Its bleating for a second service, so in it goes. 37k miles, 2 years and 7 months old.
Phone call from BMW Dealer
"we have done a key read, Its going to cost £836 pounds sir"
"stunned silence"
"Sir? are you alright"
"No its not going to cost £836 go back to your parts department and come back with a list of parts it needs, what you are doing, and come back with a proper price"
Rig Ring
"Sir, it needs spark plugs, oil, oil filter, air filter, cabin filter, parts and labour its now £720"
"Right, as this is the last time my car will ever grace your service reception again, get it done"
There are a few BMW specialist Indies round here, its out of warranty in Nov, so it will be off to them
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....one of the reasons I negotiated a BMW-underwritten 5-year service inclusive package into my X1 purchase.
It's actually booked in for the next service in two weeks time, and I saw what BMW were invoiced by the dealer for the last service :-O.
(At the time of purchase, the 5-year plan was of a cost that allowed me to negotiate it in at no extra cost - I think BMW must have under-priced and caught a cold on these, as within but a few weeks it was replaced by a 3-year plan at almost the same price).
If it is still mine after 5 years, then an indie, or a "BMW Value Service" is the next option.
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"Our" local independent repair and service garage is owned by a neighbour, and his workshop is a ten minute walk from where we live. He's been "looking after" our personal cars for 18 years and always seems to do a good job at a fair price. Even loans us an old banger if we need it when he has our cars in.
Three men and a dog type business in an old industrial unit, but he has all the kit. Anyway, now that I've bought the Merc it'll be going there for any fettling it needs. The garage owner's own car is an E class, so I'm confident he'll know which spanners to use on mine.
Does tyres too, he doesn't stock them, but if you tell him what you want, he can usually quote competitively and order them in. I like how easy it all is. Sends us a postcard when MOTs are due and so on.
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>>Sends us a postcard when MOTs are due and so on.
>>
...obviously up to date with all the leading-edge technology ;-)
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Touches his forelock in greeting too. ;-)
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Hmmm - this looks interesting.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FULL-BMW-E-F-Series-K-Dcan-Switch-USB-ENET-Cable-ISTA-DIAGNOSTIC-SOFTWARE/164230045363?
or maybe a Carly can update reset service indicator.
When I get the list of parts used, I'll do a compare to see what I could have got OEM ones for.
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>> This bloke says this
>>
>> itstillruns.com/reset-bmw-service-indicator-5068469.html
that bloke is talking through his seat springs. He may have been right abut 30 years ago.
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I got my X1 this time last year through a recommended auction buyer. Had all the toys I wanted plus a lot more. Was two and a half years old at this time.
I contacted BMW to ask for the full spec of my car build in case there were any toys that I hadn’t found yet. (There were)
On their reply they advised that my car also came with the 5 year service plan which was another bonus! Service will be due Oct 2020 when the car will be 4 years old so not sure if this will be the last service it gets under this plan.
Having read this, I will be treble checking when I book it in as to exactly what is covered and what may not be!
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These service plans appear now not to be available, even in the three-year form.
I checked my purchase invoice, and the 5-year plan was £475 at purchase time (though as I say, I got it included as a "sweetener").
Documentation isn't easy to find this far down the line, but I have a copy of the outline, Bobby (I would suspect you won't have the "plus" option, but I've included it for completeness):
a) BMW Service Inclusive covers the cost of parts, labour and fluids for the following service items: engine oil service, engine oil topup, brake fluid (at 3rd year only), vehicle check, air filter, microfilter, fuel filter (diesel models only) and spark plugs. These items are covered from the date of first registration for a period of 5 years or 50,000 miles (whichever occurs sooner).
b) BMW Service Inclusive Plus covers the cost of parts, labour and fluids for the following service items: engine oil service, engine oil top-up, brake fluid (at 3rd year only), vehicle check, air filter, microfilter, fuel filter (diesel models only) and spark plugs. It also covers the cost of the following maintenance items if required due to wear and tear: brake pads, brake discs, brake sensors, wiper blade rubbers (up to 2 sets within the package period) and clutch. These items are covered from the date of first registration for a period of 5 years or 50,000 miles (whichever occurs sooner).
