Davie's french attraction.

[Stickyfinger]

B-ought M-y W-reck

[Zelandeth]

Have to admit that the only BMW I've ever really enjoyed driving was the 635CSi Alpina a friend used to have. It was quite unlike anything I'd driven before or since until the XJS arrived unexpectedly on my doorstep.

The others across the range seemed decent, competent cars but that was it. They didn't really stand out to me for any reason. The only one other than the 635 that I really remember was a really basic 316 a neighbor used to have. It was such a simple thing, didn't have huge amounts of power, but it was comfy, handled beautifully and had a gorgeous wailing exhaust note that never failed to put a smile on my face when it was worked hard. No power steering, no air con, no leather, no electric windows, don't think it even had central locking.

I'd definitely suggest getting the wheel alignment checked Davie. If it's using worm and roller steering there will be a lot more ball joints involved than on a car with rack and pinion steering, it doesn't take much play in these to make it feel vague. As someone who's been involved in cars with this steering system for a long number of years it's the first thing I'd check.

Tyres are a factor too...but I'd not even consider that until the alignment has been properly checked.

[daviemck2006]

B-ought M-y W-reck

Bloody minging wreck

[white exec]

I think you've fallen out with it, Davie, and no amount of surgery will rekindle affection.
Just out of interest, how did my XM measure up to the German barge?

[daviemck2006]

I think you've fallen out with it, Davie, and no amount of surgery will rekindle affection.
Just out of interest, how did my XM measure up to the German barge?

The bmw isnt a bad car, the steering may improve with tyres and alignment, but no amount of fettling would change the interior. If it had the grey seats/dash it would be a lot better. In comparison to your XM Chris, well the XM is comfier and a nicer ride, although theres not that much difference, I prefer a good turbo diesel which yours is, despite the awesome power of the 4.4 v8, your xm is a much nicer place in which to sit. However, to be honest an xm would have to be auto as I dont think I could live with the foot operated parking brake in a manual, so solely for that reason I would pick my bmw over your xm, but its heck of a close thing. If your car either had a normal handbrake, or was auto it would win no contest, if my car had a nicer colour interior and better steering, and the 3.0 straight 6 diesel it would be hard to beat. But as they are it's really close and either would be ok but not quite there.

It is booked in at kwikfit in dyce tomorrow morning to get a free alignment check, I have my son in law to drop off at Aberdeen airport for his trip offshore. I also have a battery ordered from euro car parts in Aberdeen for my friends picasso. They have one of their 50% off vouchers which is valid even though the battery is already discounted. It means a 120 odd quid battery for 43.50! 3 year warranty and the car is unlikely to last another 3 years so that's great. Speaking of her picasso it is going brilliantly and she loves it after the gearbox and clutch it needed.

[white exec]

Glad you had some good memories of our trip, even with those out-of-balance front tyres!
XM 2.5TD came with manual only - don't think any of the available auto boxes could cope with the torque.
XM 2.1TD was available auto, and most were.
There was a "handbrake" conversion that someone came up with, iirc.
I bet if Citroen were doing it again, the parking brake would be electric. Or voice controlled. Oh joy!

Best wishes!

[van ordinaire]

I hate foot operated parking brakes with avengeance, which is why, against my better judgment, I never use it in the Eldorado but a manual with one must make hill starts interesting.

[white exec]

Easy, once it becomes habit...

1 - Parking brake on
2 - Place R foot on brake, L foot on parking brake
3 - Release parking brake handle, keeping R foot on brake
4 - Lift L foot, transfer to clutch, engage 1st
5 - Raise clutch a little to obtain bite; a decent engine does not stall, due to ECU maintaining idle. Car is held on the hill.
6 - R foot still
on brake
7 - Take foot off foot btake, and
8 - Transfer R foot to accelerator, increase revs, clutch slowly released, and up you go.

After a few practise runs, it's done without thinking
Rapid and uneventful.

[Zelandeth]

Just take anything from that place with a pinch of salt...they tried to tell me when I went in to get a snapped exhaust rubber replaced that my entire rear braking system needed overhauling. Two days after I had done the entire lot, including all the pipes, myself!

