MOTOR CHAT

It's going to aviemore at the weekend fingers crossed! I couldn't get it booked in locally this week so I'll just need to risk it.

The Ken":3oi3fpls said:

It's going to aviemore at the weekend fingers crossed! I couldn't get it booked in locally this week so I'll just need to risk it.

Click to expand...

It'll be fine,......................... then again,.............................



i sold my 155 as i had an overwhelming feeling i was driving a car with a live grenade under the bonnet, the belt goes on one of these it destroy's the whole motor not just the valves.

Honestly though, it'll be fine


:?:

My Beemer is going out to a BMW specialist in Hamilton on Saturday, needing the rear wheel bearings and suspension arms replaced, looked at doing the job myself but would have needed to buy/borrow a ton of kit (slide hammer, gear puller, etc), and even then it's a potential ballache, not motivated to strip the car down on a freezing cold driveway either (been putting the job off for about two months) so going to dig deep and pay someone else.

Only the third time i've trusted a garage with one of my cars and the other two times i was unimpressed :roll:

The Ken":2v1dvj1z said:

gnawamurney":2v1dvj1z said:

I fix these feckin things for a living! There are a few well known issues with them but apart from the wildly over-optimistic timing belt replacement intervals they are no worse than anything else and actually better than most. If you want to know anything about them give me a shout.

Click to expand...

what do you charge for a cambelt etc/waterpump change?

Click to expand...

I usually get about £50 (I work for someone else)

Have you tried Weavers in Cathcart? Pretty good with us over the last 5 years or so. Not the cheapest though.

http://rwweavers.com/findus.asp

jimihendrix":3f3y4lq3 said:

My Beemer is going out to a BMW specialist in Hamilton on Saturday, needing the rear wheel bearings and suspension arms replaced, looked at doing the job myself but would have needed to buy/borrow a ton of kit (slide hammer, gear puller, etc), and even then it's a potential ballache, not motivated to strip the car down on a freezing cold driveway either (been putting the job off for about two months) so going to dig deep and pay someone else.

Only the third time i've trusted a garage with one of my cars and the other two times i was unimpressed :roll:

Click to expand...

Cheers Iain, will give them a bell in the morning

Persevere - they're good mechanics and therefore not always able to answer the phone. Can take a few attempts. Recommended on the various BMW forums too

They've done my 328 since I bought it - no dramas

Mr Panda":3f50lajy said:

Persevere - they're good mechanics and therefore not always able to answer the phone. Can take a few attempts. Recommended on the various BMW forums too

They've done my 328 since I bought it - no dramas

Click to expand...

Got a quick answer at 0900 thismorning , spoke to Andy, he phoned back a while later with a price, will leave the car with him on Saturday.

Quote is at the higher end of what i was expecting but going with it anyway

It's car shopping time again and sadly the two seater Fiat has got to go. We're going to buy new, but there's a 5-6 month wait on the car we want, and mrs rumble needs something that's more practical/economical ASAP as she needs it for work. Plan is to get a runaround for the 6 months while we wait for the new motor then trade it in. Two choices I could get as pretty close to a cashless swap for the Barchetta, both 2003 models:

1: Suzuki Ignis Sport. Just under 70k miles, 6 months MOT.
2: Alfa 147 2.0 TS. Just under 50k miles, FSH, also 6 months MOT.

I think either would probably do the job for 6 months, think the wee Suzuki would be a bit of a laugh but then I've never had an Alfa yet. On the other hand I think if I went for the Alfa I might fall in love and then be loathe to trade it in when the time comes. Suzuki is also cheaper to insure, tax and gets better mpg - so it's a no-brainer is it?

Yup it is a no brainer, my Alfa is like a jinxed bag of spanners and costs a fortune for essential maintainance and drinks fuel... you will also need a new timing belt unless it has been fitted already: £400+

Best bet would be to check out the alfa forum see all the issues then buy the alfa anyway

I love mine and will be very sad to see it go.