The deal is likely to also include "MOT Protect":
1. MOT Protect cover will rectify any technical issues described hereafter that cause the vehicle to fail its second and third MOT which will be due no later than 48 and 60 months from the date of first registration. MOT Protect is included within the Retailer Warranty for
the first MOT at 48 months in Northern Ireland.
2. All items will be covered with the exception of the windscreen, wheels, tyres and items replaced as part of routine servicing (e.g. brake disks and pads) modified and/or non BMW components. The cost of the MOT test, re-test and advisories will not be covered
neither will failure as a result of neglect or adjustments and damage resulting from impact or accident, or faulty repair of any item be covered. Vehicles used for competitions, racing, pace making, or rallies are excluded.
3. The MOT repair work has to be carried out by a BMW Authorised Retailer / Workshop within 30 days of the MOT inspection failure.
4. The vehicle must have a complete service history according to Manufacturer’s criteria.
...and the service at 4 years will be the last one covered.
Last edited by: tyrednemotional on Tue 16 Jun 20 at 09:22
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Cheers, you are right, I am on the Service Inclusive pack as per
" 4 Year Service Inclusive expires 29th September 2020
- 5th Year Service Inclusive Extension expires 29th September 2021
- 24 Month MOT Protection expires 29th September 2021"
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My annual mileage is somewhat lower than yours - maybe 12k a year or so and so I’ve always found BMW servicing to be fairly reasonable on whole since I’ve only needed a visit very 18 to 20 months. The Mercs require annual visits whatever the mileage, which definitely works out more expensive. The problem round here is that the decent specialists aren’t really a whole heap cheaper, and the cheaper ‘specialists’ aren’t as hot on the newer models. They are also less conveniently located; I expect that’s less of an issue round your way though?
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Next railway arch along from him probs... ;-)
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I've refused to pay the BMW game any more. My old 3 series didn't have a service pack, but it was getting ridiculous.
Volvo has a 4 year service pack at £550, which is a bargain at any price. Dealer seems ok. It's been due a recall since April. Got it booked in for the job tomorrow. Dealer is an impossible 45 miles away. They're collecting my car at 0700 tomorrow and will drop it off when it's ready. Going the extra mile.
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I see that job at around £400 at a good Indy using o/e or quality parts . I would be wary about plugging in any clone software into the Obd port . You could cause all sorts of expensive issues on a car this new .
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As I still have three years (or is it two?) left on the battery pack and associated electricals which is dependent on having been carried out by a specialist Ampera Vauxhall dealer, I have it booked in at Wantage (40 miles away) next week. I have a service plan which costs me £15.73 a month for the third, fourth and fifth year service (this year is year 5). That's not bad but then there isn't an awful lot to service really.
However the forum suggests this year it ought to have a battery coolant change which is probably another £200 ( - it is a time consuming job using specialist equipment) - I can;t imagine this was in the cost they've quoted me.
There is a growing chain of garages (HEVRA) which are equipped and trained for EVs which should bring in even more competitive pricing for servicing and repairs.
It is also due an MOT and I'm pretty sure that one of last year's new tyres will need changing due to a smallish bulge in the sidewall but their tyres are over twice what normal tyre places charge!! Anyway the MOT is deferred so it'll probably just go to Halfords in Oct.
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>> It is also due an MOT and I'm pretty sure that one of last year's
>> new tyres will need changing due to a smallish bulge in the sidewall but their
>> tyres are over twice what normal tyre places charge!! Anyway the MOT is deferred so
>> it'll probably just go to Halfords in Oct.
Bellingers, IIRC?
Their tyre prices were comparable with other places when they gave me a quote last year.
Are you not a member of Vauxhall's Masterfit Service Club?
www.vauxhall.co.uk/tools/service-club.html
half price MOTs, and 25% off parts and labour for vehicles over 3 yrs old.
Last edited by: VxFan on Mon 15 Jun 20 at 19:05
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Yes, Bellingers.
Last year I was having a dispute over cracked tyres and Vx agreed to pay ha;f the cost of replacement of two tyres. Vx cost was £141 each (discounted to £70 for the dispute) whereas they were only about £90 in the local tyre place.
Yes I am a Vx service club but I thought I'd read that they'd stopped it, or it was less useful. I'll bear it in mind though... Bellingers are actually very good too.
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>> Yes I am a Vx service club but I thought I'd read that they'd stopped
>> it, or it was less useful.
