I'd like a new Mercedes GLC 220 d Sport.
I am considering the purchase of a Mercedes-Benz GLC 220 d, but I note the Sport version of this car does not seem to be available from Mercedes-Benz Ireland. Is this going to remain the case or is it likely that the Sport will come on stream, as I would like to consider this car spec as it opens the door to the Off Road Option wherein I would be able to take the car into forest tracks etc, but not in any severe capacity.
Regards Seamas
Seamas McHugh (Belfast)Dec 2015 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Seamas,
Good choice, we really liked the GLC at the international launch. We asked Mercedes-Benz Ireland about your query and here was the response:
"It will be available and he should go for the GLC 220 d 4Matic AMG SPORT version with the additional option of the Off-Road Pack."
Hopefully that clears it up for you.
Where would I buy a Jaguar badge?
Where in Ireland can I buy car badges? I'm looking for a leaping Jaguar badge for my car. Any ideas?
Adrian Rafter (Portlaoise)Nov 2015 Filed under: aftermarket
Expert answer
Hi Adrian,
I would think a quick email or phone call to the chaps at Jaguar.ie would be a good place to start, or your local Jaguar dealer.
How can I buy a Volkswagen Golf R Estate?
I have my heart set on a Volkswagen Golf R 'Sportwagen' (estate), but it seems Volkswagen Ireland will not be selling them here. Do I have any real options to buy one, given that importing from the UK is prohibitively expensive considering the exchange rate?
Thanks.
Graham McGarry (Greystones)Nov 2015 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Graham,
I'm afraid not - it's simply not a model appearing on the official Volkswagen Ireland price list. You could try sweet-talking a Volkswagen dealer but they'll essentially just have to privately import it themselves so they'll just pass on the same costs to you.
We double checked the situation with Volkswagen Ireland and it confirmed the same.
Such a shame!
Will Infiniti come to Ireland?
Hi, just wondering if Infiniti has any plans to sell cars here in Ireland?
Cheers, Kevin.
Kevin Caulfield (Kildysart)Nov 2015 Filed under: future cars
Expert answer
Hi Kevin,
We asked the current Nissan importer and got a pretty stock answer:
"This is under continuous review - it is likely that Infiniti will be launched when the decision is taken that the demand, conditions and the model line-up are right for the Irish market."
From our point of view, the new Q30 and forthcoming Infiniti QX30 are steps towards that happening, but we believe that Irish new car sales would have to top 150,000 units a year consistently before it would be considered. Competition is already tough here and Infiniti hasn't done all that well over in the UK.
Will there be a 2WD Audi Q7?
Will Audi introduce a two-wheel drive Q7 for UK and Ireland?
Martin Nolan (Wexford)Nov 2015 Filed under: future cars
Expert answer
Hi Martin,
Though we suspected that we knew the answer already, we thought we better ask Audi Ireland. Here's the response we received:
"The Q7's success is attributed to having quattro as standard for customers. No plans to introduce a two-wheel drive Q7."
How best to import my car from the UK?
Hi, I'm an EU citizen, I lived 10 years in London, UK. I have my own car on GB plates, a 15 year-old Ford Mondeo 2.5 V6 automatic. I have a long MOT on this car. I have owned this car about four months, I have previous insurance, history, etc. What is the best way to register the car in Ireland? Will the MOT be accepted if I have 11 months left?
Thanks,
Laszlo
Laszlo Szabo (Clonbur)Nov 2015 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Laszlo,
I'm afraid not. When you import the car into Ireland it will have to pass through an NCT (National Car Test - our equivalent of the MOT) before it can be legally registered here. That shouldn't be a problem though - any car that can pass an MOT should also pass an NCT. The problem is that because you have owned the car for less than six months, you'll get caught for Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) when you bring it in to the country - and on a 2.5-litre V6 engine that's going to be 36 per cent of what the Revenue Commissioners judge the vehicle's market value to be. This could get very expensive and you might be better off selling the car before you move and buying something new here.
I have a few issues with my Mondeo.
I've been advised my car has a belt and chain system but Ford says only belt; can you confirm? It's a 2012 Mondeo 1.6 TDCi.
Also had issues with engine rattle after a dealer changed injectors. He says they need time to relearn. I have symptoms two weeks later still. Just wondering is this accurate because the dealer didn't mention chain or fuel pump. How long should the ECU take to relearn injectors?
Also, the steering wheel is shaking under braking. Should a dealer replace worn discs six weeks after purchase?
Niall Reynlds (Ennis)Oct 2015 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Niall,
We asked Ford Ireland about this for you. First of all, it was confirmed that your car has a timing belt, not a timing chain.
With regards to the injectors, a longer response was given:
"Mondeo DV6 has a Continental fuel system and the fuel injectors fitted on this system have correction factors on them. What this means is that they have a unique ID number that the engine's PCM need to know so it can operate them. The pump has nothing to do with how the injectors operate and its role is simply to bring the fuel up to the high pressure demanded by the system. When an injector is replaced the PCM needs to know the new number of the injector installed. This is inputted using Ford IDS Diagnostic tool. If the injector is installed and the correction factor is not learned using the Ford Diagnostic tool the vehicle will not run at optimal level and the engine may exhibit excessive noise and emissions."
Finally, with regards to a shaking steering wheel, that could be something as simple as a wheel going out of balance, so check that before you consider changing any brake items. Whether the dealer should replace warped discs after six weeks is not so clear - it really depends on the terms of your warranty.
Can I retrofit satnav to my BMW 520d?
Can I get a satnav and heated seats retrofitted to my 2011 BMW 520d?
Kieran Kelly (Dublin)Oct 2015 Filed under: aftermarket
Expert answer
Hi Kieran,
We asked BMW Ireland about this and here's the response:
"To answer your question regarding getting satnav and heated seats retrofitted to a 2011 BMW 520d, this is specification sensitive. There are retrofit kit options to fit satnav, but without the chassis number of the vehicle in question, I can't guarantee that this option will be available to your reader. With regards to heated seats, there is no retrofit kit available for this so we would not recommend retrofitting this option. However, if the reader is interested in these options, I would suggest that they contact their local BMW retailer for further information."
I hope that helps in some way
To answer your question regarding getting sat nav and heated seats retrofitted to a 2011 BMW 520d, this is specification sensitive.
There are retrofit kit options to fit Sat Nav but without the chassis number of the vehicle in question, I can’t guarantee that this option will be available to your reader.
With regards to heated seats, there is no retrofit kit available for this so we would not recommend retrofitting this option.
Once again, I wish to stress the fact that there is no one size fits all answer to these questions.
However, if the reader is interested in these options, I would suggest that they contact their local BMW retailer for further information.
What's the 60,000km service for an Avensis?
How to do a 60,000-kilometre service on a 2010 Toyota Avensis 2.0-litre?
Dominic Espey (Stranorlar)Oct 2015 Filed under: servicing
Expert answer
Hi Dominic,
Toyota Ireland kindly provided the full service list for 60,000 kilometres. See below image.

Can I alter the exhaust in my Land Rover Defender?
I have read that by removing the catalytic converter and the EGR valve from a TD5 Land Rover Defender, the car will perform better and be a lot more economical. There are replacement pipes and plugs available on the internet, for that purpose and it is MOT-approved. My question is: if I do this in Ireland, would my Defender fail the NCT test?
Cesar Pereira (Mullaghmore, County Sligo)Oct 2015 Filed under: NCT
Expert answer
Hi Cesar,
Yes, pretty much an instant fail there. If you take out the cat and the EGR valve you're going to push your emissions readings up significantly. Please don't do it - that equipment is there for a reason.
