What have you done to your UnMerc today?

[Jimbo1959]

Swmbo was sleeping after a night shift, so, I decided to take advantage of the beautiful easter weekend weather, before the snow hits us on Monday (allegedly), and also stay out of the house so that I didn't make any noise and disturb her, lol.

The UnMerc got washed, dried, glass done tyres dressed and a polish. It's looking good, even if I do say so myself.



My favourite shot, although the pictures not the best, 'cos I was aiming into the sun, is this one, because the finish on the paint is almost like a mirror.

 

[A.J.]

Swmbo was sleeping after a night shift, so, I decided to take advantage of the beautiful easter weekend weather, before the snow hits us on Monday (allegedly), and also stay out of the house so that I didn't make any noise and disturb her, lol.

The UnMerc got washed, dried, glass done tyres dressed and a polish. It's looking good, even if I do say so myself.

View attachment 67049 View attachment 67050 View attachment 67051 View attachment 67052

My favourite shot, although the pictures not the best, 'cos I was aiming into the sun, is this one, because the finish on the paint is almost like a mirror. View attachment 67053

Looks good Jim, always liked a Primary Red car

 

[SmartAmg]

Have to say, that does look good, Jim.

 

[Jimbo1959]

Looks good Jim, always liked a Primary Red car

When I bought it Swmbo was like " Oh God, not another red car!"

I love red cars, I've had several over the years, in fact, we could only get Swmbo's Corsa CDTi SRi in red at the time, which she says she dislikes intensely, however she really liked the model and performance of the car so, decided to put up with it, it's due to be traded in very soon and her only criteria on the new one is, and I quote, lol, "IT MUST NOT BE RED!" unquote

I thought having the two red cars at the door looked cool too.

 

[Jimbo1959]

Looks good Jim, always liked a Primary Red car

Have to say, that does look good, Jim.

Thanks guys, I really love it, it just looks so cool, in my (not so)humble opinion of course.

 

[Jimbo1959]

In best Victor Meldrew voice :- " I don't believe it!"

I decided to treat myself to a Burger King, the nearest one is around 15 miles away so, it was going to be a bit of fun getting there in the UnMerc.
I'm bombing along the motorway at the speed limit when I notice that the drivers door mirror has changed position all on its own, WTF?

I roll down the window just as it really begins to flap about and I literally just get my hand to it as it flys out of the housing. More by luck than good judgement I manage to catch it and bring it inside the car without crashing as I'm driving one handed at over 60 mph with my attention more on the mirror glass than the road tbh.

I get to BK and take the opportunity to remove the backing plate and inspect both plate and mirror glass to see what the problem is/was.



In the first image you can actually see where and how little of the adhesive was still holding the glass in place. It's the 3-5mm strip just above the crazy paving type markings.
Fortunately I have a roll of D/S sticky tape at home and can repair it.

It's amazing how strange it is to drive without that mirror, I drive a van for work with no centre rear view so, I totally rely on the drivers door mirror, it's really weird to do without, lol. I remember back in the late seventies and early eighties before door and/or wing mirrors were compulsory and we never thought twice about it. Now I couldn't do without one.

Anyhoo, I got the car back home and made the repair, job done, as shown in this last picture.



Oh the joys of motoring eh?

 

[SmartAmg]

In best Victor Meldrew voice :- " I don't believe it!"

I decided to treat myself to a Burger King, the nearest one is around 15 miles away so, it was going to be a bit of fun getting there in the UnMerc.
I'm bombing along the motorway at the speed limit when I notice that the drivers door mirror has changed position all on its own, WTF?

I roll down the window just as it really begins to flap about and I literally just get my hand to it as it flys out of the housing. More by luck than good judgement I manage to catch it and bring it inside the car without crashing as I'm driving one handed at over 60 mph with my attention more on the mirror glass than the road tbh.

I get to BK and take the opportunity to remove the backing plate and inspect both plate and mirror glass to see what the problem is/was.

View attachment 67067 View attachment 67068 View attachment 67069 View attachment 67070

In the first image you can actually see where and how little of the adhesive was still holding the glass in place. It's the 3-5mm strip just above the crazy paving type markings.
Fortunately I have a roll of D/S sticky tape at home and can repair it.

It's amazing how strange it is to drive without that mirror, I drive a van for work with no centre rear view so, I totally rely on the drivers door mirror, it's really weird to do without, lol. I remember back in the late seventies and early eighties before door and/or wing mirrors were compulsory and we never thought twice about it. Now I couldn't do without one.

Anyhoo, I got the car back home and made the repair, job done, as shown in this last picture.

View attachment 67071

Oh the joys of motoring eh?

That'll teach ya to praise your car, Jim.

 

[Jimbo1959]

That'll teach ya to praise your car, Jim.

Yep, that's twice, so now, I'll just keep my mouth shut I think, in the praise department anyway Tony.

