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

Some advice here

https://www.psni.police.uk/safety-and-support/roads-and-driving/preventing-car-and-vehicle-theft/preventing-keyless-car-theft

Thanks - I thought about it too late to get a steering wheel lock for tonight, but have let a couple of tyres down and will leave the window open tonight.

I'll take it to get the key recoded tomorrow and will start using Faraday bags.

I'm sure I'm overthinking it: it's more likely something to do with the neighbours (who had the police visit at 4am a few weeks ago). Why would you leave the tape on the camera if your wanted to come back and steal the car, surely you'd remove it so it didn't flag anything suspicious?

Anyway looking forward to a light night's sleep, jumping to the window every time a fox rattles the milk bottles/bins...

I'm not sure the video of the theft is in the link but it takes about 2 mins to copy the key, get in and drive away.
I'm not sure if it's still possible to get a switch fitted which disables the car these days but that was an old school tip.

Can you bring the doorbell inside and leave it in the window overlooking the car overnight?
Take a couple of wheels off and leave it on axle stands?

Look up how to make a Faraday cage with tin foil and cling film.

Diesels have glow plugs not sparkplugs.

Takes a lot of use of easy start to ruin an engine till it will only start on easy start.

Is the engine consuming more engine oil than normal? Is there blue smoke coming out of the back?

Personally if you are worried about sticky rings, think about an oil and filter change, maybe run an oil cleaner additive for a few days before an oil change.

Have used mineral two stroke in the diesel fuel of jags and made them run better with increased mpg. But then it did coincide with me doing high revs in low gears for an hour as the cars hadn't worked for a long time.

Ghost immobilisers are what the AMG forum members seem to use- you choose a sequence of key presses that turn it off, using the existing switchgear- so “heated seats/left rear window/rear screen heater/traction control” and the car is then able to start.

More modern than a hidden switch in the boot!

Alfred Anaya has entered the chat....

https://archive.ph/VrWvs

I have a Bearlock fitted on my Transporter. It locks the DSG shifter in place and prevents the van from being taken out of park when locked. All the gubbins is fitted inside the console, with just a small key hole to lock/unlock towards the bottom of the centre console. I dont use it that often, but is great when leaving the van in situ for a while, or when parked somewhere im unsure about.

Puncture on the M40 this morning - luckily only 1/2 mile from the services so I didn't have to change the offside wheel on the hard shoulder

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Yeesh! Better through your tyre than through your windcreen

Probably decided to keep it for now... can't find anything that really entices me in the right combination of price / mileage / nice condition but not too nice to keep on the street

Paid for and registered. Picking it up on Friday.

Insurance is gonna cost more than for my work truck which gets driven during peak hours all week. This will be evenings and weekends, it's gonna do fuck all kays. So that was a bit of a surprise! 🫣💸

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fuck yeah.

shame about insurance being steep. daylight robbery these days.

Yeah! Such a great car!

Needs fuzzy dice.

Congrats on the Foz, I think you made a good decision querying the corrosion (non)issue. Hope you have many kays of fun in it!

I am embracing my mid life crisis and recently put a deposit on a Porsche 996, my wallet is suitably braced for what may come with a 20+ year old porker! 🤞 Trying to get my brother to have my R53 Cooper S as I love it and it'd be great to keep it in the family.

hey, thanks!!!

Key battery switch was easier imo.

Insurance is nuts everywhere. Both my cars have had a plus 30% increase this year despite shopping around etc. zero accidents or claims in over 20 years too.

Is it things like charging over a grand for a plastic badge part of the reason for this?
https://www.reddit.com/r/CarTalkUK/comments/1chhtco/if_you_wonder_why_insurance_premiums_keep_going/

Yep, and radar sensors that cost $5k to replace mounted right in the front bar etc...

I was naively shocked when I put an absolutely tiny scratch on the bumper of a hire car. I say tiny, maybe an inch and def noticeable, and knowing I had excess waiver insurance I owned up, thinking they'd most likely waive it or if it was charged I found the cost of a replacement bumper online as a few hundred quid and didn't feel too bad about any of it. Anyway, hire company charged me 1,900 euros for the 'repair' (fairly confident considering the state of the car generally that they won't have actually repaired it) - outraged, I rang my excess insurers assuming they would want to challenge this and asking what the process was. The guy just said, very calmly, that this was hardly the worst he'd heard today and it wasn't worth their time challenging so they just paid.

It's basically just widely accepted fraud isn't it, which maybe people think is OK because they're getting paid by the big faceless insurance companies, but eventually, of course, it is paid for by consumers?

Nice, pics/details?

Just fuck all cars off into the smelter.