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LondonRascal
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Posts posted by LondonRascal
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So...Today I got the X5 back and remember how nice it is to drive and what lovely seats it has compared to the SLK, where I also learn that the likely cost to sort all issues (not including any transmission problems) is about £3,000 - therefore that ain't gonna happen..
Here is a chat about today car capers..Think yourself fortunate you are not beset with things that seem to happen to me.
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On 01/04/2019 at 14:17, Paul said:
Fluid change on the 7g-tronic is not a cheap fix sadly .... though it should only need doing once in the cars lifetime, after 5years / 50k. It may be worth making sure it was done.
This was done at 51,456 miles by a main MB dealer in Bedford.
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I took Trixie for her first proper run out today, and noticed that the temperature gauge was only reading about 50c tops. Even when left at a high tick over for about an hour it did not climb further. I then had the engine cover up and found some coolant dribbling from one of the two pressure caps, and this appears also where the thermostat is.
Please see the video below - as it could at the vest least need a new pressure cap, but do others feel that I should also be looking at the thermostat itself?
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I have just been shuttling items between north and west London, and it dawned on me that while the SLK has some issues, I have put almsot 2,000 miles on the clock since buying it and other than that little twitch with the transmission, has been faultless. I check the coolant and oil after long runs and it uses nothing, there is no oil leaks under the engine or around it, and having now added some ZX1 Friction Eliminator, the car is running incredibly quiet and smoothly.
My biggest problem is the amount of times I have to stop for fuel. Brundall to Putney used as close as damn it half a tank of fuel. Today, I have gone from Putney which is in West London over to Tottenham and back, and used a third of a tank. I know when I get back to Norwich it will be first stop Sainsbury for some cheap petrol.
I also nearly got rear ended on the A4 about an hour ago. I had overtaken a woman in a Toyota CH-R who was doing that "sort of hands free phone call" the one where they have the person on speaker phone, but are still holding the phone at chest height with one hand...So she is now behind me and we are all slowing down as the traffic is pretty bad ahead. Two cars ahead a white Transit cuts in - cue hard braking from these two cars, I had to brake firmly and the next thing I hear is ABS working hard to control the skidding of the Toyota CH-R behind me. From my rear view mirror she has the look of shock on her face BUT still is holding her damn phone.
Anyway, all is okay...So I am going to load up the car (well as best as you can with this little boot) and shortly be heading back up to Norfolk. Oh and it has a name now, Bob.
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2 hours ago, Ray said:
I'd recommend finding out a bit more about that gearbox glitch Robin before deciding 100% to keep her and have the other work done.
In my mind if you've got a car that you really cherish, or cost a great deal of money, or you've owned from new or maybe are only its second owner and you knew just how well the car was looked after by the first - all this would mean the slightest 'twitch' outside the norm and you will want it looked at for peace of mind if nothing else.
If this transmission shows any signs of playing up again like it did in Yarmouth, then I will get it looked at - of course if it does decide to 'tits up' the second time and I loose all drive, that is why I have paid extra for the recovery option on the insurance. I know from the 7 Series when it had a leaking transmission sump how low fluid levels will effect drive, also how that causes slip between gears. BMW make their transmission sumps out of plastic these days, they then crack around the fasteners - but plastic sumps are not just a BMW thing.
38 minutes ago, Stranger said:the auto box has a 13 pin connector plug on it and the "o" ring seal could be at fault a common thing apparently
check oil level
as for heater fan get a secondhand matrix assy from a breakers yard theres a specialist breakers at Manchester with very reasonable rates
Dronsfields the name of the breaker
I don't need a new Matrix, just a blower fan assembly - everything else works as should. I am waiting for an estimate form Auto Technic in Loddon who appear to be a very well regarded Mercedes independent specialist as to the cost of a replacement along with a new AC Compressor.
32 minutes ago, oldgregg said:think that's one of the reasons the MX-5 is so popular actually - There are no roof electrics to go wrong (apart from the folding hardtop version obviously) and the engines are Japanese so other than a bit of rust the cars are fairly painless to own.
I looked at a far newer (2010) MX-5 but it simply was too small, inside was narrow and especially low to the ground i practically had to crawl out on all fours. I know a previous MX-5 owner complained bitterly about damp autumn and winter days with condensation with the soft top, so I was looking for the electric hard top version.,
Having then found the SLK I went on to buy was so much cheaper than the MX-5 but had a real punch 'push back in your seat' feel, wider cockpit, higher off the ground and all round more practical it won me over.
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I've been onboard during the works, and trust me it has had many many thousands of pounds spent. Some shows - like all new flooring, new galley, new sinks in the heads etc - others like the rear double has gotten wider at the base, an all new upper healm seating area, it has been practically re-wired, has a generator, new heating, massive inverter, smart charging system - it also has just a few hundred hours of use and a massive shaft driven engine (regulated for charter use) it is just like a new build.
