The Joy of Running an Old Shed
Discussion
if you're not going to look properly then you may as well go all in.
OllieJolly said:
Quite how you reverse out of a parking space without a single look behind you or in your mirrors AND with parking sensors and manage to hit a stationary car behind you, I don't know...
My only accident in 17 years driving was when a colleague did similar.Reversed out of a space without looking, wiping me out as I drove past on the road out of work.
Wrote off my bloody car as well.
Back in blighty this morning after a month or so in Munich with the Mondeo.
Fairly uneventful drive, Munich to Amsterdam then an overnight ferry to Newcastle, total of 600 miles door to door.
Sat comfortably at around 110mph for most of the autobahn section in Germany. Even managed to average 45mpg overall for the trip.
I have though started to see the engine management light pop up a little more often now. I've been clearing it pretty easily with the little £5 bluetooth OBDII dongle (I forget who it was who recommended that, thanks!). The code that it always seems to be is the P2002, DPF sensor. I'm gunna have a nosey under the car when I get a chance as I seen a Youtube video about it on a Mondeo and it turned out just to be some small hoses that'd deteriorated so fingers crossed.
Although a new code that appeared yesterday and again today relating to overboosting. I've not done much research on it yet but I wonder if that's related to this unusual 'pulsing' I get when full throttle at speed.
Lovely 240 that parked behind me on the ferry. Looked pretty immaculate, I don't even think I'd like to call it a shed. I'd love one but the collatable tax has kicked in and finding one for sub 1k is long gone.
Fairly uneventful drive, Munich to Amsterdam then an overnight ferry to Newcastle, total of 600 miles door to door.
Sat comfortably at around 110mph for most of the autobahn section in Germany. Even managed to average 45mpg overall for the trip.
I have though started to see the engine management light pop up a little more often now. I've been clearing it pretty easily with the little £5 bluetooth OBDII dongle (I forget who it was who recommended that, thanks!). The code that it always seems to be is the P2002, DPF sensor. I'm gunna have a nosey under the car when I get a chance as I seen a Youtube video about it on a Mondeo and it turned out just to be some small hoses that'd deteriorated so fingers crossed.
Although a new code that appeared yesterday and again today relating to overboosting. I've not done much research on it yet but I wonder if that's related to this unusual 'pulsing' I get when full throttle at speed.
Lovely 240 that parked behind me on the ferry. Looked pretty immaculate, I don't even think I'd like to call it a shed. I'd love one but the collatable tax has kicked in and finding one for sub 1k is long gone.
STIfree said:
The code that it always seems to be is the P2002, DPF sensor. I'm gunna have a nosey under the car when I get a chance as I seen a Youtube video about it on a Mondeo and it turned out just to be some small hoses that'd deteriorated so fingers crossed.
Although a new code that appeared yesterday and again today relating to overboosting. I've not done much research on it yet but I wonder if that's related to this unusual 'pulsing' I get when full throttle at speed.
Glad the car got you home in one piece.Although a new code that appeared yesterday and again today relating to overboosting. I've not done much research on it yet but I wonder if that's related to this unusual 'pulsing' I get when full throttle at speed.
I’d check the turbo actuator moves smoothly as well. I’m wondering if the dpf codes mean exhaust gasses aren’t exiting the hot side of the turbo properly and the turbo vanes are getting crudded up. If the actuator travel is rough that’s where I’d be looking assuming nothing else is immediately obvious. Might be worth seeing if the mr muscle treatment that’s so effective on the vag 1.9’s works ok on your car too.
I got an X5 as a shed yesterday, drove it 30 miles home only for it to break down 100m from my house at the bottom of the street. Fuel Inect. System warning came up about 5 miles away, went into limp mode then just cut out at the bottom of my road. Wouldn't crank back up again and won't this morning so it's getting weighed in.
aaron_2000 said:
I got an X5 as a shed yesterday, drove it 30 miles home only for it to break down 100m from my house at the bottom of the street. Fuel Inect. System warning came up about 5 miles away, went into limp mode then just cut out at the bottom of my road. Wouldn't crank back up again and won't this morning so it's getting weighed in.
I guess the seller was fully aware then by sounds of it....How much did you pay for it? Might be worth seeing if it is a relatively quick/easy fix.
aaron_2000 said:
I got an X5 as a shed yesterday, drove it 30 miles home only for it to break down 100m from my house at the bottom of the street. Fuel Inect. System warning came up about 5 miles away, went into limp mode then just cut out at the bottom of my road. Wouldn't crank back up again and won't this morning so it's getting weighed in.
