liamgdr

BMW 330ci M Tec Convertible... :thumbs:

Whats an M Tec? I've heard of M Sport.

If your are seriously interested in a diesel Civic.

 

Ours will be up for sale soon, 08 plate, Black, 5 door, 2.2 diesel. EX spec so top spec, SatNav, Bluetooth, voice control, xenons, electric folding mirrors, cruise control, rear parking sensors, aux-in port, currently longer average 49mpg.

 

Totally standard, 85k maintained by Honda than Mitz, no issues at all, we've owned it since 3k, only selling due to wife wanting more luxury, so currently PX for a Lexus IS300H.

 

Been offered a lowly £4.5k PX price for it, but given the lack of hassle in PX have pretty agreed. Rather it go to a good home though, so will let it to a member for not much more. PM me if seriously interested.

I think ill be going for a c30.

Very good build quality, pretty stylish if I can find an R version, not many mechanical issues, good diesel engines, and it shares its parts with the focus so they are as cheap as chips to fix.

If you fit a supercharger to your 350z it will read over 40mpg, that seems pretty sensible to me.

 

On the back of the AA tow van?

 

I'll get you a picture of my MPG if it helps sway you.

 

p.s before the nerds descend upon me, I know it isn't accurate.

Resetting the computer and rolling down a hill doesn't count

Mint, low mileage fabia VRS with money to spare for a remap and rear arb etc. you will get 50mpg no problem & if you can find one with heated seats & cruise ( which can be retrofitted for peanuts) then you have a belter of an alto under. I still miss mine. Far far better than the Audi a3 I replaced it with

Im sure its a very good car but I really don't like the look of it.

Ford Focus - cheap as chips to run, parts available on every street corner.

 

Any half decent beemer?

 

Honda Civic?

 

Mazda 3/6?

 

VX220 NA, 35mpg and super quick - mind you hows supple are you

I have thought about the focus but its probably sitting at the bottom of my list.

Im planning a pretty big I.C.E install with some gear I already have, and it a pain in the arse to fit a double din in the new bmw's and it looks a bit crappy even when you do get one in, the heater controls also end up in the ash tray area.

I actually really like the look of the newer civics, didn't think about them, added to my list along with the mazda.

At 6'5" I reckon my chin would probably rest on the top of the windscreen in the vx220

50mpg real world isn't going to happen very often, unless you live on the motorway sat at 60mph. Even the decent diesels (thinking the BMW 2l in something small like the 118d) will see maybe 45mpg on the combined cycle.

 

Work on a figure of 40-45, that way if you do get better then you're laughing. If money is the priority then I'd be looking at Fords or Vauxhalls tbh, as they're going to be cheaper to maintain than any premium brand. A Focus mk2 is a bloody good steer.

My old a3 2.0tdi would never drop into the 50's always mid to high 60's thats what I'm basing it on, as long as I am at least doubling the economy of the zed (18mg) then I will be happy.

i had the leon FR550 2.0 tdi was a great car, very comfortable and returned towards 50mpg.

Definitely a contender If I can find a decent one around the 6k mark.

If you fit a supercharger to your 350z it will read over 40mpg, that seems pretty sensible to me.

On the back of the AA tow van?

Seat leon FR, cheaper than the golf and look pretty good IMHO. My mate had the C30, was a nice car but was changing bulbs every month because the lights never go off!

Ha, never thought of the bulbs, i'll add the seat leon to the list, is that the 170hp 2.0tdi?

Audi a3, 1 series?

 

What age of cars you looking at?

I used to have an a3, definitely a good daily car but I would rather try something new.

I like the one series but only the m sport 3 dr variant, which is way over budget.

I've been toying with the idea of selling my zed for the last 6 months but never brought myself to it. Ive recently left my job and gone back to education so money is the tightest its ever been so it has to go.

Ive got a lot of audio gear that I was going to fit in the zed but its still sat in the living room, so whatever car I go for I'm planning a nice I.C.E install (make up for the loss of fun) so build quality has to be pretty good, definitely better than the zed.

Budget will be 6k, which is roughly what I should sell my car for, I want something that will achieve 50 mpg in the real world. (probably means a diesel)

So far I've narrowed it down to mk5 Golf gt, Alfa Brera and the Volvo c30. All are 3 door hatch backs but thats not what I'm exclusively looking for, just my first few thoughts.

Is there anything I've missed? Any useful advice on the above cars?

Cheers, Liam.

Tbh I would either add an amp or not bother changing the speakers at all.

However, if you do decide to change them go with something with a high sensitivity rating, they will work better with a low power amp (bose/headunit etc).

Stock speakers have a high sensitivity so work well with the little power they get, pretty much all aftermarket speakers are designed to be amped so have a lower sensitivity but a higher power rating, you may find changing the speakers will actually sound worse.