It might look at first glance like any other Alpha 35, but all that wood inside is proper Cherry and that cream seating is all leather. It is not like any other Alpha 35 and well worth the cost.
This is where the Broads hire fleets are headed, and it is fast attracting a new more affluent customer - the thing is the Pubs and shoreside femininities on offer also need to see this and keep their service levels up to also appeal to such holidaymakers.
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Got the SLK back - and good news I don't need to do much to it. The front disc's are getting close to the minimum tolerances Mercedes specify, but they should be fine for a good while - and their is in fact plenty of life in the pads - I was told the front pads can;t have been changed that long back, and are original MB parts too.
I did however need a new battery - the current one, under load dropped to just shy of 11v. That is as good as makes no odds a dead battery. It now starts a lot more freely so clearly was something that was on the way out for some time. Now there was one issue that cropped up, and that is with the transmission. I had a surprise when Shiela called to say she was half an hour way from Norwich so having picked up the car a change of plan was in order so went back to the station collected here and we headed out for a drive to Great Yarmouth. Now you can call it a 'hairdressers car' all you like, but I was not expecting the admiration as we drove down the 'strip' with the top down in Yarmouth, an entire teenage and twenty something generation simply do not see anything other than 'wow that is cool' and 'give it some revs mate' - having collected a Corsa and a Fiesta (all 1.3l of power but no silencers) it was fun to see what 268HP is like away from the lights - the result, we won.
We then headed all the way down to the far end of the beach, where the homes stop and a holiday park is, parked up and went for a stroll along the beach. Got back to the car, started it up and drove off - I then had a play with the manual gear changes and then at the next set of lights it refused to do anything. No drive, no reverse. Back through the gears up and down and then it clunked into drive. My face dropped, of all the things! It then held first for way too long, we pulled over and I stopped the engine - restarted and it was and has since been fine.
I have no idea if it is something up with the transmission, but if it was it would do it more often, slip, clunk, play up - late shift, early shift - do something weird. But has not at all. It could be waiting to go bang, or it could be the computer has been upset as it had no power applied for a time while the battery was changed, it could be me playing with the 'flappy paddles' and using the car in manual mode. Anyway, I was all up for chucking the damn thing away at that point but since I have actually warmed to it. In fact it got even more silly when we parked up and i could not get the ignition key out, try as I might it just would not release. Even the dashboard had a message telling me 'Release Key" and I am shouting at the car akin to John Cleese to give me the bloody keys back. Then I noticed the gearbox was in neutral, not park - yep you need to have it in park to be allowed to take the ignition key out! Oh I did laugh....
So I have had a go at oiling the blower motor, and that has helped but it appears the entire motor assembly has dropped a few millilitres and the base of the cage fan is physically rubbing on the enclosure. It therefore needs a new fan, also the AC compressor is getting more whiny and I dare not use the air conditioning as it makes it worse - so that needs doing. So I think to myself, well you know what Rob, you could have more issues - you could part exchange this, spend another £5,000+ for the same car with £20,000 less miles on it for the same year (or a year younger) and not be guaranteed to have a fault free car. Or I could spend way less than this and have the two issues fixed - have nice cold air and a silent blower motor. I think I know which one I am going to follow.
Meantime, the farce with the BMW continues. The garage have completed work on the car but cannot let me collect it until he warranty company pay their share - which they say they have - but the garage has not received any cleared funds in their account. So now the garage and warranty company are very unhappy with each other and I am stuck between them - who knows when the cash will arrive, and when I can then get the car back.
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I feel for the yard, as I know the real hard grafting that has gone into the fleet over the last winter and issues that have popped up and been overcome. Behind every hire boat is a business, and some are not flushed with big budgets so to be let down by the agency you've entrusted to help bring you customers over so many years is a real kick in the teeth.
However, we do live in a very different world now than even 5 years ago, and things are changing constantly. In the past some of the reviews left on Hoseasons were negative, but then the yard had no way to reply to those left on the site which I think is unfair. Now is the time to try and shine. They have a lovely base to begin a holiday from - even a railway station is not far away. If it were me, I would start small and work on changes that don't cost the earth, like their painted sign atop their shed. Hand painted signs are expensive and another dying art, printed vinyl banners are not and would lift the look easily.
I would not put all my eggs into the 'get a swish website' basket, but go with the free and easy to use Facebook page - populate it with lots of nice photos of the boats, layouts, get things like your opening hours up, phone number and some 'special offers for Facebook followers' - even if it is just a few percent off it helps. Where a yard cannot compete on scale, or give away food hampers with their boats, go for the small and personal service. Free collection form the station, let people have their online ordered grocessies be deleivered to the yard - there are a host of things to make things appeal.
