[seankenny]

Similar to my situation - my Saab had an aux in (very forward thinking for 2006!), which promptly broke after about a month of use.

Get one of the Bluetooth things that plug into your car socket. I got one off Amazon for about 10 fuckalls and it's excellent. Also gives you a USB to plug your charger cable into.

Thanks! Stupid question here, when you say "car socket" what do you mean?

[tommytwotone]

Your cig lighter - something like this would do I'm sure:


https://www.amazon.co.uk/VT-Tele-FL-Transmitter-Hands-Free/dp/B095SS6CVZ/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=VNyZZ&pf_rd_p=14181977-ffda-43e9-9ad5-f2431a74838d&pf_rd_r=G9Q2D4VC43NC9KYCNGAQ&pd_rd_r=eb16a9b0-89f0-4650-84cb-e4ce2f7b2a28&pd_rd_wg=bLs6Q&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_d

[seankenny]

The current thing I have is a combined radio/bluetooth adapator and the bluetooth has never worked. The radio reception is also rubbish, lots of crackle and it picks up the radio stations as easily as the device - hence wanting to connect the two devices with a wire that plugs in to some sort of socket.

Perhaps I'm just being terribly old fashioned here.

[csl]

TTT - you've just invited a load of randoms to your Zoom call 

[tommytwotone]

Ha ha - thanks for the tipoff!


This is why i shouldn't multitask...

[tommytwotone]

The current thing I have is a combined radio/bluetooth adapator and the bluetooth has never worked. The radio reception is also rubbish, lots of crackle and it picks up the radio stations as easily as the device - hence wanting to connect the two devices with a wire that plugs in to some sort of socket.

Perhaps I'm just being terribly old fashioned here.

Hmmm - I bought one and I've never experienced that, other half has one too, and will admit it's not great in her car.

Sounds like your alternative is new stereo then. I bought a cheapo JVC off the internet about 10 years ago for my old Micra which I think was the cheapest one you could get with an Aux In, was about £40.

[cheque]

Sometimes the line input exists on the stereo but there isn’t a socket on your version of the car to use it. In these cases you just need the right cable to click into the back of the unit and then you can Heath-Robinson the other end into a handy place.

If that’s the case then this (and figuring out how to get to the back of your stereo to plug it in) looks like it’s all you need. You can check by fiddling with the options on your stereo. If you can select an aux input but there’s no socket for it then Bob’s your uncle.

[tommytwotone]

Yeah, or if you have a changer you can spoof it so the head unit thinks the Aux in is your changer - my mate did that in his shed Audi!

[seankenny]

Sometimes the line input exists on the stereo but there isn’t a socket on your version of the car to use it. In these cases you just need the right cable to click into the back of the unit and then you can Heath-Robinson the other end into a handy place.

If that’s the case then this (and figuring out how to get to the back of your stereo to plug it in) looks like it’s all you need. You can check by fiddling with the options on your stereo. If you can select an aux input but there’s no socket for it then Bob’s your uncle.

Thanks, that is cheap and looks useful. There are various videos explaining how to fit gizmo in, all involving clips and pulling things out and even some drilling. I cannot imagine a more stressful way to spend my free time! I simply am not that man. But perhaps some sort of horny handed son of toil could do it for me.

[James Malloch]

Are there any benefits to a newer van with higher miles over an older van with lower miles? Or visa versa?

2016 with 60k
vs
2018 with 77k

Same engine etc and both good condition and similar ish price.

Don’t know if one could be better than the other all else being similar.

[tommytwotone]

Short answer - it depends.

General condition and history probably more important at that level. I'd be getting on the MOT checker to see what has been done over the years, you can tell a lot about the owners' approaches to maintenance by looking at that.

Also higher miles not necessarily a bad thing, depends how they've been racked up. e.g. 10k of motorway miles arguably a lot kinder on a vehicle than the equivalent city miles.

[teestub]

What T³ said, plus 10k/year for a van is getting on for suspiciously low for a van potentially suggesting lots of small journeys as he said.

[Wil]

Sometimes the line input exists on the stereo but there isn’t a socket on your version of the car to use it. In these cases you just need the right cable to click into the back of the unit and then you can Heath-Robinson the other end into a handy place.

If that’s the case then this (and figuring out how to get to the back of your stereo to plug it in) looks like it’s all you need.

There are various videos explaining how to fit gizmo in, all involving clips and pulling things out and even some drilling. I cannot imagine a more stressful way to spend my free time!

I did this with my old Ford Focus. Getting the radio out does require a certain amount of determination, but it's actually pretty simple. Plug the device in the back, drill an escape hole for the cable if you're fancy, or just jam it in next the radio and Robert is your mother's brother.

[James Malloch]

After the recent deluges my Berlingo (2009) is sloshing a lot of water around on the drivers side when accelerating/breaking.

Doesn’t appear to be in the doors (based on some door swinging tests), though I wouldn’t write it off. Any thoughts on where it could be trapped would be welcome.

It’s due an MOT the next 4 weeks so I’ll ask the local garage to have a look if no joy before then.

