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

Spending this year on the Forester has been hefty

Leave me out of it.

It has recent had the head gaskets replaced and the garage we're worse than useless despite advertising as Subaru specialists.

Turbo oil seals? If there's a turbo/two involved.

A friend has spent around £14000 (warranty paid out 8k of that but still) during last year on his 2014 CNG passat. Basically everything engine and transmission related has gone, a little every month. In case anyone was thinking of getting one.

Does a boxer engine really have a bottom end?

Srsly tho, that is unfortunate. Can you swap out the engine for a different one? Out of an still WRX is where I'd start.

It is curious that the heads have been off recently and skimmed etc. I reckon the workshop has made some errors.

Going to be a motorist again for moving to Germany. Considering at an M plate left hand drive BMW E320I that's local-only 88,000 on the clock though and single owner for a grand. No MOT though.

Anyone familiar with them? Have emailed asking for any major service work like timing belt, water pump replacement but not heard back yet. Just want something reliable enough to move my shit and be a local runaround when I'm there.

There's other decent looking bimmers locally that are RHD but LHD makes sense if I'm there longer than a year and need to get it registered.

Surely you're better off buying in Germany, cheaper and better maintained cars? I heard the mot equivalent over there is a lot more stringent.

All parts have to be TUV approved to pass the German MOT (iirc), which if the car has been maintained over here may not be the case. I may be hugely wrong on this, but it's worth checking.

Yeah, totally see the sense in this but considering the very low spend and the fact I'd need to go over there to get it and come back to pick up my stuff I'd have wiped out any saving.

It'll also be far easier getting insured over here as I'd need to register over there, open bank account, get permanent address etc and nto sure if that requires a German driving license too. As a student I can drive on foreign plates for a year with an insurance passport, and as long as I go back to UK to get it re-taxed and MOT'd I'm good to go again.

I think EU manufacturing laws would mean that they're equivalent, but again-would hopefully avoid that issue if driving on foreign plates and insurance. Thanks for the heads up though-will do some poking about now to be sure.

Just had a quick look-TUV thing seems to relate mostly to compliance of headlights/tail lights when doing the registration inspection-doesn't sound too onerous considering the make of car, might be different if it was something exotic or RHD though!

Yeah I mean someone hasn't done something correctly. Could be as simple as duff valve stem seal, or not fitted perfectly or even the little spring has popped off the seal.

Recently came across a specialist vw guy who only sold used vag cars, unfortunately he didn't seem to know much about them despite saying he was a vw master tech for 18 years! When I asked if he could put one of the cars I was looking at on ODIS to verify the dpf wasnt totally clogged he said wtf is that, never heard of it before...

Which garage?

Arthur Lang in Kirkcaldy, supposedly built the Impreza that is 3rd or 4th in the a scottish rally series but made a total arse of my car, took months, gave it back in a state and even scratched it.

They came on a recommendation but I should have followed my gut, I had a bad feeling about them from the start.

Asking for some suggestions as my random googeling has just made me more confused :)
I know a great deal about bikes. I know very little about cars so..

I love the car tho there are 1 or 2 electrical things that needs to be adressed. But besides those im also thinking of changing up the wheels a bit. These cars came with pretty nice wheels from 95 onwards (pictured below) Those are however very hard to find and when they are available they are like 2000 gbp even with curbing. Looking for something bit less for now. 17" as i think that may look "right" (16" is fitted in the images and original to the car but 17s were fitted originally on later modells).

These are 5 x 108 bolts. Id like to find something thats looks pretty straight and boxy like the car if that can be found, any suggestions? Perhaps i can be persuaded to go for a different look, i dunno.. What brands are reasonable priced with a good reputation?

What width should i go for if i wanted something like 215 in the front and 245 in the rear?
I have found very little info about ET but i believe the 95 wheels came in around 30-35, how close to this number do i need to stay?

5 * 108 is Volvo, Jaguar and Ferrari (plus some Peugeot I think), plenty of choice there.

But for ease, I'd stick with stock -albeit from a later car.

Thanks!

Yeah ive been trying to look for some used volvo rims but i have not come across a set i really liked yet.

I too would love to find a set of the 17" ghibli gt rims but im not aware of any for sale + they are pricey. But if i know me id rather do it once right than to mess around and not be really satisfied i guess. If i can find a set i would consider them for sure.

What width rims would i want ideally for a 215mm front and a 245 rear tire?
How junk are the rims i see that cost less or around 200gbp a piece from various companies i have never heard of? (tho that doesent say much..)

Bit of progress on the rally car while i was at home last week

Annoyingly difficult to get the heater blanking plate in nicely, needs the rest of it grinding back but looks alright once it's got some etch primer on.

I've also trial fitted a couple of prototype gussets which need a bit of profiling but should go in next time i'm home

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#DatMazza

Forum favourite.

Wheels R fine.

Merc sold 😢

Thx :)

Yeah they are okay, they look nicer in the pics than IRL imo. What about something like these for sale locally for very little cash. If i could remove the logos they could look pretty okay i think (removing logos seem to be transferable from bikes, always look better w/o).

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Random example of a really nice V8 I once crashed on the autobahn.

Quite a lot of car that was.

Random image of my next car V6 lost the back on the autobahn.

cars obvs history people start swearing if you 20 a zip in London.