The boats are older yes, but then so to are boats at Herbet Woods and Richardson's - Sanderson's boats are smart in appearance, they are not bad looking at all. The product is good in my eyes, it is getting it to the public an making it as easy as possible to have a customer book and part with their money. I really wish them all the best because it would be such a loss if it did not work not only for holidaymakers but they offer fuel and pump outs at reasonably cost, they also can lift up to 4 tonnes on their crane and have often come to the aid of other hire yards boats with things like a rope around a prop etc.
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Lots to update....
1 hour ago, BroadAmbition said:£190.00 administration fee
Do you mean £19:00 and not £190:00? I hope so because £190:00 - Chuffin 'eck - That's excessive innit? I don't think I have ever had to pay any sort of admin fee with regards to motor insurance
Griff
No it was £190.00 - this is what happens when you have to scrap the bottom of the barrel so to speak when you have a decent car and are a new driver - its a case of bend over and take it for the time being..
12 hours ago, oldgregg said:I'm not a fan of that. Personally I wouldn't let a Halfords employee touch my car.
Headlight covers and the bulb carriers tend to have various clips etc that are easily broken if you're not being careful. I can't really see a Halfords guy saying that he's very sorry and he's broken the clip that keeps the cover on (and rainwater out) or the one that stops the bulb rattling about in the housing and will order you a new one up from the main dealer.
Took the car back to Halfords to get a refund on the bulbs, they were not happy and offered to 'give it a go' to fit them. It was at this point the chap noticed my nearside entire headlamp unit is broken and is being held in with hope and good luck. Despite this and me saying that if we put the wheel to right lock and undid two 10mm fasteners and remove the inner wheel arch liner he should be able to reach up and get to the light unit. This he did, but was stopped by a wiring loom - loose that should not be - stopping access. All put back together and more reasons found why this is not going to be a keeper.
The Blower Motor
So, this morning the blower motor made an very weird new noise and duly completely stopped working. I then spent a couple of hours taking the battery out, and trying to get to the blower unit. This I did, and it was filthy. I don't think the cabin air filter has ever been changed and the motor assembly was thick with black grime. Anyway, I oiled the motor shaft and got it to spin, but you can tell it really is toast. The bearings and I think the actual motor are just shot. All back together and it is spinning again all being unhappily.
Tomorrow is the service, once this is done it needs to get me to London on Saturday. Once that is sorted and I get the V5C in the post I am going to be spending zero pounds extra on the car and looking to get rid. It is a lovely car, tonight I went for a spin with the top down through the countryside, to Wroxham, then Horning and Ludham as the sun was setting. You just would not really do that and come back having achieved nothing but still smiling. I just wish the car had less issues as it would be a keeper then or sure.
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12 hours ago, Islander said:
Hi Robin, so how much did you spend in Halfords this afternoon
£38.00 - two new head light bulbs. I found out the car has projector lights, but not Bi-Xenon. Since the headlight light output is pretty 'yellow' it would be good to upgrade to a white output. However, in order to fit the bulbs I need to remove the front wheels, then get in and remove the font wheel-arch liners..To then reach up to get to the back of the headlight cluster and be able to replace. I thought about this a little and having thought will take the easy option and put up with the current lights and take the two new bulbs back for a refund since they have not been opened.
The only issue with this car is even if it is a bit chilly and dull, you can't really help but let the roof down - once the blower motor has had a chance to 'get going' the heater is amazing, plus you can turn on the 'air scarf' which blows very hot air from behind you over your neck and back.
In order to get to the blower motor on this car you need first to remove the cover on the passenger side that hides the battery. Next, remove the battery and the battery holder. Once that is done you will see the top of the blower box assembly, but the next part requires removing the trim under the glove box and reaching up and undoing several other fasteners, to get the blower motor assembly out and get to the sqiral cage motor assembly. The real issue is a lot of the fasteners on the car are Torx so a whole set needs to be bought with extenders to reach into these areas.
That said, I will take the advice and see if I can get enough of the covers off to at least get access to get a straw in and some lubricant. This has been looked at by Mercedes - but the previous owner opted not to replace, clearly their lucubration has failed but the estimate on the works order I have was more than £400.00 just for the part. I've seen you can buy them from Euro Car Parts for a couple of hundred pounds.
Insurance Companies
I had great times yesterday trying to sort out insurance - not for the Mercedes, for the BMW. All I wanted to do was increase the millage allowance. I had made the mistake (and hands up for this you can all judge me if you so wish) but when I sold the 7 Series and bought the X5 I contact the Brokers who I had used to get my insurance to cover the new car. However, I was not asked about and did not think to tell them that between insuring the 7 series and buying the X5 my License had changed from a provisional to a full. Anyway long story short today this was all found out during the phone conversation. So I am thoroughly chastised over the phone for being 'such a fool' and thus now they knew this my Insurance would be voided. They worked out the new cost would rise to £1,843.26. Now my Insurance is with Premium Choice, but I was talking to their Broker XS, so I got in touch directly with Premium Choice and spoke to a far more polite chap who did not have a go at me and accepted I should have told them but had not and they would accept this as an honest mistake. They agreed to remove the endorsement, accept an emailed copy of my full license and charge me £190.00 administration fee instead. Phew!
