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

I subscribe to this guy, who recommends Viofo and to be fair the quality of the clips do look good.

Question for the hive mind: Can anyone recommend a mobile mechanic in the Essex area? I need an alternator fitted to my M3, because the original has finally died after 33 years...

Looks bang on, thank you.

Minis don’t have a hatch

Pretty sure one was designed with a hatch but never produced. I feel like there is an interesting story around it be cba to dive into it.

Ringo had a hatchback!

https://www.bonhams.com/auction/24124/lot/136/the-ex-brian-epstein-ringo-starr-1966-austin-mini-cooper-s-sports-saloon-chassis-no-c-a2s7799541/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFghtD7QQ4I

Love this, wish I had buckets of cash to build a 911 rally car.

Yeah - I think there were 3 or 4 Radfords. Peter Sellers had one too. And one of them now lives on my street! Well, in the garage of a house on my street.

A breathed on Evo would do much better donuts in a flat roof pub car park..

Local (south london) kids go karting track, close to me is doing a go fund me so they can teach the kids how to convert the petrol go karts they currently have to electric.
If you’ve got some spare cash, send some of it their way. They are trying to raise £10k and are currently on just over £1k

Thanks

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/OasisplayProtoEVChallenge?invite=true

I have a 595 Comp and before that a regular 500. Both have been very reliable, costs have only been consumables really. The friendly local Italian car specialist told me that the engines are very strong. Parts are generally cheap especially when common with standard Fiats. Door handles fall off and older wire harnesses to the tailgate get chewed up. As you may have seen up thread, security is absent so you may choose to purchase more.

Thanks :) pretty much a positive slant on ownership. Good to hear the engines are not chocolate :). Having had an Astra GTE in Manchester in the late 80's I'm lucky to live where car thefts are much less of a problem.

I'll drop by the forecourt for a mooch around next week.

ah ffs gerald. that is dark news for such a happy looking motor. wish I could help in some ways but doubt the car or any part of it will wash up on the beaches I am combing. hope you good dude besides

the Gordini is superb. just perfect.

and as much as it is great to see the Metro maintained to that level I can't say I have any love for it.

the R5 though. would own in a heartbeat. epic spot dude

There were a couple of smashers, including an Alpine, on the Renault stand at Le Mans Classic last summer. They’re just so simple and light looking.

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That second one is superb. Love those wheels.

Is there a forum approved dash cam? One too many near misses with lunatics lately

I got a Nextbase fitted after an incident about 3 years ago. Not had any need of one since. Not bothered swapping it when I last changed cars.
So that's kyboshed that then....

Hard to photograph, this is the windscreen. It's rather opaque. A clean with hot soapy water and screen wash makes no difference. Will new wiper blades resolve my woes?

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Give your wiper blades a clean first but probably new wipers. I'd give the screen a wash inside and out with some white vinegar and water mix.

Is that scratches? It looks like scratches. If it’s scratches you’ll need to get busy with a windscreen polishing kit. There will be YouTube vids I’m sure.

So good right? 3 lugs because light and simple and enough. Makes my 205 look like a lard arse.

As others have said, a good clean inside and out, and new blades will help. I also find that using the rain x washer additive makes a big difference too.

Any car cover users here? A combination of the ice and heavy winds pre-xmas seem to have done a number on my cover (though only around the front of the bonnet/bumper area). Any tips on how to prevent this in future? Guessing there was some moisture between the car/cover which froze and the wind ripped it off.

Guessing a blanket or similar draped over the problem area would help?

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I've found with motorbike covers that the material you have there doesn't last as long as a medium weight nylon with some kind of backing. This heavier type almost always seem to crack apart. The other type disintegrate after 5 or 6 years anyway but this heavier one has only lasted a few years on my experience.

New wipers and a good spray has made a huge difference. I'm surprised. Thanks :)

Any tips for somewhere in London for my partner to take her old 190 to - the aerial has never worked properly in terms of automatically extending and docking when the ignition is turned; it recently got caught beneath the spoiler of the boot and snapped. It likely needs a new motor fitting and the wiring sorted as well as the aerial replacing.