Jeff E

ok, so refineries of majors might make a mistake but if you are trying to tell me that traders/supermarkets consistently supply fuels of as good a quality as the majors then, I think you are wrong. Cars nowadays usually pass the 80k mileage mark with the fuel purchase often unclear. Buy a car from new and run it on supermarket fuel only or a majors fuel only and the supermarket one would fail soonest. If you are a PHD chemist and have had 30 years working for a major oil company and been involved in dealing with traders, then I will bow to your knowledge

So why 3-4 years back did cars coming out of Tesco have problems which were identified as being caused by the petrol ? Supplied by a company called Greenergy, a trader. As I said there are ways and means of meeting standards and there are plenty of traders out there who know how and are only interested in making a buck. Traders may not want to be known as Pikey Teds , they are substantially more sophisticated than that !

Those who save 1p/l by buying supermarket fuel as opposed to say Shell are misguided. Supermarket fuels are frequently bought from traders who buy spot gasoline, blend it in tanks in Rotterdam and shi to UK. They have to meet the minimum of specifications but there are ways and means of doing this without producing a quality fuel. Volatility levels , aromatic contents etc They use minimum additive levels. Majors such as Shell have spent years of research and worked with major car producers to ensure the highest quality fuels and lubricants.

The noise regulations for motor sport exceed those for road vehicles from my experience. My race TR7V8 failed for noise at scrutineering at a race meeting (fixed by strapping on a "bomb" silencer) but the following week my road TR7V8 passed its MOT with no comment and was much louder. If these people bought a house close to the M1 would they expect that to be shut down ? Ah well probably !! SIGNED

Please ad me to list for 1x calendar if not too late. Jeff E

My 2005 roadster had 85k+ in Sept. 2012 according to MOT and had 5 previous owners. So at 12k+ per annum car was clearly a daily use and some lucky people were having a great time , suspect they were not paying for their own fuel ! Now 2015 and only 90k on the clock as it has moved into hobby car territory.

Just do not cover it with a tarpaulin or other non breathable cover. I ruined an immaculate TR7V8 by covering it with a tarpaulin over the winter when it was parked on a shingle over hogging drive. On sunny winter days the tarpaulin acts like a greenhouse and moisture rises. At night it condenses. Result pools of standing water on the V8 , corrosion everywhere, ruined electrics and I could go on. Better with a draught blowing round it and possibly a good waxing to protect the paint from water/UV.

As sounds as though you are going to keep the car suggest you fit a new oil filter pdq. Once had a major drop in oil pressure due to collapsed oil filter . That was on a 2.8i Ford engine not a Z. As your vendor sounds a dodgy character you have no certainty of service history so filter may have been in there for ages. Also why not contact previous owner from log book data see if you can get any comfort.

As I got into bed, wife asked me what I had been doing on the computer all evening. Looking for cheap flights I replied. Oooh I love you she said, cuddled up and we had great sex. Odd, she has never shown an interest in darts before .

I should not have posted, just made myself seem like a know it all wally. However, I had 30 years working for the worlds 3rd largest oil company and for 4 of those years, as a manager, supplying own brand lubricants. I stick by what I said and would recommend using majors that are dedicated to lubricants such as Shell, Mobil ( ExxonMobil) , Texaco etc and quality specialists such as Castrol(BP), Fuchs and similar. Todays lubricants are very complex so too difficult to cover here but HARMLU if you want to know more details PM me

I repeat what I said earlier. Nissan do not produce motor oils. Clarke Motor Sport, Z manalex, Cs etc may " only" recommend Nissan fluids, fair enough, you won't go wrong but frankly they probably know diddly squat about motor oil production. The Nissan oils are the equivalent of a supermarkets own brand Weetabix and they are produced down to a price. The major oil companies, Shell, ExxonMobil etc spend millions developing engine, gearbox oils etc and having them tested/proven. Nissan , Ford, JCB just have their labels put on the package at the oil companies blending plant. And whilst I'm at it not all petrol comes out of the same pipe as someone, on this forum suggested, with just different levels of additive. A few years ago drivers filled up at Tesco and their cars conked out. I know the supplier was a trader. Bought cheap fuels, put them in a tank in Rotterdam. Blend them to comply with a spec . and ship to Immingham. Put in minimum additive and delivery it to Tesco. My local suppliers are Tesco and Shell. Shell usually 1 p/l dearer. No brainer

