Your fleet running reports

[Matty]

You should crimp one off instead.

Am I the only one? Hello????

Nope, but figured I was lowering the tone so let it...slide.

[16vCento]

A big bit of roof fell out from the highest point of the house today, bounced off the lower roof and hit the Golf, right on the roof.

I really wish it had hit the windscreen.

Broken paint, three dents.

Dent removal guys won't touch broken paint normally, but I've got someone who will try it as our company own them, it's on me if it goes wrong, worst that can happen is it needs more paint so

[Beany]

Car back.

Main mech didn't work on it initially, but reckons when they were testing it, someone probably just tugged the handle too hard while they were testing the locking, and through a mixture of coincidences the securing latch for the bowden cable has popped loose - he's stripped it all back (after cursing removing a door card on a closed door), cleaned it all up, refitted it, lubed it up, and tested it extensively and reckons it'll never need thinking about again.

No charge, obviously. Just one of those things that can happen.

Their big scary rotty came bounding towards me for a scritch, but behind the head only - got an eye infection, so got a cone of shame on

[Alex88]

The Mini is repaired and seems to be driving ok. So at least we have one working car (touchwood).

Mustang has become an absolute debacle. I had it recovered to Modurstang garage 5 or 6 weeks ago. As a reminder, it developed suddenly rough running and wasn't drivable.

They diagnosed it as a faulty VCT solenoid. Replaced this and also had the cam phasers replaced at the same time as they're prone to failure.

Collected the car but soon noticed it wasn't quite fixed - it wouldn't idle properly when hot. Revs kept dropping down to almost stalling. I had to return the car when I was already 25 miles away.. a massive PITA as I took the day off for this as they aren't close by. Day wasted + expense.

They've said it's now suffering low oil pressure when hot and recommend changing the oil pump. This means going back and undoing all the work I've already paid for, as the oil pump job is basically the same process as the cam phasers.

On top of that, it's been 4 weeks and they've not done anything.
Communication is non-existent and I have to chase for updates. Apparently they're waiting for a part to come in, but will get to work ASAP.

I feeling annoyed now. I'm going to call them later to voice my frustrations, as I don't think this is reasonable, especially from a reputable specialist.

I now have a mystery bill hanging over me and I can't help but wonder if the oil pump issue, and this whole additional saga, could have been avoided if they'd have tested the oil pressure once the VCT solenoids were replaced and the engine was running again. At least we'd know what the situation was before dismantling the front of the engine for the phasers.

Is it unreasonable to query why this wasn't tested? I'm torn on that.

[V8Granite]

It depends if they are linked.

If the solenoid operates by oil pressure then it should be checked at the same time, if not then it would have been an extra bit of, at the time, excess work.
On the M119 engine in mine the VVT is operated by oil pressure but I'm not sure what is the norm to be honest.

It's never an issue to query it, maybe it was missed or it could be you are really unlucky.

No-one likes seeing a car come back if you think you have fixed it.

Dave!

[Sundayjumper]

On all the cars I’ve worked on, they’re physically activated by hydraulic pressure, which is modulated by the ECU controlling the solenoid.

But at idle they should be at a default safe position. My spidey sense is saying it’s not an oil pressure problem.

[Sundayjumper]

118d - replacement ABS block arrived today for the grand sum of £33.99. It looks like an easy job, it’s just under the scuttle on the passenger side so access is a doddle. I’ll have a crack at it this evening.

IMG_9366.jpeg (164.71 KiB) Viewed 265 times

[Beany]

You got all the shit to recode it properly, etc? I'm pretty sure I remember people cursing the job when I was in the F20 group, but I'd be fibbing if I said I remembered why other than coding being annoying/not on all diag tools/etc.

I'd expect if you've got INPA/ISTA or whatever the hardcore BMW tool is called these days, it'll be reet enough if you can read german

[Mito Man]

I did one before but gave it to a company to rebuild. Still had to use ISTA to bleed the pump but it took about 10 goes to get all the air out. And that’s when I bought a pressure bleeder.

[Sundayjumper]

You got all the shit to recode it properly, etc? I'm pretty sure I remember people cursing the job when I was in the F20 group, but I'd be fibbing if I said I remembered why other than coding being annoying/not on all diag tools/etc.

I'd expect if you've got INPA/ISTA or whatever the hardcore BMW tool is called these days, it'll be reet enough if you can read german

Yeah, ISTA. It’s very good. Much easier to use than INPA.

I’m just off to get started on it now.

[Sundayjumper]

Valve block fitted & coded. Brakes no longer stuck Just need to do bleeding.

[Sundayjumper]

You got all the shit to recode it properly, etc? I'm pretty sure I remember people cursing the job when I was in the F20 group, but I'd be fibbing if I said I remembered why other than coding being annoying/not on all diag tools/etc.

I had totally memory holed your F20 experience ! Sorry ! I bet you wish you could sometimes too

The coding is easy, and it’s E-SYS, not ISTA, I was mixing them up. I imagine the cursing on the F20 group was entirely down to it not being available on a phone app like Carly or Bimmercode and is therefore BEYOND THE REALMS OF MERE MORTAL MEN.

[Beany]

Oh yeah there was a lot of that...

[Sundayjumper]

While I was messing around I also fitted new rear discs & pads yesterday. They were only just hitting the wear sensor. I could have got another 5k miles I reckon.

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It’s so nice fixing a cheap/common/low spec car for a change. Febi discs & pads were under £60 delivered.

Now I’ve been able to drive it and get it up to temperature properly, there’s a pretty bad exhaust leak from somewhere down the bottom of the DPF. I’m guessing broken flexi pipe. Will investigate further…

[V8Granite]

My neighbour has one and we found the gearbox earth strap had broken so it wouldn't start. Seems to be a common issue so while you're in there etc.

Dave!

[Sundayjumper]

Noted, ta.

I’ve been out again tonight, not far, and the exhaust leak seems to have stopped ! So I’m wondering if it was just something burning off, something from the previous owner driving it <???> miles with the brakes on ? Dunno. Weird. But I’ll take that win.

Repair costs so far = £93.10

If anyone cares for the background, it was originally listed on eBay a month ago:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/306999451538

I was the second highest bidder, and noticing that the winner had only nine feedback and therefore 95% likely to be a timewaster, I emailed the seller to say I’d take it if the sale fell through. The seller was then ASTONISHINGLY patient with the “buyer”, who at one point claimed to have left the country (!), until last weekend when he finally gave up with them and let me buy it.

And here we are !

[DeskJockey]

Interesting to note that it has "interior seats".

[Sundayjumper]

It’s true, it does. I’m genuinely relieved it doesn’t have the more common option of external seats. They just get soggy.

[DeskJockey]

You lucked out there!

[Matty]

I can only imagine the horrific messages, offers and types of buyers you get selling a <£2k BMW on eBay.