I've just seen you also have a service plan. I think that can make a difference to Service club discounts. I know when they have certain service promotions on, you can either have the promotion deal, or the service club deal, but not both. Generally though, the price of one deal pretty much matches the other.
>> Bellingers are actually very good too.
Yeah, they've looked after me mostly in all the years I've been using them (which started in approx. 1986). Yes, I've had one or two issues with them, but they do listen to what you say, and if you've got a valid point to make about a price query, then they do look into it.
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>>Dealer is an impossible 45 miles away.
My Subaru dealer is 60 miles away. No big deal + I enjoy the drive.
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I would as well, but there's a five mile limit here (or "locally") so I can't go. I've worked out a lot of routes for the bike though. I love Pi !
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>>I would as well, but there's a five mile limit here (or "locally") so I can't go.
COVID-1984
:(
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>> . Going the extra mile.
>>
>>
..at least an extra 92 miles on the clock when you get it back, then.
;-)
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Well they best not try and charge me more than 4 hours labour, went in at 9, its now ready at 13:00
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This is no more than 2 hours work . Basic service items .
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Sparkplugs at 37k?
Our FRV has Iridium plugs that are changed every 100k.
Did them myself and gap was still in spec at 106k miles.
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Yes I was suprised at that,, I thought 60k was the minimum these days.
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My Yaris got its last main dealer service at four years old. I've just done it myself and found the cabin filter installed upside down (what's so hard to understand about UP and an arrow printed on it). I was charged sixteen quid plus VAT for that privilege, a replacement was seven quid delivered.
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I purchased a £699 3 year service plan for the Tucson to include 3 major services to 60k miles.. The last service cost £680 so it was a good deal. The dealer wanted a further £7-800 for front disks and pads. It went back to the lease co with the original ones in place and still legal.
Last edited by: zippy on Mon 15 Jun 20 at 14:47
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Ok here we go
6 spark plugs - BMW price £109 Motor Factor 6 x Bosch plugs £59
Oil Filter set - BMW. £21.72 Factor. £11.35
cabin filter BMW £124 Factor £58
Air Filter BMW £38. Factor £17.50
6 litres castrol edge 0w30 BMW £105. Factor £76
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>> cabin filter BMW £124 Factor £58
!! is that gold plated or something....????
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>> Well they best not try and charge me more than 4 hours labour, went in
>> at 9, its now ready at 13:00
>>
Though it does depend how many people they had working on the car at the same time...a 5 series is big enough to accommodate social distancing ;)
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at 5 metres with 2 metre social distancing you could stand two blokes and a dwarf underneath
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"and a dwarf underneath"
I always carry them two at a time, one under each arm.
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>> "and a dwarf underneath"
>>
>> I always carry them two at a time, one under each arm.
>>
You’re doing it wrong...
NSFW / Not safe for work / May offend
i0.wp.com/foolsboneheadsandjackasses.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Lootinfstriper.jpg?resize=653%2C445&ssl=1
Last edited by: zippy on Mon 15 Jun 20 at 20:22
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The Macan GTS had its first service @ 2years or 20k miles £550
Next service is 4years or 40k miles £1250. Probably cheaper through an indie but can’t say I’ve looked for one yet.
It’s out of warranty in October 2020 and I think an extended warranty is circa £850, but I don’t think I’ll bother given my very low annual mileage. I knew what the service costs would be when I ordered it, and my ‘life plan’ is to spend all my dosh before I croak...being a single bloke it’s all being left to charity anyway. it is what it is.
At least the insurance is cheap...£224 this year through IAM RoadSmart
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>> At least the insurance is cheap...£224 this year through IAM RoadSmart
They might charge you more if it ever leaves your driveway.
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This thread does re-open the debate on dealer history v indie v resale value.
I am sure my indie has the gadgets needed to update the BMW idrive. But say you keep the car for 5 years and the difference in pricing per service is £300 , will the car be worth £1500 less at end?
Also argue in the peace of mind for recalls, warranty claims if through a BMW dealer?
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Still getting ours serviced in the Franchise network. There's a good French car indy in town who was convenient when I worked in London and could drop cars off then ride to the station. But in reality he's not much cheaper than the franchised outfit. Also there were two or three issues with the previous Berlingo and the Xantia where what were common and documented faults of known cause/remedy that an expert should have been onto like a shot took effort on my part to diagnose/resolve.
