensive years motoring

[integrale_evo]

Had a car battery completely die for the first time with no warning, in the Merc.

Drove 40 miles to see the step daughter, went to leave and all the lights died, some very strange noises from some of the electrics.

Of course, being one of the modern reliable cars we have, no tools, no jump leads, and they didn’t have any either.

Wasn’t convinced it was the battery due to the other electrical weridness so didn’t want to buy one and risk it not fixing, plus had no tools.

Drove to Halfords in step daughters car, bought some jump leads, eventually got a decent connection and the car started fine. Still some weirdness like a headlamp warning and one of the hids flickering. Got home, turned the car off, immediately tried to start it and completely dead again.

Charged battery all night, tried it this evening, total shutdown.

Stuck on my spare 096 battery from the collection, fired straight up, everything behaving normally.

I know they can just fail, but I’ve never experienced it, they’ve always just got a little lazy or failed to start if left for a few days. The one in there was only a 3 year guarantee one and is probably 7-8 years old. As a bonus, jump leads plus a battery online is still cheaper than just buying the battery there and then would have been.

[DeskJockey]

Galaxy now fitted with a towbar. Went for a fully detachable one. It certainty is sturdy!

I hadn't realised that it also doubles as the rear impact bar, meaning I've now got the old one spare.

Now to buy a bike rack. It seems to be down to either Thule or Witter. The latter is cheaper and has a four bike carrier (Thule one needs an additional bit which takes the cost to nearly four figures for the rack alone). Anyone have experience with Witter racks?

While the rear bumper was off I could see the amount of crud that had accumulated behind it. Felt like I should clean it, but didn't want to get in the way of the fitter.

[Broccers]

I know they can just fail, but I’ve never experienced it, they’ve always just got a little lazy or failed to start if left for a few days. The one in there was only a 3 year guarantee one and is probably 7-8 years old. As a bonus, jump leads plus a battery online is still cheaper than just buying the battery there and then would have been.

Had the one on the mini fail in a 3 hour max car park before xmas so needed to get it jumped and then taken to get a new one quickly.

Guys replacing it were amazed the battery was original mini item from 2010. Not bad going I thought.

[Matty]

A5 has a leaking sump. A 37hr job apparently according to the specialist. £4.8k…

New car time.

Holy crap!

Since when did it become acceptable to make what should be serviceable items into ones that write cars off financially?

Is a sump considered a "servicable" item from a manufacturers POV? Or a "life of the car" thing? Either way, crazy packaging to get tons of tech in, plus incentive from the manufacturers for cars to be replaced rather than fixed (The "Apple" approach) is why we have some regular cars throwing insane bills out.

[scotta]

Discs and pads on the mini yesterday...3 wheels done OSR calliper completely seized and wouldnt wind back. £70 for a replacement but couldnt get one on a sunday so had to put the old disc & pads back on. Did manage to change one of the wheel arch liners however. Planned to do brake fluid But decided that was pointless since i now need to change a calliper. Will do the fluid at the same time.

[V8Granite]

Galaxy now fitted with a towbar. Went for a fully detachable one. It certainty is sturdy!

I hadn't realised that it also doubles as the rear impact bar, meaning I've now got the old one spare.

Now to buy a bike rack. It seems to be down to either Thule or Witter. The latter is cheaper and has a four bike carrier (Thule one needs an additional bit which takes the cost to nearly four figures for the rack alone). Anyone have experience with Witter racks?

While the rear bumper was off I could see the amount of crud that had accumulated behind it. Felt like I should clean it, but didn't want to get in the way of the fitter.

Have a look at the Halfords one, really pleased with mine and takes 4 bikes very well. Really in-impressed with Thule for the price. I’ve not looked at Witter but most of their stuff appears to be good quality.

Dave!

[scotta]

A5 has a leaking sump. A 37hr job apparently according to the specialist. £4.8k…

New car time.

Holy crap!

Since when did it become acceptable to make what should be serviceable items into ones that write cars off financially?

Is a sump considered a "servicable" item from a manufacturers POV? Or a "life of the car" thing? Either way, crazy packaging to get tons of tech in, plus incentive from the manufacturers for cars to be replaced rather than fixed (The "Apple" approach) is why we have some regular cars throwing insane bills out.

Sump on my Golf R was shitty plastic.