Your fleet running reports

[Explosive Newt]

Bit of a suprise yesterday when I started the Boxster up and was engulfed in a huge white cloud of smoke. Cleared in seconds, no smell left behind, Running fine, never done it before, cold started it again in the evening and it didn't do it again. It had torrentially rained the previous day and I wondered if that had washed something through an air intake or somesuch.

Browsing the forums, apparently it 'just happens' without any long-lasting harm and is blamed on a lousy air-oil separator. Stories of it happening at random roughly once a year to people. A bit unnerving nontheless, need to go back to Northway over a couple of minor things so shall mention it to them.

If the AOS has completely failed usually the white smoke will continue after start up. The smoke you're seeing is a small amount of oil that settles in the cylinders when the car is stood and burns off on start up (usually first start in a morning or after being parked for several days). The flat 6s are renowned for doing it (mine does too).

If it happens regularly you can try switching to slightly thicker oil (5W rather than 0W) to see if that helps. AOS do go regularly though - it has been replaced on mine and had deteriorated to the point that the intake was covered in a film of oil

Just a one off, touch wood. It had been parked up for about 48 hours. Rather alarming and I was quite glad I didn’t have an audience for it!

[John]

The mx5 had a service today, engine oil and rear break pads.

Nice to see it.

I've only done around 2000 miles in it so I don't see it too often either

[Mike1215]

Bit of a suprise yesterday when I started the Boxster up and was engulfed in a huge white cloud of smoke. Cleared in seconds, no smell left behind, Running fine, never done it before, cold started it again in the evening and it didn't do it again. It had torrentially rained the previous day and I wondered if that had washed something through an air intake or somesuch.

Browsing the forums, apparently it 'just happens' without any long-lasting harm and is blamed on a lousy air-oil separator. Stories of it happening at random roughly once a year to people. A bit unnerving nontheless, need to go back to Northway over a couple of minor things so shall mention it to them.

If the AOS has completely failed usually the white smoke will continue after start up. The smoke you're seeing is a small amount of oil that settles in the cylinders when the car is stood and burns off on start up (usually first start in a morning or after being parked for several days). The flat 6s are renowned for doing it (mine does too).

If it happens regularly you can try switching to slightly thicker oil (5W rather than 0W) to see if that helps. AOS do go regularly though - it has been replaced on mine and had deteriorated to the point that the intake was covered in a film of oil

Just a one off, touch wood. It had been parked up for about 48 hours. Rather alarming and I was quite glad I didn’t have an audience for it!

My old 1.4 Fiesta did something similar - not an AOS fault ...... Just oil seeping past the valve stem seals.

Good thing was you could change the seals with head in situ

[Rich B]

The Mrs’ F31 320d is booked into a BMW dealer to have a gearbox crunch looked at (under warranty). I’m currently sat waiting for a lift to work with a cup of tea and some biscuits - I’ve never had a car serviced at a main dealer before - it’s all very pleasant!

[NotoriousREV]

The Mrs’ F31 320d is booked into a BMW dealer to have a gearbox crunch looked at (under warranty). I’m currently sat waiting for a lift to work with a cup of tea and some biscuits - I’ve never had a car serviced at a main dealer before - it’s all very pleasant!

It is - unless you’re paying

[Rich B]

The Mrs’ F31 320d is booked into a BMW dealer to have a gearbox crunch looked at (under warranty). I’m currently sat waiting for a lift to work with a cup of tea and some biscuits - I’ve never had a car serviced at a main dealer before - it’s all very pleasant!

It is - unless you’re paying

If they go waving any bills around, I’m outta here!!!

[mik]

The Mrs’ F31 320d is booked into a BMW dealer to have a gearbox crunch looked at (under warranty). I’m currently sat waiting for a lift to work with a cup of tea and some biscuits - I’ve never had a car serviced at a main dealer before - it’s all very pleasant!

It is presumably a manuel? Synchro crunch?

[Rich B]

The Mrs’ F31 320d is booked into a BMW dealer to have a gearbox crunch looked at (under warranty). I’m currently sat waiting for a lift to work with a cup of tea and some biscuits - I’ve never had a car serviced at a main dealer before - it’s all very pleasant!

It is presumably a manuel? Synchro crunch?

yep, into 2nd gear (anything over 2.5k revs it’ll crunch.)

[NotoriousREV]

Dragging clutch?

[Rich B]

Dragging clutch?

i think it’s a fairly common one on these - 2nd gear synchro. I guess we’ll find out later though...

[Jobbo]

Next time, remember to ask for a courtesy car.

[Rich B]

Next time, remember to ask for a courtesy car.

are you sat behind me or something?!!?

[Jobbo]

Please don't fart in the showroom.

[Matty]

Next time, remember to ask for a courtesy car.

Unless you're in a Merc showroom, then that'll be £50 please.

Also, when I was waiting in the Jag showroom, I got tea with a proper cup and saucer, on a doily, with a side biscuit. They probably wouldn't have done if they'd have known I was only in there because of the Lotus dealer downstairs.

[240PP]

Audi are always really good when I take the A5 in for a service. Pricing is sensible too.

They’re a bit tight on handing out courtesy cars but they’ll happily give lifts or order taxis on their account to and from work etc.

[McSwede]

Next time, remember to ask for a courtesy car.

Unless you're in a Merc showroom, then that'll be £50 please.

In my experience Mercedes dealers are cheeky bastards when it comes to charging for stuff and also when making it sound like your car "needs" some" work done for example discs & pads.

[mik]

In my experience ALL dealers are cheeky bastards when it comes to charging for stuff and also when making it sound like your car "needs" some" work done for example discs & pads.

EFA

To be fair to them they do have to cater for the masses, who will come in complaining that their car has failed an MOT 'cos the pads are knackered, when the dealership didn't mention this at all during the service 11 months / 20k miles ago, and I demand my money back.

[Simon]

Next time, remember to ask for a courtesy car.

Unless you're in a Merc showroom, then that'll be £50 please.

Had an A-Class courtesy car twice recently when mine was in the dealer for some warranty work, and the dealer waved the (£15) daily charge on both occasions.

[Mito Man]

That’s so generous of them to not charge you for a shitty courtesy car when they’re fixing something on your car which shouldn’t have been broken in the first place
Yes, I’m being ironic.

[NotoriousREV]

That’s so generous of them to not charge you for a shitty courtesy car when they’re fixing something on your car which shouldn’t have been broken in the first place
Yes, I’m being ironic.

I think you mean sarcastic. Irony would be the courtesy car breaking down.