Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Braze the hole?

What I wondered was whether the heavy hoses caused the pipe to fracture. Silicone is fine for bling but usually heavier than the rubber it replaces.

@lynx it does seem excessive to remove the cambelt just to replace the thermostat housing, but can't see how you'd get access for a torch. I do have metal filler but image it'll only be time before it leaks again.

@Hefty very likely I'm missing something, but is that really possible?

clean area and two part epoxy? https://www.toolstation.com/shop/p59360?searchstr=epoxy

For once I’m not being sarcy.

It’s more likely that joint has fractured at the weld than corroded and the extra strain from the weight of the hose won’t have helped.

I’m sure a new one will cope perfectly well for a number of years tho, the age will be as much of a factor.

The correct bodge repair would be to saw the alu pipe just to the left of the joint, cut a small bit off the silicone hose and join the cut end to a new T piece from Think Automotive or someone. Probably all in a tenner or so including two new jub clips.

ETA: https://www.thinkauto.com/acatalog/On_line_shop_low_pressure_Tees__133.html

That is a good shout. Only issue I can see is there not being enough pipe left after cutting it before the hole. The cambelt hasn't been changed to my knowledge so will see what I get quoted for that and take it from there. Cheers

Yeah it would be tight, but it’s not a proper bodge unless you’re constantly nervous of it failing. It makes every drive exciting.

Suddenly this looks the shit.

I can only assume that the previous owner wore a sharkskin driving onesie: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201710070056167?radius=1500&postcode=se233un&sort=sponsored&model=M5&body-type=Estate&advertising-location=at_cars&make=BMW&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&page=1

Just something weird with the photo innit? The base looks fine in pic 7 and all crinkly in 8.

I just fixed a three way valve coming off my vac pump with gaffa tape and crossed fingers. Does that count?
Also, it seems I've finally sorted the numerous oil leaks on my gti6... Now done cam seals, cam box seals and vac pump o-rings. Also replaced the fuel pump. Car should be good for some thrashing now.

does that count?

Only if you never fix it properly and just keep adding moar tape as it goes brittle.

My mums got a face lift 265 version, yeah the gearbox is awful, a lot down to the bad cables that actuate it.
Had loads of turbo saab over the decades, would say the 95 aero 265 is the fastest (in stock) but also the most sedate. Really doest do "fast" in thr fun sense of the word, but does munch miles abd fuel. Previous car was a 9-3 aero 205 with some mods on it (bringing it to 265) and was much more fun. All of them are very flexible cars though, lots of underbody bracing required if you want to make thr best of them.

Ive been deliberating what to put on ours, it's a bluemotion, spends it's life on dual carriage way and motorway, but the misses is not the most seasoned driver and her commute is partially frozen over for a few months of the year.
Chosen Michelin crossclimate. Seemed to be as good in the wet as is possible for tyres in thr polo size, but not terrible in thr dry, can sort of deal with snow, and don't get a terrible rating for economy, also much harder wearing than uniroyal rainsport and raise expert.

In polo size £60 a corner and will probably turn out around 30-40k of trundling along, get fitted in a few days.

Coming along nicely, this.

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Oh ma dayz...

Things I want:

1. Time
   
2. A shed
   
3. A cool fiberglass sports car
   

if thats^^^ your idea of a shed...its the same size as my whole flat!

Careful, it’s a trap.

To get monies for 2 and 3 you have to spend all of your 1 at work. Which means you can never spend any 1 in 2 enjoying 3.

@TRA

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Private sale = caveat emptor.

No, he has no comeback, especially as it took 200 miles for anything to happen. The car was likely to be working when it was sold, and sold in good faith. Unless this private seller was actually a dealer in disguise.

If you want protection from buying a lemon, you need to buy from a dealer.

Still on the plus side, he no longer has to drive a 1 series diesel (what on earth possessed him?) and can replace it with something decent.

looks great. Reminds me a bit of bare shelling my mates mk4 Davrian

I once bought a classic car, private sale, from some dodgy bloke in South London. Engine blew a hole in a piston after less than 500 miles.

It turned out OK, even though the bloke was a massive wanker.

id suggest just samshing the whole thing and being donw with it. Would have saved me a lot of time...

Careful, it’s a trap.

To get monies for 2 and 3 you have to spend all of your 1 at work. Which means you can never spend any 1 in 2 enjoying 3.

This is very true. Looking at the HMRC website last night (God help me) it looks like this year I shall pay in tax more than I earned in total a couple of years ago (by some margin), and these days I tend to work from 9am to 9pm.

I need to look at how I re-balance things in 2018, but the answer may unfortunately be "move to a different time-zone".