I keep looking at old BMWs, Audis and Mercedes and this is what continually puts me off running one as shed. I don't really want to pay £2k for one, only to have a major issue and have to decide if I should spend thousands repairing it, or just cut my losses and weigh it in.I just feel if you are buying a Ford, Renault, Vauxhall etc. firstly they are worthless so you can pick them up for nothing, and secondly the parts are cheap and they are far less complicated to repair.
I did run an E46 318 £1600 shed for 3 years with no issues and it was great, I was surprised how smooth and nice it was to drive. I have this dream of repeating this and smugly driving around in what was once a £30k car for £2k.
LukeyP_ said:
aaron_2000 said:
I got an X5 as a shed yesterday, drove it 30 miles home only for it to break down 100m from my house at the bottom of the street. Fuel Inect. System warning came up about 5 miles away, went into limp mode then just cut out at the bottom of my road. Wouldn't crank back up again and won't this morning so it's getting weighed in.
I guess the seller was fully aware then by sounds of it....How much did you pay for it? Might be worth seeing if it is a relatively quick/easy fix.
Joey Deacon said:
aaron_2000 said:
I got an X5 as a shed yesterday, drove it 30 miles home only for it to break down 100m from my house at the bottom of the street. Fuel Inect. System warning came up about 5 miles away, went into limp mode then just cut out at the bottom of my road. Wouldn't crank back up again and won't this morning so it's getting weighed in.
I keep looking at old BMWs, Audis and Mercedes and this is what continually puts me off running one as shed. I don't really want to pay £2k for one, only to have a major issue and have to decide if I should spend thousands repairing it, or just cut my losses and weigh it in.I just feel if you are buying a Ford, Renault, Vauxhall etc. firstly they are worthless so you can pick them up for nothing, and secondly the parts are cheap and they are far less complicated to repair.
I did run an E46 318 £1600 shed for 3 years with no issues and it was great, I was surprised how smooth and nice it was to drive. I have this dream of repeating this and smugly driving around in what was once a £30k car for £2k.
Well I'm feeling a right idiot... just because I'm a bit savvy doesn't mean you can't be completely stupid sometimes....
Both main beams failed on my E46 simultaneously, and because it had Xenons I thought it could be something serious (but DIY fixable).
So, a bit of googling and found out that a common cause is the LCM (light control module) and, as I could pick one up cheap on eBay I thought it worth taking the plunge before looking at the more complex/expensive options
Tried fitting it, but problem persisted - and my OBD2 reader decided to throw in the towel
Called my local friendly BMW specialist who I've used before and he offered to plug in his diagnostics to check it out for me.
A 30 min drive and he plugs it in, no faults. "It has got Xenons hasn't it?" he asks so we have a look..... turns out the previous owner had fitted blue tinged bulbs and, because of that and the car goes through the main beam alignment each time I'd just assumed....
So, quick check and both bulbs had blown simultaneously..... so, nice easy cheap fix for me but totally embarrassed
As the saying goes... if you hear hooves don't assume Zebras.....
Apart from that car is running like a dream, it's 18th birthday and 90k coming up, hoping the only other expense in the next few months is a set of rear boots...
Both main beams failed on my E46 simultaneously, and because it had Xenons I thought it could be something serious (but DIY fixable).
So, a bit of googling and found out that a common cause is the LCM (light control module) and, as I could pick one up cheap on eBay I thought it worth taking the plunge before looking at the more complex/expensive options
Tried fitting it, but problem persisted - and my OBD2 reader decided to throw in the towel
Called my local friendly BMW specialist who I've used before and he offered to plug in his diagnostics to check it out for me.
A 30 min drive and he plugs it in, no faults. "It has got Xenons hasn't it?" he asks so we have a look..... turns out the previous owner had fitted blue tinged bulbs and, because of that and the car goes through the main beam alignment each time I'd just assumed....
So, quick check and both bulbs had blown simultaneously..... so, nice easy cheap fix for me but totally embarrassed
As the saying goes... if you hear hooves don't assume Zebras.....
Apart from that car is running like a dream, it's 18th birthday and 90k coming up, hoping the only other expense in the next few months is a set of rear boots...
