Your fleet running reports

[GG.]

Oh and filling it with 5W-40 instead of 0W-40 seems to have made absolutely zero difference to it randomly blowing smoke clouds more reminiscent of a wood burning stove full of damp wood than a petrol engine.

Did you request 5w-40? I noticed on 9e’s website they mention they use 0W-40 usually.

Yes I did - it has been blowing huge plumes of oil smoke on start up occasionally (which as I'm sure you know is a general problem with flat sixes due to oil settling in the bores after it has sat) and 5W-40 is supposed to help with that on engines which are now decently run in. Hasn't seemed to make the slightest bit of difference so far as it has already exhibited said smokiness once since I got it back.

[Mito Man]

Speaking of oil I added half a litre to the 6 and that’s stopped the low oil pressure message when cornering - it must be a really sensitive sensor or on its way out as the oil light didn’t come on and the dipstick showed it’s ok.

Defender was towed away before 7am yesterday but I still haven’t had a call for how much potential butt rapage I am expected to endure. Either way I think it will be wise to invest in a few bottles of Le Olio de Johnson’s Bebe.

[ste]

Speaking of oil I added half a litre to the 6 and that’s stopped the low oil pressure message when cornering - it must be a really sensitive sensor or on its way out as the oil light didn’t come on and the dipstick showed it’s ok.

Oil light is generally an 'you've already fucked stuff, turn it off right now' light. I imagine if you've had low oil pressure when cornering then you've probably already damaged stuff. They're quite sensitive engines. Have a look how much a crank and set of bearings is for one...

[Coaster1]

Speaking of oil I added half a litre to the 6 and that’s stopped the low oil pressure message when cornering - it must be a really sensitive sensor or on its way out as the oil light didn’t come on and the dipstick showed it’s ok.

Remind me, is that the V10 M6?

I read that the V10 can use a litre of oil per 1000 miles, any truth in that?

[Mito Man]

Speaking of oil I added half a litre to the 6 and that’s stopped the low oil pressure message when cornering - it must be a really sensitive sensor or on its way out as the oil light didn’t come on and the dipstick showed it’s ok.

Oil light is generally an 'you've already fucked stuff, turn it off right now' light. I imagine if you've had low oil pressure when cornering then you've probably already damaged stuff. They're quite sensitive engines. Have a look how much a crank and set of bearings is for one...

The oil light never came on the dash, the low oil pressure message just flashed up on the idrive so I’m just hoping it’s a low battery glitch as I hadn’t driven it in a while, and being a second generation idrive it’s pretty glitchy. Time will tell.

This is the 4.4 v8, not the v10 so it’s not a ticking time bomb as such.

[Mito Man]

Speaking of oil I added half a litre to the 6 and that’s stopped the low oil pressure message when cornering - it must be a really sensitive sensor or on its way out as the oil light didn’t come on and the dipstick showed it’s ok.

Remind me, is that the V10 M6?

I read that the V10 can use a litre of oil per 1000 miles, any truth in that?

I reckon in track driving it can, but in day to day with the occasional red line tune up it doesn’t get near that

[Matty]

I'll be getting the black pack fitted, yeah - probably just wrapped. They look a significantly 'sharper' looking car with the SR black IMO.

Agree completely - works really well with the blue (this may not be the same hue as yours but wotevah) and wrapping it sounds fine. I’d consider adding the GT430 rear wing paint guards in black too if you are getting some vinyl applied anyway?

Not sure about the wing guards, although I can see why from a practical protection angle.

However, I won't be able to pick up the Evora for a few weeks - but firstly, can I just say how great Craig Moncrieff Cars are in Edinburgh? He inspected it for me, and in his words, said the aircon "wasn't as effective as it could be" and is going to replace it FOC (as he replaced the unit only a few weeks back, and its warrantied).

Now, there was absolutely no reason for him to do this, as it's going to cost him - he even said I probably wouldn't notice it - yet he's going to do it anyway. Which is awesome, and I'm extremely impressed. He's even going to pick me up from the station to collect. Double thumbs up for CMC

[mik]

Craig is indeed absolutely superb.

