Big Rob

To keep my handbrake working properly I use it to stop the car if I'm rolling slowly up to traffic lights etc. This seems to remove corrosion and crud from the drum.

It could be the brake disc back plate rubbing on the brake disc.

2 inches of clutch pedal travel doesn't sound right. I reckon should be more like four or five inches with the bite further than half way up.

What HiFi magazine is very good, I'd recommend buying two or three issues before you start making your desicions.

Just the job, thanks Alex.

Yes, 5th and 6th. I can also get reverse without pushing down. Thats the problem really, I can't distinguish 6th from reverse.

I'm looking for a thread which I have read in the past re. the plate which aligns the gearstick so that gears are where you expect them to be. I think it was written by Coldel, he described how he re-aligned the selector plate after a clutch change. I had my clutch and flywheel replaced today and they've done a great job apart from this, I will be taking it back for them to do but I want to get clued-up first. Can anyone help? Thanks, Rob.

Hey don't forget Wanli, awesome.

I have never acheived an average as high as 21mpg, your car seems fairly economical!

Sweet!

Then there's the biting point sitting fairly high and also the throwout bearing I'm not sure what you're saying?

Mine does this too, it's worst when doing a hill start. Other than this though it's fine, I can drop a load of revs on it and the car takes off like a rocket. Strange. I figure I need a new clutch although it might be the flywheel at fault. Anyways I'll have to get both. On a positive note though mine's been like this for a few thousand miles now with no change so I guess yours will last a while yet.

Just realised I had Advan sports on my 200sx. Very good too, on that car.

I've got S001s on the rear of mine and they're fine, wet traction is good. I haven't had any other premium tyres on yet as I've only had the car 9 months and it came with cheapo tyres. You get what you pay for.

My steering does this although only when stationary or moving very slowly, I'm going to change the fluid first to see if that makes a difference. Also, the pulley bearing is noisey on mine but I doubt this has anything to do with the problem. If you change the pump calvin then let us know what difference it makes as i'd be interested to know.

Mine did this a couple of times soon after I first got it. It had been little used for a good time before I bought it. Now that I give it a good work-out every day, it no longer does it.

Mine does this too but I haven't worked out why yet, it might be because the cabin temp has risen above the temp set on the dial. I don't think it does it if you turn the fan to the off position.

I think I've got some autoglym tar remover under the sink.

Thanks guys, I should have known to check you tube. Anyways, I'll report back with details of success/failure. I had to google Tardis - I thought zugara was suggesting I go back in time and stop the previous owner from getting it fitted, this would lead to all sorts of parodoxical problems so i'll try the solvent first.

As per the title please, has anyone done DIY removal of paint protection film? The whole front of my car (bumper, wings and bonnet) is covered with paint protection film but it's very tired and has dulled/scratched and bird poop has burnt through the film on the bonnet and it's lifting. Can anyone recommend how I should go about removing it or will professional solvents etc. be reqiured?

I have used A1 clutches in Tipton before, they did a great job with the clutch in my 200sx. I believe they have a shop in Birmingham too, Digbeth maybe - not sure off the top of my head.

So I've put a couple of hundred miles on these and I like them, they are quieter and road compliance is certainly better. I've not been able to break traction in a straight line in the dry. I can't really comment on cornering grip as I don't often drive hard enough and the standard suspension is a bit whallowy when pushing hard but it seems ok. Also, this is the first premium tyre I've had on the car so it's difficult to make a comparison. There you go then, I reckon they're alright. It's worth saying they were cheaper than Pilot Super Sports but probably more expensive than the Potenza 50a.

I used to get the wheels on my capri balanced on the car, so yes it can be done and I did get better results that way. I think this is how they balance wheels on larger commercial vehicles. It's pretty scary looking, basically a 'sit-on' device with a big fly-wheel underneath which you press up against the wheel to spin it while a gauge displays vibration.

I had two bridgestone potenza s001 fitted to the rear this morning in standard 245 45 18 flavour recommended by my local tyre man whos opinion I trust. These replace the federal super steel 595s that were on the car when i bought it in october. I've only done 20 miles on them so far, nice and slow to put a heat cycle throught them. I'll report back next weekend after a weeks commuting but I reckon they should be better than the federals which were noisy and pretty much useless on anything other than bone dry tarmac.

The zed seems almost foolproof with the esp on so I reckon this could give a false sense of security because when the circumstances are right, you will come a cropper. I spun off the road in my e30 beemer and hit a tree side-on, the road was cold and greasy but I wasn't accelerating and it was a road I was familiar with. It took me completely by suprise and there was nothing I could to recover it. I think having a crash does teach you a lesson that's hard to forget and in my case taught me to consider the wheels and tyres that I run, 35 profile tyres look great on 17 inch wheels but I wouldn't recommend them on an e30. I think that what i learned was that i'll always be an average driver at best, so I know my limits.