ThePiper

Bull Terriers are brilliant! The things we used to do to ours as kids...

Hi, Could be a long shot, and I am not technical but when my DPF filter starts to get 'full' I also get a really annoying booming noise. It's not there when I drive slower or faster, but at the speeds you mention it's there. To solve: drive in 3rd, 4th or 5th at around 2000rpm for 5 minutes and this starts a complex process where the DPF gets cleaned. (use search for a more detailed description). Either that or boot is at standstill till you reach 4000rpn, and keep it there for 10 mins (used in VW garages to clean the DPF). Hope it helps.....

Hi, I've got the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2... rather pricey, but what a difference to the feel on the road ! Dry performance absolutely brilliant, wet is also great (which surprised me). They wear quickly though. The side wall flex is very limited, but the ride is a tad harsher. Works well with the suspension I feel. Quite a bit of road noise, but I don't mind that. Expensive, so my thanks go out to lease company who let me choose the tyres I want. I think privately I wouldn't get them as the value for money is probably not so good. Plenty to choose from then looking at all the other threads. Good luck with your choice! Edit: nitrogen leaks less (slower) than air through the rubber of the tyre - so your tyres stay on the right pressure for longer. Realistically, and for normal use, stick to air. Leave nitrogen for race use of real racy cars.

Three weeks after receiving my new Octy: one stone chip repaired. One month after that I had to get a new windscreen due to a stone hitting it and chipping the inside (:eek:), and a couple of weeks after that another repaired stone chip :(. The guy that fixed these says that car manufacturers are making the glass thinner (saves weight = lower fuel consumption = less CO2). Not sure how true it is, but sounds plausible. Btw: this in Belgium...

Getting between a good 45mpg on m/ways (steady run at 80mph - I live in Belgium), and 40mpg for shorter drives. I do accelarate using the torque (in the right gear and so on...), so could get better if I watched that a little.

Hi, I got mine (company car) three weeks ago, and with 5000 miles on the clock the engine is a lot more quiet and economy getting a little bit better. But as mentioned, after the 10-15k mark, the engine will really be loosened up. Don't forget to 'give it some beans' for the DPF to clear itself out (with a nicely warmed up engine only though!) I am very pleased with mine so far !

Hi, My car blew it's turbo at 80k miles and 1.5 years old. Replaced under warranty. Over here in Belgium, the VW group is replacing all the PD130 turbo's under warranty, even after 2 years and silly miles.... And because it was warranty they also replaced the cat and I got a new intercooler . Then they measured the turbo pressure and noticed it was mapped :eek: . They laughed at the results and let me off the hook, after taking it out for a test drive which impressed them . Only downside was the price of the 80k service.... Car now drives more smoothly than before . Hope you can get yours sorted under warranty though.

Nope, no signs... Car was driving perfectly up to that exact point (no extra whistling, other noise, same power output). I accelerated and then just smoke....... The car did go into safe mode twice months before, but I read on here that can happen (turbo pressure too high). But I do agree that maybe tuners are pushing things a bit (but, it was me who was after a nice power output....), then again, that's what we are after I suppose. Shame, car has been absolutely perfect since the start for the rest. All my fault....

Hi, Car details: Belgian car from 2005 (Furby VRS), mapped on rolling road to approx. 175bhp. Car has done 80k miles, always dealer serviced. Was driving on the motorway at NSL (120 km/h = +- 75mph) whilst passing a lorry, when I saw a car gaining on me at some speed (hard to judge quite how fast). I decide to accelerate a bit to let him pass without needing to slow down lots - thinking this was safer than the driver maybe getting annoyed. Someone in a hurry = let them pass. I did not floor it, maybe 50% throttle, when a HUGE (and I mean HUGE) white cloud comes out of the exhaust........a bit of quick thinking: cluth, hazards, look for the safest escape route (let truck pass inside me) and onto the hard shoulder. Engine off, put on lovely bright yellow safety vest and check the car: no oil or water under the car, plenty of coolant, oil fine... must be turbo. Got towed away and am hoping to get it sorted through the remaining warranty (my dealer knows about the mapping and is willing to help me out... ). Now: I have always looked after my car in the sense that I let the engine warm up gently, and after a harder drive, let the car run a few mins to let the turbo get oiled and cool down. In the 80k miles, I have driven fast a lot of the time (live next to German border), so did I just wear out the turbo? The map has been on for about 40k miles... Am not a boy racer (am 32), but like to use the in gear surge a lot . So hope to get it sorted cheap as I am buying a house tomorrow . Gf was fine with the turbo blowing . Had to use my motorbike to get to work - not really a chore neither, shame about the rain. If I get it sorted, I'll go back to the standard map me thinks. Anyway, no moral to the story...just wanted to share....

Hi, I've got a '05 VRS with 70k miles on it and the creaking started last month :( . It seems to come and go, although with the radio on I just can't hear it. For the life of me I cannot pinpoint the exact location. It appears to be coming from where the actual steering wheel is attached to the steering column, though sometimes it seems deeper inside the plastic bits. It annoyed me a lot at first, but got used to it a bit - maybe that's why I do not seem to notice it as much anymore. Am planning to take a look at it soon though... Oh, it's a left hooker (Belgian car). If you find a solution: please share! All the best, ThePiper

63k since Oct '05...bought new. Only issue has been broken radiator :eek: Spotted the day before major service (low cooling light went on) and 2 front wheel bearings at approx. 25k. Had car mapped for the last 20k miles, no issues whatsoever . (except tyre wear )

I've got an October '05 VRS..... Now on 90.000kms (60k miles) - and I have a desk job :eek: I hope it lasts for another good while It's been mapped for the last 20k miles (180bhp) and all's fine - turbo whistle is louder, but that's a bonus I feel. Not had a single issue! Though I think the ARB bushes are worn. The 17'' wheels are harder on them than the 16'' I think...

The guy who mapped my furby said that tests in Germany (pretty vague I know) showed that with a K&N filter on a VRS, the normal air flow pattern is disturbed and that in turn messed about with the MAF sensor....so actually although the engine gets more air, because the air flow is no longer as good, the effect is negative...... My 2pence....

I've got an '05 plate with approx. 50k on the clock and have the same. I do also have a very strong 'short' vibration (not shudder) through the steering wheel at all speeds - firstly getting the wheels checked...but it feels different somehow. I also thought bushes/ bearing/ 'hopefully nothing expensive'...... Will let you know if I get any feedback on this from tyre place/ dealer.

Hi I've got the C710. Brilliant, simply brilliant. Very easy to use, very accurate, great maps, very readable (even with low sunlight/ bright sun), small size, options to change what you see on the screen (have a play with one to see what I mean). Used it all over South or France, Spain and high up in the Alps - even tracked me true on sandy roads at 1950m! Cannot fault it. I checked out all the others too: TomTom: screen and connection issues with power lead'. Garmin: the new slim ones are better, but much more expensive. Good luck!