Your fleet running reports

[mik]

Gf’s mini is making a graunching noise from nsr wheel and looks like there’s filings on the brake pad.. no jack so off to be checked/fixed tomorrow. I thought it was just a trapped stone but the filings worry me that it’s something more serious. Ideas?

Sounds like it's right through the pad material to the backing plate?

"Worst case" outcome to the above is pretty much new discs & pads, so far from ruinous.

[IanF]

Thanks @mik

[Sundayjumper]

Or, to worry you more totally shagged wheel bearing and the filings are from the wheel hitting the caliper.

[Sundayjumper]

He disconnected the 'smart' charging unit from the battery (which engages the alternator), and we had a healthy 14.4v.

...we've done 200 miles now without issue. I've got a new smart battery module arriving at the end of the week.

Can't you just leave it disconnected ? Or is it going to boil the battery by not giving it enough of a rest on long drive ?

[V8Granite]

It’s a modern car, it will be the passenger door handle microchip has a short which makes the car think it’s a hybrid and sets the alternator to 48V.

Removing the smart charge connector just sets a GPS based tracker alarm so it melts the battery terminals at least 100 miles from home and sets off the explosive positive terminal
Connection.

So, simply replace the entire wiring loom, easy.

Dave!

[jamcg]

The TT is now no longer worth what it needs. Bodywork tatty, needs new rear arms, front lowers, a Cat and 2 new rear tyres.

Total spent on tax, insurance, servicing, tyres 4 sets, 2 cambelt changes and shocks and h+r springs, Koni adjustables, plus a burbly stainless exhaust, £8710 in 55,000 miles and 8 years. We got the car for free as the engine was buggered so that’s total cost.

Average mpg 36.

ML average mpg 21.

So 55000 miles is 2619 gallons, average price of fuel call
It a low 125p, so £14,860 that would have cost us in fuel alone in the ML.

So by owning a second car we saved £6150

We all love man maths.

I’ve been given cart blanche for a similar car and all I can think of is Clio 182, I don’t like much else and Minis I don’t like how they drive, I’m a big fan of the RCZ as I just love that roof but the wife doesn’t like them.

I shall ponder and hopefully find one before Christmas.

Dave!

If you’re looking at anything renaultsport check out the history of belts/pulleys and dephasers. All expensive jobs that need to be done on schedule or you’re asking for problems. Also look for oil leaks between engine and gearbox and the gearbox end plate as they all go in those spots

The only thing I’m a bit worried about is rust, pulling the rear door cards out for the fuel filler etc. I really can’t deal with any paintwork.

I’ll need a nose around one at a dealer somewhere to make sure it’s going to fit us all in when needed but nothing else appeals currently. Budget up to 3.5k.

Dave!

In all seriousness- Join a Facebook group for them. The renaulsports have a massive fanboy following and they tend to change hands in the groups for less than you’ll see on autotrader or in dealers, plus they tend to have been looked after quite well in the clubs

[Beany]

I think - think - the main purpose of the smart charging unit is to take the alternator out of the loop so it drags the engine less, and it only enables the alternator when it's less likely to use fuel (ie it'll make it charge off throttle or during light braking, rather than on a steady throttle etc) or when it's badly needed (in the rain, at night, with lots of accessories on, etc).

Believe it's one of the reason the bigger engined cars like the x35i/x40i can do ~40mpg on a run in eco mode - less mechanical drag on the engine (it also uses the AC a lot less in Eco mode)

I'm not 100% on whether running without that and constantly charging would cause the ECM to throw a fit if the battery is constantly at 14v, though (it might expect it to float between 12-14 and consider constant 14v to be a fault) or whether constantly charging an AGM might impact it's lifespan, although I don't think it would. With that said, bear in mind that the alternator on the F20 135i/N55 is rated for over 200amp, and the E46 330 is ~120amp so it'll be throwing a fair bit more current in, which might be of concern?

If it's not throwing codes, I'd risk it for a biscuit - but maybe not use it for any long runs/as a daily till the part is replaced. You'd assume the failure mode of 'don't charge the battery' is there for a reason, but it genuinely could just be a shockingly bad design choice given that, as you've learned, it just lets the battery run flat without much warning

[Jimexpl]

I think - think - the main purpose of the smart charging unit is to take the alternator out of the loop so it drags the engine less, and it only enables the alternator when it's less likely to use fuel (ie it'll make it charge off throttle or during light braking, rather than on a steady throttle etc) or when it's badly needed (in the rain, at night, with lots of accessories on, etc).

