1996 313kmile Xantia 1.9TD lost pops popping out of 5th fifth gear

[demag]

The more pics I see the terrifying it looks. I have visions of putting it all back with one wire hanging out and a completely dead car!

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[CitroJim]

The more pics I see the terrifying it looks. I have visions of putting it all back with one wire hanging out and a completely dead car!

It looks terrifying Dave but actually, in reality it's not half as bad as it appears if you work slowly and methodically

Each plug and wire has it's place!

[romie]

the wires don't matter anyway, once you've removed that immobiliser on that stop valve, (that was fun), everything else are just niceties :p heheh

[demag]

Strange thing is when I was younger I wouldn't have thought twice about that, just dived in. It must be an age thing. We're having the drive block paved this week, nothing unusual in that but its got me stressed out. I just want the mess sorted and everything done. They put some substrate down and I see a bloody cat has used it as Kittie litter in the night!

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[CitroJim]

Strange thing is when I was younger I wouldn't have thought twice about that, just dived in. It must be an age thing. We're having the drive block paved this week, nothing unusual in that but its got me stressed out. I just want the mess sorted and everything done. They put some substrate down and I see a bloody cat has used it as Kittie litter in the night!

Dave, I find the older I get the less I'm able to tolerate any stress at all. I have to actively work now to keep stress away and as low as possible; generally speaking I'm getting good at it...

I've thought about block paving a few times and then realise it would be pointless as in no time it would be oil stained so I stick with scruffy old concrete..

That's typical of a cat I saw one do the same to a neighbour's when he was doing his drive...

[demag]

The front was scruffy Jim. I wanted tarmac but apparently its expensive because of the oil content? Block paving is the cheapest option these days. That should read the least expensive!

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[ekjdm14]

Strange, I was thinking about driveway materials last night (as one does!) as I was trying to unwind for sleep. Tarmac is quite possibly the worst material for anyone who does work on their own car, there's the obvious problem with any oil spillage turning the stuff into mush but also on a warm day just about anything heavier than a Starling will start sinking into the damn stuff. When I had motorbikes I had a tarmac drive too, obviously I used a bit of old plywood to spread the load from the stand but one morning I found one of the bikes lying on it's side in a pool of petrol. The bloody tyres had sunk enough for a gust of wind to blow it over...

Concrete all the way IMO, it can look bloody messy but its tough & stays flat most importantly. Given a few good heavy showers even well-laid block paving sets will end up shifting/settling.

[CitroJim]

just about anything heavier than a Starling will start sinking into the damn stuff.

I had the misfortune to have a tarmac drive once... Many was the time I had trolley jacks and axle stands sink into it when I was too lazy to get the sheets of plywood out to help spread the load...

Blocks look nice but concrete is practical... I reckon the best compromise is possibly the concrete that's both coloured and kind of moulded/embossed to look like paving slabs or blocks.. Some round our way have been done like that and they look good.

Plus there's no weeds to grow and that does seem a problem with more 'mature' block paved drives now... It is very unsightly when weeds, moss and grass appear between the blocks and it's a devil to keep it at bay too...

[demag]

The printed concrete is the most expensive because of the weight. They have to dig deeper footings for the extra weight.

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[CitroJim]

The printed concrete is the most expensive because of the weight. They have to dig deeper footings for the extra weight.

That makes sense Dave but does that really make for a massive increase in cost?

[white exec]

I would have thought the same until we lived here. Back in the UK we had concrete drives, which are ok but get messy, and tarmac, which can go squodgy or even dissolve.

Here, we inherited a parking area in front of the house and garage which consists of a good many tonnes of loose 15mm grey granite chippings (called chino or grava in Spain, and about €10 a tonne). Sounds awful, but not so. Stains and green spillages are simply raked over, grip is superb for ramps (which don't scoot when you drive up them), and it's comfortable to lie on. It also drains well. Only downside is when you drop a small part; a magnet can come to the rescue. Better than small shingle, which can be like ball bearings!


That one taken a few years ago.
It's a bit tidier now...

[GiveMeABreak]

Looks great there Chris, peace and quiet and tranquil I'll assume!

[CitroJim]

Looks great there Chris, peace and quiet and tranquil I'll assume!

It certainly does and the XM looks gorgeous.. They do look good in white

[romie]

I think I know where I'm going next time I need to work on the car! xD hahah

Is a drinks service provided? :p

[white exec]

Is a drinks service provided?

Of course!