OV9

Posted: **Mon Jul 27, 2026 10:44 am**

MikeHunt wrote: Mon Jul 27, 2026 9:53 am Am I the only one here that doesnt want the garage yet kid covering my car in swirls?

No - I always ask them not to wash (but if they want to hoover it - fine). I don't need my wheels acid-cleaned.

Posted: **Mon Jul 27, 2026 11:12 am**

PaulJ wrote: Mon Jul 27, 2026 10:17 am
MikeHunt wrote: Mon Jul 27, 2026 9:53 am Am I the only one here that doesnt want the garage yet kid covering my car in swirls?
Is correct. Porsche always ask and I politely decline, as I enjoy doing it myself.

I should hope at £250+/hour labour rates on servicing they have proper detailers for their cleaning!

Posted: **Mon Jul 27, 2026 11:15 am**

mik wrote: Mon Jul 27, 2026 10:44 am
MikeHunt wrote: Mon Jul 27, 2026 9:53 am Am I the only one here that doesnt want the garage yet kid covering my car in swirls?
No - I always ask them not to wash (but if they want to hoover it - fine). I don't need my wheels acid-cleaned.

Talking of which, are people still using Bilt Hamber to clean their wheels now? Mines almost run out, but it ain't cheap stuff

Posted: **Mon Jul 27, 2026 11:43 am**

Matty wrote: Mon Jul 27, 2026 11:15 am
Talking of which, are people still using Bilt Hamber to clean their wheels now? Mines almost run out, but it ain't cheap stuff

Kinda yes..... it's still my go-to, but I've g-techniq wheel armoured all current wheels immediately after refurb, so it's just been car shampoo since then.

Posted: **Mon Jul 27, 2026 2:50 pm**

Matty wrote: Mon Jul 27, 2026 11:15 am
mik wrote: Mon Jul 27, 2026 10:44 am
MikeHunt wrote: Mon Jul 27, 2026 9:53 am Am I the only one here that doesnt want the garage yet kid covering my car in swirls?
No - I always ask them not to wash (but if they want to hoover it - fine). I don't need my wheels acid-cleaned.
Talking of which, are people still using Bilt Hamber to clean their wheels now? Mines almost run out, but it ain't cheap stuff

Yes but I use it sparingly. The Jennychem citrus pre-wash does a pretty decent job of this, so I use a bit of both.

Posted: **Mon Jul 27, 2026 9:07 pm**

Not mine this time, the lad next door. He has a 118i - similar age to my 118d, funnily enough, but he's had his for ages. It developed a misfiring problem. He took it to a local BMW specialist, they did the plugs & coils. It didn’t cure it. They did the valve cover gasket. It didn’t cure it. They suggested he replace the MAF himself and let them know whether that cures it.

He wasn’t sure so his mum texted my wife to ask if I have a BMW specialist that I use when it’s something I can’t do myself.

My wife replied that it's never happened yet but if it does we'll let them know

I had a look at the car and read the codes. Main error being the engine running too lean. Live data showed the lambda reading not changing at all while driving. I decided it was probably a duff lambda sensor.

New sensor arrived and I went over this evening. Old lambda sensor:

: IMG_9479(1).JPEG (60.54 KiB) Viewed 183 times

That is NOT an engine that's running lean ! Looks like the lambda failed and was telling the ECU the mixture was lean. The ECU adds more fuel, the lambda still reports lean mixture, the ECU adds more fuel... etc. until the ECU maxes out its adaptation and triggers the check engine light. Meanwhile everything will be getting caked in soot.

Very very easy to replace and from a short test drive there is now no misfiring and no check engine light.

So how TF did a BMW specialist have the car in twice and not diagnose this ? Then, disillusioned with the specialist, they asked the weird bloke who lives next door and he (touch wood!) nailed it on the first guess. Yet another entry on my list of reasons why I don't trust other people to work on my cars.

Posted: **Tue Jul 28, 2026 9:42 am**

Drove by the nearest Ford garage and asked if they could top up the power steering fluid. An hour later I'm back at my dad's. They checked for leaks, but couldn't see anything, and topped up 35 something. Receipt doesn't specify the metric, just the quantity, but he said it was quite low.

Can't have been litres, but 35 ml or dl? Either way, that's hopefully the end of the car related issues for this holiday. Cheaper than France and Spain, if that holds.

Posted: **Tue Jul 28, 2026 9:52 am**

The o-ring on the power steering reservoir on the ML was leaking a long while back and it dropped maybe 10mm below minimum. The noises it made when cold were pretty loud but air in hydraulics do sound like that.

O-ring replaced and fluid topped up, silent again and that was about 60,000 miles ago now so I wouldn't worry too much.

Dave!

Posted: **Tue Jul 28, 2026 9:53 am**

It’ll just be 35ml I expect. Sounds like a job jobbed.