It'll have OEM clear stone guards covering that whole area, so the only reason to copy the GT430 guards woukd be if you liked the look.

[Rich B]

I'll be getting the black pack fitted, yeah - probably just wrapped. They look a significantly 'sharper' looking car with the SR black IMO.

Agree completely - works really well with the blue (this may not be the same hue as yours but wotevah) and wrapping it sounds fine. I’d consider adding the GT430 rear wing paint guards in black too if you are getting some vinyl applied anyway?

Not sure about the wing guards, although I can see why from a practical protection angle.

However, I won't be able to pick up the Evora for a few weeks - but firstly, can I just say how great Craig Moncrieff Cars are in Edinburgh? He inspected it for me, and in his words, said the aircon "wasn't as effective as it could be" and is going to replace it FOC (as he replaced the unit only a few weeks back, and its warrantied).

Now, there was absolutely no reason for him to do this, as it's going to cost him - he even said I probably wouldn't notice it - yet he's going to do it anyway. Which is awesome, and I'm extremely impressed. He's even going to pick me up from the station to collect. Double thumbs up for CMC

The old classic “point out another pretend issue and fix it for free to divert attention from the rusty suspension arms and 3 working cylinders” trick.

[Maurice]

Craig is an absolute star.

Agreed to meet me at Knockhill earlier in the year with an OBD reader when I was off up north and had encountered intermittent EML issues. Managed to clear the codes and didn’t charge me a penny.

[ste]

This is the 4.4 v8, not the v10 so it’s not a ticking time bomb as such.

Ah yes. Was confusing it with a friend's M6 for some strange reason.

[Mito Man]

I think some cunt must have bumped into the front bumper whilst it was parked at the hospital - put a nice line across it down to the plastic. At least it’s nice to know people are cunts everywhere and don’t only discriminate and crash into other cars at supermarket car parks.

[Mito Man]

Urban Spackerwagon update, so I’m not very mechanically minded but have been informed about some input shaft and output shaft going bang inside the gearbox and then got sent some scary pictures
If you’re gonna go, go big right.




With the new heavy duty replacement parts it should be able to conquer the 4 corners of the world plus the moon without ever going wrong again.

[Beany]

This is the 4.4 v8, not the v10 so it’s not a ticking time bomb as such.

Ah yes. Was confusing it with a friend's M6 for some strange reason.

If it was on the iDrive rather than the scary red warning light, it was probably the 'fill up soon' light thing. I had that in the 330 and just calmed down when I saw it.

Then when I topped it up it gobbled a litre of oil, eep. Not seen it since though, so I'm sure it's fine, and it never sounded it of sorts, even from cold.

Speaking of, I'm really starting to get why people become serial BMW owners. The car is fun to punt around in town, fun on a back road, and plenty smooth on the motorway, and the three litre has bags of usable torque way down that doesn't stop it screaming to the rev red line with gusto.

There's really not much compromise other than it being understandably thirsty around town on short runs.

Really enjoying it. Got a couple of (very) minor niggles but otherwise, it's great.

Niggles:
Slight whine on steering application - probably just wants a bleed. I believe the power steering pumps are weak on these, but it's not screaming, so it's fine.

Slight metallic noise from the front end when cold. Probably just a grumbly idler or tensioner. I'll take a deek before it gets cold.

Winter tyres are pricey. Need 17s to clear the brakes, too which means cheap 15/16 wheels/tyres are a no no.

That said I don't *need* to drive anywhere over winter, but it'd be nice to go out on colder days in the depths of winter, have a play about, and not worry about not getting back up the hill home.

So far, so good basically.

[V8Granite]

I remember the LT77 gearbox had output shaft problems but a drilling meant it got oil all of the time. It was mainly due to folks not greasing the shaft with the correct grease and it wearing out.

Very surprised they have the same issues on the 6 speed. To be fair though, they’ve only had since the 70s to refine it

Dave!

