OV9

You soon get a feel for what’s going to be ok and what’s going to be a bitch with the first couple of presses of the bead breaker.

I’d love to find a better way of doing it, it’s by far the worst part of the job. I actually enjoy putting them on.

Partner has gone and bought herself a Mini. Only driven it twice and she utterly loves it. The Beetle is now a distant memory, albeit a very fond one.

It's a 2016 Cooper. British Racing Green with white leather. Chili pack, Media XL, reverse cam, LED's, heated seats, nav, driving modes, etc. 1.5 turbot. Max torque at 1250rpm so it shifts along nicely.

We've had a great time driving it and definitely get what these are about now.

Alloys need doing though. A fair bit of kerbage + lacquer peel. But they're plain silver so not a big deal to sort.

MINI fwiend

integrale_evo wrote: Mon Dec 12, 2022 9:05 pm You soon get a feel for what’s going to be ok and what’s going to be a bitch with the first couple of presses of the bead breaker.

I’d love to find a better way of doing it, it’s by far the worst part of the job. I actually enjoy putting them on.

The only way is to have some kind of powered (pneumatic) bead breaker. This design is the simplest without going for a full machine, but it's not really any cheaper than buying a s/h full machine and you still need to lever the tyre off so it's not all that appealing.


https://ffx.co.uk/product/Get/Sealey-Tc ... -Operation

Yeah, I’ve seen them and they’re crazy money for what they are. I’ve wondered about rigging something up with a scissor or bottle jack. Would be slower than a pneumatic one, but quicker and easier than doing it by hand on anything tight.

Another 230 miles on the car. Things I have learned.

Driving in -6Deg C with a failed-open thermostat = limited heating.

Those tyres are pretty good in fresh snow.

No-one knows how to use a foglight.

If I replace the thermostat I'll probably average over 30mpg on a run, easy.

For now though the car is disgusting after being covered in spray and salt, and I'm shattered so I'm having a couple of beers and going to bed.

Beany wrote: Tue Dec 13, 2022 9:48 pm Another 230 miles on the car. Things I have learned.

Driving in -6Deg C with a failed-open thermostat = limited heating.

Those tyres are pretty good in fresh snow.

No-one knows how to use a foglight.

If I replace the thermostat I'll probably average over 30mpg on a run, easy.

For now though the car is disgusting after being covered in spray and salt, and I'm shattered so I'm having a couple of beers and going to bed.

Have you schlepped up to your homeland, Beany?
I drove Cambridge to Leeds yesterday and my car is filthier than your knickers.

Explosive Newt wrote: Tue Dec 13, 2022 9:51 pm

Beany wrote: Tue Dec 13, 2022 9:48 pm Another 230 miles on the car. Things I have learned.

Driving in -6Deg C with a failed-open thermostat = limited heating.

Those tyres are pretty good in fresh snow.

No-one knows how to use a foglight.

If I replace the thermostat I'll probably average over 30mpg on a run, easy.

For now though the car is disgusting after being covered in spray and salt, and I'm shattered so I'm having a couple of beers and going to bed.

Have you schlepped up to your homeland, Beany?
I drove Cambridge to Leeds yesterday and my car is filthier than your knickers.

You assume he wears such things...

#soiled

DeskJockey wrote: Tue Dec 13, 2022 9:51 pm

Explosive Newt wrote: Tue Dec 13, 2022 9:51 pm

Beany wrote: Tue Dec 13, 2022 9:48 pm Another 230 miles on the car. Things I have learned.

Driving in -6Deg C with a failed-open thermostat = limited heating.

Those tyres are pretty good in fresh snow.

No-one knows how to use a foglight.

If I replace the thermostat I'll probably average over 30mpg on a run, easy.

For now though the car is disgusting after being covered in spray and salt, and I'm shattered so I'm having a couple of beers and going to bed.

Have you schlepped up to your homeland, Beany?
I drove Cambridge to Leeds yesterday and my car is filthier than your knickers.

You assume he wears such things...

Beany is lacy and fabulous in his drawers, I have no doubt.

Jobbo wrote: Mon Dec 12, 2022 11:44 am Got my wife's Yeti (without winter tyres) off the drive eventually using the waffle boards I bought for green-laning but have never actually needed before. DSG clutches smell a bit if you're not careful.

Eek. You've reminded I need to check on DSG adjustment/resetting now it's got some miles on it.

Beany wrote: Tue Dec 13, 2022 9:48 pm No-one knows how to use a foglight.

Bic

I’ve had to change the thermostat in most of our cars, they just tend to wear out and become less effective with age. All of the ones on German cars have been pretty straight forward to be honest, but it’s one of those ‘how far do I go while I’m there’ things. Water pump, aux belt, tensioners etc.

I noticed the mito struggled a bit at -6.5 on the way to work, was sat bang on centre like normal during a high speed section, but dropped to a 30mph cruise through a village and the needle dropped noticeably before picking back up to the centre. I guess the sudden drop from throttle to coasting and the very cold air meant it cooled quicker than the thermostat could react.

Yeah, work meet up, traditionally the christmas one is in a fancy hotel in Edinburgh, I think mostly so that the finance director can take us for a walk up the royal mile. Oh god I need to get a fucking rowing machine, I was ruined by that

But yeah, I'm thinking thermostat, pulleys/idlers, belt (obvs), and at the same time, front brake hard lines and the front trailing arm bushes.

Also a pair of new front wheels, transfer tyres, balance, and four wheel alignment..

I think that should be doable for well under a grand, right?

Could do with a wash


While the car I actually bought to use in winter sits laughing at me

Oh the BMW is worse than that, but I'm not getting a picture, it's fucking cold out.

Add to the list a rowing machine so I can get some fucking stamina/improve basic body strength/lose a few inches. M'colleague Ryan threatented to force me to buy one this afternoon, but he had to run to catch a plane.

I'm off tomorrow so I might do it then and send him a screenshot so he can stop badgering me about it

ML proving a great winter car again. Fast warm ups, great heater and tons of traction. All it needs is a proper heated screen and it would be perfect.

The mid teens mpg are a pain but we aren’t doing long hours yes at the minute.

Land Rover, well, it’s cold and I just can’t motivate myself to get the rear brake lines done

Dave!

The M2 is doing the job well, fuck all grip means every junction is pulled out of sideways!

Rich B wrote: Wed Dec 14, 2022 9:23 am The M2 is doing the job well, fuck all grip means every junction is pulled out of sideways!

Snap!

So far, seems pretty controllable and doesn't break away quickly or anything like that, so long as you're not being a a total dick. Famous last words...

If I was keeping it long term, I'd definitely get a set of winter wheels and tyres though.

I’m not having much fun with the lemon x5

Ran fine when testing the diff on Sunday ( despite it not curing the 4x4 issue )

Then popped to the shop Monday and it had an obvious missfire which wouldn’t clear. I was so annoyed with it I couldn’t be bothered plugging the code reader in.

Yesterday I did, cylinder 3 missfire. As it’s only one it’s most likely a coil pack.

Picked a cheapy up from euros on the way home to diagnose it. Changed what I thought was cylinder three, no better. Swapped it with the other I thought would have been cylinder 3 if the first one wasn’t. Still no better

Actually Googled it and got the correct number sequence. Swapped the coil, cleared the code and it’s now running smooth as butter.

Now to decide whether I do the lot and what brand or just get a couple in as ‘just in case’ spares.

Actually ran ok on 7 tbh. It obviously detects the issue and shuts down that injector so you’re not pumping unburnt fuel through the exhaust so doubt it would leave you stranded.