What's a realistic mpg figure for the Mercedes C-Class?
How many miles to the gallon will I get from a 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 200 1.8 petrol auto?
Rosemary Hennessy (Dublin)Expert answer
Hi Rosemary,
According to the official figure, you should be getting 33mpg. Bear in mind though that this is almost a ten-year old car, so its performance in terms of fuel economy may have tailed off. Nothing a good service and oil change wouldn't fix though, along with some decent new tyres.
Is my BMW worth anything as scrap?
Hi, I have 2000 BMW 316 that passed the NCT two weeks ago, has new tyres and is in great condition, but ran out of oil on the motorway to Dublin last week and the engine seized. Now it's not really worth repairing I don't think so wondering what options I would have. Is it worth anything for scrappage? I got quoted €150 max.
Thanks, Scott
Scott Kitteringham (COrk)Mar 2014 Filed under: scrappage
Expert answer
Hi Scott,
Scrappage isn't worth much these days, sadly, but it might be worth having a ring around local breakers' yards and spare parts experts. Often the value in a car can lie in its components rather than the whole, so if things like the body and interior are in good nick, then you may get some value out of selling those off separately.
Let us know how you get on
This Suzuki Vitara XL7 looks great. What should I look out for?
I have seen an impeccable 2005 Suzuki Vitara 2.0 XL7 Diesel - a seven-seater. It has one owner, 80,000 genuine miles, and it's bronze in colour. Full service history, five new tyres, new timing chain and NCT until Feb 2015. Asking price €7,500. Is there anything I should look out for before making an offer?
Michael Leyden (ENNIS)Feb 2014 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Michael,
Should be fine, but just check all the electrics and buttons on the inside, as one of the few weak areas on the Vitara is in its wiring. Also make sure that a recall to have the front suspension attended to has been done, and check the service book - Vitaras have rather short 10,000km service intervals so one or two may have been skipped. Other than that, it should be a good 'un.
Tell me all about the Volkswagen Eos
Hi,
Tell me about the 2008 Volkswagen Eos. Anything to look out for? And what's the best engine to go for?
Thank you
Ruairi Mc Carthy (Mullagh Co Cavan)Feb 2014 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Ruairi,
As with any folding hard top cabrio the first and most important thing is to check the roof carefully for any problems, leaks, wear and tear. They can be fragile so you want to make sure that everything's working right.
Secondly, all that roof stuff is heavy (which is why the Eos is so clumsy to drive) so you need to be checking for excessive wear and tear on suspension, tyres, steering etc.
As for engine, there's no point in going for the 2.0 turbo engine from the Golf GTI as the Eos's porky weight kills the performance. Better to just accept you'll be slow and go for the 1.4 TSI or 2.0 TDI diesel instead.
Let us know how you get on
What's the noise in my Nissan Primera?
What's the whirring noise in my Nissan Primera 1.8 (2002)? It starts when the car is in motion not when stationary.
Leo Dunster (Oswestry)Feb 2014 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Leo,
It's always very difficult to analyse such things from afar so we'd advise you bring the car to a good mechanic. It could be something stuck in the tyre or brake disc, it could be a damaged tyre, it could be a worn wheel bearing or something in the transmission.
Best of luck getting it sorted
Should I stay away from the Espace and this older Discovery?
I need a second hand seven seater. Have seen a 2005 Renault Grand Espace automatic petrol, 95k miles, leather priced at €3,850. Fallen in love with a 2004 Land Rover Discovery 2.5-litre, auto, diesel, leather, 150k miles too. Price €5,250. Would I be crazy to go for Land Rover? Difference in tax isn't too big. Two trustworthy mechanics told me Renault give expensive problems but didn't ask about Land Rover!
Susan Ryan (Dublin IRL)Feb 2014 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Susan,
Wow, you're a glutton for punishment aren't you? You pretty much couldn't have picked two less reliable cars. The Discovery is best avoided. If you could afford to trade up to a third-generation model I'd say that's worth a go, as Land Rover was starting to get on top of its quality issues by then, but the old Series II is just bad news. Gearboxes go, electrics go and even the suspension can fail. I know what you mean about falling in love - it's happened to me too with old Land Rovers, but you're looking at a very high-maintenance partner there.
The Espace is a little better, but not by much. The diesel engines are very fragile - check for smoke, check for oil levels and if there are any signs of overheating, run don't walk away. Check anything with an electrical wire coming out the back of it too as it can all go wrong, although the electronic parking brake and electric windows are especially prone to wrongness. Also, keep an eye on the tyres. Espaces go through them like butter and 20,000km is about as much as you'll get out of a set.
If you really want a seven-seater that works properly, can I suggest either a Mitsubishi Pajero or Toyota Land Cruiser? Not as cool as the Discovery, but they won't let you down.
What's the whirring noise in my Ford Focus?
I have a six-year-old Ford Focus C-Max and there's a funny sort of whirring noise when driving. I mentioned it to the garage before I got the car serviced but they said it was nothing when I collected the car after service. My-son-in law reckons it is the bearings in the back left wheel. What do you think?
Thanks, Robbie.
Robert Wise (Dublin)Feb 2014 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Robbie,
It could well be a wheel bearing. Though it could just as easily be a tyre. Best bet is to bring it to a different mechanic to have it checked over.
Mazda6 or BMW 320d?
Mazda6 2.2D or BMW 320d? Which of the two will be better as a fun-to-drive second hand 2010/2011 hatchback/saloon? The Mazda6 is cheaper to buy but would it be also cheaper to maintain and be more reliable? Would the BMW keep a higher residual value? Anything I should look out when going for a test drive?
Vittorio Papa (Dublin)Jan 2014 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Vittorio,
You've got it all answered yourself there. The BMW's overall residual value will indeed be slightly better, but, long term, the Mazda should prove to be much more reliable and rugged. Both are excellent to drive. The BMW's classic rear-drive chassis is slightly the superior, but the Mazda's muscular steering feel and firmly sprung chassis makes it one of the best front-drive saloon chassis around.
Nothing major to watch for on either - just make sure there's a fully stamped up service history and check the BMW carefully to make sure that all the electrical bits work and that it's been topped up with high grade oil at each service. Both cars may have been driven hard by previous owners (many will be ex-fleet) so check carefully for thinks like uneven tyre wear or noises from underneath that indicate worn or out-askew suspension.
Let us know how you get on
My BMW X3 has high fuel consumption...
My 2006 BMW X3 is using more fuel than it should; what do I need to replace in order to stop that?
Thanks
Paul Danie (Dublin)Expert answer
Hi Paul,
It could be down to a number of factors, but excessive fuel consumption can usually be traced to a few specific areas:
Are the tyre pressures correct all round? Tyres that are under pressure can seriously increase your fuel consumption.
Are you using a roof rack or roof box, or are you constantly carrying around heavy loads in the boot?
Has the engine been serviced recently?
Finally, there’s your own driving style, which is often the bigger contributing factor to fuel consumption. If you’re trying to save fuel, try accelerating a little more gently, anticipating the traffic flow a little further ahead, backing off earlier and not idling the engine when standing still for long periods.
What are the pros and cons of the BMW 3 Series Coupé?
Hi, what are the pros and cons of the BMW 320Ci SE Coupé?
Thank you
Jaro Hrabovsky (Dublin)Jan 2014 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Jaro,
Are you talking about the E46 model (1998 to 2006) or the E92 (2007 to 2013)?
If it's the E46, check carefully for any suspension problems - listen for clonking noises from underneath and look closely for uneven tyre wear. There was also a problem with radiator cooling fans failing. It's easily replaced but the problem is that the damage may already have been caused so if the car you're looking at has had a new fan, check carefully for any signs of head gasket damage or overheating.
If it's the E92, then cabin rattles and nosies are your biggest problem. They can be fixed but they can be a nightmare of trial and error to do so. Some electronic systems can also give trouble, especially the optional Bluetooth phone system, but that can usually be fixed with a software patch from a BMW dealer. The petrol 320i version can burn through a lot of oil, so take a long test drive to check for any signs of leaks or a smell of burning oil or blue exhaust smoke. There have been reports of total engine failures for the 320i too, but thankfully they seem to be very rare.
Hope that all helps