Rich H
Member
Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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Well it's been an expensive first month of ownership that's for sure 
Took it to get 4 wheel alignment done as tracking was out after new clutch being fitted prior to purchase (have to drop the subframe)
This found the 2 rear runflats were worn almost the the chords on the very inside (couldn't be spotted unless on a ramp as I'd checked these before buying. Gutted to say the least!)
So first up, 4 new tyres ordered, non runflats - Avon ZZ3's. General consensus says the car is a lot better on normal tyres - it is! Less tramlining, quieter and less harsh ride. Took 3 garages to fit them though - first 2 made up all sorts of B/S about it being illegal, impossible, against company policy etc etc etc. The last place despite fitting them made a right mess of my alloys around the rims. Luckily they needed a refurb anyway so I haven't bothered to complain. Won't be going there again though!
Tracking was back out again, and service light on, so took to independent BMW specialist. £750 and a week later I got my car back - needed new wishbone bushes, track rod arm, 4 wheel alignment again and a full service. Also highlighted a couple of other issues which need sorting soonish at a further £1k. Despite being only on the 1st rung of BMW ownership it's getting pricey!! 
Also fitted Bosch flatblade wipers. I removed the bonnet stripes as wanted rid, took them off to find oxidised paint underneath that wouldn't machine polish out regardless of what I did. So had to reorder some from DMB graphics.
Pics from phone don't really show the oxidised bits, they were obvious in person. I also think it looks a bit plain with nothing on the front tbh:
Also found time over the B/H weekend to give it a much needed once over as the previous owner had used a cheap buffer and left it covered in swirls and buffer trails. It's not perfect, but looking a whole lot better.
And here's how it stands today with the stripes back on. It's been sat since I cleaned it so is covered in road dust again now though  Also I'm crap at getting photos to make the car look red and it was too sunny You'll just have to keep an eye out for it at Trax if I decide to go! 
Future plans are mainly power based and get the exhaust to be a touch more vocal (I want more pops and bangs!) but nothing will happen till I have it 100% mechanically sound again. Tax, MOT and insurance are all due in next 2 months too, so mods will be held off till next year I expect!
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Mertin
Member
Registered: 12th Oct 05
Location: Scotland
User status: Offline
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Ouch, expensive! Least you know its all sorted now
You had this long, didnt know you had it. Thought you sold the corsa to expand your business?
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Ben J
Member
Registered: 31st Jan 05
Location: Cheshire
User status: Offline
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Stripes look much better on.
So its been a bit of a lemon so far then...
[Edited on 02-09-2010 by Ben J]
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noshua
Member
Registered: 19th Nov 08
User status: Offline
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 cars.
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Edd
Member
Registered: 8th Nov 04
Location: Glasgow
User status: Offline
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fuck me!
private sale? they obviously knew this stuff needed done
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willay
Moderator
Organiser: South East, National Events
Premium Member
Registered: 10th Nov 02
Location: Roydon, Essex
User status: Offline
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Shit run of luck mate, you didnt buy this off one of Fad's family members at a petrol station did you?
I miss my mini so much 
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Chris F
Show Staff
Organiser: East Anglia
Premium Member
Registered: 26th Dec 05
Location: Newmarket Drives: Escort Van 1.8
User status: Offline
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Suits You Sir
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BluKoo
Member
Registered: 8th Apr 02
Location: Stonehaven (Scotland)
User status: Offline
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That numberplate is covered in swirls 
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Rich H
Member
Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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Yeh private sale, and on hindsight it could be the reason they were getting shot. It's got full BMW history, but I suspect they asked to be advised on things that needed doing but never got it done
Annoying as I looked at several, and tbh they all drove the same, looked sound etc etc - I didn't just rush into buying one. I travelled to Bristol for this one too! PMSL Will, no I didn't!
I talked myself out of buying a 3rd party warranty as well, regretting that atm! May try and get one once the MOT has been renewed and get the other £1k of work done on that tbh.
Having said all that, on the road it's a fooking awesome car, I do love it, but I seem to have Jambo's luck atm!
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Graham88
Member
Registered: 16th Apr 07
Location: South East Kent Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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Looks nice, definetly looks better with the stripes!
