Servicing costs

[volvosneverdie]

Before I moved, the independant garage accross the road was awesome.
£20 mots with free retest.
I had the 360GLT fail on a tiny patch of weling needed. They couldnt fit the work in that day, but one of the lads caught me on the way out and said bung him £20 and he'd do it on his dinner break, retest in the afternoon and sorted.
Always up for a crack and a chat and always reasonable charges.

Quite a hike for me now, but im still gonna use them when I get something back on the road.

[CBA]

but draining oil and coolant into a pan outside my neighbours house??

That Stinks - what a repressed area you must live in... sorry. I was in a pretty well to do area last week where a fresh engine was going in a mercedes sprinter, I think, and it is only my personal opinion that most people are pretty damn soft, in the heart and in the mind. I have the faculties to do anything I want, I live once... and what I want to do... Is quit this argument, its a matter of opinion after all.

Just check them plugs if it's not too dangerous, scary, dirty or offensive to your neighbors.

[volvosneverdie]

but draining oil and coolant into a pan outside my neighbours house??

That Stinks - what a repressed area you must live in... sorry..

Repressed and oppressive?
How very dare you.
Germany is well known for its lax attitude toward regulations and absolute lack of strictness.
They also have awesome beers and supercool roads.

But NO comedy.

[trabitom99]

TBH I don't want the hassle and the discussions ... A few years ago I swapped the radiator on my 300 (in a "better" area than where I live now), had a slight mishap and all the coolant went running off down the street. Nearly every passer-by had to comment, some were fine about it ("my dear old hubbie used to do that back in the day, bless him") and some weren't.

Even if you're doing something "clean" (say swapping spark plugs) in the street, make sure you don't have to do it in a Trabant as it'll take you 10 times longer than if you have your own garage to do it in. "Since when have you been here in the West?" "Those were terrible days, with the Wall and that" "Bloody communists!", I've heard it all. TBH I prefer going for a bike ride with my family and my new tow bar and bike rack than arguing with small-minded people.

Germans are actually more funny than their reputation, what isn't so cool is the "finger wagging" and lack of "live and let live", there are big differences to Brits in that respect.

Tom

[volvosneverdie]

Germans are actually more funny than their reputation, what isn't so cool is the "finger wagging" and lack of "live and let live", there are big differences to Brits in that respect.

Tom

Exessive service charges to German Humour and finger waggling in less than 20 posts.

[CBA]

[quote]Germany is well known for its lax attitude toward regulations and absolute lack of strictness.
They also have awesome beers and supercool roads./quote]

Beers, no. I Like spanish beer - roads, yes. I don't know about the rest, but I detect a little sarcasm.

[trabitom99]

The MOT is particularly lax and lenient Everyone drives around with spoilers, "Made in China" alloys, engine upgrades

Tom

[volvosneverdie]

Germany is well known for its lax attitude toward regulations and absolute lack of strictness.
They also have awesome beers and supercool roads./quote]

Beers, no. I Like spanish beer - roads, yes. I don't know about the rest, but I detect a little sarcasm.

Sarcasm no.
Lies, yes.

Poor Tom has to get a note from the factory just to change his dustcaps.

[Ian Mac]

When it comes to working on cars the Trabant is 100% pure pleasure. I seriously miss mine and I think another one will be joining the Mac fleet before too much longer. However, this time it will be a late model 12 volter with electronic sparks and opening rear 1/4 windows. Who knows, I might even stretch to chrome bumpers, a heated rear screen and one of those cool econometer things....

I've come over all goose pimply at the thought - I think I need to take a cold shower...

[trabitom99]

Poor Tom has to get a note from the factory just to change his dustcaps.

I'm dreading they'll say no to a rear louvre I may need an "Unbedenklichkeitsbescheinigung" from the factory, don't they build Mitsubishis there now?

... and one of those cool econometer things....

You mean a "Kraftstoffmomentanverbrauchsanzeige". Great fun, those



Some nice long German words in that post

Tom

[CBA]

I just think not being able to make a little mess (that you will clean up (if needed)) outside your home on a street you pay taxes to keep in order is repressed, ignorant of country/town -

If people aren't "fine" about it it's their problem - moaning about a bit of oil or coolant... on a ball of rock travelling (relatively) at millions of miles per hour round (ultimately) a supermassive black hole , live a little, take a risk!

I have never had a complaint about doing work in the street, drive, carpark, at the lights... I usually have someone pull up with a smoking engine and ask for advice, that's the reaction I get. Or some kid will watch and learn, or at least watch and say COOL!, or some old timer will have a talk, a biker will beep and flash, thumbs up, that sort of thing... repairing your own car was a pretty popular thing from 1965 to about 1990, it's not as popular now but it's still a done thing.
Magazines like "Practical Motorist", "Hobbyist Mechanic" + tons more - there has been and probably always will be a little sub culture of semi-mechanics (and gifted/practical brainy people), It's fun, it saves you money, and sometimes makes you money, and, you can't persuade me to think any different, keeps me safe.

[Ian Mac]

As a qualified mechanic, vehicle examiner and home owner I think it's ok to carry-out the occasional repair outside your own house but certainly not outside anyone elses. Personally I think that continually repairing cars on the public highway with no regard to the thoughts of others and the possible effect on house prices is indicative of the tattoo-laden-pit-bull-terrior-track-suit-bottoms-and-no-shirt mentality which seems to be creeping into our society lately. All you need is a dodgy old Imprezza with England flags and a drain pipe for an exhaust and you've got the full picture. Oh, and a vote for the BNP of course...

[CBA]

As a qualified mechanic, vehicle examiner and home owner I think it's ok to carry-out the occasional repair outside your own house but certainly not outside anyone elses. Personally I think that continually repairing cars on the public highway with no regard to the thoughts of others and the possible effect on house prices is indicative of the tattoo-laden-pit-bull-terrior-track-suit-bottoms-and-no-shirt mentality which seems to be creeping into our society lately. All you need is a dodgy old Imprezza with England flags and a drain pipe for an exhaust and you've got the full picture. Oh, and a vote for the BNP of course...

Oh dear... Just to piss you off... I used to drive an Ford Escort XR3i Cabriolet (BLACK) (130PS, chipped to something more-never tested))with a 7" Exhaust, it was about 2" off the ground, stiff as hell, knackered too. Had the word "Maverick" emblazoned down one side...

[Ian Mac]

Oh dear... Just to piss you off... I used to drive an Ford Escort XR3i Cabriolet (BLACK) (130PS, chipped to something more-never tested))with a 7" Exhaust, it was about 2" off the ground, stiff as hell, knackered too. Had the word "Maverick" emblazoned down one side...

Somehow I thought you might...

So who told you how to change strut inserts and flush-out your gearbox on that one then??

I'm impressed you have the 'faculties' to do anything you like, just not the experience eh?

[CBA]

I sincerely apologise to anyone I have offended, I didn't realise you were from Germany and would take it seriously, I;d want to do the oil change etc, if someone said, NO!, I'd feel repressed, nothing more than that - you got the wrong end of the stick, I'm on about personal freedom to do a task, nothing more.

I retire,