The Berlingo one where, at 100 to 150k miles, starting gets rough because of valve/seat wear, needed me to almost beg for the valve clearances to be checked.
Skoda in Northampton were excellent as part of a small family owned/run group. Now part of one of big national groups and the jury is still out.....
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Tue 16 Jun 20 at 13:38
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>> There are a few BMW specialist Indies round here, its out of warranty in Nov,
>> so it will be off to them
After they wanted £320 for the oil service on the M140i, it makes me glad I got shot of it before they got the chance to bend me over for the major one.
Re indies, TWG in Camberley are brilliant. As well as doing the same service with the same genuine parts and approved fluids for hundreds less than the dealers, I have lost count of the number of instances I've heard of, where they've repaired faults that a BMW dealer has quoted telephone figures for, for a couple of hundred quid. They also have dealer level diagnostic tools, including the ability to update the service history through the iDrive.
A colleague had an M3 that was developing a droning noise from the rear underside.
Supplying BMW dealer (who had serviced it from new): I'm afraid your differential is worn sir. It's not repairable or rebuildable (an outright lie), and a replacement unit will be £3,500 + VAT
TWG: Nothing wrong with the diff. There is a big problem with your prop bearing though. £120 fitted. Problem solved.
Dealer lost the servicing business too, after that.
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yes TWG is top of my list.
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>> After they wanted £320 for the oil service on the M140i, it makes me glad
>> I got shot of it before they got the chance to bend me over for
>> the major one.
go on, tell me you are not missing that magnificent lump of metal called the B58 engine.
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>> go on, tell me you are not missing that magnificent lump of metal called the
>> B58 engine.
Every day. Unfortunately, we needed to lose a car due to the OH getting a company car, and mine was the only one that made financial sense to lose.
I haven't ruled out getting another one later in the year though :)
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And to follow up, I notice a patch of oil on my nice new £15k driveway. Stuff the old phone camera under the car to find a sheen of oil over the under tray and a big fat drip from the leaking sump plug.
While trying to get through to the service department, (13 minute wait) I am put on hold with a nice hold message repeated every minute "Let fully trained BMW specialists take care of your pride and joy"
I was apoplectic with rage by the time a human responded,- they are sending someone round this afternoon.
Last edited by: Zero on Wed 1 Jul 20 at 15:27
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Someone will be along shortly to advise you should have bought an E class estate.
But that’s a bummer. I mean beemer.
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>>Someone will be along shortly to advise you should have bought a E class estate Subaru Outback.
:)
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There are no E-class estates on this forum (or any other I know of) that leak oil....
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The beemer does not leak oil, IF you do up its orifices correctly.
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>> There are no E-class estates on this forum (or any other I know of) that leak oil....
:-)))
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>> >> There are no E-class estates on this forum (or any other I know of)
>> that leak oil....
>>
>>
>> :-)))
>>
...one or two been known to leak air from the rear suspension, though.
(and that is rather easier to clean up off the drive ;-) )
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>> There are no E-class estates on this forum (or any other I know of) that
>> leak oil....
>>
I have a C Class estate that did it from new as the oil filter wasn't fitted correctly.
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The Beemer is fine, the monkeys they employ to fettle it is another matter.
There are no words to describe how utterly utterly execrable they are, I am in no doubt that I will have to phone them again to get something sorted.
Last edited by: VxFan on Thu 2 Jul 20 at 02:48
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A Daughter in law had a newish Mini (12 months old) & a brand new house. Same story - oil on the bricks after service. Filter not tight enough.
The garage sent someone round to scrub/hose it clean - unsuccessful.
Success after my son got a chap round - no exact match as they did no know the supplier - even if they knew the brick the colour would vary. The chap lifted an area of 1 sq metre and then mixed the new bricks with old and there was no visible patch.
Garage grudgingly paid up eventually, but failed to apologise.
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I made an online booking for my Golf's second year service at the dealer I bought it from last autumn. They had serviced it a few weeks before I bought it. Second year it's due a "Major" service.
I rang them to check the price as their acknowledgment had just said POA. They said it would be £160. I queried this as too low so probably not the right service. She checked and said that for web bookings they just guess and book and quote for an oil service! The actual price for the right service is £256.
I checked after the call and VW officlai price is an extraordinary £356 so they are probably still wrong. Who knows what the price on the day will be.