Next up, I have been insuring the SLK with 'Day Insure' and buying 5 days cover at a time, this has been working out to £199.95 - while handy if you borrow a car, since you can insure form 1 hour to 28 days, it is like buying a TV from BrightHouse. You pay way over the odds. So after much searching about the cheapest I found was Quote Me Happy - but they were underwritten by Aviva so I went away from the compare sites and got a direct quote from Aviva, on a pay monthly - cancel any time - basis of £111.00 per month. This has no interest added, so if I do sell the car I can call up and end the cover - if I do not then it will simple mean paying the total years premium of £1,332.00.
The interesting thing is with Aviva my excess is £450.00 - with Premium Choice for the BMW it is £3,000.00. I am going to stick with Premium Choice, drive safe and collect my first years no claims then I suspect transfer over to Aviva with a multi-car policy and have a hell of a lot less worry about the cost of excess and perhaps too, a cheaper premium. So I have learnt something, am now full compliant and saved a little too.
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Scaniaman: The way the SLK Air Con works (as I understand) is it not a clutch based compressor - it has a value that allows operation hydraulically, thus it is spinning at all times the engine is running though not actually doing any 'compressing' of gas. They do tend to go bad, like the hydraulic pumps for the roof do.
I am also incredibly lazy so the idea of taking off belts - no. Even taking out the battery to get to the blower motor, what? Me do that..Not on your nelly lol.
As for condensation, being a hardtop car they don't get damp, least not this even after a cold night and in the morning full o dew on the car, dry as a bone inside. Also no leaks when took it through a car-wash which was reassuring.
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15 hours ago, Paul said:
You buy them because you love them, not for any logical reason. If buying another do your best to get the post 2011 R172 model, which has the latest face lift and will retain it's value better than previous incarnations, especially as MB have announced the discontinuation of the SLC. Full service history is essential on any Mercedes and one owner cars are always preferable. Avoid cars which have more than one owner on average every three years, it usually means the car has been bought, issues found and off loaded quickly.
You speak a lot of sense, but alas I am not sensible.
I really don't like the R172 look, it looks 'sad' somehow at the front and like any other Mercedes with their grill, like most manufactures now, trying to follow the same look across different sizes and types of cars. The R171 has some more personality I guess.
Back to not being sensible, for a car that I am not too sure about keeping, I have booked in for a major service. Cos Robin. The local Indy in Loddon wanted well over £400.00 - the local garage in Brundall, £387.00 - Kwik-Fit £215.00 using the same Uni-Part parts as the local garage, but Mobil 1 Oil - needs 8 litres of the stuff too. Kwik-Fit it will be.
If I want the brakes done, with performance pads and drilled discs for the front - £315.00 (half cost of the Indy) and pads for the back, £97.00. Consiering I have had Delphi pads put on the BMW, but had asked for original BMW parts - Pagid seem to be the manufactures of BMW brake pads. Anyway, I kinda wish I had saved a fortune and gone to Kwik-Fit for the brakes, since they give a choice of pads and are not (as I had wrongly assumed) all just cheap and cheerful stock they can get their hands on.
The thing is, in all honesty, people generally don't care once a car is getting on for 15 years old, if this was any other car like an Astra or Focus it probably would not still be about, and if it was it would not be cherished. This SLK cost me under £3,000 - the replacements I am looking at are north of £8,000 - I love this one:
Link to SLK but alas it is a private seller so I'd be in to then selling on the current one myself or going to a dealer and between times having three cars!
Pretty much any car will have scare stories about how reliable they are - take a Range Rover Sport, plagued with issues - yet you find some with just a few minor niggles and people luck out. As long as it goes okay and starts, for a second car I guess my standards are lower.
The SLK Ii have bought needs a new blower motor for the cabin, it needs a new AC compressor, It needs new front discs and pads all round, it also is due for a major service. It has never had new spark plugs so would like to treat it to them, and replace the other coil pack as if one has failed the other is likely to as well. But to my mind, why go to all that expense and trouble for a car you don't really like - when you could put that towards one that is more to your liking in looks, colour, options and having less millage too. Hopefully meaning things like the AC Compressor, Blower Motor and brakes are all good and one can concentrate on the everyday running costs and needs.