Nissan don't make motor oils. It might come in a container with a Nissan label on it but it has been blended for Nissan by , usually, a major lubricant manufacturer such as Castrol, Fuchs , Mobil etc. It will be made to meet a specification which may be of Nissan origin but more likely an international specification. The competition to supply this " home brand" business is intense as volumes can be large . The price paid y Nissan, Ford etc is very low. The winning supplier therefore cuts the quality to the bone but has to keep within the spec. You an meet specs. with lower quality components and the majors own brand lubricants are always superior ,don't confuse specification with quality.

Before the Zed had considered 335D but as don't need to tow anymore, no convertible, diesel and use wife's Golf if want economy and sense. Reading this Forum people speak with passion about their Zed's which ,with possible exception of M3, you don' seem to get with 3 beemers. On Top Gear track Zed got same time as M3 of that era, E90 ? Having said that believe larger engines 3 series cars are the best mass production saloon you can buy.

Interested to learn how you get on. My 2005 is developing splits close to body behind windows. As I don't have a garage, I have to shut roof every night and so with this pretty good summer it has been up and down like the proverbial yo - yo. I am planning to take it to a chap to see if he can repair it. Have you tried that ? One car hood specialist was quoting £500+ that excluded fitting.

Yep, that would be me. I seem to spend a lot of time in the Shell filling station and its not just because there are regular queues !!! That is the stretch of road they are on regularly . Jeff E

Steve , you never run out of conversation with your peers, aches, pains,pills, operations ....... !

IMO black just makes a hole where your wheels should be. Good wheels cost money, why make them disappear ??

Thanks WW, I now use your technique. Don't have cruise control and this cuts out if you touch the brake. Nissan , Quashky now fit a speed limiter which stays permanently on until disabled

Yep, only been into 3 weeks ownership of my Z and done for speeding. Now come on all you Zebedees, admit it, when you got your Zed you felt the need to exercise it a little. So when I received this official looking letter and opened it, to find speeding offence, it was OMG. Reading further it was for 35 mph on a day when I was out with my dear lady doing my ( previously referred) low rev burbles. Never thought I would be pleased to pay £80 and go on a speed awareness course. But if you come up to Suffolk be aware. I was done going on the A12 through Yoxford and apparently they are there regularly. Also on A12, outskirts of Woodbridge there is a dual carriageway section with a 40 mph limit and they are regularly there especially southbound and they stand before the flashing up slow down 40 mph limit sign. They want your money. So if you come to Suffolk and get behind a gun metal Z doing 31/41 mph don't think what's up with this ****. Wait till we reach, what I still call ,the derestricted sign and I'll be off in the hope the OB do not do any speed checks on the more open roads. Jeff

I had two MOT tyre issues. One I was told would fail as when the rubber was lifted you could see the canvas. The other was cut following an accident but it was not deep and passed its MOT.

If I'm not too late would like one of these kits. Excuse my ignorance but what is a PM versus standard entry. Editor removed my e mail address as my post was not a PM. Jeff E

SIPAR69 may be interested to know there are some 40k Boxsters

I am having this problem. Everything fine when I set off but after half hour or so, when presumably heated up, the pedal does not come back up. First indication is a loud thump as the pedal has stuck when I have taken my foot off and then suddenly unsticks. Then worsens and have to lift it up with my foot. At no time to date have I had a problem with the clutch not engaging/slipping. I am therefore hoping that the posted clevis pin sticking is the cause.

Looks great. Did it hold in place with standard stick on fixings ?

Next week I am about to have my standard alloys done by AW Smart at Waldringfield. They offer two options, cheaper, outers to your colour choice or full which involves tyres off and the works. Cost £408 for 4.My fronts particularly badly scuffed will post on results once done. I am leaving car with them as will be away but have impression turn around is two days. Alex helpful friendly chap and machinery outside confirms they are not cowboys .