Whatever the price it's a poor deal given the limited work involved and once it's three years old it'll be back to my indie.
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>> The Beemer is fine, the bucking monkeys they employ to fettle it is another matter.
>>
>> There are no words to describe how utterly utterly execrable they are, I am in
>> no doubt that I will have to phone them again to get something sorted.
>>
That'll be because you beat them down on price. The £116 reduction meant they didn't have enough time to get the torque wrench out when refitting the sump plug...
Joking aside, that is absolutely shocking though. Talk about failing on absolute basics. Sadly, most of the tales of bodgery and shoddy workmanship seem to involve main dealers.
Some of the stuff I've encountered over the years beggars belief. Managing to damage an engine block beyond repair in the course of changing an auxiliary belt on a Peugeot 306 was my favourite. Especially as instead of fessing up, they decided to bodge and hide it, then deny all knowledge when the car broke down 2 miles up the road.
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>> That'll be because you beat them down on price. The £116 reduction meant they didn't
>> have enough time to get the torque wrench out when refitting the sump plug...
Clearly its a case of "that'll teach him to complain"
You just know, bet your house, that if the sump plug came out and destroyed the engine they would deny all knowledge or liability.
They are sending a tech round at 08:30 in the morning, to check the sump plug, take it back and clean the undertray and check the oil level.
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>> They are sending a tech round at 08:30 in the morning, to check the sump
>> plug, take it back and clean the undertray and check the oil level.
>>
Yes, but what about that new £15K drive?
Was it one of those new style resin bound surfaces?
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>> Yes, but what about that new £15K drive?
Yes they will clean
>> Was it one of those new style resin bound surfaces?
No - brick,
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>> They are sending a tech round at 08:30 in the morning, to check the sump plug,
Let's hope he uses the right size mole grips this time.
Last edited by: VxFan on Thu 2 Jul 20 at 02:50
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...has Z got moles digging up his drive as well.....?
...it never rains...
;-)
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Its raining here.
Came this morning at 08:00 to pick it up on a transporter, its just been returned.
Going to get the selfie stick and camera out for another look under to see when the rain stops.
As an aside, it would be a complete pig to do an oil change yourself without a lift. There is a steel under tray, with two fist size access holes, on first investigation yesterday, despite two medium trolley jacks I couldn't get the front up high enough to crook an arm up into the hole.
This was the view yesterday
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EetJrcZXmk
Last edited by: Zero on Thu 2 Jul 20 at 10:19
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>> As an aside, it would be a complete pig to do an oil change yourself without a lift.
I'm surprised the garage didn't suck the oil out using something like a Pela device, rather than undoing the sump plug?
Far less hassle and mess I would have thought.
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>> >> As an aside, it would be a complete pig to do an oil change
>> yourself without a lift.
>>
>> I'm surprised the garage didn't suck the oil out using something like a Pela device,
>> rather than undoing the sump plug?
>>
>> Far less hassle and mess I would have thought.
There is no dipstick hole for the Pela. BMW TIS says use the sump plug.
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>> The Beemer is fine, the bucking monkeys they employ to fettle it is another matter.
>>
>> There are no words to describe how utterly utterly execrable they are, I am in
>> no doubt that I will have to phone them again to get something sorted.
>>
I did try to warn you.
I said if you buy an E class Mercedes-Benz, you won't have these exciting conversations with service departments in your life.
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You were lucky Z, many years ago, I had my Renault 16 company car serviced at the local Renault dealer in Newcastle, brought it back to the office car park, and left at the end of the day to go to my buddy's wedding in Glasgow.
Following day, picked up kilt outfit and went to wedding, came out about 11 pm, still in full highland dress to find a pool of oil under the car, same cause as yours.
Solution at age 24, it's a company car, the oil light isn't on, drive the 4 miles or so back to parents flat for the night, called aa out in the morning.
Those were the days.
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I've successfully cleaned oil off a driveway with neat washing up liquid, as long as it's a fresh stain. Just blot up what oil you can and pour a liberal quantity of washing up liquid onto the stain and rub it in with your fingers. Leave overnight (or longer) and let the next rain shower rinse it away.
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>> You were lucky Z, many years ago, I had my Renault 16 company car serviced
>> at the local Renault dealer in Newcastle,
That would be about 87-90 then, everyone was going for the R16 on the car list in that period.