Despite this, I still can't seem to stop tinkering. Today I compounded the paintwork, waxed it and then polished with a polymer polish. I also dealt with some of the scratches and dullness of the ploy-carbonate on the headlight units. I also replaced the rear indicator bulbs - see video below, for what a laugh that was at 8pm deciding to change car bulbs in the dark because Robin. I used some metal polish and brought the exhaust tips up to a great shine and also set about cleaning some of the crud from under the bonnet. For her age, and number of owners, she does not leak or burn any oil, drinks no coolant, and starts and goes like a dream. I just pretend the whine of the failing AC Compressor is a little Supercharger under the bonnet lol.
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So, finally got to put some miles one the SLK today - Heathrow to Wisbech then on to Norwich. Having done so I finally understand what all this talk of being a 'drivers car' is about.
First off this is a car produced to offer a certain experience. It is not a large four seater that happens to have a soft top, and it is not a fun runabout that lacks overall power but makes u for it being great in the corners (like an MX-5). It really is trying to take you to the first step on the ladder of sports car ownership.
Firstly I really believe everyone should at least experience open top motoring - even if it is a weekend rental, once in their life. It begins with the fact you are literally part of the entire experience of travel. You are very low down, so even a Ford Focus looks huge and you look up to them - this means you are much more aware of everything and everyone around you, you are in both feel and the literal sense more vulnerable. Other road users giving a quick glance will not see you (happened a few times today) and I found now it is best to run with the dipped beam on to give me a bit more of a chance. You also hear everything, from the roar of tyres to the way straps holding loads on low loader lorries cause such a racket in the wind. Going through a tunnel on the M25 was a real hit for the sense as the noise was all around and incredible. Then there is the smell, I am not just talking about the odd exhaust, but the distinct smell of hot rubber as you pass a laden HGV, to the different scents from different parts of the country - all this, everything you miss in any other car even with the windows down.
The other intoxicating thing about this car is the exhaust note - deep and low initially, then gets a bit more raw as the revs rise. The car itself however makes you work. The steering is heavy, the brake pedal is heavy even the accelerator not only takes twice the effort to depress as the BMW but it has a lot more travel. Indeed it took me until today to figure out I had to move my seat a touch forward to be able to comfortable 'floor it'. Once I had it brought a new smile to my face. Although the car is no slouch, and has no Turbo, above 4,000RPM it really 'takes off' and as you just can't help yourself and relish every slow down, so you can get on the loud pedal even if for a couple of blissful seconds for the lovely note of the exhaust.
But it is not without drawbacks, the seats are not the most comfy for longer cruising - they lack upper support at least for me, the cockpit while long is narrow. You want to bend you left leg and it hits the centre console and under the steering column. But at the same time you do feel cocooned in the car, and everything is of a very high quality and soft to the touch. Even though today was not exactly a summers day, with the windows up, air scarf on and heater set to speed 2 and 23c I was toasty in the cockpit with the top down. Would have been even better if the car still had its rear draft screen.
So got to my Mum's and Simon and her went out for a spin - he has come back going on about when he had a TVR and then an MX-5 and now..He has a RAV 4. I suspect there is going to be some discussions between them about how it would make sense to get something like this again, great for a weekend break and some twisting country roads type thing...
I got set to making some improvements - like removing the broken rear boot emblem and putting a new one one, replacing both the rear indicator bulbs (too white for my liking) but the biggest thing was using some GummiPflege - this is a German made special grease - I think it is a Silicon base, but it comes in a small tube like a glue stick, has the consistency of Vaseline and is not that cheap for what you get. However I have been told this is the best thing for rubber on the hard top seals - well any seals - and will stop the rattles, creaks and squeaks. Well, after a lot of patience working it in to the rubber I closed the roof and went for a spin - silence. No more creaks and squeaks and then took it through a car wash to see if there were any leaks I should know about, none at all.
So it might come as a surprise that I want to move on and sell the car already, but that is exactly what I plan to do...For another SLK..
The thing is I do rather like it, indeed I like it a lot. But there are things that need doing, and those things keep getting bigger - now if it was just one or two I am cool with that, but it is not and I would rather spend that money towards a less millage, slightly newer example than has not had 5 previous owners. It is due a service in 500 miles, and since the last one was a minor, this needs to be a major - and even if I took it to a cheap and cheerful place, the cheapest I have found is £216.00.
I've been in touch with a Mercedes independent in Loddon, found out what the whine is - no not the power steering pump, and highly unlikely to be an idler it is an AC Compressor that is on the way out, this is backed up too by a previous quote I have found in the service documentation from January 2018 where a number iof things were put right but at over £400.00 just for the compressor, the previous owner decided not to replace. The Air Conditioning works, but it is only a matter of time before the compressor gives up - either in a nice way, or in a bad way and takes out the belt like my BMW water pump did.
On top of the service, the AC Compressor the blower motor bearings are shot - it sequels and rattles and struggles to get going - not a big thing really to replace, but another £200.00 odd for an aftermarket one, and the there is the MOT advisory last year for the badly scored and lipped front discs - and then they will need to new pads with the new discs..It all will add up to a fair whack without any labour charges being added in the mix.