Posted: **Tue Jul 28, 2026 9:56 am**

Sundayjumper wrote: Mon Jul 27, 2026 9:07 pm Not mine this time, the lad next door. He has a 118i - similar age to my 118d, funnily enough, but he's had his for ages. It developed a misfiring problem. He took it to a local BMW specialist, they did the plugs & coils. It didn’t cure it. They did the valve cover gasket. It didn’t cure it. They suggested he replace the MAF himself and let them know whether that cures it.

He wasn’t sure so his mum texted my wife to ask if I have a BMW specialist that I use when it’s something I can’t do myself.

My wife replied that it's never happened yet but if it does we'll let them know

I had a look at the car and read the codes. Main error being the engine running too lean. Live data showed the lambda reading not changing at all while driving. I decided it was probably a duff lambda sensor.

New sensor arrived and I went over this evening. Old lambda sensor:

IMG_9479(1).JPEG

That is NOT an engine that's running lean ! Looks like the lambda failed and was telling the ECU the mixture was lean. The ECU adds more fuel, the lambda still reports lean mixture, the ECU adds more fuel... etc. until the ECU maxes out its adaptation and triggers the check engine light. Meanwhile everything will be getting caked in soot.

Very very easy to replace and from a short test drive there is now no misfiring and no check engine light.

So how TF did a BMW specialist have the car in twice and not diagnose this ? Then, disillusioned with the specialist, they asked the weird bloke who lives next door and he (touch wood!) nailed it on the first guess. Yet another entry on my list of reasons why I don't trust other people to work on my cars.

I hate with a passion the lack of diagnostics currently used by some garages. Basic fault finding....

Confirm fault
Live readings
Component check
Change in a logical order if nothing jumps out

Parts cannon garages show how little some people know imo.

Dave!

Posted: **Tue Jul 28, 2026 10:04 am**

I'm definitely moving it to the job jobbed column until I know different.

Posted: **Tue Jul 28, 2026 11:09 am**

Sundayjumper wrote: Mon Jul 27, 2026 9:07 pm Yet another entry on my list of reasons why I don't trust other people to work on my cars.

I wonder if Sreten from M539 has similar neighbours popping over

Posted: **Tue Jul 28, 2026 1:15 pm**

I'm always aware that many drivers tailgate low cars and then don't pay attention to the car they are now crawling all over. The break lights on the Caterham are really low and many owners fit a high level version so that it is a bit more in the following driver's eyeline. "Just Add Lightness" will relieve you of £95 for this version

Being an adopted Yorkshiremen I found this a bit hard to swallow so hit ebay and found this for a fiver

It's actually a trailer fog light but is the same wattage so shouldn't be a problem. Caterham kindly supply a plug ready to add the wiring to so that makes fitting fairly straightforward

Including buying a roll of cable from Halfords the total cost was £9.98

Posted: **Tue Jul 28, 2026 1:38 pm**

Great functional improvement, and whilst it doesn't exactly look pretty or OEM - I don't think it looks any worse than the JustAddLightness option.

I still occaisionally think about trying to fit a pair of Hella Black Magic LED Cubes into the grille of the Evora. Or the shallow-but-wide spot "bar" from the same range just above the registration plate. I'll never get round to it, but I'd love a bit more light for night drives.....

Posted: **Tue Jul 28, 2026 1:47 pm**

I'm confused. Isn't it meant to be fitted on the diffuser? That's what all the cool kids do these days.

Posted: **Tue Jul 28, 2026 1:49 pm**

I've just had a quick look at the Hella lights, very understated and very different from the in your face Cibie Super Oscars we used to fit

Posted: **Tue Jul 28, 2026 1:50 pm**

DeskJockey wrote: Tue Jul 28, 2026 1:47 pm I'm confused. Isn't it meant to be fitted on the diffuser? That's what all the cool kids do these days.

Ahh, that is the problem. I have never been and never will be cool

Posted: **Tue Jul 28, 2026 1:52 pm**

John wrote: Tue Jul 28, 2026 1:50 pm
DeskJockey wrote: Tue Jul 28, 2026 1:47 pm I'm confused. Isn't it meant to be fitted on the diffuser? That's what all the cool kids do these days.
Ahh, that is the problem. I have never been and never will be cool

you could start by fitting the light on the diffuser, and then progress to wearing [insert whatever clothing style is in]? Before you know it you'll be invited to hang down by McDonald's.

Posted: **Tue Jul 28, 2026 1:53 pm**

I'm having trouble locating the diffuser

Posted: **Tue Jul 28, 2026 3:31 pm**

DeskJockey wrote: Tue Jul 28, 2026 10:04 am I'm definitely moving it to the job jobbed column until I know different.

I know different. It creaks. Pants.

OV9

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