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lrh

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Posts posted by lrh

  1. I bought 3 used keys and found there are different types that have the same model number on the outside but work completely differently inside. My 2004 UK key uses a passive transponder chip whereas identical looking keys from European built models seem to use an active chip on the PCB.

     

    The video shows the two types but ignore what the guy says! The top key has an active chip on the other side of the PCB:

     

     

    Even when I got the right type of key I could only get it to lock the car but not unlock or disable the immobiliser. I think that you either need a blank unused transponder chip of exactly the right type and/or to get a dealer to code it... Trying to code a used key using the key turning and button pressing method seems to be a waste of time and money :doh:

  2. The car's in Surrey, near Farnham.

    I live close. I can see that car on AutoTrader... Looks good but he's asking a grand over book with only a few months tax and MOT. Still might be worth a punt if he's open to reasonable offers ;)

  3. The M3 actually only shares 20% of the parts with it's coupe family

    Brochure talk ;) Think about the doors, glass, wiper motor, window motors, most of the dashboard, heater matrix/fan, bonnet release mechanism, door locks, airbags, seat belts, fuel tank... Thousands of boring parts you don't see come off the shelf.

     

    Sure the engine, suspension, and body bits make a big difference to how it drives but do they really cost £17k more to make than those bits on a 335i ?!?!? :scare:

  4. Nothing wrong with that history as long as the brake fluid and coolant were done as part of the L3? The "Level" services are generic fixed-price services that dealers do for older cars.

     

    Don't get hung up on the P services, they don't even include brake fluid, coolant, plugs which are all age related extras on top:

     

    P1 = Oil Change

    P2 = P1 + Air Filter

    P3 = P2

     

    Again the biggest worry will be a rusty exhaust and brake discs, plus how recent the tyres are? These are all £400+ items.

  5. Just had my renewal through from Elephant and at £1300 re-running the quote with another company in the same group (Admiral of EUI trading) it comes out around £1000

    Renewal quotes are always 10~20% higher than a new policy quote!

     

    Just call the renewal line and say you've got a cheaper quote from Admiral and give them the quote number... They will check it and match the price in seconds! I do this every year, although my saving is only £30-40 ;)

     

    Another tip for Admiral/Elephant is to add an older more experienced driver to the policy (if you haven't already), even if they're never going to drive it. This can slash your price by hundreds!

     

    The 370 is group 19 versus 18 for the 350 so it'll always cost more :thumbdown:

  6. Overall I think it is a very over priced car but hey thats porsche for you.

    Remember their cars are low-volume bespoke designs. The Z is a parts-bin special based upon a heavy saloon car platform using a lot of off-the-shelf Nissan parts, including an engine dating back to 1994.

     

    The GTR is a closer equivalent with a lot of unique parts and built in low numbers... It costs £60k+. A Lotus Evora costs £50k+

     

    Now the BMW M3, that is a rip-off... £53k+ is a joke for something that shares so much with a 318d.

  7. Should be fine as long as your rear brakes are evenly balanced... Did you get a print out of the readings? If the brakes on one side slow that wheel down a lot quicker than the other side, then the LSD can be worked quite hard (trying to equalise the wheel speeds).

    But the test is fairly quick and low speed so the chances of damaging a viscous diff are pretty small. Still the MOT place should know and follow the rules :bangin:

  8. I could hear a slight clicking from the back and the front tyres have been replaced with no-brand jobbies.

    You're looking at £500 for starters to resolve those two issues!

     

    Really these cars should be bought on condition not mileage. A daily-driven car with 50k miles and full history will be better than a neglected weekend car with a rusty exhaust (another £300+ to sort). Plenty of these cars in the US that have done 150-200k miles with no issues so high miles are not an issue ;)

  9. Design is actually closer to the Nismo. I might try and get some interior sound clips soon because it sounds nothing like that video ;)

     

    Generally it's slightly louder than stock on light throttle but turns into an angry howl under load... Opposed to the slighty dull moan of the stock exhaust.

  10. i was about to order the other "non square edge" ones from ebay and the auction says its for Brembo systems

    Their picture is totally generic and their other items have the pictures completely the wrong way around! :doh:

     

    I can't believe spending that much to import from the US is cheaper than buying here anyway. Someone is selling genuine Brembo front pads for only £91 delivered:

     

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Genuine-Nissan-Brembo-350z-Front-Brake-Pads-BNIB-/400151117389?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item5d2add7e4d

    c30e_1.JPG

     

    Surely that's proof! I've bought and fitted front and rear pads myself so I know exactly what they look like!

  11. That looks like a good deal from brakeparts superstore. Does anybody know anything about them? Will the pads be of reasonable quality?

     

    I've seen a few suppliers on eBay, but again I'm not sure about buying such important items from there, unless I have some sort of recommendation. Maybe I'm a bit paranoid about brakes, though. :blush:

    Have bought from them and eBay before... As long as you buy from a UK supplier you should get decent pattern parts (Apec, BremTech, Mintex) the same as a motor factor would supply.

  12. Spacesaver wont be more than 10kg with the tools i wouldnt think.

    Had the spare out today while getting some new tyres fitted and had some scales to hand... It weighs between 16 and 17kg ;)

     

    Weights for the regular 18" wheels (non-Rays) are about 23kg front and 25kg rear. With Rays they would be about 20/22kg.

  13. Thats the biggest pile of crap i've ever heard!

    Not really. If you drive at times and in places where accidents are more likely to happen, there's a higher probability you'll be involved in another, possibly your fault next time. They're no mugs, it's all based on statistics ;)

  14. No excess to pay if it's not your fault, but your premium will go up a little next time :thumbdown:

     

    Although the guy is clearly a **** and needs to be taken down a peg or two, I fear that the Police and Insurance might not be interested in something so minor.

     

    I wonder if the Police can give you his address based upon the reg? I would pay him a visit (with a friend) and invite him to inspect the damage. He's unlikely to be abusive outside his own house :angry:

  15. ...Now they did say due to the fact that I've only owned the car for 4 months that they would reduce the cost of the repair from £650 to £325

    £325 isn't actually that bad considering the price of genuine parts. An independent would get pattern parts for £150-200 and charge £50-100 labour.

     

    But it's still worth pushing them harder considering their mechanic declared the brakes fine 2 weeks ago. A main dealer shouldn't be selling a car with only a few months life in the brakes either :thumbdown:

  16. How much does the spare weigh??

    Normal wheels are 20-25kg so lets say a spacesaver is about 16kg... Car plus driver is at about 1600kg...

     

    So the spacesaver is only 1% of the cars weight! There's 750kg sitting on the back wheels and the spare is only 2% of that.

     

    Fuel level makes a bigger difference... The petrol in a full tank weighs over 50kg

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