Mark101

Do you also remember another spin off - Top Marques, that was early 90’s too and the reason we are now called Imperial (our road name) and Marques (a play on my name, stolen from Top Marques Mag). In hindsight, if anyone else asks me what sort of Marquees we offer.........

I might be wrong and maybe not double but I bet dealers, new and established have some extra stock which maybe isn't ready to go (i.e. not worth paying to advertise but if "free" why not). Take AD for example - I think Simon advertises 12 and always seems to have another 4 or so in prep - I am sure they'll be going on 100% ready or not, with or without a video. I am trying to get to 12 always ready to go (except MOT) and another 3 always in prep stage ready to fill empty advertisment slots as I am hoping not to come off the double package come Feb, which is why AT do this for sure (and it is a quiet time, so trying to keep people in contract). They'll enjoy the Feb March offer more I suppose

I see it as a consequence of business. How many times have I given up time to help a customer when it turns out to be operator error (elec roof not working- reason = load partition cover not deployed). I don't charge the customer and I don't imagine you would have Dave, if the battery wasn't at fault. It's just a cost to the business although I do agree if you had to remove an engine and refit due to a parts failure but then I would be pursuing the engine (or part) supplier for reimbursment not messing with my very tidy books. Just IMO.

I have been busy trying to get plenty of cars in and ready for 1st December free double up but have sold a few this week (strange to think, oh bloody hell - still need more, when really I am very happy to have moved some metal)). There I am expecting to have tons of enquiries because I will have double the stock advertised but in reality, there will be more or less double the entire AT offering because we are all doing the same. Question is will it make much difference (either way). It's December Everyone Else on AT gets the same benefit Only time will tell.

Best Newbie : EPV Best Useful Techy Contribution: Dave23453426487987653426374985962415376889172634517284394595 Sunseeker & Ferrari Most frustrating post: CRA Most helpful member- Nick Grumpiest Member- BHM Thick Skinned Tenacity/Comedy Gold - Benji Most Annoying Subject - Making Tax Difficult (I mean Digital) Oh No Not Again Award: How to tax a smoker (I started it) Most polite - Umesh Best fatherly resource - TV Happiest face: AD Most money (to burn) and very respectful/polite I may add - Lucas Biggest run of bad luck of late - EPV Fattest: - Me or Tradex

Personally, I always smoke the cheapest car I have in stock but enough is enough and next week I am going to smoke/keep the Disco until/unless someone offers me mega bucks (and I do mean mega bucks)

Thanks Blenheim and yes, you're right - I like to place a few proxy bids but can't

Guys Please can someone take a look at BCA Online for today and try and find Wolverhampton, starting at 15.50 - it is not showing on mine. Call to auction centre says it is?

BMW 1 series in white diesel (116D.118D ideally), around 08-11 plate with sensible mileage, history half decent spec. Customer has £6,000 to spend - I will look after recon, MOT/Service etc and need to draw a bag out of it. Here's the issue - I need it within 48 hours. I sold my white one yesterday typically. Cheers, Mark

Unless it is a warranty claim

What about cherished transfers? - I've got a right one on the go (VAG drivers). Had to be done by post because there was a gap in RFL - sent all forms and DVLA messed up, customer calling me out on it as well as saying I had taken too much money and got my invoice calculations wrong. After 3 attempts to explain the maths, they finally agreed I was right having forgotten to carry the one over in their manual calculations. The best bit............retired maths teacher.

+1 I used to curse at sitting there for hours with my fruit and veg counter type ticket but always got things done the same day

Or the accident you Mom and Dad had 50 years ago

I would also allow the report to go ahead but stress whatever the diagnosis, the cost of said report is on the person instructing it and until a non-refunadble deposit is placed, the car remains ON SALE.