[Nigel]

So it sloshes during linear momentum change - acceleration / braking only - presume it sounds to be travelling "alongside" you to your right when in driver's seat? And at a low level i.e. floor level? If so most likely water trapped in sills. Will rot them from the inside so might be worth having a poke about the sills to see if there's any rust / holes appearing. If so then there may be some welding on the horizon one day...might be better to get it done soon (with waxoyl on inside of sill) to catch early if you are wanting to keep the van for more years. OR if its a banger being run into the ground then may well be ignorable if structurally able to pass MOT for long enough for your needs. Garage will advise.

Either way if the noise annoys you could drill a small drain hole. Finding where water is getting in more difficult, but only an issue if going down repair route.

[James Malloch]

So it sloshes during linear momentum change - acceleration / braking only - presume it sounds to be travelling "alongside" you to your right when in driver's seat? And at a low level i.e. floor level? If so most likely water trapped in sills. Will rot them from the inside so might be worth having a poke about the sills to see if there's any rust / holes appearing. If so then there may be some welding on the horizon one day...might be better to get it done soon (with waxoyl on inside of sill) to catch early if you are wanting to keep the van for more years. OR if its a banger being run into the ground then may well be ignorable if structurally able to pass MOT for long enough for your needs. Garage will advise.

Either way if the noise annoys you could drill a small drain hole. Finding where water is getting in more difficult, but only an issue if going down repair route.

Thanks for the help. You’re right around how it sounds with linear momentum change.

It was a lot worse today after some more downpours yesterday. But I managed to hear it when swinging the drivers door today (couldn’t get any reaction yesterday).

Found some rubber plugs at the bottom of the door which I could pull out and the water quickly started flowing out. Couldn’t hear it again on the drive home so hopefully that’s sorted it out.

I managed to check some of the sills and they seemed dry so hopefully it was just the bits in the door. Given the chance since yesterday I think it’s something I’ll have to keep on top of - I might just remove one of the plugs permanently.

Not sure where it’s getting in (window surround maybe) but the car interior Is dry at least.

Fingers crossed that was it all…

[tommytwotone]

Sure this is a pretty niche concern - has everyone seen the stuff about new E10 fuel?

I've checked and was pretty surprised to find that my 2006 Saab is totally fine with the new stuff.

My new "daily" - a 1983 VW Passat, is going to pose slightly more of a problem. Reading around, it sounds like the jury's out on whether one could / should use E10 in a "classic", with a few people suggesting it might actually be good for them.\

Anyway, worth doing a check - there's a UK Govt site you can use to make sure.

[James Malloch]

Are there any benefits to a newer van with higher miles over an older van with lower miles? Or visa versa?

2016 with 60k
vs
2018 with 77k

Same engine etc and both good condition and similar ish price.

Don’t know if one could be better than the other all else being similar.

As an extension to this question (still not bought a van yet!), would you shy away from higher mileage vans? Specifically Relay/Boxers with 2.0 engines?

I’m looking at some which have 120-130k on the clock which have just ended a 4 year lease deal (March 2017 Registrations).

MOT history doesn’t show up anything worrying but no service history available as they were purchased from the Lease company and this wasn’t supplied - though conditions of the lease stipulated regular servicing so you would assume it was done but the business (though uncertain on mileage intervals).

[Paul B]

If anyone wants a laugh at my expense then the night before going on holiday I loaded the dog into the Audi A6 Allroad to take her round my folks. I got about a mile down the road and the dash lit up with words you just don't want to see "gearbox failure - limited functionality". We went to the airport with three people (including my 74yr old MiL) and luggage in a Mini.

I tried clearing the fault with a dongle and it was straight back. The local garage did the same (straight back). The car is currently on the way (on the back of a wagon) to a nearby transmission specialist. It'll give me 2nd and 4th but not 1, 3 or 5th. The fault code is:

"p173E00 valve 1 in sub transmission electrical fault"

and it could still work out to be a relatively low cost issue (the wiring loom within the box) but there's supposedly an extended warranty issue (5 years +50k miles) on this exact fault. It's not looking cheap. I was aware when buying this car that it was a risk with it having fairly complex electronics but I have to say, Mechatronic gearbox failure wasn't something I thought was likely!

Anyhow, the specialists I've spoken to have 8 cars in with the same fault and turnover 60-80 a week.

[Fultonius]

DSG?

[Paul B]

No, it's the 7 speed slush box.

[Mike Tyson]

I've got my eyes on an imported car, originally from Japan. Anyone got experience of living with one? Was it hard to insure etc, parts hard to find and so on?

[nik at work]

Car people, I want to get a car.

Currently household has a 2nd gen Leaf and a VW camper. I’d like something small*, reliable, cheap to run, that can seat 5 (not necessarily in comfort…) and capable in adverse conditions… Budget up to £7k but would be nice if closer to £5k

Like the idea of 1st gen Leaf but seems to be still a bit pricey, and obvious range issues.

Panda 4x4 is very popular locally and is certainly a good option for the week or so of snow a year…

Anybody got alternative suggestions?

* no requirement to fit pads or such like, not much driveway real estate available so needs to petite…

[Bradders]

Skoda Yeti

[Paul B]

Swift 4x4 (beware the low undercarriage).

PS the Audi is back on the road with a new gearbox ECU. On a completely different note, does anyone need a kidney?