Your fleet running reports

[Jobbo]

Not sure how the levelling works but if it's anything like my E39 BMW, there are little rods connecting the suspension arms to sensors which measure where the suspension sits. One of mine came off its ball joint which meant the car sat at a funny angle because it couldn't read the height. Popped back on and it was fine.

[mik]

Disco 3/4 had a similar system. Aftermarket rods were available so you could fool the system and get it to extend the height beyond the normal reach.

[integrale_evo]

I'd imagine you could get a £15k credit card or loan, spunk all that on parts and repairs, then sell the car at market value, pay the credit card off and still have another £15k in cash left over

It’s not the money that’s the issue as yes it would be more than recouped if I sold it.

It’s more being a fussy bastard and if I’m going to pay someone an absurd amount of money to work on my cars then I want it absolutely perfect, not just better than I can do in my garden for a few hundred quid.

I will probably end up doing the structural welding and underside refurbishment myself and pay someone to do the exterior if I can find someone who will do it properly whilst also being good value for money - that doesn’t mean cheap, but work which justifies the outlay.

[integrale_evo]

Well, after a couple of month long saga trying to get it started ( which I’ll probably post about at some point ) it now runs. Ish.

The petrol smells nothing like petrol, and it’s running an alpha n setup so I can use open throttles or a carbon airbox to get rid of the awful ancient tech moving flap air flow meter. It also needs an air temp sensor which I don’t have connected yet.

Cameraphone mic kills the nice bits of the noise too.

But there’s definitely fuel and spark…

[Sundayjumper]

Hot rod stance

The car is fine, I had jacked the front up without putting the suspension into "service" mode so it had a bit of a paddy and that's what it looked like when I put it back on the ground. I felt it was worth a photo & a cheap laugh.

[Gavin]

Well after quite a long time in the garage, it turns out the actuator was fine and it was in fact the flap motor. Does whatever swirl flaps do on a Beemer.

Not an expensive part but buried under the turbo, deep in the V.

Anyway, runs like new again and hopefully no return trip to garage any time soon.

[speedingfine]

Well after quite a long time in the garage, it turns out the actuator was fine and it was in fact the flap motor. Does whatever swirl flaps do on a Beemer.

Not an expensive part but buried under the turbo, deep in the V.

Anyway, runs like new again and hopefully no return trip to garage any time soon.

Dare I ask how much? Glad it's sorted

[speedingfine]

The W124 sold on Monday, £2700 to a really enthusiastic bloke who came with his family and couldn't wait to drive it to the Golf Club

I paid £1600 in 2016. Did £1700 of repairs to get it through the MOT this year tho

It was absolutely lovely, super relaxing to drive, the six sounded good too, but unfortunately it just wasn't getting used, and with our new dog a saloon isn't really a goer, especially one with mushroom leather! I shall miss playing 90s hip hop albums at high volume with all the windows down.





Looks like I might have to buy a boring car next, I have no enthusiasm for the search at all yet, sadly B5 RS4s aren't in budget

[Beany]

Be curious to hear a broad breakdown of the repairs done, having done similar evonomics to justify the continuing use of the Puma - although I think your math might be more sensible than mine was

[speedingfine]

Be curious to hear a broad breakdown of the repairs done, having done similar evonomics to justify the continuing use of the Puma - although I think your math might be more sensible than mine was

Happy to show my very silly workings

Well the fail list was pretty ugly (see below) welding and bodywork was required elsewhere too and I knew the car would have to look decent to be able to sell it for stronger money as most shonky ones don't fetch much at all. MOT failures and breaker cars sell for about £600 even ones with a leather interior like mine.

[Gavin]

Well after quite a long time in the garage, it turns out the actuator was fine and it was in fact the flap motor. Does whatever swirl flaps do on a Beemer.

Not an expensive part but buried under the turbo, deep in the V.

Anyway, runs like new again and hopefully no return trip to garage any time soon.

Dare I ask how much? Glad it's sorted

It was £1000. That did include two new wingmirrors though which was £300ish of the bill. Cheaper than having them stripped and all the wires checked as it was likely a wire had chafed through when the mirrors folded in.

I have the old ones, so can look at them and fix them if it is simple. Probably get most of my money back flogging them as they were cheaper pre-painted from Mercedes than they were second hand from a breakers. Go figure.

The flap motor was only £170ish plus VAT, rest was labour...