Believe it's one of the reason the bigger engined cars like the x35i/x40i can do ~40mpg on a run in eco mode - less mechanical drag on the engine (it also uses the AC a lot less in Eco mode)

I'm not 100% on whether running without that and constantly charging would cause the ECM to throw a fit if the battery is constantly at 14v, though (it might expect it to float between 12-14 and consider constant 14v to be a fault) or whether constantly charging an AGM might impact it's lifespan, although I don't think it would. With that said, bear in mind that the alternator on the F20 135i/N55 is rated for over 200amp, and the E46 330 is ~120amp so it'll be throwing a fair bit more current in, which might be of concern?

If it's not throwing codes, I'd risk it for a biscuit - but maybe not use it for any long runs/as a daily till the part is replaced. You'd assume the failure mode of 'don't charge the battery' is there for a reason, but it genuinely could just be a shockingly bad design choice given that, as you've learned, it just lets the battery run flat without much warning

The internet suggests that I'll either explode or it will be perfectly happy and I should never think about it again!
I guess that every little helps with a 4.8 V8, so I'm replacing the module and have a new AGM battery sitting at home. The battery that came out was the correct AGM, whereas the temporary RAC battery is standard. Bimmer Code has let me configure the car for a standard battery, which is what I've done, and it seems to be getting 14.2-14.5v and the ECU has 13.2-13.5v, so everything seems happy.

Given where I broke down I think it's the fault of Ley Lines and the druids - when I broke down within 10 minutes of the same location eleven years ago in my white Landrover it was an alternator/charging issue, and the taxi driver said he's picked up four other people around this section of the A303 with charging issues in the last year.

[Beany]

You need to get some dowsing rods out there, see if you can find the exact part that caused the problem...

[nuttinnew]

That looks like a challenge to me…

Would a dirty wrap be cheating?

To add colour you could go for something like this;




perhaps with Glenlee written along the edge.

[Mito Man]

My mechanic had a dirty Martini wrap on his R8. It looked terrible

[nuttinnew]

Given where I broke down I think it's the fault of Ley Lines and the druids - when I broke down within 10 minutes of the same location eleven years ago in my white Landrover it was an alternator/charging issue, and the taxi driver said he's picked up four other people around this section of the A303 with charging issues in the last year.

Can you say which bit of that road to avoid please - I'm not sure about druids, but it's a wizard's sleeve when it happens.

[nuttinnew]

My mechanic had a dirty Martini wrap on his R8. It looked terrible

That's the wrap I was thinking of, you probably mentioned or posted a pic before

I'd also wondered about that pattern in shades of brown - not sharp edged like the org., fluid and gloopy - with Mudini wording.

[Matty]

Like this?

https://www.thevehiclewrappingcentre.co ... tini-wrap/

Yikes.

[IanF]

Like this?

https://www.thevehiclewrappingcentre.co ... tini-wrap/

Yikes.

I mean, I love a dirty martini, but that’s not it!

[Beany]

Like this?

https://www.thevehiclewrappingcentre.co ... tini-wrap/

Yikes.

Oh god that's tragic.

[Mito Man]

Yes similar to that.

[JonMad]

£8710 in 55,000 miles and 8 years
Average mpg 36.

ML average mpg 21.

So 55000 miles is 2619 gallons, average price of fuel call
It a low 125p, so £14,860 that would have cost us in fuel alone in the ML.

So by owning a second car we saved £6150

We all love man maths.

Apart from the £8680 you spent on fuel in the TT instead. Fine logic otherwise

[Rich B]

£8710 in 55,000 miles and 8 years
Average mpg 36.

ML average mpg 21.

So 55000 miles is 2619 gallons, average price of fuel call
It a low 125p, so £14,860 that would have cost us in fuel alone in the ML.

So by owning a second car we saved £6150

We all love man maths.

Apart from the £8680 you spent on fuel in the TT instead. Fine logic otherwise

and insurance, and tax….

[mik]

Apart from the £8680 you spent on fuel in the TT instead. Fine logic otherwise

and insurance, and tax….

Oi you two - just as I always enjoy seeing the Timculator being utilised to boost buying budgets, I was enjoying the deployment of the Bearculator to justify previous a purchase/aquisition.