What have you done to your car today?

I just read those numbers again, what is with only 30-35mpg from a little hatchback, doesn't that seem rather poor for the type of car? That's the sort of economy I'd expect from something really quite large over a single day 208 mile period. Christ, my 500bhp 5.4l v8 will manage 30 on a day like that :confused:
 
Its the 2.5T shared with the Focus ST. Well known for not fantastic economy.

My car computer is telling me 22mpg average at the moment - town driving kills it.
 
Phemo said:
A good call :) Jacked each corner up and took each wheel off, all seems to be moving as it should so I guess that eliminates a binding caliper - that's something at least.

I'm quite tempted to just replace the front discs/pads if they look in any way knackered when I take them off and then garage it if that doesn't sort the juddering. Haven't got a pad wear warning in dash yet and they look like they have a decent bit of meat left in them but who knows what the inside of the disc and inside pads look like.

It seems to be quite a common thing on E90s and the vast majority of the time it seems it's the front discs/pads that are the problem. I'm just not sure how it could have happened as I always put the handbrake on after slowing to a stop etc. I guess I'll see how it goes tomorrow.
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Finally sorted it. Changed front discs and pads, all is good now. All straightforward except for one of the damn disc locator screws. It was crazy tight and of course started rounding off after a while. With a drill, a hammer and a 7mm hex bit (was 6mm originally) I managed it:



Hate these damn things. Just glad that the brake judder is finally gone though.
 
Raymond Lin said:
But not a "single" journey either.
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But after sitting for an hour in the heat we have had recently the coolant temperature won't have dropped much below the threshold for which any warm up enrichments are applied and because of the temperature things remain there is very little in the way of enrichment lasting for very little time
 
I've ordered new discs and pads all round. I have recently got this weird vibration when braking. It is only apparent when I'm halting to a stop, around 10mph and less. Pads have plenty of life it seems but the front discs seem scored. I'm guessing it is a warped disc. At motorway speeds it's fine.

I plan to fit the discs and pads myself. Something I've never done before but should be able to manage after watching a few youtube tutorials lol.
 
Frozennova said:
But after sitting for an hour in the heat we have had recently the coolant temperature won't have dropped much below the threshold for which any warm up enrichments are applied and because of the temperature things remain there is very little in the way of enrichment lasting for very little time
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Yes, I totally realise what he meant. I am just pointing out the picture it paints that a single day with 208 miles was in 1 sitting, which it was not.

The other thing is that I have made other similar journey, with similar distances with much lower MPG. The fact that there are 6 days between fills doesn't actually reflect the picture that I drove the car in those 6 days in between. I (used to) take the train to work, and the car just sits there on my drive in the week and only drove it to weddings on weekends.
 
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Applied the 2.5th(!) and final coat of the Renovo Ultraproofer. You can see the areas already dry in the picture. The first layer and a bit was applied couple weeks back. Applying the final layer was hard work, the liquid kept beading off onto the bodywork, even as it was being applied neat with a paintbrush. Ended up using an old MF cloth and dipping it into the small bucked and buffing it into the canvas.

A single coat is said to last up to 12 months. So I think I'm sorted for up to 24.
 
mrk said:
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Applied the 2.5th(!) and final coat of the Renovo Ultraproofer.
A single coat is said to last up to 12 months. So I think I'm sorted for up to 24.
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That sort of man maths would be lovely but sadly this isn't the way it'll work out :p I have no experience with that product specifically but in general simply layering preservatives on any material increases the life by exponentially lower additional time periods with each coat.
 
Hey similar worked with that C4 application to the faded cabin filter cover in the engine bay even when people said it would fade in 6 month!
 
Armageus said:
Went to collect my "fixed" car, but got half way home, still running like a dog and fault codes. Will give one more chance and if not will be trying to get my money back :(
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Rang dealer this morning and asked what his plan was, and said that his garage was looking at it again this morning. Have advised him that I am disappointed that 3 weeks on still don't have a useable car, and although I don't really want to go down the route of a refund, it is looking more likely. He had no issue with that, if it's what I want.

I have said I will be over on Monday either to collect the car with the resolved issue(s), or a refund - he had no issue with this, and thanked me for the additional time to try and resolve this.

Hopefully I am doing the right thing, just wary that I need to get a refund agreed before the 28 days since purchase is up, based on the Consumer Rights Act. I have offered the dealer 2 attempts at fixing the problem already, so this will be third - so believe I have gone about this the right way.
 
Finally started doing a front suspension rebuild on the e39, had the bits in the garage for ages but kept putting it off. Car failed MOT on a tie rod so decided to bite the bullet and start it. So new Shocks, springs and top mounts, inner and outer tie rods with new rack boots (old boots are fine but replacements are cheap enough) new thrust and control arms and new ARB bushes and drop links and new nuts and bolts.

Not something I enjoy doing, I hate removing ball joints and compressing coil springs. Crappy weather isn't helping either. I just hope its all worth it in the end.
 
MagicBoy said:
It's Fox. If he's not being pedantic there's something wrong with the world.... ;)
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Well it's not just pedantry is it - a cold start, where the car has been left overnight, is very different to a hot start where the car has been parked an hour. The engine will take longer to warm up, the ECU will command more fuel, etc etc.

Do 5 journeys from cold every day for a week and then do the same 5 journeys over the course of 1 day with an hours gap in between them and you'll get an often radical difference in fuel economy depending on the distance.

As an example - my drive to work in the morning yields between 20 and 25mpg depending on traffic. If I need to pop home for lunch or something and do the same drive again from warm it's about 30% less fuel usage!
 
Acme said:
Saw a white FN2 with those wheels earlier on, thought it might have been you at first, but I doubt it was, unless you were in Sussex. :p
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Nah, I'm usually in the midlands or north of there, rarely come down south :)

Got a bit bored of them being matt black already and was tempted to get them sprayed in gloss black or anthracite, but think I might just buy another set instead.
 
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