A thought on silicone sealant. Do NOT get it on bare ally - it forms acetic acid as it cures, and this can eat ally.

I'm talking from a softdash here, but you may find that there is a unit with wires from it at the join, which provides road speed data to the ECU.

That looks a good deal on the exhaust bits.

Hi. I used to have an '89 3.5, which I am sure didn't have a cat(s). Can't help on the relays, sorry. As for the downpipes, I am pretty sure the manifolds are different, but an exhaust shop should be able to look up the sizes and tell you. I am not sure that it would be a good idea to fit...

Maximum height 570mm. That loos quite a good deal, though it might be worth checking if your local hire shop has such a thing.

I don't think those are spotlights - look more like blue flashers.

Don't you mean a calendar?

Not impressed with the garage! I installed them on my first Classic - fiddly but OK. When I transferred them to my softdash I got the garage to do them. He said it was a bugger because of the LPG tanks, but not impossible.

Back on the original point, why would you bother spending all that money to fix the radio system? Rip it out and get a modern one installed that plays MP3 off a memory chip. Carry all the music you could ever want on a chip the size of your thumbnail. With Bluetooth for your phone, etc. etc.

The underslung tanks on my Classic gave me about 130 miles, which meant careful planning if I was not to have to run on petrol - and even then I had to sometimes, as the number of garages seems to be in slow decline. On the other hand, I bought a big car in order to have a big load space, so...

Unless he's got his own money, tell him that at the inflated hotel prices being charged, it's the back of the car or nothing!

On my KIA there would be no problem with a cover, as the rear doors slide. On a disco or Defender you might be able to open the "boot", put the cover on, and then shut the door, trapping it inside, if it was not too thick. Can you open the back door from inside?

1. There are restrictions on how dark a tint you can have - check up on that. 2. I hate tinted for reversing at night. 3. If you turn a light on inside then yoy might as well not have bothered with the tinting. 4. I am contemplating using a top-half car cover. Only snag as fa as I can see is...

Well, my old softdash was collected yesterday, and the front drive is looking bereft. Just got a Peugeot 106 and a KIA Sedona out there now (needed something big in a hurry). Still, now I can start looking for a 300tdi CSW!

Glad I could help.

Before you go spending money, think this through. Does your iphone satnav work when there is a phone signal? Does it not work without a phone signal? If the answer to both is yes, then there is nothing wrong with the GPS receiver. The problem, I suspect, is that the phone uses online maps...

This is not theft, it is a civil matter - the owner has to sue you for their loss.

If you get a new disk, or if the old one starts working, take a copy to use in the car and put the master in a safe dark place. In fact I would try taking a copy of your disk anyway - the computer may have better error correction than the satnav, so the copy could be better than the master

Unfortunately we primitives who want a simple basic vehicle with as few gimmicks and electronics as possible are a very niche market, and not a profitable one. Most people think the gadgets are wonderful, and can't see why you wouldn't want them.

Been doing some more thorough reading on this, and I find that I was wrong about refunds. In fact from 1 Oct you can tear up any tax disc you have, as it is all on the electronic system and there is no requirement to display any more. If you sell your car you will automatically get a refund of...