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Daveskater
Premium Member
Registered: 29th Apr 08
Location: Oxford, UK Drives: Jap wagon
User status: Offline
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Felling the pinch a bit now then
Still, it looks good anyway mate  Definitely better with the stripes too 
If you want pics... 
Numberwang!
Originally posted by AlunJ
I like you Dave, you are a man of men
Originally Whatapp'd by Neo
Dave's maybe capable of a drive-by cuddle
Look at my pictures
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Tomnova16
Premium Member
Registered: 21st Jan 06
Location: Gerrards Cross Drives: Porsche 911
User status: Offline
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Looking sweet my friend.
http://www.lemass.co.uk/ for all your automotive/bodyshop needs
Located in Chalfont st Peter
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Rich H
Member
Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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Danke, what you doing online whilst on holiday?!
Will bring it up for you and Jambo to see soon - and for you to fit that iPod lead sil vous plait!
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Jambo
Member
Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
User status: Offline
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Looks great mate
Sorry if you caught my bad luck last time you washed the Clio
Let's hope it's spot on now and you know the history of it now it's had bits done you should have a safe few years motoring (touch wood!)
I think I prefer stripes off?! I can't decide both look good but I know what you mean about plain
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Colin
Member
Registered: 4th Apr 02
User status: Offline
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What year is it?
tbh the 2 Bini's weve sold have gone because they needed more work than we could be arsed doing to them. They are quite high maintenance!!
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Rich H
Member
Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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2003. They certainly aren't cheap to run both in general running costs and maintenance.
It's on it's 3rd clutch already, and near enough ALL of them are affected by the power steering / steering column. Also been told ironically that they're useless as town cars as stop start driving kills clutches!
I guess it's prepping me for future expensive to run cars
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Colin
Member
Registered: 4th Apr 02
User status: Offline
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They are certainly not well built cars as far as BMW's go.
The 06 plate one we had before was due an MOT/service so I had a walk around it & it needed loads doing so we traded it in for another.
Stuff like power steering pumps & exhausts shouldnt be done on a 3.5yr old car thats done 30k miles 
My M3 was bulit proof in comprison.
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Rob B
Member
Registered: 8th Jan 04
Location: Area Motorsport Drives: Race EP3
User status: Offline
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Car looks nice as it is! Black roof
bring your mop and do my Bonnet at trax if you like 
also, I cut the centre silencer out my works and it popped really really loud
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Rich H
Member
Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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I bought it with the intention of removing the stripes, and wrapping the roof / mirrors gloss black. But I've actually grown to like it as it is! I'm just toying with the idea of white mirrors, and will probably do the JCW grille at some point.
As for pops and bangs, yeh I'd read with the full JCW exhaust either to remove the midbox or change the manifold - the latter of the 2 was my favoured solution as it should free up a couple more ponies too. I don't want anything too loud as I like the refinement, just want something a little more vocal
Bring a generator that can power my rotary and I will
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Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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very nice rich! although you have no luck with cars, it seems what a twat, they must have known it needed work doing on it. arseholes!
didn't even know you had a new car
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Nick-S
Member
Registered: 3rd Mar 04
Location: Leigh. Drives: RS Megane 230 F1 Team R26
User status: Offline
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Looks nice that rich mate 
Dose it go well?
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Rich H
Member
Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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Cheers guys. No my luck seems to have run out on this and the Sprout, I was fine up until then!
Nick, yeh goes alright TBH I haven't driven it a great deal (~650 miles) had a play with an Elise the other day who seemed to think he'd leave me behind though lol.
It does seem to attract a lot of people on dual carriageways / motorways to try it on - sitting on my arse etc, but I don't tend to play atm. I'll wait till I've got the power over the 200bhp mark comfortably, then start lol.
[Edited on 03-09-2010 by Rich H]
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Fro
Member
Registered: 20th Jun 06
Location: Rainham, Essex Drives: A3 2.0TDi Sport
User status: Offline
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Looking good rich!
Tis a shame about all the work though
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VegasPhil
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Jan 05
Location: Fareham, Hants Drives: Octavia VRS
User status: Offline
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One of the other agents has a red works. Black bits on it though. Black stripes and roof would be fully awesome!
Corsa 2.0 16v Vegas - Sold
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Warren G
Member
Registered: 14th May 06
Location: Kent
User status: Offline
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get a set of pullies on there! this one got a factory lsd?
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