So...I am considering getting the same model and engine size, but maybe one with the upgraded head unit that means I can connect a phone via Bluetooth that would be handy, and maybe a 2007-2009 model year with around 50,000 or so miles. I have seen some, indeed found a beautiful model being sold privately with only 24,000 miles and 1 owner. Thing is that one costs a lot more but looks fabulous. Of course there is nothing to say I don't get a younger lower millage car and it has its own problems - but I am just hopeful if that was the case, it would be a problem, not a few to deal with.
So, early days yet..I just hope nothing big happens especially with the AC Compressor in the next few weeks!
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Collected the SLK today, I won't go on in words here about it you can see the warts and all video tour here, for under £3,000 I am not complaing:
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4 hours ago, scaniaman said:
HI Robin, there are four recalls on your vehicle according to DVLA including an idler pulley which becomes detached and vehicles which are catching fire (see Daily Mail ) maybe worth a check to see they`ve been done 0800 777 109 ?
Paul
Hi thanks for that info - I do have a whine from the engine, I suspect power steering pump because it gets worse when I move the wheel - but it is going to have some work done anyway. I am not spending out much though, so cheap and cheerful but might well see about MB have dealt with the recalls, they usually can tell by the VIN number. The X5 had an outstanding recall on the EGR Cooler but my one was found to be in great shape by Coopers and so without it showing any signs of problem won't replace for free
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On 21/03/2019 at 22:38, BroomSedan said:
It's a good job you bought the one that didn't need any work.
Other than the water and shower pump, canopy and batteries the boat was in good order. I am pretty sure too the canopy could have been repaired. The pumps I think failed due to prolonged lack of use, the batteries - well 5L of deionised water under the cockpit seat gave the game away something was not happy there. That turned out to be the battery charger wrongly wired and programmed.
Overall the aim was to make a good base better and I think it has been worth it, if perhaps has taken a lot longer than I would have liked. I'm pleased I have avoided the need to have a Stainless Steel Mud-weight...So far.
15 hours ago, SwanR said:I’m sure I recognise those cushions. They look very much like the ones we bought from Wilko’s for the caravan. But they’re such a good match for our living room that we took them home! Nice colour on the upholstery.
They are indeed from Wilko, the entire boat inventory came from them in one hit online from bedding to plates to glasses and forks. Great quality and even the cheap 'Functional' single Duvet rated to 13.5 Tog, is cosy and for £6.00 can easily be seen as a seasonal purchase should it get damp.
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3 hours ago, Seagypsy said:
I bought that Remington from Argos last week solely for this weeks holiday
I can confirm it is a good runner - lasts a good while on a single charge and is powerful. Used to use Braun but they seem to have got a bit too fancy these days.
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1 minute ago, Wussername said:
WHERE do I find a forum that places a greater emphasis on Broadland matters. Broads, rivers, boats, local historians, history, our destiny and how we are able to shape our future.
I'd say, right here. After all it is the people who use the Forum and add their input that makes it what it is, so will all the broads loving, river boat talking, history mulling people please come to the fore.. Cos' I like reading about that as much as anyone.
This thread however is just one tiny part of this Forum, but perhaps as things are not in 'full swing' yet in the boating season has attracted more interest and discussion that it might do in the summer.
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Lovely NBN with the off topic tack
My Mum has an issue that the house has all storage heaters, no gas supply. The storage heaters are slowly letting their age show, things like the baffles that open to let heat out into the room have failed on three and regardless of of the control they stays closed. Another one the thermostat no longer works.
So she looked in other alternatives, had some visits from keen salesmen with fancy ceramic heaters etc, but is now looking to go with an Air Heat Pump - basically an air conditioner working in reverse, and since the heat is produced from the refrigerant removing residual heat from the outside air and multiplying it, it is one of the most efficient forms of heating as what you put in in energy more comes out. However I am not too sure on how this heat generated gets around the home - individual air handlers or just heated water that could be pumps to radiators - I am not getting involved with that one.
I was reading in one of my rail magazines about new targets being laid down to try and remove all diesel fuelled rail movements by 2040 - which is a joke because even though we have bi-mode trains which are literally just coming in to service now on the West Coast, East Coast and soon Greater Anglia services in Norfolk and Suffolk, they only make sense where they can actually operate in electric only mode - and since there is no way you are going to electrify small branch lines they may well be able to work in bi-mode if there is power but in reality they will just operate as diesel run trains. Now sure the engines are far more economical (big MAN units) but they also are more sensitive than the old rattling smokey units of old, they like better quality fuel and so that is going to have cost implications to the operators.
