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A nice easy job for a change...

Working on *my own car*! Shock horror! (Makes a bloody change too, what with all of the 'little jobs' I get called on to do for firends and neighbours). Nice sunny today so it's out with the tools, jacks and axle stands and of course the large coffee and to work on the old bus (BMW E34 Touring with

349,000 miles on it). Job for today was replacing both of the front struts and upper track control arm bushes, rear struts, and replacing the brake pads/servicing the calipers all round. While it was in the air, I thought I might as well change the gearbox and diff oils too. Started at about 9.30 and was back indoors, all finished, by 2.30pm. I just *love* working on E34s. It's soooo nice when all the bolts come out easily and everything is easily accessible. Now that's what I call an enjoyable day's work.

JB

Reply to
JB
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someone who clearly appreciates well thought out engineering in a car.

car manufacturers could clearly sell more cars if they advertised these aspects of their cars.

Reply to
beerismygas

Agreed! You won't catch me working on any more French cars that's for sure. I am *well* cured of that, after doing a 'few small jobs' on a couple of my neighbours Peugeots/Citroens. What a pile of old s**te they really are. I think you pay only for the nice shiny skin of paint. The build quality and even the design is utter rubbish from what I've seen. Some of theses cars have done less than a *tenth* of the mileage on my old BMW, and they are wearing out/breaking in places I'm simply amazed at.

No not really. There are always people who want a nice shiny (cheap) new motor on the drive (you know, the 3 cars on the drive, f*ck all in the fridge mob). They probably wouldn't pay the extra cash for anything of better quality which does the same job. Personally, I'm quite happy to drive an older, significantly cheaper, and more solid wagon.

JB

Reply to
JB

Well I steer clear of anything big french or new french...

What they do best is cheap small motors. The AX was built to a price and tacky, but it was reliable and simple to maintain. I've seen AX's with 150K miles, which is good for a small thrashy 950cc motor...mines been a 2nd car for 8 years, and it's never broken down once - or even lost a piece of trim...and the nice bit is it does 50mpg no matter how I drive it....

Reply to
jb

neighbours).

AOL! Having done various jobs my previous Laguna, which invariably turned into a nightmare as bits disintegrated or revealed themselves to be a catch

22 dismantling operation (need to remove part B before part A but can't get to part B until part A is removed, swear, break parts A & B) the Micra and the S40 are an absolute doddle to work on. Everything is built properly in the first place, plenty of room to get at nuts and bolts, hardly anything seized, car back together by early afternoon and all knuckles intact . The S40 even has a radiator drain tap for coolant changes - remember those?
Reply to
Carl Bowman

Did you cheat with the upper TCAs and change the whole arm or just the bush?

Reply to
Conor

Changed the bush only, as the ball joints were fine. They aren't too bad to do on the original Lemforder arms, but can be a total sod on cheaper aftermarket items. (I do have the proper tools though).

JB

Reply to
JB

Oi! You can f*ck *right* off!! That sort of thing never happens on Beemers. Only common old Carltons burn the hands that feed them. ROTFLMAO!! nice to hear from you again Peter. stil got the money pit.... sorry, the Audi?

cheers, JB

Reply to
JB

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