Test drove a car - puzzled by my findings
Test drove a car - puzzled by my findings
Author
Discussion

joebongo

Original Poster:

1,516 posts

191 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
quotequote all
It was a 2003 Nissan Primera CVT estate. 2L, all the trimmings.

Now I've had a 735 and then a 740 for the best part of the past 5 years so I don't know if what I found was normal or not.

1st - road noise. At speeds >30mph it sounded like the blowers were on high setting - I asked the chap to switch them off so I could hear the car a bit more, but it remained. Is this normal for estates? It was reasonably loud and was coming from the back.

2nd - steering. Almost felt like it was a little heavy compared to the 7 (but it definitely had power steering) and sort of felt like it turned in "notches", but then it's FWD.

3rd - fogging of one rear light cover. Condensation was present in one of the rear light clusters. Just a bit, but it was there.

Engine has been seen to - steam cleaned, new oil present and new rad fluid - no mayo present anywhere.

Any ideas anyone?



Edited by joebongo on Tuesday 21st December 17:57


Edited by joebongo on Tuesday 21st December 17:58

Mafioso

2,385 posts

230 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
quotequote all
The fact that it's a 2003 Nissan Primera CVT estate. 2L, all the trimmings.

wink

shakotan

10,808 posts

212 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
quotequote all
joebongo said:
It was a 2003 Nissan Primera CVT estate. 2L, all the trimmings.

Now I've had a 735 and then a 740 for the best part of the past 5 years so I don't know if what I found was normal or not.

1st - road noise. At speeds >30mph it sounded like the blowers were on high setting - I asked the chap to switch them off so I could hear the car a bit more, but it remained. Is this normal for estates? It was reasonably loud and was coming from the back.

2nd - steering. Almost felt like it was a little heavy compared to the 7 (but it definitely had power steering) and sort of felt like it turned in "notches", but then it's FWD.

3rd - fogging of one rear light cover. Condensation was present in one of the rear light clusters. Just a bit, but it was there.

Engine has been seen to - steam cleaned, new oil present and new rad fluid - no mayo present anywhere.

Any ideas anyone?
1st - Cheap tyres or wheel bearings.

2nd - Goosed PAS

3rd - Self-explanatory, water getting into lamp, either a cracked lens or hole in the same between lens/housing.

carl_w

9,904 posts

274 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
quotequote all
If you're used to driving saloons then an estate will seem noisy.

rottie102

4,028 posts

200 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
quotequote all
joebongo said:
1st - road noise. At speeds >30mph it sounded like the blowers were on high setting - I asked the chap to switch them off so I could hear the car a bit more, but it remained. Is this normal for estates? It was reasonably loud and was coming from the back.



Any ideas anyone?
Wheel bearing? Has the sound changed when you were turning left or right?

chevy-stu

5,392 posts

244 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
quotequote all
I think it's just fact you're used to BMW build quality and a 7 series refinement..

I had a 1992 Jag XJ6 for 3 years, and test drive a brand new 2002 Honda AccordSE... felt like a toy by comparison, noisy, bumpy and generally a bit rough, and Hondas are well screwed together..

davepoth

29,395 posts

215 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
quotequote all
It will be a fair bit louder anyway, it's a midmarket estate vs. an executive saloon. Probably best to drive some other cars just to check though.

nsmith1180

3,941 posts

194 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
quotequote all
As above, estates are noisy.

Notchy steering, ermmm, walk away??????

pits

6,605 posts

206 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
quotequote all
What is puzzling? You are comparing a 7 series to a cheapy Jap rep mobile, do the decent thing and buy a smaller engine 7 series if it is economy you are worried about, or a 5 series.

joebongo

Original Poster:

1,516 posts

191 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
quotequote all
No noise changes on left/right turns.

Is that how power steering problems manifest themselves then - the smoothness going from the turn and the effort needed increased?

busta

4,504 posts

249 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
quotequote all
Not all estates are noisy. But modern FWD hatches and estates do seem to generate lots more road noise than old ones did.

nyxster

1,452 posts

187 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
quotequote all
joebongo said:
all the trimmings.

Edited by joebongo on Tuesday 21st December 17:57


Edited by joebongo on Tuesday 21st December 17:58
Minicab plates?

nsmith1180

3,941 posts

194 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
quotequote all
Early naughties primeras were horribly over assited. Had one for a demo when they sold my Omega, during the 3 months I suffered at a Nissan dealer, was very over assisted. If its hard to steer or notchy there is something wrong with it.

joebongo

Original Poster:

1,516 posts

191 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
quotequote all
pits said:
What is puzzling? You are comparing a 7 series to a cheapy Jap rep mobile, do the decent thing and buy a smaller engine 7 series if it is economy you are worried about, or a 5 series.
Lol. not economy, it's to be a working car to carry wife and kid and gubbins about without destroying my 740.

busta

4,504 posts

249 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
quotequote all
740 you say...



hehe

joebongo

Original Poster:

1,516 posts

191 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
quotequote all
busta said:
740 you say...



hehe
I always liked them...I think I share some genes with Garlick.

Could I just have been over sensitive to it all like I am with my precious BMW 740?

Edited by joebongo on Tuesday 21st December 18:39


Edited by joebongo on Tuesday 21st December 19:57

pits

6,605 posts

206 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
quotequote all
joebongo said:
pits said:
What is puzzling? You are comparing a 7 series to a cheapy Jap rep mobile, do the decent thing and buy a smaller engine 7 series if it is economy you are worried about, or a 5 series.
Lol. not economy, it's to be a working car to carry wife and kid and gubbins about without destroying my 740.
Then buy her a 5er for similar money