Your fleet running reports

[Beany]

Car collected at 1615hrs

Hopefully get it back with no locking wheelnuts and fresh rubber, tomorrow afternoon.

What a fucking palava.

[Gwaredd]

Service parts collected for the Twingo. Spark plugs had to be fancy ones at £16.00 each didn't they! Cambelt kit, aux belt, aux belt idler pulley, oil and fuel filter, 5ltrs of oil was £278.00.

I just have to shave my hands down, chop a few fingers off and dislocate my elbow to fit it all.

[JonMad]

Front sump guard fitted to the Fabia ahead of forthcoming targa rally.


Unfortunately I went for a test drive and forgot to shut the bonnet down. As I accelerated up a bit of local B road, this happened.
.

I was able to stop in a straight line, undoubtedly to the relief of the motorbike and cars coming the other way.

It also resulted in this


So I probably now need a new bonnet and hinges, as well as a screen. And naturally my motorsport insurance excludes windscreen cover.
Arse.

[Rich B]

Jon, step away from the tools

[Beany]

That's the sort of silly mistake I'd make - be proud

Got the car back, they busted off the locking nuts but didn't replace them....insert big sigh here.

Also thought I had a sticking caliper before, but the car not being run for a couple of days and getting a film of rust on the disks confirms it - definitely need to ID that and do, I guess, a caliper rebuild? They're just MSport calipers, nothing weird like Alcons so that should be a fairly simple job with hand tools, a cheap rebuild kit, and some common sense I expect.

At least it's payday tomorrow.

[Mito Man]

Jon, step away from the tools

That! Bloody hell

[Sundayjumper]

Faaaaaccck Jon. I imagine that's utterly terrifying.

[Sundayjumper]

Got the car back, they busted off the locking nuts but didn't replace them....insert big sigh here.

If they're std BMW fitment I've almost certainly got a spare set here you can have gratis, either locking or plain.

[mik]

Beany - you have an opportunity to get your hands on Steve’s nuts!

[Beany]

Beany - you have an opportunity to get your hands on Steve’s nuts!

Oh goodness.

I'll see how much they cost - if I can get three, same day, from the local BMW dealership for pennies, then that's probably easier

[DeskJockey]

Beany - you have an opportunity to get your hands on Steve’s nuts!

Oh goodness.

I'll see how much they cost - if I can get three, same day, from the local BMW dealership for pennies, then that's probably easier

Three of Steve's nuts from a local dealer?

[Beany]

He does get around....

[JonMad]

Jon, step away from the tools

I have since changed the wheels for white ones (faster) and nothing, this time, exploded. Obviously not driven anywhere though, so you never know.

Hinges on order from eBay. Windscreen being replaced next week (£250 - ouch - but Autoglass wanted over £500). Local garage can fit the hinges and hopefully massage the bonnet if required.

[Gwaredd]

I have since changed the wheels for white ones (faster) and nothing, this time, exploded. Obviously not driven anywhere though, so you never know.

Hinges on order from eBay. Windscreen being replaced next week (£250 - ouch - but Autoglass wanted over £500). Local garage can fit the hinges and hopefully massage the bonnet if required.

Don't forget £5.99 for a roll of gaffer tape.

[mik]

He does get around....

I’ll have a pint of Estrella please @Sundayjumper

[Sundayjumper]

I have to do my chores.

What chores ?

I'll have a pint please.


Etc.

[Jobbo]

Jon, back in 1996 when I bought my Scirocco a chap I knew told me about test driving a similar Scirocco down the A3 near New Malden. He'd looked at the engine before test driving it, the dealer had shut the bonnet and it clearly hadn't secured because it too flipped open on the A3. He stopped safely but the bonnet bent round over the roof and similarly smashed windscreen. He didn't buy it

[John]

Also thought I had a sticking caliper before, but the car not being run for a couple of days and getting a film of rust on the disks confirms it - definitely need to ID that and do, I guess, a caliper rebuild? They're just MSport calipers, nothing weird like Alcons so that should be a fairly simple job with hand tools, a cheap rebuild kit, and some common sense I expect.

Check the slide pins first as they often seize.

[integrale_evo]

Every bmw I’ve had has had at least one sticky calliper, and I’ve never know a sticky pin. Despite what many mechanics will say, the stainless pins on BMWs should always be fitted dry.

I actually rebuilt a front calliper on the compact a couple of days ago. I’d freed it up a few times but had started coming back more regularly.

Didn’t even bother taking the calliper off the car,


That’ll be why




Think the rebuild kit - piston, seal, dust cover, slider bushes and nipples, for all four callipers, was about £50. Given warmer weather I would have taken it off and cleaned and painted it, but just wanted it back together and working.

[integrale_evo]

Pins are worth a look, as someone may have used lube in the past which may have gummed up. You’ll need a 7mm socket / bit though which most standard kits don’t contain.