Your fleet running reports

[simon_g]

MOT coming up so I thought the faded 17 year old Honda lights needed a bit of attention. Used the autoglym kit I've had in the back of the garage for too long.

[GG.]

Good work! I've done that before and makes a world of difference.

RR is in for a service. A 72 month-er so a mahoosive £1500 bill (though it includes things like changing the brake lines). Rear pads needed doing to pass the MOT as well. Had my pants down at £500 inc. VAT for those - I was warned at the last service so should have taken it to an indy to have them done

Really need to work some magic with the insurance to keep it having just spent all that...

[Beany]

Brake lines at six years? Like, the hard lines? Or do you mean the flexis going to the calipers etc?

Because the hard lines needing replacing at six years would be utterly shocking. Frankly, the flexis wanting doing at six years seems rather shit in itself.

[Sundayjumper]

Perished flexis are a fave choice for grumpy MOT testers. Encountered that many a time. Ignored and passed the following year with no mention.

[Beany]

Yeah, but six years? What are they made of, pasta?

[scotta]

Did the front pads on the 128 at the weekend…£60.

They were almost on the wear sensors but still had a bit left.

[GG.]

Yeah, but six years? What are they made of, pasta?

Flexis to the calipers is my understanding.

Remember this is a car that is designed to get caked in shit. I also expect that given something as serious as brake line corrosion, if they'll easily do 10 years you'd bank on changing them at 6 so there's no question of you pushing it.

I've seen something online that showed a failure down the track when the big 6 year service was skimped on. Seems sensible to me (though painful on the wallet).

[DeskJockey]

How many modern FFRRs ever see anything dirtier than parking in a field? I'm sure they're capable enough, but that's not how they're being used by the vast majority of owners, is it?

[integrale_evo]

That’s a bullshit excuse. The fact is a lot of modern rubber components are dog shit quality. They will have been specced to a certain lifespan a little outside of standard warranty to save a few pence.

A mot doesn’t take the expected use into consideration. Personally I’d expect something designed for potentially harsh terrain to have beefed up hoses and lines which would outlast those on a puny car, not need to be changed more often!

My 26 year old bmw was still on its originals until this spring, our 18 year old merc, 12 year old mito on theirs, 19 year old x5 got its changed this year because I had to replace a couple of corroded pipes so seemed sensible to do them at the same time.

[jamcg]

Just slather them in paint and grease and that fail for corrosion magically turns into an advisory anyway

[Swervin_Mervin]

That’s a bullshit excuse. The fact is a lot of modern rubber components are dog shit quality. They will have been specced to a certain lifespan a little outside of standard warranty to save a few pence.

A mot doesn’t take the expected use into consideration. Personally I’d expect something designed for potentially harsh terrain to have beefed up hoses and lines which would outlast those on a puny car, not need to be changed more often!

My 26 year old bmw was still on its originals until this spring, our 18 year old merc, 12 year old mito on theirs, 19 year old x5 got its changed this year because I had to replace a couple of corroded pipes so seemed sensible to do them at the same time.

I think my front flexi hoses were done only a couple of years ago. So the E91 would've been around 15/16yrs at that point. As you say, modern rubber seems to be the issue. Up 'n' Downs vids chap did one a couple of years ago on the state of modern rubber. Makes you wonder whether it's cheap crap or if it's actually changes in manufacture due to leglisation (e.g. eco, toxicity etc)

[GG.]

This also reminds me - the reservoir for the brake fluid on the 911 is below the minimum which means that must have a leak somewhere.

[integrale_evo]

Could just be that your disks and pads are wafer thin and the fluid is now all sitting in the calipers.

In the old days the fluid level was a decent indication of how worn your brakes were getting. If it drops suddenly then you need to start worrying

[Beany]

That’s a bullshit excuse. The fact is a lot of modern rubber components are dog shit quality. They will have been specced to a certain lifespan a little outside of standard warranty to save a few pence.

A mot doesn’t take the expected use into consideration. Personally I’d expect something designed for potentially harsh terrain to have beefed up hoses and lines which would outlast those on a puny car, not need to be changed more often!

My 26 year old bmw was still on its originals until this spring, our 18 year old merc, 12 year old mito on theirs, 19 year old x5 got its changed this year because I had to replace a couple of corroded pipes so seemed sensible to do them at the same time.

I think my front flexi hoses were done only a couple of years ago. So the E91 would've been around 15/16yrs at that point. As you say, modern rubber seems to be the issue. Up 'n' Downs vids chap did one a couple of years ago on the state of modern rubber. Makes you wonder whether it's cheap crap or if it's actually changes in manufacture due to leglisation (e.g. eco, toxicity etc)

My experience of flexis and hardlines is similar to wot harry says, but you both might have a point about shitty modern rubber, I guess.

[16vCento]

Last wash for the Jag today

Chap coming a long way up the country to buy it tomorrow, I wish I could keep it, but it's a waste of a car, and I'd rather it got some use by someone.

Sad to see it go, it's been a great car.

Once it's gone I need to decide what to replace it with, I've got a quote on a MG4 XPower, a XC40 EV and a Nissan Ariya, my favourite of the three is the MG, it's properly quick, and it's small so will be the best for it's intended purposes of pottering to work and back every day, Volvo has the nicest interior and the nissan had the most space for the dog.

Other option is to PCP an iPace, all options aren't far apart in cost, I'd rather the iPace, but I'm far too aware of how wrong they can go, and how long the wait on parts can be, and that puts me off, easily the best car of the above lot to drive, but a little on the large side maybe (width).

Will pinch my dad's car to tide us over until whatever I order gets delivered hopefully as he rarely uses it, now they're at the coast they walk everywhere or get the bus.

[Jobbo]

I think getting an iPace would have to be with a very good warranty and very cheap now. It hasn’t kept pace with other EVs launched in the subsequent 6 years and the range isn’t great.

Had my Jimny MOTed today, passed without doing anything which was pleasing.

[DeskJockey]

Friends' have an iPace and it is Trigger's Broom. So many bits replaced under warranty, and months in the shop. It is a lease, and will go back soon.

[16vCento]

I know more than most about exactly how flaky iPace's can be, but I still want one

I think I'll end up with the XPower though, no costs to worry about then, and they seem to be reliable.

[dan]

Elise body sent away on a little holiday yesterday, will return in a couple of months very different indeed

[Jobbo]

Will it be carbon when it comes back, Dan?

I have to say that I watched Throttle House’s video on the Elise this morning and could remember exactly how mine was more of a driver’s car than my MX5. I love both. Might have to get an Elise as well at some point.