Tovarish Chernokot

Guys the central locking on my 2000 S Type stopped working some months ago but it wasn't too big a deal for me as i'm normally the only one in it, as it's my second car, however on Saturday the passenger front door wouldn't unlock using the black lever inside as I normally do and now I can't get it to unlock so cant open it at all. Do any of you have any ideas on what I can do to try and unlock it as I don't see how I could get to the mechanism never mind repair it.

I have a 2000 3.0 V6 Auto so it going to be more thirsty than the manual but I get around 22mpg around town and have got 36mpg on a motorway run with cruise control set at 60mph

I spoke to the mechanic today and he reckons I need the lower bushes, struts and tie rods both sides and that fitting will be about two hours and then to do the tracking, does that sound reasonable? I can source all the parts for £240 so that would be a lot less than the original quote of £697. I feel a bit better about it today but still concerned at the cost when with a 15 yr old car tomorrow may raise another problem

Guys My S Type (2000 3.0 V6) has today failed its MOT as "Offside rear lower shock absorber has an excessively worn bush" I've been quoted by the garage £697 to replace both rear shocks which frankly I just can't afford right now and am going to have to lay the car up as the current MOT expires on the 23rd. I could get rid as the car only cost me £600 in September but it is such a lovely car I really would like to keep it. Mechanically I know nothing but I get that both sides have to be done together. I have seen shocks online for around £150 but is that what I need or can I get away with replacing the bush on each side which I can get for £20 each. I will make enquiries with other garages but I would value the advice of those of you mechanically minded as at the moment it looks uneconomical for me to repair given there was advisories on the tyres being at 4mm and the exhaust some positive news would be good right now.

I get 22mpg out of mine around town and on a motorway run I've had 33 out of it

Steve Depending on final date please put me down as attending and convoy

Shaun sounds like you've been unlucky. I bought my S Type at the end of September so am not quite 2mths into ownership but am loving it. It's a bit of a thirsty beast as I tend to do local driving so am only returning 22mpg but as it's my play car not the family motor I don't care. You'll really love it when you get driving it properly.

I don't know if this has been your issue but my other car is a Nissan diesel with DPF and I remember the dealer telling me that they are not good for short journeys all the time as they don't get hot enough to clear and will get clogged. The advice I got and has served me well for years is do a 30 min motorway run at 60mph at least once a month and that should clear it out. My Nissan is used by the wife on very short journeys most of the time but every couple of weeks we go to Brighton in it, we have never had a problem with the DPF. If you can't do the regular clear out run don't have a diesel was the advice I got.

I think it's just because they have a sale going of up to 50% off so promo codes aren't valid against sale items

Colin, glad it helped, I've only had mine 4 weeks but really loving it. Love your number plate very apt for an 04 S Type :-)

That's way too expensive Colin. I bought an S Type last month and found the front Discs were needing replacing and the rear ones not far off so had full discs and pads replaced. In the end I used my local Independent Garage and they charged me £320 but I could have got the parts for £130 off ebay and done it myself or paid the garage £90 to fit them. If you go to Euro car parts www.eurocarparts.com they have front discs for 2004 S Type at £49.14 each and rear for £28.20, pads are £34.20 and £16.20 respectively so all told you can get the parts for £205 from them.

ok thanks anyway

Got my Halfords card yesterday so went in today to get some T-cut, some cloths and wax, £18.99, so that I can try and get a shine on mine tomorrow. The guy at the till had obviously never seen one before and asked two other staff members what to do with it and they didn't know either. apparently the trade discount cards are normally swiped but the instructions on our card are to scan the barcode. He couldn't get it to work so gave up and just knocked £5.00 off. By my reckoning that's 26% not 15% so I was happy but there does seem to be a lack of awareness in store

Ok have booked 7th December off so can now confirm I'm attending.

Hi do you still have the ashtray with cigar lighter just in front of the gearstick, if so how much do you want for it as mine is broken