MOTOR CHAT

[jimihendrix]

Re:

Swapped the Citroen XM i bought earlier in the year for a BMW E34 a few months ago, the Citroen was a lovely old thing but truith be told i didn't really bond with it, this BMW came up for sale, i offered the guy the Citroen and he accepted, he was from Bolton but we met in the Lake District to do the deal.

All went well, motor drives superb, it's a 525i Manual, everything works except the air con which i'll try getting re-charged in the spring, underside is 100% rust free which is nice.

Me being me i could'nt leave it alone, this era of BMW sits high at the front (or appears to due to the large arches) so i bought some 30mm lower springs and fitted those. Had a set of 18" Style 32 wheels off the 750 i had last year, bought new tyres for them and bunged those on, they were needing refurbished really so i sanded them down and rattle canned them black for now, then found out i could have got them re-done for only £180 :roll: , will get them done light grey in the spring.

Here's how it sits at the moment, i've still to find bright kidney trims for the grill and centre caps for the wheels so should look less drastic when that's done (and the black wheels are only temporary anyway)

Interior has all been retrimmed in cream leather, looks ok and is a decent job, not outstanding, a few areas to tidy up and time will tell how hard wearing the leather is (dont thing it's anywhere near BMW leather)

Also lifted the Discovery another 2", did this using spring spacers with the existing 2" springs, had to fit lowered shock towers at the front and longer shocks on the rear with pin top mounts, also fitted an adjustable Panhard rod to the front as the front axle moves sideways when lifted over 2"

Drives ace though the steering doesn't self centre too well, may need to buy an RTC Steering damper.

Passed the MOT last month with no advisories

 

[legrandefromage]

1350 miles travelled in the old merc this week

 

[M-Power]

Re:

Picked this up for the wife recently. She's called 'beauty' as named by my daughter :xmas-big-grin: Fiat 500 Twin Air Lounge, v low miles, in aubergine, has pref dark interior and all the goodies. Such a joy to drive and surprisingly quick up to 40mph... with only 85 ponies at full gallop.

Find I keep using it as its so nice to have zero hastle parking in tight spaces. Had it fitted with winter tyres...hopefully a waste of money if it's going to be a warm winter.

 

[highlandsflyer]

Re:

Surprisingly good in the snow, old A6 previously owned by fastidious young Pole who has been forced to move it on thanks to growing family. V6 2.4 Quattro won't set the world on fire, but is swift and tuneful enough, especially having been mildly tinkered with. 140k but all new suspension back and front and timing belt and main service, all receipted with full service history. Immaculate interior won't stay that way for long! Amazing what Gumtree throws up for £300 and you can snag for £200.. Won't cry when I hit the odd gate or wall on the ice.

 

[ajm]

Re: Re:

Swapped the Citroen XM i bought earlier in the year for a BMW E34 a few months ago, the Citroen was a lovely old thing but truith be told i didn't really bond with it, this BMW came up for sale, i offered the guy the Citroen and he accepted, he was from Bolton but we met in the Lake District to do the deal.

Ah, that's more like it. I prefer the stock look and an auto myself but each to their own... also an MOT with no advisories is pretty impressive for any Land Rover product never mind a fairly modded one

 

[highlandsflyer]

I think the answer is preparation. Once you have a number of MOTs under your belt you know what is required, especially referring to the MOT guides available.

Older vehicles are usually easier to check yourself too.

Thankfully, as the way things are now is daft, with no pre MOT checks.

Luckily I use a great place that will do them, albeit 'unofficially', and give you a couple of weeks after testing to get back for a free retest.

That Disco certainly looks smart, and of course I love the Beemer, right up my street!

I am currently vacillating over whether to ruggify our Range Rover Classic, or to clean it up and make it Savile Row suit sharp.

The wife wants to paint it chocolate brown, I want to finish it in Lancia Stratos green.

Mixing the two, it might be interesting.

Or totally puke inducing.

Either way, it is not due MOT until February so it will be pressed into service until then.

 

[jimihendrix]

I think the answer is preparation. Once you have a number of MOTs under your belt you know what is required, especially referring to the MOT guides available.

Older vehicles are usually easier to check yourself too.

Thankfully, as the way things are now is daft, with no pre MOT checks.

Luckily I use a great place that will do them, albeit 'unofficially', and give you a couple of weeks after testing to get back for a free retest.

That Disco certainly looks smart, and of course I love the Beemer, right up my street!

I am currently vacillating over whether to ruggify our Range Rover Classic, or to clean it up and make it Savile Row suit sharp.

The wife wants to paint it chocolate brown, I want to finish it in Lancia Stratos green.

Mixing the two, it might be interesting.

Or totally puke inducing.

Either way, it is not due MOT until February so it will be pressed into service until then.

Also helps being an ex mechanic and tester , know what you mean though, helps to find an older car friendly garage and keep taking it back there (then they are likely remember it from the previous year)

A monster RRC in puke green would be absolutely awesome

I love the Disco, the only thing is i wish it was a 3.9 petrol V8 instead of 300tdi just for the soundtrack

Love the Audi, amazing buy for £200

 

[Leighcal]

Just read through all 104 pages of this thread! Would have liked to have seen the 'm4/3 escort finished. Loving the disco! Can't beat them for working on and they are dreadful cars but once you've had one if you get rid you will always want another.
List of cars and bikes I've owned myself.
Started out on.
Montessa 315
Ty 80
Fabric motocross bike not sure of model.
Rm 125
Then road bikes started to appeal.
Gpz 600, had a few of these before speed got boring only been able to reach 135mph got boring so bought a old kwak zx 10, was brilliant in straight lines, touching 170mph but cornering wasn't brilliant.
Then got a yzf 750r. Never as popular as Hondas cbr but imo a much better bike. Very under rated.
Then a big break from big bikes and had countless 50 and 125cc bikes.
Then I bought a zzr 600 that had been semi street fightered. That was a awesome bike. Handled great and for the roads I rode was excellent.
Now cars.
Got into fixing cars at around 8 years old.
Cavalier Sri's, astra gte's etc.
Owned a couple of them
Maestro turbo.
Fiat uno turbo.
Carlton 3000gsi
Many others.
Sadly don't drive anymore or have bikes as I have a family to think about. But our lass does so we have the family estate car which is a Renault megane, 1.5dci sport tourer, 106bhp. Has the usual French problems. All 4 electric windows never work at the same time. Car locks and unlocks when it wants on fob. Had to have a new key done for it but luckily found a place that does the key and programming for the bargain price of £35, Renault charge 185+ for this and can take 6 weeks this guy does it on the spot. We get around 48mpg and that's round town and its cheap to insure and run, and we bought it earlier this year for £800 on a 07 plate so not a bad price and quite a bit of car for the money.

 

[Mr Panda]

Re:

180 degree spin in the Octavia the other day coming off the A90 slip into Aberdeen at approx 50mph, ending up on grass verge looking the wrong way........................

Can only guess at a patch of diesel or other fuel spillage incident when I dabbed the brakes slightly :evil:

Fortunately doesn't appear to have done any damage.

 

[legrandefromage]

Ooff!