Service update

Well, we've got some feedback from the dealer and it's pretty good news. They've done the brake fluid and checked everything over and there's nothing major that needs any attention. The rear wheel cylinders are leaking bit and the front discs are a bit worn but nothing worth worrying about. Other than that it was bits about a worn door hinge and faulty boot lock.

They haven't yet tracked down why the ignition light is on but the alternator is fine and is charging. Could be an internal fault in the battery or a wiring problem. Given the problems with the temperature and fuel gauges and the rev counter I reckon it's wiring. They're going to investigate further. There's also damage to one of the inlet side pipes but it's not leaking.

Should have it back by the weekend and will post a further update then.

No more BMW

Well, that's one less car to worry about. The BMW has now gone, sold for the princely sum of £28 on eBay and picked up on Sunday. Shame it only went for £2 more than the cost of the new battery we put in it!

Still, it had to go. The welding was a bit scary and we had no idea how much it was going to cost us. We've also had some lucky breaks with the Volvo dealer (see the link at the side!) that we may not have got from BMW so we're fairly happy. We've also now got a manual gearbox now that I'm certain is going to fare better in the Alps than the BMW's auto.

We've also got over £200 donated on our Justgiving page so far. However, don't let that put you off, the more the merrier so please get donating.

Dilemma Solved

Well, dilemma over, we're going in the Volvo 360. The BMW sold on eBay at the weekend for the enormous sum of £28! Given that we paid £77 for it, fitted a £26 battery and paid £21 in eBay fees I think it would be fair to say I'm a bit miffed.

On the upside, I have managed to blag a free service and brake fluid change from my local Volvo main dealer in return for which they are going to signwrite the rear quarterpanels with their own advertising. Was a bit wary of this as I wasn't sure that they knew quite what a wreck it was but, they've had it since Saturday and haven't rung up to get me to move it off their forecourt yet! I am really happy about this and might even replace my daily driver S40 with another Volvo now so they'll win from that at least!

In fairness, I did send them links to Czechwrecks and to the Topgear story so I think they're taking a flyer on getting it on TV or into the magazine. After all, if that happens it's very cheap advertising for them.

I must admit though, I didn't mention the flower on the roof. It's a leftover from Home2Rome 2005 that this car completed but it will be gone before we go to Prague. We have plans for the car so watch this space.