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Close, 1979 actually , great car, comfortable seats and ride, great in snow, rusted like any French car of the era, already showing by the end of my 33 month lease.
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I reckon Z meant ‘77 to ‘80... time flies... The R18 was, I think, the ‘80s equivalent?
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>> I reckon Z meant ‘77 to ‘80... time flies... The R18 was, I think, the
>> ‘80s equivalent?
>>
Probably did, no offence intended, I reckon Z and I probably started around the same time, September 1977 in my case, things were very different then.
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>> Probably did, no offence intended, I reckon Z and I probably started around the same
>> time, September 1977 in my case, things were very different then.
73 in my case.
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My Dad's firm had 16's in the late seventies for reps etc. As a director he had a bit of choice and considered a R30 but in the end went for another Ford Granada. Pity, the 30 in V6 form went like stink.
He would occasionally come home in a 16 that was the spare 'hack'. IIRC the handbrakes on 16's were a bit weird and at least once it rolled back over the road and into a neighbour's drive.
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The cars I drove on an L plate. Moggie 1000, Volvo 66, Renault 16 with column change and a Morris Marina...
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The handbrake on the r16 was an umbrella type, coming from under the dash, along with the column change, a hangover from the sixties allowing for a bench seat, although the renault had separate seats by the 70s
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Exactly as I remember the 78 one I drove. Lovely comfy seats as well..
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Never mind these R 16 company cars, I bought myself a '74 R16 TX in 1976 rather than use the company VW Polo. Rust ate the Renault alive in 4 years. Got married in '78; looked forward to a comfy blast to S France for the honeymoon but the new Mrs H said no. The column change and brolly handbrake spooked her. Off we went in her lovely Triumph Toledo complete with dodgy starter motor and useless rear shocks. Ugh!
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We ran a 1979 R18 for about seven years, quite fast, very comfy and totally reliable. But the rust, awful. By its eighth birthday is was scrap, needing new sills and extensive welding in other places.
I think Renault bodywork in the 70s was as bad as Fiat's and Lancia's but they seemed to escape the bad reputation. Bodywork is one area where the manufacturers have really made huge improvements.
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>> We ran a 1979 R18 for about seven years, quite fast, very comfy and totally reliable. But the rust, awful. By its eighth birthday is was scrap, <<
Same problem with my 1972 Chrysler 180. New sills and much other welding in '78, and scrapped in '80. Apart from the rust it was a nice enough car, and very comfortable.
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I had a Chrysler 180 (though the 2 litre version), I loved it. I think mine was a P reg and when we parted ways I think it was about 1979 / 1980. I don't remember rust problems but it used to get through a lot of wheel bearings for some reason.
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I’ve owned 2 Renaults. So far. In my early 20s a 5TS, immediately followed by a 5 Gordini. The former in a metallic gold, bendy metal which you didn’t lean against. Bought from Staveley Motors opposite Norman Arch on Manningham Lane Bradford. In those days I spent all my money on a mortgage, cars, girls and more cars.changed them every 6 months.
Neither broke down on me....my Uncle bought a R20 from the same garage which was an incredibly comfortable ride. ( we had a family contact there). Velour upholstery if my memory serves me right.
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Our neighbour had a 20TS new in 1978, with a 2 litre engine, it was quite a flyer. It was he that put us onto Renaults, up until then we mainly had BL. The 20 was extremely comfortable. It was poorly protected against rust, at three years old there was corrosion on the rear wheel arches but it didn't have a long life anyway as he wrote it off.
I seem to recall he tried a 25 when they came out but didn't like it as much as the 20.
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If I am thinking of the right car, the R18 was the first car I knew of with headlamp wash wipe. My aunt had one, a top of the range was it GTL or something like that, and I remember sitting in her driveway for hours at a time pretending I was driving and flicking the headlamp washers!
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Some models did although ours didn't. Probably more of a showroom gimmick than any real use. It was quite an advanced car, despite having a lot of R12 DNA in it. Far better than some of the rubbish competitors were producing, such as the monstrous Marina and Ital. I would quite like another Renault now their rust resistance is excellent but there's not much in the range that appeals.
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>>. I would quite like another Renault now their rust resistance is excellent
>> but there's not much in the range that appeals.