Cheers Dave I did (as a hopeful fix, it didn't) a transmission fluid and filter change on an RR sport (same engine), using (I think Britpart) hack - you cut the original oil pick up tube and replace the original sump (with filter insitu), this way you can slide the new replacement and new tube/filter/sump in above the crossmember without removing it. Such a shame because for an early RRS, it was the prettiest one I had seen, HSE, 22" Stormers, dechromed (but not chavvy). Transmission firm said it could be a £500 fix or a £3,000 fix, a gamble I wasn't prepared to take. Apparently, you can't just swap boxes around, it is all ECU this and ECU that, then it might still want a set of solenoids.

Thanks Nick They're already pushing me for a facility even though I haven't got 12 months trading - they say I have enough assets (scary)

At some stage Nick, I want to pick your brains - Close are keen to do something with me and I know you have good experiences with their offerings. Would you mind if I contact you once my FCA is approved? Cheers, Mark

I'm confused, it is too early. It's an 09 which I bought in 2012 (3 years old) - 6 years ago = it is 9 years old now. Just re-read what I wrote and if I had a coffee, I would be shopping for a new lap top right now, I am still laughing at your comment.

Question for Dave (you know our multi dealer level diagnostic, ex transmission firm owner and forum colleague) I bought my old man a 3 year old Disco 3 about 6 years ago and I have just agreed to take it off him in PX and I am going to keep it (once I get the French plates off). It's a 58 plate 2.7TDV6 HSE with 70k, brand new turbo fitted by LR in France at 5,000 Euros (yes that's right). He is frustrated with the re-registration process and the RFL when he does such few miles (he's now moved back to UK), it needs 1 EGR (I am going to do both) and a new battery, I will also be fitting a new TB and WP as an age related precaution (unless this would have been changed when they did the Turbo, haven't seen the invoice yet?) along with a thorough service. The gearbox on these I understand to be "sealed for life," is that true or as part of a major recon (just because prevention is better than cure), would you (Dave or anyone else with mechanical knowledge) change or leave - car drives mint (just has EML relating to one of the two EGR's)? Absolutely no idea why this post has gone here, should have been a hijack of Simon's Viano thread

I take credit, debit, cheque (must clear), cash, bank transfer and soon enough...finance. I am prepared to take the risk on any of the above re: claw back.

£60 per hour is your charge out rate, not your cost rate. I don’t think you can (in effect) charge what is consequential losses to yourself, plus there will not be any tangible evidence that you could have been earning retail money for those two hours. Just my opinion and I know it is somewhat out of principal, I would be forgetting about it and moving on.

There's a difference or I am not making myself clear. If someone wants my help, I'm happy to assist them (not pay) Tax, Register and Insure their new car (it's part of my job and the margin covers my 30 mins of assistance). If someone wants to drive off into the sunset having paid me - I am equally happy with that. For clarity; if they want my help - they get it, if they don't - they don't

I have the Autel Maxi Pro and it is good for EML fault reading and easy to use. Gives me a little bit of gravitas when booking car in for recon, when really I am pretty hopeless mechanically. I believe, a bit like painting (as in artist), you need a high level of natural ability/interest/enthusiasm - you can't simply learn it. Proud of myself this week, I changed a N/S/R light cluster on a V70 mk3 - presumed a few bolts inside access panel....No, bumper off job but did it......thanks YouTube

This

In Hertfordshire, I reckon a unit to hold a dozen cars will be atleast 5 x the cost of this storage, that's a big jump. The unit needs to be the ultimate goal but this storage "thing" is a far better way than parking cars around various streets - just logistically. Your advert will need to read something like "all vehicles are kept in a secure off-site storage facility and therfore all viewings are on an appointment only basis, please ring to arrange." You will hopefully find things much easier to manage - simply drive to the storage, swap trade plates and drive home in the car being viewed. Then either get a lift back (if it sells) or reverse the process. The two month notice offer after six months is not here or there as you liability is still 8 months and if you are still managing at 8 months, you can easily do 12 (does that make sense) Good luck.