Your fleet running reports

[V8Granite]

The Mighty Clio did a fine job of carrying the 4 of us, a boot full of bags and food for a long weekend at Butlins (#prayforV8Granite) and did a mighty 38mpg.

Still need to sort the Climate control as it’s a twat to control.

In boring low car news, I managed to raise the centre section and Cat up a good 50mm so it no longer catches on speed bumps.
I am 99% sure it’s had a remap of some sort though, it has a different tubular manifold than standard as it has no ARB relief in the collector and the cold map is awful. It even fouled a plug after a cold start driveway shuffle which isn’t really normal. Plus the mpg reading is pecimistic instead of the normal optimistic.

Dave!

[Beany]

Bodyshop now have the car. Apparently the key doesn't work, and there's front end damage.

Key not working might just be a flat battery given the wiring is a mess. There was no front end damage when was collected from me though.

Sigh. Gonna go down on Monday and see what the crack is, seeing as they phoned me at 1545 and they closed at 1630.

I forsee this being "a right laugh"

[mik]

Check your wheels too - entirely possible the scrotes damaged those too when preparing to put it on a transporter

[Beany]

Check your wheels too - entirely possible the scrotes damaged those too when preparing to put it on a transporter

Noted. Luckily the whole car was very clean (scratch/ding wise) so any problems basically happened after the car left my possession.

I'll be asking them to check under the car too, because a bit of looking around suggests that Copart damaging cars in their possession like that in the UK is...well, it ain't exactly a rarity, particularly when they think a car is getting written off.

Oh well, that's for Monday Steven to worry about. Friday Steven needs a fucking glass of wine.

[Mito Man]

The whole process seems extremely stupid and prone to abuse. The fact it's going to a salvage yard for assessment shouldn't be allowed. There's a clear conflict of interest there and it's in their benefit to be rough with the car to increase the likelihood of it being written off.

[Mito Man]

I fitted a new purge valve to cure my most recent CEL.

Went to start the car and nothing. Dead as a dildo.
7.2 volts showing. Can’t even jump it.

I had driven it a week ago so not sure if the battery just decided to die (4 year old Bosch so unlikely) or if I left a light on or something. Took the battery out and stuck it on the 40 amp charger. See if it gets revived otherwise a visit to Tanya is in order.

[Mito Man]

Brought the battery back to life with the 40 amp charger then reconditioned it with the CTEK - battery health is only at 70% so probably needs replacing soon.
Changed the duff parking sensor

…and now the back one has died. Can’t make this shit up

[integrale_evo]

X5 was driving nicely after it’s balljoint change and MOT.

Then I started getting a worrying creaking from the rear (the car, not mine) at low speed and when taking up drive.

Turns out the two front subframe bolts were a bit loose. Some idiot (me) obviously only did them tight, not FT

[Beany]

A squeaky bum moment that likely led to a squeaky bum moment when you saw what had happened

[Mito Man]

That reminds me when I changed the Mito discs last month the bolts holding the caliper bracket have red Threadlock so the bolt heads got quite mangled on removal. Not having any spare bolts I put them in finger tight and ordered a new set of bolts. Which are still sitting on the coffee table. 500 miles later.

[Ascender]

I wasn't sure if there was a NC500 thread but its been mentioned in here.

Now I'm up here, if anyone is wondering at what point the roads become f*cking busy with camper vans and lots of cars from down south who don't know how to drive on something that isn't a motorway, its this last week. Absolutely rammed with traffic on the east coast so can only imagine what that's like on the single track stuff on the west coast.

[Beany]

Yeah, splitter on the front bumper is torn open lengthways, that ain't polishing out.

Now need to do the courtesy car shuffle.

M135i bumper damage.jpg (38.46 KiB) Viewed 1711 times

(yes, insurance informed, and given a picture of the car is it was on the recovery truck before it left me, without that damage present)

[integrale_evo]

Well that’s pretty shit.

Assuming it didn’t get damaged going on the truck when they took it from you, it probably came off that one fine too, so most likely happened in their yard or when they arranged transport onwards.

[Beany]

Well that’s pretty shit.

Assuming it didn’t get damaged going on the truck when they took it from you, it probably came off that one fine too, so most likely happened in their yard or when they arranged transport onwards.

Yeah I've got a picture of it on the recovery truck leaving me, with a complete lack of any damage to the car. Which has also been sent to them.

[Rich B]

Well that’s pretty shit.

Assuming it didn’t get damaged going on the truck when they took it from you, it probably came off that one fine too, so most likely happened in their yard or when they arranged transport onwards.

Yeah I've got a picture of it on the recovery truck leaving me, with a complete lack of any damage to the car. Which has also been sent to them.

Cool, you’ve got the proof, they’ll need to sort it out!

[Jobbo]

I wasn't sure if there was a NC500 thread but its been mentioned in here.

Now I'm up here, if anyone is wondering at what point the roads become f*cking busy with camper vans and lots of cars from down south who don't know how to drive on something that isn't a motorway, its this last week. Absolutely rammed with traffic on the east coast so can only imagine what that's like on the single track stuff on the west coast.

Ah, that's really useful info but a bit annoying. I'm still going to come up as far as John o' Groats but I might not take the NC500 route much, if any, further - I'll play it by ear I think. Will drop you a line.

[Gavster]

I wasn't sure if there was a NC500 thread but its been mentioned in here.

Now I'm up here, if anyone is wondering at what point the roads become f*cking busy with camper vans and lots of cars from down south who don't know how to drive on something that isn't a motorway, its this last week. Absolutely rammed with traffic on the east coast so can only imagine what that's like on the single track stuff on the west coast.

Ah, that's really useful info but a bit annoying. I'm still going to come up as far as John o' Groats but I might not take the NC500 route much, if any, further - I'll play it by ear I think. Will drop you a line.

Thanks for the update, really good to know. I was considering a trip in early June, but sounds like it would be a rolling roadblock by then

[Sundayjumper]

Stating the very obvious but - it’s Easter hols. It’ll be quieter again in a fortnight.

[Jobbo]

That's pretty much my timeline, Steve. The thing is, who on earth takes kids away in a camper van round the NC500? Or is it all teachers? I'm not sure how much difference school holidays make there. It's not like Devon or Cornwall.

[Ascender]

If you're just looking to come and enjoy the scenery, you'll still do that, but you might have to be a bit flexible with early/late start times if you're wanting a bit of spirited driving along the way on a certain section.

It might quieten down a bit after the schools go back from Easter, but tbh, the majority of motorhomes and campers seem to be getting driven by older couples. Was typing that before your two messages appeared...

There's the volume of traffic, but also the usual lack of best practice - nobody leaving sufficient gaps between cars to allow you to overtake 1/2 at a time is a real issue up here. Even on the wider bits of the A9 and knowing the roads, it can be tricky to make any real progress from village to village. Always nice when a lorry/camper van pulls over to let you past though