More Bad Luck

That's life unfortunately, Tracey, whatever car you buy, there is always a potential that they will let you down at some point, which I have found, often to my disadvantage, but each problem you solve and sort is one less that you need to worry about, until eventually you know that you have a good car that you can rely on! I'm sure that someone on this forum knows where there is a good second hand catalytic converter that will fit your Zed!

Good luck with your search, but don't give up, Tracey, until now you have loved driving your Zed, you will soon find that all this will be just a faded memory that you can add to your list of tales to tell by the campfire on yet another cruise!! :)

Mike & Sandy
 
I have a Volvo V50 2litre diesel estate that our boy uses as his daily driver. I bought it last December and in the last 7 months it's cost me and my boy well over £1k in repairs. It's currently running in limp mode again and is due back at the garage next week. My boy pays most of the bills as he runs the car but like @Tracy Dee it's getting close to "enough is enough" time

I'm ok with standard mechanics and have a decent tool kit but electronics leave me stumped. All of the problems we have had with the car have been electric/electronic based.

I'm thinking of dropping it and getting an old Merc estate that doesn't have modern electronics fitted.
 
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Jack Ratt said:
I'm thinking of dropping it and getting an old Merc estate that doesn't have modern electronics fitted.
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I also had a run of bad luck years ago, I went out and bought a run around with a really simple engine.

A Peugeot Partner combo with the 1.4cc petrol engine, same as found in a Saxo.

Four years on no engine lights on, only routine servicing been done.
 
Feel for you Tracey, have you also tried @spurs fan in a coupe hes always breaking Zeds.
I think we all spend large on our zeds, my purchase tomorrow is a new battery., last month was cam position switch and accelerator cable..
Not mentioning the bling/upgrade stuff.
its such a shame its having so many issues, body wise it looks great.
Maybe a step up to a Z4 may be a bit more reliable???
Chin up, have a glass of wine and forget:thumbsup:
 
DirtyDog said:
Feel for you Tracey, have you also tried @spurs fan in a coupe hes always breaking Zeds.
I think we all spend large on our zeds, my purchase tomorrow is a new battery., last month was cam position switch and accelerator cable..
Not mentioning the bling/upgrade stuff.
its such a shame its having so many issues, body wise it looks great.
Maybe a step up to a Z4 may be a bit more reliable???
Chin up, have a glass of wine and forget:thumbsup:
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Thanks mate, we have been in 'conversation, but time is not on Tracey's side. I have a cat, but wouldn't be able to get it to her in time for her deadline at the garage.
 
Best advice I could give you, while not wishing to sound unhelpful, is get shut of it.
These cars are fine as 'second cars' but if you are relying on it to commute to work on a daily basis without being able to do your own repairs and servicing, it can be a millstone round your neck. I am fortunate in having other cars I can use if my Z needs attention, but part of my enjoyment in owning it is sorting out any problems that occur and keeping it running. Driving it is a big bonus.
 
It's not used for daily commute it's used for work once very occasional twice a week and occasionally other times so it's not being used hard .
With this latest garage bill I estimate I have spent £900 pounds in 12 months.
I paid a fair going rate for the car it was not a bargain basement price.
I still have all the issues as mentioned not sure how much that lot will cost above plus the MOT dueTuesday as for servicing i needed a stamp in the book it's always been done repairs no not capable
No money for bling as some say oh I did buy a new bonnet badge.
If anyone fancies a project who is handy with spanners a nice bottle of wine is on offer. :p
Happy Days
 
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is it kept on the road and do you need the Mot done when its due or can you put it off for a couple of weeks and take up spurs fan in a coupe offer
 
Brakes and fluid around £80 and a few hours due to having to jack up each side. If you find a small garage i would guess around £50 to fit them unless you know someone who can fit them instead. I could do the discs and brakes but do not have the equipment for the Fluid change
 
Problem being the BMW indy I limped to want it out by end of play Monday as they are closing for annual holiday not ideal I know I would have had a Cat from @spurs fan in a coupe .
The indy have been great apart from that it's just circumstances they really know there stuff years of experience. Finding the bad air valve and breather pipe was shot for instance.
Yes it's left out on the street.
Cars undriverable so it's got to be done .
 
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Again, not wishing to be negative - but why leave the MOT until so near to expiry - you can take it up to a month before it runs out and that gives you plenty of time to get any repairs done and re-tested if it fails, + there is nothing better than having a 13 month mot :)
 
billysally208 said:
Again, not wishing to be negative - but why leave the MOT until so near to expiry - you can take it up to a month before it runs out and that gives you plenty of time to get any repairs done and re-tested if it fails, + there is nothing better than having a 13 month mot :)
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I thought this to be the case but I had my daily drive MOT'd a few weeks ago and it failed on one brake pipe, I had 2 weeks to get it done but the tester told me that once it fails it is deemed unsafe and not allowed to be driven on the road until its retested, is this the case @t-tony
 
Sean d said:
I thought this to be the case but I had my daily drive MOT'd a few weeks ago and it failed on one brake pipe, I had 2 weeks to get it done but the tester told me that once it fails it is deemed unsafe and not allowed to be driven on the road until its retested, is this the case @t-tony
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Not that I'm aware of Sean. If it's still in date then I'm certain you can drive it away for repairs if you wish to do so.
 
Grumpy said:
Not that I'm aware of Sean. If it's still in date then I'm certain you can drive it away for repairs if you wish to do so.
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Thats what I said to the tester but he said "once you have a known fail then its illegal to drive the car as its deemed unsafe" I ignored him anyway.
 
I would guess that it is an offence to drive a vehicle on a public highway at anytime with a defect even if you have a 12 month mot. However if it failed on emissions slightly over the max it doesn't make it dangerous so would be unreasonable to ban it until re-tested, a good thrash in between would probably cure it anyway. Same scenario with a small tear in an outer CV boot (steered axle), just my opinion you understand.
 
Sean d said:
Thats what I said to the tester but he said "once you have a known fail then its illegal to drive the car as its deemed unsafe" I ignored him anyway.
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It is a very grey area Sean, personally I think you have to give a certain amount of grace to get repairs done otherwise the country could come to a halt. Legally, I don't honestly know the answer.

Tony.
 
Tracy Dee said:
My list after they serviced it today and fitted a new air breather valve .

New cat hopefully salvage the exhaust.
Discs all round badly corroded rears corroded fronts with lips
Brake fluid over due
Both front drop links gone bad
Rear axle beam bushes dropped.
Rear top mounts worn
Diff bush which I have bought polybush but needs fitting
Drive belt splits

This is after service and air breather valve to add New Cat and fit guessing bill will be 350 ish
I also have my constant battery drain plus tiny niggles here and there.

As you see in my progress thread I have done a lot this year and now I have this Cat service air valve to pay for my budget is blown for just ,12 months and I still have an MOT this week
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Looking at the list, all the issues are just general wear and tear, after all most of these cars are getting on for 20 years old, however the mileage of yours does not represent that age, had the mileage been higher most of these problems would have raised their heads and been sorted,
 
Sean d said:
Looking at the list, all the issues are just general wear and tear, after all most of these cars are getting on for 20 years old, however the mileage of yours does not represent that age, had the mileage been higher most of these problems would have raised their heads and been sorted,
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Unfortunately some of the issues may become 'fail' items at the next Mot - hopefully they may just be advisories.
 
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