[KiwiDave]

After a 'very long fucking time' I've finally got the bootlid/spoiler on my car sorted.

Longer version is that when I purchased the second 86 in May last year (from a chap who runs a garage that works largely on 86s) he had a twat-tastic carbon spoiler thing perched high up in the air on the back of the car. I laughed at it and said "take that off, I fucking hate spoilers, in fact the only one I've ever liked was the TRD ducktail/gurney flap thing offered as a TRD option on early (2012/2013) cars."

He of course had one and agreed to removed said stupid carbon spoiler and fit the ducktail effort as part of the cost and promptly temporarily taped over the holes with electrical tape. And then the weeks started flying by and they turned into months. Two sets of tape were fitted as they'd faded in the sun. Between myself and another fella in our club (dented wing when taken to said garage) not getting any joy in getting our cars fixed, things were beginning to get heated and pretty angry. Why it all took so long is anyone's guess - we're assuming as the guy's actually running his garage on the breadline and would rather avoid the costs of fixing our cars when he gets no money in return. However, neither myself or the chap with the damaged wing have given up and last week I finally got my boot sorted. Not by fixing my actual boot, but by repainting the boot on his own car fitted with said spoiler from orange to red. I'm happy - damn thing has enough stone chips if I keep it for a while as planned it'll need a proper respray anyway and for now it finally looks as intended, just 16 months later than hoped for.

[JonMad]

NIce. There are a couple of cool GT86s near me. One is a race car with a massive (Toyota factory option) spoiler on the back, and Evo 9 style vortex things on the rear of the roof.

[Jimexpl]

I remember the LT77 gearbox had output shaft problems but a drilling meant it got oil all of the time. It was mainly due to folks not greasing the shaft with the correct grease and it wearing out.
Very surprised they have the same issues on the 6 speed. To be fair though, they’ve only had since the 70s to refine it
Dave!

It seems to afflict every six speed at some point. I certain mine is showing signs of becoming worn (2012, 34,000 miles), and it runs out of warranty in three weeks, but I'm yet to convince the two dealers I use that it's a problem and you can bet it will fail before the end of the year!

They run without any grease on from the factory, other than some late builds that got a coating. Even when the main dealer reassembles them it's 50/50 on greasing, so the only true solution is to go to an independent and have an uprated ashcroft unit installed.

[speedingfine]

After a 'very long fucking time' I've finally got the bootlid/spoiler on my car sorted.

Longer version is that when I purchased the second 86 in May last year (from a chap who runs a garage that works largely on 86s) he had a twat-tastic carbon spoiler thing perched high up in the air on the back of the car. I laughed at it and said "take that off, I fucking hate spoilers, in fact the only one I've ever liked was the TRD ducktail/gurney flap thing offered as a TRD option on early (2012/2013) cars."

He of course had one and agreed to removed said stupid carbon spoiler and fit the ducktail effort as part of the cost and promptly temporarily taped over the holes with electrical tape. And then the weeks started flying by and they turned into months. Two sets of tape were fitted as they'd faded in the sun. Between myself and another fella in our club (dented wing when taken to said garage) not getting any joy in getting our cars fixed, things were beginning to get heated and pretty angry. Why it all took so long is anyone's guess - we're assuming as the guy's actually running his garage on the breadline and would rather avoid the costs of fixing our cars when he gets no money in return. However, neither myself or the chap with the damaged wing have given up and last week I finally got my boot sorted. Not by fixing my actual boot, but by repainting the boot on his own car fitted with said spoiler from orange to red. I'm happy - damn thing has enough stone chips if I keep it for a while as planned it'll need a proper respray anyway and for now it finally looks as intended, just 16 months later than hoped for.

I still really really want a GT86, but it'd have to be a replacement for the Caterham. I've made the error of trying to replace a 7 with a normal car and it didn't work last time Need to get both really!

Spoiler looks good Dave

[Sundayjumper]

I'm really starting to get why people become serial BMW owners.

You're one of us now