Davie's french attraction.

[NewcastleFalcon]

I will still look on here occasionally, but I'm sure that you gents dont really want to hear about my Spanish and Japanese vehicles, as this is the French car forum!

The most interesting blog on the forum with due acknowledgement of your own Davie, is Zels Fleet Blog, and its a credit to the FCF community that he chooses to document his tales on here. Yes there is a tiny bit Xantia stuff with Jim's old steed but his current tales of his Mercedes Motor Home and his new Jaguar XJS and Ac Invacar etc etc are fascinating to read.

Some of us like me, hang around lets say as a "country Member" with the flimsiest of French car connections now..(two Clios in my "maintenance fleet") and enjoy the chat and banter on the Off-Topic Car Lounge simply because the community is the best. You are very much part of that community Davie so I hope you continue to join in where you can.

Regards Neil

[white exec]

Absolutely. Don't lose touch, Davie - your tales of comings and goings, home and work, the fleet - and the most comfortable seats to be had - are always a good read.
Take care up there!

[myglaren]

Just stick some chevrons on it and all will be well Davie.

[Hell Razor5543]

Davie, you will always be welcome here.

[Zelandeth]

Absolutely echoing what's been said above. We're always interested to hear what's been going on with you and the fleet, the badge on the front is immaterial from that perspective.

[daviemck2006]

I am not disapearing from here altogether. Here is the beast on question as it came to me. There is very little damage to it, certainly not enough to warrant it being a write off, category N. The fromt bumper is now fixed sufficiently, the drivers side has light scratches right down it which for now is staying as it is. I have already been offered 3 grand more than I paid for it as it is which is very tempting, but I want it so for now have turned it down.

[daviemck2006]

2 months since I last posted on here! As said I haven't disappeared totally. My cars are behaving themselves, only just in the case of the bmw. Its gearbox I'd a little iffy, lumpy changes when cold and occasionally jumping out of gear. The other two have absolutely nothing to report running wise, but the Leon is starting to get abused being the work car. So I went and bought car number 4, a banger for work. Well although it was banger money it is actually in really good condition with a massive service history. So what is it? I'm afraid it's not french, it's another German. It's a vw bora 1.9pd 130 which has covered a mere 238000 miles. It's a well looked after thing though and is in top highline spec. This includes such goodies as full leather heated seats, aircon, alloys, cruise and climate. It was actually very comfy on the long (391 mile) drive home. Probably as everything has softened up after its 15 years and mileage. The heated seats will be a godsend in the winter, but being manual won't be the best for my knackered back and leg. I've had no real interest in getting rid of the bmw, that's nearly 9 months I have owned it and I've only done 850 miles. The Joy's of trying to move on 4.4 litres of V8 thirst. It's going to get shoved on the bay of evil soon, and if that doesn't move it then it's the car auctions and take what I get.

[daviemck2006]

As of the weekend I shall no longer own a bmw I am not intending buying something else for myself, although I did do a buy a couple of weeks ago. It is a joint buy though, I shall use it for deliveries and my errant son will use it for commuting. He does seem to have calmed down so hopefully he wont break it. It's another German though, but remarkably comfortable both in seat comfort and ride for a vw. It's a 2005 bora 1.9pd with 240k on the clock and drives really well. It was only a few hundred quid with an mot to well into next year and a complete service history. If it does to mot time and save the leon from getting wrecked on the pizza run it will do. The leon will stay another year yet then I may look for a cactus or c3

[daviemck2006]

The recently bought bora got a big service. Oil, filters, timing belt, water pump, auxiliary belt, coolant, two part worn tyres. Seems crazy spending that much on a 15 year old car with over 240000 miles covered but that keeps up its impeccable service history. Serviced at every 10k miles without fail, new timing belts at 80k, 160k and now240k. I am totally surprised how comfy it is. It knocks spots off the seat leon, which is a newer version of the same chassis. It may be time to move on the Leon, I don't need two so similar cars.

The reason I'm here today though is to report on the 107 owned by Shaun. The gearbox was pulled out of it today to in estimate a clutch fault. The clutch was replaced with a new one when the engine was swapped. It has done approx 15k since. The clutch biting point was always near the floor, but it lost the clutch completely a few weeks ago. Adjusting the cable got it back, but still right at the bottom of the travel. Then it lost the clutch again, hence the gearbox coming out for a look. We haven't removed the actual clutch yet, as the release bearing is goosed. Shaun decided not to remove the clutch but I think since we are this far in I shall remove it tomorrow for a look before I order just a release bearing. I got the last clutch, and honestly cannot remember which make of clutch it was or if it was a 2 or 3 piece clutch kit. I think it would have been an LUK one, but by no means sure. I know these cars have a reputation for bad clutches but that was the earlier ones and by the age of this car, 2012 they apparently had upgraded clutches. Perhaps it was an earlier clutch kit was fitted by mistake. I would only find that out by measuring the clutch plate, so it has to come out then. Oh well I guess I will be under a 107 for a little time tomorrow!

[CitroJim]

False economy not to replace the complete clutch Davie... Yes, by 2012 the uprated clutch was definitely fitted...

Interested to know what kind of job a clutch is in a C1... Easy or difficult? Just in case I ever have to do a clutch job on Robyn's C1...

[Hell Razor5543]

Wasn't there an issue with the clutch in early C1, Peugeot 107 and Toyota Aygo cars? I think it was replaced with a better clutch later on.

https://clutch-repair.co.uk/2020/05/21/ ... ugeot-107/

[mickthemaverick]

Indeed there was. SWMBO had an Aygo with the small clutch which wore out at 23000 miles. I replaced it with the larger one and all was fine. Not certain but I believe the original was 7" and the replacement 8". The car went on to 65000 without another problem and she sold it to a first time test passer across the road. She ran it for a further two years without complaint and sold it on with 88000 on the clock.

[Zelandeth]

The clutch on mine was done at about 40K from memory when the release bearing self destructed. Though it had spent at least 20K with the cable adjusted too tightly - with my having been told by the dealer repeatedly that it was self adjusting. The clutch itself apparently still looked pretty much like new when it came out. The bill from Two Wrestlers was about £300 including a LUK full clutch kit if I remember right.

[CitroJim]

The bill from Two Wrestlers was about £300 including a LUK full clutch kit if I remember right.

That sort of price suggests it's not a difficult job then

[Michel]

The bill from Two Wrestlers was about £300 including a LUK full clutch kit if I remember right.

That sort of price suggests it's not a difficult job then

Having been under the bonnet of a C1 often enough, I presume one simply holds the engine out of the way with one hand and lifts the gearbox out with the other