OV9

Looks like I have an unwanted traveller in my Mito!

Done my usual monthly car swap to take this to London and only just noticed. At first I thought it was gravel when driving it on Sunday, but then I remembered that I washed it, hoovered it and parked it up. And now I think the little shit has died in the fan as today it sounded like it was tumble drying a rock

Was probably making a bed in there.

Pretty easy to drop it down and clear it out. You’ve had your mito long enough I assume you’ve already had to do it at some point?

Yes I’ll order a new cabin filter as it’s been a few years. I think I need to tape a length of hosepipe to a vacuum to suck all the crap out as I remember space being tight.

Also just chatting to my neighbour who has a Range Rover - was pretty pleased that his tail light was fully replaced under warranty as it had a single LED out. I brought up that maybe instead of the EU mandating USB C ports it would be better if they mandated replaceable light bulbs - remember those?!
Nah, too much common sense.

They could mandate both?

DeskJockey wrote: Wed Sep 27, 2023 9:12 pm They could mandate both?

It’s not as convenient when you have a large domestic manufacturing base which produces those lights I’m guessing. If it’s made in China then that’s ok to legislate as there’s no money in it.

Possibly. Would still make sense to do though.

Reminds me actually, when I followed the mrs in the mito the other week I noticed the 3rd brake light wasn’t working.

I don’t mind too much as it actually looked quite cool with just the two round led rear lights, but I’m guessing it probably means a wire in the boot loom has broken and I should probably fit a repair loom before more things stop working and it becomes a more involved process.

I recently learned third brake lights are not even a legal requirement in the UK. Only noticed that it was an option on the Caterham but then not legally required so why pay for it. It must be a requirement across the rest of the world otherwise why do manufacturers fit them?

I’m sure they are required somewhere in Europe as they started becoming standard fit mid-late 90s on everything

Not having one, or having one that’s not working isn’t a fail, but one that’s working but has more than multiple illumination points and has more than 50% of them not working is ( from memory )

simon_g wrote: Tue Sep 26, 2023 11:12 amHasn't felt in need of droplinks but meh, I've ordered a new pair and a service kit.

After reading these could be a nightmare, it was the easiest bit of DIY I've done in ages. Took longer to get the car on stands than to get both droplinks replaced.

Oil, oil/air/cabin filters, spark plugs done too. Back for a partial MOT in the morning.

The wife's car was in for an airbag recall today and while they were there they checked the car over. It's eaten another bloody set of rear tyres - 5mm tread all over apart from down to the canvas on the very inner shoulder. I had the alignment done after the last set it munched and thought I'd sorted it. I'm going to take it to my local guy to get everything else rear suspension checked...

A sad day when the rear tyres on my M2 last 3 times longer than the ones on the 320d.

@Rich B ooft - any signs of feathering on the tread? Or is it running excessive -ve camber on the rear?

It might be a TADTS. When we had a Passat they were notorious for it and nobody seemed to have a solution.

Gearbox bushes arrived yesterday. Props to Maranello Classic & Superformance for both achieving next day delivery. I was going to get stuck in today but meh. Mañana.

The two small bushes go into a stabilising bar; this looks nice and easy as you can remove it from the car to press the bushes in & out. The large one goes into the gearbox casing itself and is rather more involved.

mik wrote: Thu Sep 28, 2023 6:48 pm @Rich B ooft - any signs of feathering on the tread? Or is it running excessive -ve camber on the rear?

Dunno, it's fairly even wear across the rest of the tyre, then the inner shoulder completely fucked. The other side is the same. There's clearly something misaligned that's causing it - it's not as though her car gets ragged.

Not the best pic, but that looks very strange! Like the inside edge is physically rubbing against something?

Rich B wrote: Thu Sep 28, 2023 7:07 pm

mik wrote: Thu Sep 28, 2023 6:48 pm @Rich B ooft - any signs of feathering on the tread? Or is it running excessive -ve camber on the rear?

Dunno, it's fairly even wear across the rest of the tyre, then the inner shoulder completely fucked. The other side is the same. There's clearly something misaligned that's causing it - it's not as though her car gets ragged.

Straddling speedbumps?? One of my younger team members has loads near his house and has killed the tyres on his Audi in what looks like the same way.

McSwede wrote: Thu Sep 28, 2023 8:49 pm

Rich B wrote: Thu Sep 28, 2023 7:07 pm

mik wrote: Thu Sep 28, 2023 6:48 pm @Rich B ooft - any signs of feathering on the tread? Or is it running excessive -ve camber on the rear?

Dunno, it's fairly even wear across the rest of the tyre, then the inner shoulder completely fucked. The other side is the same. There's clearly something misaligned that's causing it - it's not as though her car gets ragged.

Straddling speedbumps?? One of my younger team members has loads near his house and has killed the tyres on his Audi in what looks like the same way.

This is what I was going to say - its supposed to do that but I've never seen evidence of it before.

Interesting idea - there are plenty around and perhaps they're just the right width to do this. Maybe there's some with a more pronounced edge on them?

Hmmmm...