Gaz

Goodness me, I want to like it, I want to feel something positive about it (and the brand). But the more I look at it, the more I think 'Oh dear', and those words just keep surfacing ☹️ In the mid 80's, I borrowed my Brother's XJ 4.2, and it was lovely, old, but sumptuous. In the late 80's he let me have a long drive in his American (twin headlights) XJS 5.3 V12. While I found the sitting position something to get used to, the car itself was awesome 😎 I look at this new one with a relative level of unbothered, and it just doesn't inspire. At all. Gaz

Haven't seen one of these in a long time: Very tidy example 👍 Gaz

Agree with Warrior. At this point it doesn’t seem clear whether you’ve spun a shell and are about to explode a big end and kill your crank, or if you have a failing lesser component, or maybe a blocked oil pick up. Certainly damage has been done, but if your bottom end is sound, I’d say all is not yet lost - unless you know otherwise. If I were a car dismantler, I’d also think £1400 was a good risk, possibly a good flip if it’s a non major repair. Gaz PS: Just having a nose around, and it looks like you can pick up a warranted second hand complete EA888 for between £1,500 and £2,000.

That's one heck of an increase! Thinking out loud - not had any recent work done on the car? MoT? - my cars always dip once back from MoT, and either slowly recover, or come back if I remember to reset the values. Does it smell like it's running rich? I'd have thought an injector fault would throw up a code. You mention drag - does it feel like it's labouring? No changes in temperatures? Agree with others about confirming it by fill-up quantities and mileage covered to get an exact figure. I use Fuelly, which works well for me. Mysterious 🤨 - will be interesting to know what's up. Gaz

Does the mechanic know what the metal swarf is? (i.e. it's origin) Have they done any investigative work - maybe put a boroscope down cylinder 3 to see if there's anything obvious? A compression test? Checked the mains? If it's running fine, what symptoms do you have? Certainly metal filings in the oil is not good news. But what makes the mechanic advise the engine is toast, as oppose to repairable? Back in 2018, my then 2015 vRS TSI grenaded its turbo. The engine was flushed and the oil pump changed (amongst other items) as a precautionary measure, but the engine survived. Much younger engine than yours though and minimal swarf in the oil - most had been caught by a gauze filter. Maybe get a second opinion if you don't have all the facts. It's a big (and unwelcome) decision for sure. Best o' luck. Gaz

There seems to be a couple of other threads about this steering bolt issue, not surprisingly as a range of models are affected: I've just put my VIN (2018 Golf 7.5 GTI) into the main VW website as 17016R may affect me, and I just get red text saying it's not a recognised VIN: So I phoned my local VW main dealer, who checked and advised there was nothing outstanding at the moment, but if that changed I would be contacted. Not completely inspired with confidence. Gaz

I think at this point I'd be concerned where they put it, rather than presume it being a case of administrative ineptitude 🤔

I seem to recall there's some reasonable step by step guides on YT, e.g.: We've the same DSG in our Polo. I've considered changing the oils, but not yet made it past the considering stage. Gaz

Stone Cross windmill looking rather splendid in this afternoon's Sun: And on the way back I counted 67 Coot and two Great Crested Grebe on Shinewater Lake: Oh and not forgetting these two: Didn't expect to see them, otherwise I'd have taken some food as they came over to me, so seemed interested. Gaz

I currently have a DQ250 (six speed wet cutch) in my Golf, and had the same box in my previous Octavia - both 100% reliable 👍 Also have a DQ200 in our Polo (seven speed dry clutch, not that you'll see one of these in a Scout) - faultless over the 40k+ miles and seven years we've had it 👍 Gaz

What are your tyres like? Were they on the car before the work's been done? - just wondering if they've been previously subject to odd wear, that's now mis-matched with the new set up? Gaz

Twin sports cats look to have come a bit loose 😸 Gaz

Hello and welcome Scott Gaz

Bit of a moment of joy for me too. I can't get on with an astronomical telescope, just can't, dunno why. But I recently bought an SVBony SV28A spotting scope, with a digital eyepiece. Tonight was my first attempt to use it, and this is through a triple glazed window, with street lights outside. Here's the Moon: And a vain attempt at 2x on my iPhone: And here's what it looks like through the spotting scope: In wayyy off ideal conditions, but for a first attempt I'm absolutely chuffed. So excited that the scope was picking up my heartbeat through the bedroom floor 🙄😂 Gonna give it a proper go soon, now I know how it all works. Gaz

Pretty Jag cabby right outside Exeter Cathedral: Shiny pipes! Gaz