 

[Jimbo1959]

Went out back to get some tools from the basement, took one look at M'Lady's Ovlov and thought... that ain't right!

She actually used it to pop in to her office yesterday afternoon (a whole 2 miles), so asked her if it drove ok.

"Errrm... think so... was making a funny noise!"

What drew my attention initially, was the very pronounced squat in the rear right corner. About 4in of squat.

Crawled underneath, and... broken spring!

I meant to ask Guy, did you repair the Ovlov yourself or did your local specialist get the job?

 

[Rotorhead500]

I meant to ask Guy, did you repair the Ovlov yourself or did your local specialist get the job?

I just don't have the kit these days Jim, so it's local Ovlov specialist... and he's been on a go-slow! (Picking the car up tomorrow eve!)

OE Spring is £107+vat; non-OE stamped part from same factory is £65+ vat, but seemingly nobody able to get either from Bristol warehouse down to Devon! Want him to do both as I can't imagine the near side will be far off letting go.

 

[Jimbo1959]

I just don't have the kit these days Jim, so it's local Ovlov specialist... and he's been on a go-slow! (Picking the car up tomorrow eve!)

OE Spring is £107+vat; non-OE stamped part from same factory is £65+ vat, but seemingly nobody able to get either from Bristol warehouse down to Devon! Want him to do both as I can't imagine the near side will be far off letting go.

They do say that it's best to do the matched pair at the same time Guy, allegedly just replacing one puts extra stress on the older one and I'm sure that you wouldn't want Swmbo dealing with that, if it let go at any speed.

 

[Rotorhead500]

They do say that it's best to do the matched pair at the same time Guy, allegedly just replacing one puts extra stress on the older one and I'm sure that you wouldn't want Swmbo dealing with that, if it let go at any speed.

My thoughts exactly Jim. I tend to do matched everything cross-axle, largely for balance, but also for the simple fact that if one part has expired then it's likely its oppo will do so imminently, so avoids two trips to garage.

 

[Flyinspanner]

Ive just bought my sisters Fiesta Titanium auto, off her (as she emigrated/moved to Portugal this week but needed it up to the day she left.)

I’m going to tax it this week and run around in it until I choose a (small) van.

Anyone have any feedback on Citroen Berlingos or Fiat Doblo?

(I sort of like the berlingo as it has 3 seats up front.)

 

[Rotorhead500]

Ive just bought my sisters Fiesta Titanium auto, off her (as she emigrated/moved to Portugal this week but needed it up to the day she left.)

I’m going to tax it this week and run around in it until I choose a (small) van.

Anyone have any feedback on Citroen Berlingos or Fiat Doblo?

(I sort of like the berlingo as it has 3 seats up front.)

Driven a Berlingo a few times... they're OK. One of our maintenance companies has switched to a Transit Connect - drives well, a few nice/useful bits of kit onboard, would be my preference I think.

 

[A.J.]

Driven a Berlingo a few times... they're OK. One of our maintenance companies has switched to a Transit Connect - drives well, a few nice/useful bit of kit onboard, would be my preference I think.

Me too, I think the Ford is the benchmark IMHO

 

[00slk]

Me too, I think the Ford is the benchmark IMHO

I have to agree with you, am have been a bit of a Ford man myself, mainly Falcon's, Fairmounts, LTD's and also Granada's, Cortina's and worse of all Escorts.
Have had a few General Motors cars but think Ford just have the edge

 

[Flyinspanner]

Benchmark in what?
reliability?
space?
mpg?

im not really expecting any great “driving experience” - (it won’t be a patch on the CL500 just want a small reliable van.
( thought that Citroen and peugeot were meant to have very good Diesel engines?)

 

[A.J.]

Benchmark in what?
reliability?
space?
mpg?

im not really expecting any great “driving experience” - (it won’t be a patch on the CL500 just want a small reliable van.
( thought that Citroen and peugeot were meant to have very good Diesel engines?)

I think the French Diesel engines are pretty god but it is the rest of it that maybe doesn't come up to the grade. Both the Citroen and the Fiat you first mentioned have pretty poor build quality IMO. We run six Renault Masters, I know they are Renault and not Citroen of Fiat but the build quality is typically French. With the Renaults we have endless gearbox problems, problems with brakes, the bodywork flexes and the racking comes away from it's mounting points inside the van. Engines ? havn't had any problems with them. I am told that Fiat suffer similar problems but the engines are OK.

The Ford is the benchmark, Transit Connect will serve you well. If it's all about purchase price the Transit will most certainly prove to be the best bet in the long run

 

[Rotorhead500]

To those of you hoping for a pleasant summer... my apologies. I have just put my summer wheels & tyres back on!

 

[Blobcat]

To those of you hoping for a pleasant summer... my apologies. I have just put my summer wheels & tyres back on!

It tried to snow today so the winters are staying on...