The Seasider

Finally sorted! I can't disclose how much this has cost to resolve but I'm glad to have found a garage that took a challenge seriously!

They drill a hole and put a bung in (obviously hidden). I've had a couple done in the same area over the years.

I must have been in my hibernation tank when this kicked off. I can't believe I just read 12 pages of, in the main, such mean spirited posts - as someone said, we'e all been shafted by someone, somewhere at some time even if it wasn't a garage, so why are we giving this guy such a hard time? And what about the garage? They probably think they've done a good job at a fair price - and overall, apart from the well observed brake line cost, I don't think the majority of charges were out of the way for a reasonable non franchised garage in the south. Remember, garages don't always have the unlimited time that we have to source parts at the very best cost - they tend to use a few local factors. I'd also like to think - as someone else said - that they have just moved some of their costs around the bill to try and make some of the charges look a bit better and then got lazy and dropped a spare 6 hours onto the brakes job! Sure, there are a couple of lessons in there for us all such as the importance of having a clear agreement of works to be carried out and getting an indicative cost for works to be done but, garages are notorious for squeezing an extra inch of **** up the proverbial @rse of customers whatever was agreed in advance. I was in a garage tonight at closing time in hull and observed three customers having their itemised bills explained to them and all three were 'amazed' at how much their bill was - and with good reason - as I know the three of them got overcharged for parts compared to what I could have obtained them for with enough research time. In addition, between them they got charged for I estimate 30% more hours labour than was humanly possible from the workforce! And this garage is highly regarded in these parts - I was just there to meet someone fortunately.

Sorry to see a zed in a state of distress. Although it looks poorly from what I can see it should all come back together - looks like 2 wings and a door skin - insurance companies seem to insist on new parts being used throughout though which may make the figures look a bit hairy when it's all totted up. Bloooody annoying however. Good look with the repairs.

Sorry to see a zed in a state of distress. Although it looks poorly from what I can see it should all come back together - looks like 2 wings and a door skin - insurance companies seem to insist on new parts being used throughout though which may make the figures look a bit hairy when it's all totted up. Bloooody annoying however. Good look with the repairs.

Is that Dan lost for words? (Or at least 3 letters) I used to use that word with one other word as my password on all computer based applications - summed up my feelings towards most of the applications :-)

You watch out - you'll be tied to a post, blindfolded and shot next time. As someone said 'each one of those points is a life saved'

Hey Zeus, Don't take me seriously - I'm just a blagger. If you saw me driving around everywhere with queues of cars behind me you'd realise how funny it is that I've been done for speeding. I don't even do 80 on the motorway!

Got my speed awareness course offer today. It's a close run thing between taking 3 points and giving up a morning to listen to someone lecture me on the perils of marginal transgression. Who am I kidding - I'm going to take the SA course and save my points for a really good offence!

When you've bought as many tyres as I have this year - you learn to value the words from the wise. I think I have something above 20 tyres in my garage at the moment waiting to go on vehicles or on ebay! Dan & I do disagree sometimes though - he doesn't approve of my taste in part worn tyres! Which I am sure he will come along and criticise you for soon.....

I have received a summons for doing 35 in a 30 - going up hill, out of the village, 20 yards before the national speed limit sign. The PC in question was later seen shooting fish in a barrel. What do you think would be a suitable punishment? The offer of a speed awareness course doesn't really strike me as an adequate punishment for this heinous crime.

I think I may be coming in after the cavalry have already swept up, but as someone who is running - til this Friday anyway - an ill advised setting of 235/40/18 at the front 255/35/18 at the rear on one of my Zeds (the explanation is contained elsewhere and is too funny to discuss) straying from the factory recommendations or the couple of other workable combinations will frustrate the life out of you with it chucking lights all the time and killing the power (unless you switch off the TCS - which having done that a few times on wet days is not to be recommended!) so, listen to Dan - he's talked the most sense on the topic of tyres whilst I've been on here.

+1 for sultans of swing by dire straits - and yes, agree original album version was best. I also love the guitar solo in emerald by thin lizzy - makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. If you've no idea what I'm talking about, look here -

Sounds like you should put her up for adoption - before long you'll be forced to sell cars by the sounds of it :-) For Sale 350z - genuine reason for sale, may part ex for a Merimba....

I'm running 255 35 18's on the back and 235 40 18's on the front - doesn't work. Upsets the traction control so have to drive everywhere with it switched off - which isn't ideal. I'm changing the rears to 255 40 18's when I get around to it. The 255 35 18's also look a bit skinny in the arches as I haven't lowered it.

By way of a bit of an update - after a decent run I checked the lights when I got home tonight and the light from them was pretty indistinguishable? When I checked them previously I guess I had just switched them on - when one was brighter than the other - would this suggest a failing ballast?

I've just flown with Ireland's best today and it was very unusually late! They are the best in my experience at getting me to my place in Spain efficiently and they appear to be trying to make it a better experience now after they were voted the UK's most hated company - the shareholder's didn't like that. You never see or hear from Michael O'Leary these days - they keep him well locked away!

It used to be conventional wisdom to replace bearings in pairs - is this still the same? I've got a noisy bearing at the moment but can't work out where the noise is coming from! It doesn't worsen when turning either way but does get louder at speed - does that point to the rear?

Didn't think I'd catch you out ;-)

Great attention to detail - I'm almost persuaded to get some of my old install hardware off the garage rafters! PS - you may have mentioned it but I didn't spot it in the posts - did you upgrade the wiring. You'd be surprised how much difference (improvement) decent speaker wire and interconnects make.

I need a proper spare key - how much should it cost at a dealers?

Strangely, I don't drive much in the dark but obviously now as the nights are drawing in its a bit inevitable! I noticed this week that one headlight is brighter than the other on dipped beam - similar whiteness, just one is brighter than the other but even the dim one is still shedding a serviceable level of light at present I appreciate that this will require a bit of speculation but ahead of a likely strip down what is likely to be the problem? Now that my pet garage is 25 miles away I like to try and go with all angles covered as it's cheaper on a time + hassle v money basis to just go armed withe everything and then either mothball the extra components or eBay them on! I would imagine it could be a failing ballast or mismatching bulbs - has anybody got any other thoughts? Is my old friend zmanalex the best source for ballast - are they universal or do you have to specify right/left Could anyone help with a bulb spec - I think they are D2R's but I've noticed they do them with various intensities - is 5 to 6k about right? Oh, just as an afterthought - if I decide to take it on myself, I can get the bumper off okay how do you handle or not handle the bulbs - are there any secrets? Gloves?

They know that most people who are selling a car privately are often willing to do things they wouldn't normally do in order to get a sale. One tip is if you suspect a scam always reply to emails and texts with a request 'to call' and 'discuss the matter' not everyone can spot a scam from a few words but hopefully most people would be able to tell if someone was a 'plonker puller' from a conversation. Ask yourself - who really would want to buy your car unseen, based upon an e-mail dialogue? Cleared funds or local currency are the only two acceptable forms of payment in my book - the seller not the buyer sets the rules!

I'm a bit sceptical as to how effective it will be because foam of that sort of density is going to be acoustically transparent I would have thought - albeit it may reduce some unwanted harmonics emanating from the door and door card. I can't wait to find out :-)

Redneck 1 to Redneck 2 - '@*!#, you reckon that dudes will pay how much for these 3 pieces of foam? count me in!' Only joking - I'll be interested to hear the verdict on them ;-)