Suffice to say they've never had my business again.

[daviemck2006]

Just take anything from that place with a pinch of salt...they tried to tell me when I went in to get a snapped exhaust rubber replaced that my entire rear braking system needed overhauling. Two days after I had done the entire lot, including all the pipes, myself!

Suffice to say they've never had my business again.

There wont be anything done, just the free check to see what they say. Its MOT is only 6 weeks away so Graham, my usual tester will get it soon to test before any work is done. It has done just over 5000 miles since the last one, it's quite possible it could need any ball joints or stuff for the test, so if there is alignment problems it's not worth doing them then possibly changing bits in the suspension. The once I did use that kwok fit it was for an mot on the ex wifes pug 206. It's back box was held up with wire, which I had forgotten about u til about 5 minutes before the test. I was fully expecting a fail, but it passed, and the tester said he was not bothered about it, it was not going to fall off! I was expecting to get the hard sale on a whole new exhaust there and then. Maybe sometimes kwok fit arent so bad as thought!

[Fake Concern]

The reason I pointed out the Kwik Fit alignment check is I took my C30 for one last week as the only place near that did the laser 4 wheel thing. The amazing thing was they were really good! They stick the car on the ramp and clamp a gizmo to each wheel then the setup is shown on the screen in the waiting room and they ask what you would like to do. I had the tracking done for about £50 but I could see for myself what all the toe in and out and camber was for all 4 wheels. Also I was impressed with how they dealt with all the customers there including your generic old lady in a Jazz who was worried the tyres were worn out, they reassured her they were fine and put the correct pressure in them told her come back in six months, no charge! Also a bloke with mobility car they went out of their way to make sure he had a good experience and got what he wanted. Maybe it's just my local branch, but I would say they were really great and I'll go back there. Not what I'd had in the past and not what I expected.
C30 T5 on ramp

Read out printed off for me

[daviemck2006]

I shall report tomorrow on the experience of the Dyce branch, which is one of the most local ones to me at 42 miles distant.

[Gibbo2286]

My daughter's experience involved the cops, she took her car in for an exhaust tail pipe, when she went to collect it they insisted that the tyres were below the legal limit, she, being my daughter, knew the rules very well but they insisted that they could not let her drive away with an unroadworthy car and that she MUST have new tyres fitted before they could release the car.

She walked out, straight to the local nick and came back with a cop, the car was released immediately and they were warned of prosecution if they tried that again and told that they would be being watched by the police and trading standards.

[myglaren]

Let's hope they learned their lesson and props to your daughter for resisting their fraudulent attempt.

[daviemck2006]

Well my experience was ok. Nothing wrong with the alignment and no pressure to do anything else. The guy who did the check is a 5 series owning e39 enthusiast. He is on his 7th one! He told me that in his opinion the best ones are the 530 and 535 6 cylinder ones. They have ample power, and different front suspension and steering from the V8 cars and drive much better. Unless you want outright power stick to the 6 cylinder ones, even diesel ones. So it appears that I have the wrong engine again. It's a bit like me preferring the humble 1.9td xantia over the activa. The higher power variants make little difference in the real world, just dearer to run on fuel.

However kwikfit are still up to their usual tricks. The reception guy phoned a customer while I was there who had put their ds3 in for a service. I saw the ds3 on the ramp it was a 16 plate so just coming on for 4 years old. It went something like your service is done and costs 159.99. However the boiling point of your brake fluid is a bit low and we think the car is dangerous. We can change the fluid for 39.99 extra. Also your front tyres are nearly bald on the inside edges so we recommend you get the alignment done, and we can replace the tyres for 125 each for goodyears. Your total will be just short of 500 pounds. The next I saw was the front wheels coming off so the owner must of said go ahead.

Then a guy came in with a van for a MOT. he was told come back in a couple of hours and it will be ready for you to collect, unless it fails the test then it cant leave here until it's fixed. So kwik fit rip off merchants are alive and well in Dyce still, although they couldnt take the mick with me!