Oldun

The theory around here is that the tea leaves have a contact within BMW ,this recent one has key less locking and an alarm covering every eventuality, They are that quick they could be F1 trained. So those in the know reckon the VIN is obtained first by looking through the windscreen ,then off they go to their contact who supply's them with the electronic code to enable them to disable all the fancy alarms and wheel lock keys. No one has ever seen or heard anyone so they must be damned quick.

If you buy a top of the range BMW and live in Harborne,Birmingham , Locks and anti-theft software is as nothing,another car lost its 20" plus wheels last week ,no alarm as the thieves had disabled it ,wheel locks were useless too. Getting worried about my old Volvo,the S type is tucked up in its garage.

I started driving in the days when your first car(s) were older than you. !934 Hillman Minx,cable brakes. 193? Singer Le Mans. Austin Atlantic ,drop head. Bought for me by a rich girl friend,first car that I drove at over 100 mph. 1936 Austin Cambridge. Indian Chieftain ( I wish I still had that one) Royal Enfield Bullet 350cc Triumph Thunderbird,650cc Ford Zodiac convertible, 'orrible vehicle. Borgward Isabella Borgward Isabella TS Mercedes 219 drop head ,very imposing vehicle. Riley RME with one off body by Van Heuell.(Spelling?) Riley pathfinder,trouble from day one Austin a 50 Farina Riley 4 / 72, as above with leather and wood. Austin Healey 3 litre Austin mini-van. Sunbeam Alpine. Jaguar MK1 2.4. Rotted away Jaguar MKV111, best car ever. Saab 96 2 stroke Daimler 2.5 V8. Austin A 40 Farina. Saab 96 V4 Citroen GS van Austin mini countryman, auto, Citroen BX GTI Ford Consul 2 litre, Bag of S**t Ford Cortina GXL estate ,less said the better. Ford P100 pick up,company vehicle, very entertaining.Engine would turn itself off when it felt like doing it. Saab 9000,Flying arm chair. Volvo 740 Volvo 850 GLT Volvo 940 Alfa romeo 156,Three of these. Saab 9-5 Viggen Volvo V90 Jaguar S type. The last two I still own,after a day driving the Jag and I get into the Volvo,its like putting my slippers on. Love em both.

Thanks Pete.

West Midlands Central Region. Hampstead Social Club ,Old Walsall Rd, Great Barr.

Sorry,perhaps in comes under Hampstead.

Over the years I have been a member of various car clubs,Saab and Alfa Romeo and a couple more,some are very matey and others a bit model orientated.I was thinking of visiting the Branch in Great Barr,any attendees on here???? Mike

Its illegal in the UK as well,unless there is fog or falling snow. Like lots of other motoring laws here there is no one to enforce them.

Thanks Ian, I will go that way now

No,the lenses are as clean as a whistle, In normal driving the h/lights are not bad but when out in the sticks there is not enough light to read road signs or to show up road markings. The strange thing is when I put the car in the garage the lights are bright as you like.I tried the trimmers and they seem to work OK . Next step is to check the alignment and the actual candle power ,a friend of mine used to have a gizmo that did that ,lets hope he still has it. Mike

So I am not alone, I await your bulb change Ian.

I have had my S type nearly a year but owing to illness I have not driven it a lot. Last night we were out in it and I think it is the first time I have driven it using the headlights, and am I disappointed, the lenses are clear but there is not enough light to illuminate road signs,or road markings. I have heard the the X type has lighting issues,has the S type too? My daily driver is a 20 year old Volvo with really good head-lights.

Hello Dennis. If I can be of any help give me a shout,I live in Harborne Birmingham. Mike Haywood

Mine are quick to light up but it will take a minimum of three minutes to switch off,pass through a shadow and they are on again,I think I will just leave them on. Mike

I am getting a little p**d off with the auto lights,I like the idea but mine are so very sensitive ,going through the shadow of a large tree will switch them on, is there any way to desensitize them or shall I just switch to manual??? Mike

To cure mine , as soon as I managed to get them to move a little ,I soaked them with plus gas and left them for a weekend,working fine now. Mike

Try Meths it seems to shift most things. mike

Mike in Birmingham

I must have been in my early 30's when I bought my MK V111,I wish I still had it now ,this was followed by a very rotten 2.4 MK1 followed by a Daimler 2.5,there then was a long gap until I bought an XJ6 mk2 , I tired of changing head gaskets on that one , next was a XJ40 , this was so badly vandalised whilst locked in a garage that it had to be scrapped.

Yes they do ,corrosion debris fell like snow flakes ,mirror now starting to move thanks to Joe-dot-com and his advice. mike

Thank you, do the covers literally "pop off" ??

Having owned my S Type for a month I am trying to sort a coupe of snags , Whilst washing the car with the bonnet up ( I hate the line of grime along the edges) I was caught out with a rain shower , only a minute or so but enough to drown No 1 cylinder ,the AA sorted that ,but is this usual? How do you waterproof? The car is fitted with folding mirrors , neither worked when I bought it , near-side is now working but not a flicker from the drivers side,I also notice a number of S types have a mark on the paintwork under the mirrors,running down the doors,I think its from the monkey metal the mirror cases are cast from , any good fixes or is it a mirror off job?? Regards Mike

Stone me,I saw the sticker but still failed to spot the code ,thanks Peter , new pair of specs needed I think. Mike

After two weeks ownership I am getting used to being back in a big cat ,Interior cleaned,misfire eliminated ,next thing is a paint chip,yes just the one, I have looked in all the usual places but cannot find the paint code , has anyone any ideas??

I will give duct tape a go. Thanks