But there is Hydrogen train testing going on right now in Europe and even over here we are doing a lot of research into this, another idea is battery power trains so you just electrify short sections or even terminus stations and the train is topped up when waiting for its next working. This is all good until you read into the various technology, the cos per watt hour of lithium, the weight, the cost of Hydrogen and what you get out of it (battery power is way more efficient and energy dense than Hydrogen fuel cells) so while these are good ideas, and innovation often comes out of a need to change, I cannot see too much happening on that front - same goes for freight by road with HGV's.
So who are the easy subjects to go after? Yep the average motoring public. Not only are we taxed through our Vehicle Excise Duty through what our cars emissions are, many are then given a double whammy when their residents parking permit is also tracked to heir emissions. In London the Ultra Low Emissions Zone comes into effect next month and this will effect not only many thousands of Londoner's, but even the good old Prius is not immune if you happen to be an Uber driver. TfL are set to ban any car licenced to Uber that is not a fully electric or plug in Hybrid by 2020.
And that ULEZ is only going to get larger. From April if your van or car produces too much pollution you will have to pay £24.00 a day to drive into central London. This is because the £12.50 for the ULEZ is going to be onto of the Congestion Charge.
But come 2021 it won't just effect central London, its a 24hr, 7 day a week £12.50 charge for any vehicle whose emissions are deemed to high for an area within the north and south circular roads.
For those thinking it is okay because you live outside the capital, what better way to make money? £12.50 per car per day at all times, and if you fail to pay it £160.00 fine is issued. Imagine how these will spread, It could easily apply to Norwich between the northern and souther bypass roads, as an example.
What is happening in the future is unlike anything ever that has befallen motorists, where at a Government level your reality new, perfectly good condition car is effectively taxed off the road. Used car values will plummet as the rules get tighter and tighter and eventually, the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will cease (sad to be around 2050). Now that is rather a long way ahead, and if I am still here at 71 years of age I will see that come in, but it is what may happen between then and now, different governments, changes of plan, where there is money to be made from taxation/fines anything can happen so the goal posts might move faster than we think.
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I got Michelin's when I replaced the tyres on the BMW. My Dad was a great keeper of records and over the years kept everything - needed or not. Replace a battery in a clock and a not would be made of brand, battery expiry date and day it was replaced. When it went flat this was recorded, same for light bulbs - and for tyres.
In his experiences the worst tyres for wear were Dunlop, then Bridgestone. Goodyear were okay but tended to be noisy, Pirelli and Continental were his long term choice for ages until he got some Michelin's. These just seemed to go on and on but as I am finding have a very interesting characteristic whereby initially they do not seem to be that quite or smooth all of a sudden about 1,500 miles after fitting you suddenly notice how quiet and smooth they have become, towards the end of their tread life they tend to get less smooth and 'roary' at higher speeds. I will see if the same goes for those I have fitted.
I think there is a lot to be said about the labels we now have with tyres to help choose them as before it really was just pot luck, recommendations or personal experience leading you to one brand or another. The labels help guide you to a degree, and likely will go after we leave the EU as they are a EU rule to have across Europe to aid consumers.
Update to the Mercedes:
Had a call from the guys in London to say they could not fix the fault so had to take the car to a local independent specialist. A bunch has been replaced on the car - all new coil packs, new spark plugs, new mass air flow sensor and some other part known to go which I forget the name of but which I was reading about on an SLK Forum. This leaves me to have the lipped front discs replaced and new pads put on - Norwich job that - so all being well this weekend will be one car up.
A word on insurance. I thought it might be a good idea to get temporary cover for the car - so I did. But wow I have been stung, I covered the car for 7 days and paid £318.00 I have just got a quote online for 12 months cover with breakdown cover included with the RAC for £789.60 - goes to show that doing things by the week can cost, a bit like Bright House etc who sell a TV for a weekly price and then you work it out to find you could have bought 3 after you paid them back over the payment period.
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There are car services where you hire our your own car - the website takes care of all the hassle and enables you to make money when you are otherwise not using the car.
I think the same with boats could be a good idea, after all there is 'Berths Onboard' with is a bit like AirBnB whereby people stay on your boat at its mooring and pay you for the accommodation.
It you remove the cost implications - covered by the daily rate - it leaves you with the cold choice, do you want the your boat being used as a hire boat? Most would say no - me included because boat handling is a skill and I would be worried about the damage caused, even if small to my boat or others as a result. I'll leave it up to the businesses who are there for those wanting to go boating without the ownership.
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So, today I collected Trixie, having had the last of the work completed on here - and all new seating internally.