[Beany]

Be curious to hear a broad breakdown of the repairs done, having done similar evonomics to justify the continuing use of the Puma - although I think your math might be more sensible than mine was

Happy to show my very silly workings

Well the fail list was pretty ugly (see below) welding and bodywork was required elsewhere too and I knew the car would have to look decent to be able to sell it for stronger money as most shonky ones don't fetch much at all. MOT failures and breaker cars sell for about £600 even ones with a leather interior like mine.

Ah, rear vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced, my old nemesis.

I'd have liked to have thrown a grand at the Puma to get it cleaned up properly and sold it for *something* but not having a grand kinda ruled that one out....

[drcarlos]

Chimaera chucked an oil light at me yesterday. After the initial panic I looked at the pressure gauge that was reading fine (two separate sensors and circuits) and drove home. The light went on and off going over bumps. Light went straight out this morning when I started it, so I've arrived at a failing pressure switch, It's the original part so 25 years and 82k old. I phoned the local LR specialist and they have one for the princely sum of £7 so I'll swap it out tomorrow and go from there. If it isn't the sensor it will be a wire grounding issue.

The boys Corsa seems to have stuffed either the waterpump or thermostat, I think it's the waterpump as nothing came out of the thermostat bypass with the engine running, I'm not going to tackle that and an old mate who is a mobile mechanic is coming to look at it Tuesday.

[16vCento]

Big pop, Restricted Performance message, red triangle, no power.

It wasn't joking then

Just coming out of traffic, not even at 1/4 throttle and it decided that was enough for the day.

Low boost codes logged, found the intercooler air inlet duct has split in two, new information time then!

Just need to book it in with my local Jaguar dealer and then they can present the warranty company with a bill for it, deep joy!

[Nic]

Be curious to hear a broad breakdown of the repairs done, having done similar evonomics to justify the continuing use of the Puma - although I think your math might be more sensible than mine was

Happy to show my very silly workings

Well the fail list was pretty ugly (see below) welding and bodywork was required elsewhere too and I knew the car would have to look decent to be able to sell it for stronger money as most shonky ones don't fetch much at all. MOT failures and breaker cars sell for about £600 even ones with a leather interior like mine.

I’m 4k in to the welding and resto on the front end of my 124 so far, thankfully the back isn’t too bad.

[speedingfine]

Photos always welcome Nic, can't remember you having one!

[mik]

Have never loved jet black wheels.

Kept the Evora oem as the gloss black rims were part of the Sports Racer “black pack” (can I say that?), and when squeaky clean - I had to admit they worked well.

As soon as they got a bit dirty and the edges could no longer be picked out easily with a glance - they looked less convincing.

I always said that - when they got a bit scabby - I would go for something a smidge lighter to lift the visuals a bit.

After aeons of deliberation - I went for anthracite with a satin as opposed to gloss finish. I am happy. (But need to paint the wheel nuts now!)

Before and Afters. Different days obviously, but untweaked images.

Front





Side





Back

[V8Granite]

They would look amazing in a really lusty silver

Dave!

[V8Granite]

Be curious to hear a broad breakdown of the repairs done, having done similar evonomics to justify the continuing use of the Puma - although I think your math might be more sensible than mine was

Happy to show my very silly workings

Well the fail list was pretty ugly (see below) welding and bodywork was required elsewhere too and I knew the car would have to look decent to be able to sell it for stronger money as most shonky ones don't fetch much at all. MOT failures and breaker cars sell for about £600 even ones with a leather interior like mine.

I’m 4k in to the welding and resto on the front end of my 124 so far, thankfully the back isn’t too bad.

Snap, pretty much the same figure for the front of mine. It will be the same for the back as it was completely gutted of everything and all made new.

To do a long lasting job isn’t cheap but the cars deserve it.

Dave!

[Mito Man]

Have never loved jet black wheels.

Kept the Evora oem as the gloss black rims were part of the Sports Racer “black pack” (can I say that?), and when squeaky clean - I had to admit they worked well.

As soon as they got a bit dirty and the edges could no longer be picked out easily with a glance - they looked less convincing.

I always said that - when they got a bit scabby - I would go for something a smidge lighter to lift the visuals a bit.

After aeons of deliberation - I went for anthracite with a satin as opposed to gloss finish. I am happy. (But need to paint the wheel nuts now!)

Before and Afters. Different days obviously, but untweaked images.

Wheres the afters?