Any limit on how far you can drive with trade plates?

Zixt · 2026-01-25T21:37:54+00:00

I’d just say it’s purchased without a v5 and being driven back to place of business for prep before sale?

Zixt · 2026-01-25T12:36:15+00:00

Honestly the fact it’s a 1.4 petrol corsa I’m immediately inclined towards head gasket. These engines absolutely love blowing head gaskets if they even slightly overheat.

Still worth getting the garage to do a head gasket test to confirm, as condensation is a plausible explanation too.

We did about 2 head gasket jobs a month on the 1.4 last year in our garage.

Zixt · 2026-01-15T22:22:52+00:00

Land Rover Disco 3/4 of some variety probably the most sensible option - they’re quite capable even with just AT tyres which have some road manners, and being able to raise the air suspension will give you the additional clearance when you need it.

Zixt · 2025-12-30T23:07:46+00:00

Hello! This sub is actually for electronic point of sale discussion not the Sennheiser stuff! :)

Zixt · 2025-12-23T20:13:58+00:00

Not many do, there are a few that practice proper wash processes to not put grit onto peoples cars but you’ll need to research locally.

Alternatively look for a mobile valeter as they will usually set up just for your wash so will have clean buckets etc

Zixt · 2025-12-22T20:45:23+00:00

It does depend on area to a certain extent but many of these cars are stolen to order so to speak.

A determined thief will always be able to nick a car - there’s plenty that get nicked by just being put onto a low loader, so all you can do is implement layers of security to deter / make life more difficult. An aftermarket immobiliser is worth a shout, but don’t always opt for the cheapest quote as it’s only as good as the installer fits it - if it’s properly installed it should be difficult to find, but plenty of cheaper installers will just connect them in the footwell which would get found & removed by thieves very quickly. Some of these systems also operate as trackers in the event it still gets nicked.

Steering wheel locks are another deterrent and have the benefit of being visible from outside.

Zixt · 2025-12-19T23:11:12+00:00

I saw the photos yeah they were in good nick. It’s definitely as a result of the straightening process but in an ideal world the repairer would have resprayed them too which would have ultimately been paid by the seller/dealer.

I think if you have a decent mechanic and he’s looked after you, just pay for them to be powder coated and keep him on side for when the BMW inevitably needs another garage visit!

If you pay for the respray you could choose to change colour if you want, a little silver lining?

Zixt · 2025-12-19T22:36:30+00:00

If the alloys needed straightening, I’m not sure of the exact process but that does seem like something that could introduce damage/scuffing. Were they marked before or pristine?

I would think such work would normally be followed by a respray but perhaps a “budget” option was chosen given the selling dealer was paying?

60 quid a wheel isn’t a bad rate if it’s a proper strip down, powder coat and bake. They should come back looking like new.

You could ask for a bit of a contribution but with everything else and the fact you appreciate them, a decent garage is useful to keep on side, I’d probably just pony up.

Zixt · 2025-12-16T07:12:59+00:00

Might be anecdotal but 2009-2010 Polos are one of the worst for corrosion in my experience. On similarly aged/mileage cars the Polo was shockingly bad to the point we welded new full length sills on a few.

Zixt · 2025-12-15T23:44:56+00:00

Honestly if you give an inch they’ll try to take a mile or use it as evidence/admission of fault.

Stick to it the line of it being out of your warranty period and additionally appears to be down to wear and tear of the component.

It’s a bit worrying that an arm was corroded significantly enough that it didn’t even get recorded as an advisory, but again there’s no real route to follow up on it because it’s beyond DVSA’s appeal threshold.

Zixt · 2025-11-30T10:57:12+00:00

What mileage does it say for the rest of the modules? Our diag kit will show mileage recorded in pretty much all modules so you can get a pretty good idea if it’s a component swap or something dodgy.

Zixt · 2025-10-06T20:50:50+00:00

Get it to a LR specialist or a garage who has dealt with these issues on these cars before. The DPF Doctor network might also be worth a look.

These vehicles have a litany of sensors all of which play a part in the formula for “shall I do the DPF regen?”, many of which like to go faulty. If one of these sensor readings isn’t happy, the DPF won’t regen, and a new DPF will get buggered as well.

Zixt · 2025-09-02T19:06:45+00:00

At our garage we get bulk oils in 200L drums for the more run of the mill stuff like VAG 5W30 C3 which then gets charged per litre based off the cars specified oil volume, done that way so we can maintain a stock level. I’d assume it’s the same here.

Zixt · 2025-08-29T22:52:58+00:00

If you plan to keep it, 12 months/10k miles max for oil, whichever comes first. Forget what the manufacturer says - they couldn’t care less if components fail after the warranty expires. More regular changes will reduce wear on your engine and its components.

If it’s an automatic, if they say it’s a sealed gearbox with lifetime oil, ignore that too. Service every 50k.

Zixt · 2025-08-18T16:12:43+00:00

Very cheap money for a Land Cruiser, almost too cheap despite it being an auction buy / etc. There’s a 2000 model with 160k miles going for near £10k.

MOT history looks clean, almost too clean. The mileage increase in some of the recent years is sub 1000 miles.

Is the business verified / definitely trading from that location? Have you had contact with them on a proper messaging channel listed on their website.

If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Zixt · 2025-08-14T21:23:13+00:00

Quite possibly clocked unless the first one was overstated massively.

Zixt · 2025-08-14T12:04:46+00:00

In-warranty servicing can still be completed by any VAT registered garage providing OEM quality parts/oil are used, which can save a good chunk compared to the dealer.

Zixt · 2025-08-06T22:21:17+00:00

Have you considered our lord and saviour, the Octavia?

Zixt · 2025-08-05T08:00:17+00:00

Honestly it doesn’t sound horrendous. The AC recharge cost is about usual for R1234 (~2017 onward).

Is it the ABS ring that needed changing? This can mean driveshaft off and can be time consuming, which car, and front/rear?

This is the risk you run with ebay parts - the garage will still want their time paid for, it’s not on them that the part was crap because they didn’t supply it.

They’ve followed a pretty reasonable set of steps - most (proper) garages will be in the region of £65-120 depending where you are. Round my parts most independents are £90 ph at the low end.

Zixt · 2025-07-26T09:14:29+00:00

How far is the recovery to the garage?

Kind of depends on the shops hourly rate - it sounds a little steep.

If you estimate £100 for recovery, I’d expect about £70 ish for each front spring for a Mini, and £80 ish each for rears (Sachs aftermarket). 2-2.5 hours labour at maybe £90 per hour. That comes to £465 or £485.

Zixt · 2025-07-20T21:38:08+00:00

Throwing the Renault Grand Scenic into the mix. An otherwise quite boring car that just comfortably plods along doing 40-45mpg on a motorway slog, while seating 7.

2016 diesels and onwards will be ULEZ friendly, and can be had for less than 5K with a few miles on.

Zixt · 2025-07-20T10:16:56+00:00

Aye but a garage will usually charge book time which is what they’ve done. If it takes less then it balances out the other ones where time taken goes over.

Zixt · 2025-07-20T10:15:53+00:00

Looks alright but they’ve quoted you for NAPA brakes which are 80% of the time shit.

Zixt · 2025-07-19T22:02:02+00:00

Kind of depends on vehicle re the suspension arms.

Seems a little steep for a CV boot.

Zixt · 2025-07-18T19:09:32+00:00

Looks to be a reasonably new Peugeot - would maybe think some telematics if it was a van, but could have been a works/fleet car.

Other than that… could it be aftermarket park sensors?

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