So since purchase she has quite a lot of work done one way and the other, this has included:
- New canopy
- New fenders and fender ropes
- New mooring lines
- New twin tone horns
- Compound and polish of both hull and superstructure
- New name decals
- New vinyl stripe (now in the correct colour red)
- New batteries making up a much larger bank (twice bought first set destroyed by over charging)
- Re-built Alternator
- All new drive belts, and Impeller a full engine service (done twice in 5 months for good measure)
- Striped down and cleaned heat exchanger
- All new sea cocks
- New engine water strainer
- New hot water tank lagging
- New water pump and accumulator tank
- New shower pump
- New taps
- New steering and throttle/gear linkage cable
- A battery monitor
- USB charging outlets
- New TV
- New 2500w Inverter
- New shore power connections, consumer unit, sockets and internal ring main wiring
- New automatic shore/inverter changeover switch
- New LED navigation lights
- New LED internal lights
- New seating including foam and upholstery
- Hard wired high speed LTE Router for onboard WiFi
- Remote monitored alarm
There is some new carpets to get for the cabin and aft cockpit along with new curtains to match the seating colour better. Possibility for a new fridge that will reduce power consumption and have a bigger internal cavity space than the current and a new oven but the main thing is she is ready to go for the season so it will be nice to get some use and go exploring once more.
Here is the seating which is a soft Sage colour in a hard wearing but smooth to touch frabric.
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Had a call today from STR in Norwich, but not with very nice news. Having taken most of the front end of the car apart they have found the cause of the shredded drive belt, but also a bunch of other damage. So the initial cause was the water pump suddenly seizing - this has sent bits of pump where bits of pump should never be in the engine, but the other side was the sudden stopping of the pump sent a tensioner off as the belt partly destroyed itself, this was flung into the cooling fan taking out some of the blades. The rest of the belt then got jammed in another area and so split into what effectively was two separate belts, as if you cut them down the middle.
When you add up the parts and the labour - of which accounts for more than £400.00 as the front of the car has had to be dismantled to get to all the parts, I am looking at £1,246.75 to sort it including VAT. I am hopeful some of this cost will be covered by my extended warranty but they only cover labour up to £50.00 per hour and need the garage to contact them - which the garage thought was off, since usually the warranty company contacts the garage and provides the go ahead and me an authorisation number.
I have taken the gamble that the warranty company will pay out in the end, so parts are on order. Just to make me feel better I have been told it is very rare for one of these pumps to let go, while they had some issues in early models by the time mine was being manufactured these things should have been sorted.
Still no news on the SLK front, the garage there have begun the first steps of ignoring my calls. After all, they have my money so of course I am on the back foot now despite the fact they also have my car in their possession. I am trying to remain positive though...
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Unfortunately for too long the Broads Authority have seemingly taken the view that if they try and keep talk of 'continuous cruising' on the the low down it will keep the idea that the Broads is not the same as the Canal system and is not set up, run or a place for live-aboard boaters.
The Broads Authority also will remind people of the rules regarding moorings managed by the Authority being a maximum stay of 24 hours. But things change, and there seems a large swell of interest generally about buying boats to live on them. In London, on the River Lee what a few years ago was a small community has flourished and continues to expand, putting far more pressure on moorings and even when someone might secure a 'spot' and move on for something as simple as a water top up, return to find the mooring gone and they nowhere to go for miles.
I think there are two main issues that need to be faced up and addressed:
The first is that the Broads Authority should be far more open to the idea of residential boating, and help not hinder Marina's who wish to branch out and provide provisions for this. Equally, as a business on private land those who might take advantage of a home mooring with full residential rights should play fair by the rules imposed by their contract with the Marina. This will mean a general selfless and respectful approach by all.
Secondly for those who have either do not wish to or cannot afford to moor in a Marina on a berth, the Broads Authority cannot have it both ways - being an authority that manage the rivers and many moorings, planning matters and so on and yet turn a blind eye and offer no assistance to those who use the rivers, and pay their Toll to do so, but happen to also live on their boat. I think firstly there needs to be a real push to keep facilities open all year - water, electric and refuse collections should not cease. I also think that there should be a new Toll category issued. Perhaps this could be simply managed with a different coloured boat toll number to designate it as being subject to these conditions.
In short, you'd pay the Toll fee plus an extra percentage (whatever that may be) which would enable you to stay at certain marked Broads Authority moorings for extended periods, say a fortnight. Let us say there were 8 moorings, and 2 of these would be designated as long stay - maybe with yellow coloured posts. There also needs to be more done for repeat offenders who take advantage of the system and overstay, and while this may not be easy to do and could well open up a can of worms with social issues and responsibilities involving the local authority too then so be it.
What clearly cannot happen is ignoring the situation, hoping it will go away.
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Trixie - A Tour
in General Discussion
Posted
Well, it has taken long enough but finally here is a video of what Trixie, a 24ft Sheerline Aft Cockpit from 1992 is like. I rather like her, cosy, warm and 'cute' with everything you need albeit in a very small space. These boats come on the market every now and then, and vary a lot with internal fit-out, some have a fridge in the cockpit area, freeing up space down below for more cupboards, others have a more open plan layout but they make ideal boats for a couple and can get into moorings others cannot. Cheaper to moor, insure and toll I think they work well and have aged well too.