>>
www.autocar.co.uk/sites/autocar.co.uk/files/styles/gallery_slide/public/2-renault-megane-rs-rear-1.jpg?itok=TCnkQOMa
This ones nice!?
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But in the market for a hot hatch....Golf Gti every time ? Or a Focus ST if you weren’t bothered about trim quality.
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>> But in the market for a hot hatch....Golf Gti every time ? Or a Focus
>> ST if you weren’t bothered about trim quality.
>>
Most of the reviews that I have seen prefer the Renault over other hot hatches.
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I had a Renault Fuego for a while. It wasn't very good but it was very pretty. I liked it a lot.
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>> I had a Renault Fuego for a while. It wasn't very good but it was very pretty. I liked it a lot.
>>
The last one i saw was a few hundre yards from home and the engine was well on fire.
The fire brigade were in attendance and told me " we just let it burn rather than try end extinguish it. IIRC it was because it had magnesium alloy head .
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>> The last one i saw was a few hundre yards from home and the engine
>> was well on fire.
Sadly that doesn't surprise me. It wasn't very good in any way, but the electrics were particularly awful.
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I don't remember the being that bad, I drove a few in the early 1980s. The 2 Litre was fast. They had a good specification and looked fantastic for the time. They were based on the R18 mechanically, our 18 gave no problems apart from rust. I think there was even a Turbo version although I never drove that.
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>>I think there was even a Turbo version although I never drove that.
There was, and neither did I.
>>The 2 Litre was fast.
Not really. Even the Turbo was a 10 second 0 - 60. (I just looked it up) and the standard Fuego 0 - 60 was 17 seconds.
www.1001moteurs.com/performance/view-Renault-Fuego-GTX-1450.html if you wish to have a look.
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The Fuego was a very pretty car. They sold well from my recollection, or maybe you just noticed the ones that were on the road because they were so pretty?
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>>maybe you just noticed the ones that were on the road because they were so pretty?
I had one, though not a turbo. I don't think I'd really noticed them until I had one. Posed around in it convinced I was impressing all the girls, elbow out the window, and something like Supertramp or ELO playing loudly.
My belief in my own 'coolness' wasn't the only thing I was deluded and about when I was early 20s.
Last edited by: No FM2R on Wed 15 Jul 20 at 09:25
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Nothing wrong with Supertramp !
Claim to fame alert....I used to drink in my local with John Helliwell who played sax in the band. Lived just up the road from me in a small hamlet. Smashing bloke...now moved out of the area.
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>> >>I think there was even a Turbo version although I never drove that.
>>
>> There was, and neither did I.
>>
>> >>The 2 Litre was fast.
>>
>> Not really. Even the Turbo was a 10 second 0 - 60. (I just looked
>> it up) and the standard Fuego 0 - 60 was 17 seconds.
I think it was like the Capri, a more stylish body on the underpinnings of a cooking saloon. Only the most powerful versions got anywhere near the performance the styling implied.
The Fuego might also have struggled with delivering loads of power/torque via the front wheels without scrabble/torque steer. The 16valve BX GTi of the same era certainly did.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Wed 15 Jul 20 at 10:24
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"I had a Renault Fuego for a while."
When I was at Uni, I used to think 'I'm having one of those when I get a job". I really liked them. I don't why, I must have seen one somewhere and thought it looked cool. They certainly looked unusual.
Of course, I went for Peugeot in the end. But I look from time to time in the classics. Only seen one, about a year ago, and a bit of wreck I seem to remember.
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I liked Fuegos, and indeed Capris and did kind of want one. The thing was though, that if you ever actually met someone who did have one, they almost inevitably turned out to be the sort of chap you really wouldn't want to be mistaken for.
;-)
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www.tradeclassics.com/auctions/renault/1985-renault-fuego-turbo/
Well there you are - quite a bargain really.
Didn't they do a "Gordini" version. Nice car, less "me too" than a hairy chested Capri...
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This video popped into my YouTube recommendations....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I61DjzBJ2C8&t=118s
Thank your lucky stars you never took your BMW to these guys! (I know it's the US)
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In one of it's more useful recommendations YouTube threw this at me.
The Renault Fuego Story
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnPLDaWjqX0
It's ok, worth a watch.
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My last Ever Service at a BMW dealer. - tyrednemotional