Edited by Trikster on Friday 17th January 13:34
aaron_2000 said:
I got an X5 as a shed yesterday, drove it 30 miles home only for it to break down 100m from my house at the bottom of the street. Fuel Inect. System warning came up about 5 miles away, went into limp mode then just cut out at the bottom of my road. Wouldn't crank back up again and won't this morning so it's getting weighed in.
Isn't that the second car you've scrapped this year? Or maybe right at the end of 2019. Seller probably cleared the fault just before you arrived.mstrbkr said:
aaron_2000 said:
I got an X5 as a shed yesterday, drove it 30 miles home only for it to break down 100m from my house at the bottom of the street. Fuel Inect. System warning came up about 5 miles away, went into limp mode then just cut out at the bottom of my road. Wouldn't crank back up again and won't this morning so it's getting weighed in.
Isn't that the second car you've scrapped this year? Or maybe right at the end of 2019. Seller probably cleared the fault just before you arrived.
Go Jap... they seem to withstand abuse.
I have been running and old Civic for 3 months, so far so good. Thought it was bad as there is a tiny clutch slip but worked around it and is fine. Also had to fill 2L of coolant. I thought that’s it... no garage can’t find any leak, pressure tested everything including head gasket, all good.
It has never overheated I was just curious about the level and found it to be low. I don’t even check it now. According to manufacturer needs an oil change every 6000 miles, should I bother? Thinking of doing it once a year only (around 12k miles)
I have been running and old Civic for 3 months, so far so good. Thought it was bad as there is a tiny clutch slip but worked around it and is fine. Also had to fill 2L of coolant. I thought that’s it... no garage can’t find any leak, pressure tested everything including head gasket, all good.
It has never overheated I was just curious about the level and found it to be low. I don’t even check it now. According to manufacturer needs an oil change every 6000 miles, should I bother? Thinking of doing it once a year only (around 12k miles)
I'd say go Mercedes W202/W210 TD wagon, as long as there's no real rust, the only things that require fixing are maintenance items.
Auto box stopped working? It'll need some fluid then.
Won't start? That'll be the nylon fuel lines at the pump.
Doesn't handle? That'll be a bush or two then..
Have you looked at the engine specifications?! Forged crank, induction hardened big ends, piston oil squirters, forged pistons, forged rods, molybdenum coated piston skirts, 1 port per valve(!) (4 valves per cylinder).
Fan belt let go on my W210 wagon once on the way to London (I was half way up the M3), made it the 80 miles with the heater on full - The heater circuit has it's own circulation pump, battery died, dash went off (blank) and all electrical systems were head due to not charging, and I still made it there with the coolant at 82 Celcius & no damage...
I have been drinking beer and wine.
Auto box stopped working? It'll need some fluid then.
Won't start? That'll be the nylon fuel lines at the pump.
Doesn't handle? That'll be a bush or two then..
Have you looked at the engine specifications?! Forged crank, induction hardened big ends, piston oil squirters, forged pistons, forged rods, molybdenum coated piston skirts, 1 port per valve(!) (4 valves per cylinder).
Fan belt let go on my W210 wagon once on the way to London (I was half way up the M3), made it the 80 miles with the heater on full - The heater circuit has it's own circulation pump, battery died, dash went off (blank) and all electrical systems were head due to not charging, and I still made it there with the coolant at 82 Celcius & no damage...
I have been drinking beer and wine.
Joey Deacon said:
I just feel if you are buying a Ford, Renault, Vauxhall etc. firstly they are worthless so you can pick them up for nothing, and secondly the parts are cheap and they are far less complicated to repair.
^^ This is good. Choose wisely in the first place. I'd add some Japanese makes to your list; although the parts cost more, they are more reliable in the first place. Choose one with some cosmetic damage and they are cheap to buy.CrgT16 said:
Go Jap... they seem to withstand abuse.
I have been running and old Civic for 3 months, so far so good.
According to manufacturer needs an oil change every 6000 miles, should I bother? Thinking of doing it once a year only (around 12k miles)
Oil changes are pretty easy with one of those extractor pumps. I have been running and old Civic for 3 months, so far so good.
According to manufacturer needs an oil change every 6000 miles, should I bother? Thinking of doing it once a year only (around 12k miles)
Oil is cheap (i.e. Mannol).
I’d do it every 6k if you’re doing lots of short journeys and/or you like the shed.
Is the filter housing accessible too?
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff