Tempest

That's been my initial reaction from the start of Jims problems. Clearly a sign she doesn't want you to sell her ;-) ABS light still on? Possibly just a dirty sensor, may be able to get a jet washer onto your wheels (I recently took mine to a jetwash etc place after it was full of salt, muck and dirt). Tempest

Would agree, judging by the fact that my Mk1 Rocco has a full Supersprint system including the manifold, and my Mk2 Rocco now also has a Supersprint manifold :-) Who knows, possibly if the Milltek causes me too much grief on my Rado ... ;-) Tempest

The guy at my Powerflow garage in Coventry ("Mr Tyre" for that matter, can recommend them for the work done on my Storm Rocco, the Rado when they replaced the standard G60 cat with a VR6 metal cat, took them 2 hours, and only charged me £25 :D ) mentioned that 45 mm tubes are of a better quality than the 48 mm ones, showed me both types to take home. That was just one aspect of our ramblings yesterday whilst trying to tackle the crack on my Milltek midbox inlet pipe. No problems with the sound on mine, as it is quite subdued and civilised compared to what I've read from others and their Millteks on their Rados. I quite like it that way, as it fits quite nicely to all the other "civilised" aspects on my Rado, cruise control, airco, not to forget the automatic seatbelts - it's a cruiser car :D Powerflow offer the advantage of tuning the sound of your system though, which is where my Storm Rocco really shines, folks know that I'm travelling past them :lol: Tempest

Having brought back my mate from Germany to Stansted airport today, we couldn't ignore the blowing back box once we arrived at the terminal building, having shifted through the gears on our approach. Once I had arrived back in Coventry again (and once the crap weather this morning had subdued) I had a quick look underneath and couldn't help but with my trusty torch spot a major crack in the main pipe near the inlet bend on the midbox, where it's held by 2 rubber hangers. Off I went to my local Powerflow garage in Coventry (who'd previously done a superb job on my Mk2 Storm Rocco, and recently again in adapting their exhaust system to the Supersprint manifold that I recently fitted only to discover that it terminated 50 mm short and a bit higher than the original manifold had) to have a better look. Indeed a crack caused by some badly welded bar across the pipe, to which the rubber hangers are attached, was clearly visible. After nearly 15 minutes of trying to split the backbox from the midbox (tight as heck), we both noticed the relatively poor quality of the stainless steel material itself compared to that used by Powerflow (and having taken both apart myself, I immediately noticed the thinner gauge used by Milltek). It welded up OK again, and the guy did a better refitment of the mid- and backbox (and that cross-bar on the inlet pipe to the midbox) than the garage (don't know who that would have been, as the Milltek was already on my Rado when I bought it) who'd originally fitted the Milltek. £10 later (couldn't have done it for that myself, haven't got a welder, but thinking of getting one :D , nor do I have a gas torch for cutting and heating :cry: ) I left again a happy chappy with the usual admittedly very subdued and civilised sounding Milltek. I know my statements and findings may cause some wave of opinions, but that's exactly why I'm posting it. If my Rado hadn't had the Milltek yet, I definitely would have gone for a Powerflow system, happy as I am with the local Coventry fitter :D Tempest

Clearly some secret message in there :lol: Tempest

Money has been transferred, expecting the last set for this group buy to arrive sometime next week :-) Tempest

Good man, they didn't comment on my recent VERY frequent (and expensive) visits? ;-) I think my company needs to relocate, it's not a good thing being almost next door to a VW dealer and owning 3 Karmann coupes :lol: At least I didn't get any further queries like whether I'd be interested in buying something a bit newer (carwise), as the younger chappie fully appreciates (and is always baffled at) my owning 3 Karmann coupes :-) Tempest

Tempest, oohh, several reasons: Tempest as in "The Tempest" by Shakespeare, pretending I'm educated :lol: , Tempest as in wind, storm, erm Storm :lol: , another type of wind being the scirocco as in Karmann Scirocco - needs no further explaining me thinks :D . Tempest

I have heard from quite a few peeps with Roccos over in Germany that after a gearbox oil change, they felt that changing gears was a lot worse than before the oil change, and that with time it will improve. I have no idea as to why this should be the case, but possibly your gearbox might start behaving itself as well after some time. Can't comment too much on the short shift kit, as I've no experience with cable shifter short shift kits, just the rod shifter kits. Well, no later than this Sunday, quite a few here should be able to have a look and listen ;-) or PM me, if you're desperate. Tempest

Probably, can't say yet, but haven't got anything else planned. Tempest

There was one at Roadstar 2004, I didn't think it looked that bad, but being a continental kid, I'm more used to Euro-stuff, of course :lol: Tempest

I have to admit that I always leave my battery in my laid up Roccos, but charge tem up every 4 to 5 weeks. The best thing for a battery is to have a continuous small load (e.g. the immobiliser), then recharge it again at regular intervals, a bit like when you drive the car. As far as cranking the engine is concerned, I even go as far as handcranking the engines at the crankshaft pulley :lol: Tempest

I'd do it the opposite way around. Put the Rado on fully comp, as that's your cherished one, surely not the Focus. The reason being, yes it is more expensive, that after my accident with my Mk1 I was glad to have fully comp qwith agreed valuation, otherwise you can wait ages for you to claim the dosh off the third party insurance, if you get involved in an accident with your Rado. Who cares about the Focus? It's a Ford after all (yes I have driven those things, tight cornering? Try it and be scared) :lol: Tempest

OK, doors closed on the 2nd round of this group buy, will transfer money over to Germany today or tomorrow. The guy in Germany has confirmed that the clear/reds had arrived from In.Pro as well :-) Tempest

Had to drop off a computer system to someone in Bletchley in our amazing 55 bhp power monster of a Ford Escort delivery van :lol: , hence driving through the outskirts of MK in the hope to see some of the glory of 3 weeks ago during the MK meet. Alas not a single Rado was to be spotted anywhere :cry: Just the usual commuter trash, and there was me thinking that MK was full of Rados :lol: Tempest

That gigantic (what looks like a Rieger) rear wing does it for me :-) Tempest

Yup, they should spin freely without worrying grinding noises, have no axial (or hardly any) or radial play. Tempest

Garage it, leave the windows open a little, also leave the boot open a bit, neither engage the handbrake nor put it into gear, just chock it with some wood to prevent it from rolling. Stick an oil-drenched rag in the exhaust. Inspect the interior every now and then for moisture build-up, especially during the winter months, as temperature and humidity changes in GB can wreak havoc, and lead to unsightly white marks, that if caught early, can still be wiped off quickly. That's how I lay up my Roccos over the winter months. Tempest

Yeah, that's the funny thing, as on the other hand, you could get pulled by a copper who happens to know the DVLA rules for number plates (typefaces, spacing, size etc.) Tempest

Both ultimately need attention, but your MOT tester probably felt they weren't severe enough. The cracking on the CV boot for most testers has to be a visible crack where the grease starts to come out of. Yours may have just been surface cracks. Tempest

Yeah, as during warm-up the ECU ignores the Lambda-signal. Try disconecting the sensor altogether and drive around a bit to see whether your symptoms are still there. If not, it's your Lambda-sensor. Tempest

What I want to know is how a pipe-layer can afford such a car? :lol: A90 just down south of Stonehaven? Oh, remember it well, as I got flashed on my journey back home just having bought my US-G60 Rado nr. Aberdeen. I was doing about a 100 mph, but the camera proved to be empty :-) Tempest

Been yet? What was the problem? Belt too tight exerting too much strain on the Lader-shaft bearings? Tempest

Could the insurance's response just be so quick as the S3 is still a fairly new car, worth quite a bit of money still, easy to get parts for etc.? Still, it's bad news if such an accident happens, especially through someone else's fault :-( Tempest

OK, an update then. The seller is expecting the outstanding clear/red lights to arrive from In.Pro end of this week. He'll then bundle these lights with 3 more sets of smoked (as I've had another 3 peeps wanting to buy these lights). So bear with me a little bit, but we're moving again :-) Tempest