Out of the big three online retailers I've found car audio direct to be the better, but theres also car audio centre, any of the three stock tons of entry level stuff.

I've just noticed your location, did I see you a couple of months ago entering the business park near David Lloyd cheadle? If not someone has an identical car in the stockport area, I was in a grey 350z.

Perfect, nice one

Im currently in the process of a really big install and I want to start laying my rca cables out, I plan to take them straight down the middle of the car through the section that houses the hand brake but Im not sure how to remove it.

To be honest I've not attempted it yet but I will be away from my computer tomorrow while I attempt it, so would like to find out if there is any crucial points, i.e do the seats have to come out?

Cheers, Liam.

No it's an aftermarket amp Bose kit ripped out. I won't let me upload pictures

Is the amp powering on?

I'm currently installing a complete new system, today I investigated behind the door card and the stock location is awful. It is a few inches lower than the speaker grille and the grille itself is really dense.

I don't see the point putting £250 speakers in such a bad location so I'm trying to do it properly with pods.

I've seen lots of products you can buy from the US but at $350 each and import and shipping costs on top of that, I definitely won't be buying.

Has anyone got pods? Thoughts on them?

Cheers, Liam.

Cheers Wasso, I'll try the standard fuse for now, maybe buy a slightly higher one as back up.

Out of curiosity, what amp are you using? 1800 wrms is pretty big, massive sub?

Liam.

Im currently working on a complete I.C.E install for my zed, I have bought all my equipment just need to sort a wiring kit out.

I have 2 amps, 409 wrms + 648 wrms = 1057wrms total.

Taking the length of cable into account I believe a 4 gauge will be sufficient, if i was to add more power in the future I would definitely go a bit thicker but I can't see any reason why I would need it.

According to a guide I've found, an estimate on the max amps I may draw is 153a, does this mean I should use an similar rated fuse? Most 4awg wiring kits offer fuses in the region of 60-80a, would there be any complications with swapping the fuse out for a higher one?

If so what size fuse should I get?

Cheers, Liam.

Nice one, just ordered

2004

I can't seem to find a fascia that fits a double din size head unit, I can only find the single din ones that have the tray underneath, is it the same fascia but you have to remove the middle section?

I have checked the guide but the pictures of the fascias are out of date and aren't visible.

I really can't figure it out.

Liam.

FFS my worst nightmare

One upside is that wiring route looks bloody easy, did the plastics go back on easy with that extra wire running through?

Did you send the power cables down the passenger side?

Im currently in the process of removing all the crap bose equipment from my car and replacing it with a proper install.

I plan to put two amps in the enclosure where the bose subwoofer currently sits, but I need to get the metal plate that the sub sits in out. Do all the rear plastics have to come out or is there an easy way to get the metal out.

Cheers, Liam.

Re; the coolant. Found this on eBay. Seems a good deal but I'd just double check that it is definitely the price for 5 Litres.

 

Cheers, doesn't look a bad price, as long as they send it as one package.

 

Link: http://www.ebay.co.u...5-/150939424104

Fill the gearbox from the top using a long hose and a filler if you do not have a syringe.

Best to bleed the clutch from the slave so that all the old fluid is removed.

Use the genuine Nissan premix for the coolant.

5mm for the bleed hose for the brakes and slave.

 

Alex.

Cheers alex, I've never bled a clutch before, is it just the same scenario as the brakes, pump the pedal, open/close than valve, repeat etc etc

Ah didn't think of machine mart, damn I was hoping I could mix it, its pretty expensive for some coloured water.

Any ideas on the clutch, bleed it or just replace the fluid?

Im going to perform my own p3 service in the next few days but need to get hold of a few bits first.

Does anyone know what size plastic tubing fits over the bleed nipple on the brakes.

Do I need a syringe to get oil into the gearbox? (where could I get one from?)

How much coolant do I need and can it be mixed 50/50 with distilled water? (ill be using the genuine nissan stuff)

Finally does the clutch need bleeding or would it just be sufficient to syringe some fluid out and replace with new?

Cheers, Liam.

Just got off the phone from adrian flux and they won't accept it, so it looks like I'm stuck with my current insurer for another year, this is what really annoys me about insurance companies, slimy underhand tactics to force you into a renewal, what is really frustrating is how I asked the person on the phone numerous times if the 10 month scheme was universally recognised by other insurers and they confirmed it was. I think I complaint letter is needed here, as good will they should at least match adrian fluxes quote.

Yeah the weather was beautiful, got lucky again with the welsh weather 😃

 

What's wrong with my hands Ekona? 😂

I think he's on about shuffling the wheel, rather than just crossing your hands of each other.