What have you done to your car today?

We lost a key to our older BMW, the ones with a real key and remote. Lots of locksmiths on FB but most seem like scammers with brand new accounts. Anyone work with a local who can cut and program car keys?
Do you have a used car dealer near you? Ask them who they use.

Last year when I got my minivan inspected, my Chrysler-standard key fob was acting up. The van only came with one key, so I've been wanting at least one spare for years, but like you finding a vendor I felt comfortable with was a challenge, so I kept procrastinating. I mentioned all of this to my inspection garage (private shops here in PA). They do a lot of work for local used car dealers and key fobs are a common issue. "Our guy is coming tomorrow - we can get a couple for you?" Go for it... a couple of hundred $ later, my current fob is fixed/re-programmed, and I have two spares. Finally used one of the spares last night as an old friend's car is in the shop and thanks to the holiday week ahead, all rentals near him are booked and he was facing taking a day off work. So I lent him my van to drive for a few days and I'll just drive the MINI.

Of course, I've procrastinated on buying a rear rack for the MINI, so any riding plans I may have had for the weekend are probably out now. Not the end of the world given the weather forecast and I actually need to go do a pre-run of the 2025 ABBR route anyway, so...
 
so you have a valid key fob and key....

there is probably a vid on how to program the new key/remote -

I found a key cutter in Brooklyn - send a pic, they analyze it and cut the new key.
it was eBay. he isn't on there anymore, but both keys worked flawlessly.
Like this, but you don't need the programed fob to operate the car as we have a valet key as well. I'll see if my mechanic knows someone
 
XT5 went into limp mode on 287 south just before skyline drive.
Was an interesting ride home trying to get out of the way.

it is a heat soak issue with the wiring harness - i'll pull the codes, but I know if I pull the MAF sensor, and whatever other things are in that connector, that it will reset.
 
XT5 went into limp mode on 287 south just before skyline drive.
Was an interesting ride home trying to get out of the way.

it is a heat soak issue with the wiring harness - i'll pull the codes, but I know if I pull the MAF sensor, and whatever other things are in that connector, that it will reset.
xt5, as in a newer caddy suv xt5? like wtf?
 
xt5, as in a newer caddy suv xt5? like wtf?

yes, 2017 - it has been an ongoing problem when it is hot outside, and I do 80+ for an extended period of time.

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speaking of driving fast, i find it funny how people with econo-box cars attempt to hang, but it is just too much work to drive them at speed.
got in a nice line with an Audi and BMW the other day - had to switch the dashboard speed limit off as to not alert the passenger.....
 
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Got some work done on the mustang....didnt have much time this weekend, but I got one spring replaced

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Thankfully I remembered back in 2020 to coat the front spring bolt with anti seize....back in 2001 I replaced the original springs....these bots were welded into the springs.....Ended up having to sawzall the leaf, then cut thru the end of the spring/bolt.

new one installed....god those U bolts suck....always require being put in the vice first and bent so they will align with the mounting plate
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Got some work done on the mustang....didnt have much time this weekend, but I got one spring replaced

View attachment 263663

Thankfully I remembered back in 2020 to coat the front spring bolt with anti seize....back in 2001 I replaced the original springs....these bots were welded into the springs.....Ended up having to sawzall the leaf, then cut thru the end of the spring/bolt.

new one installed....god those U bolts suck....always require being put in the vice first and bent so they will align with the mounting plate
View attachment 263665

this install is NOT @Carson approved, either you didnt clean the stickers off the springs or you REALLY chipped the paint.
 
Ya, ill get to the labels...that said...Really hard to paint leaf springs and have them stay nice, they are just naturally rubbing the paint off themselves.
Wow, that undercarriage is clean, how many miles have you put in since finishing the restoration?
 
Wow, that undercarriage is clean, how many miles have you put in since finishing the restoration?
great question...On the first drive after I restored it....the brand new speedometer cable broke about 1 mile into the drive, so the speedo hasnt worked since. But the rear end housing i had powder coated....the car never sees rain or salt, so nothing much to get it dirty

Finished up the springs the other day....OMFG what a difference....feels like a new car.
 
Changed the front brake pads and rotors on my daily driver. Everything was fine until I came across one caliper slide bolt (caliper support pin) that have seized to the caliper support. I don't know how that could have happened because the other 3 were fine and the rubber boot was still on and no rips. Maybe I forgot to apply grease on it the last time I did the work. I proceeded with the work and it feels fine but I went ahead and ordered a new pin and support. When they arrive I'll replace them then.
 
How important it the under cover of a car, think this one is the motor shield for an old BMW. My kid hit something during last night's storm and damaged it. I didn't have the time to remedy it last night, but is there a reason this needs to to replaced? I plan to pry it off so I can get it home later today. The interwebs tell me they are just vanity while others say it shouldn't be driven without one... IMG_20250715_134001.jpg
 
The answer is as always ..... It depends. Alot of time the plastic ones are just a splash shield they keep water and debris of the belt drive which stops it from making noise and slipping. Although sometimes they do affect airflow and engine cooling(tho not likely on anything most parents would give their kids) The Al or steel ones are more often found as a skid plate type deal where it's actually protecting something more critical.

Short answer is I wouldn't hesitate to drive without one but keep in mind it may cause belt noise or other issues that convince you to replace it and keep an eye on the engine temp for a bit
 
The answer is as always ..... It depends. Alot of time the plastic ones are just a splash shield they keep water and debris of the belt drive which stops it from making noise and slipping. Although sometimes they do affect airflow and engine cooling(tho not likely on anything most parents would give their kids) The Al or steel ones are more often found as a skid plate type deal where it's actually protecting something more critical.

Short answer is I wouldn't hesitate to drive without one but keep in mind it may cause belt noise or other issues that convince you to replace it and keep an eye on the engine temp for a bit
I'd agree with this response.

My son had the same thing a few years back on the old Hyundai Azera and he had to pull over on the side of Rt 78 because the tabs somehow broke off and it was dragging (he didnt hit anything). I never replaced it on that car since it didnt seem that important and I dont think it really affected anything else that went wrong with the car since then since the car is old and shit just breaks or wears out.
 
Does anyone know a trustworthy and reliable mechanic in the morris county parsippany area that won't scam me and won't try to rip me off. It has been pretty rare for me to need one, but my 2017 Ridgeline just threw an AWD error, gonna get the code read at Auto Zone and bring it to someone, but I am very untrusting due to previous experiences.
 
Does anyone know a trustworthy and reliable mechanic in the morris county parsippany area that won't scam me and won't try to rip me off. It has been pretty rare for me to need one, but my 2017 Ridgeline just threw an AWD error, gonna get the code read at Auto Zone and bring it to someone, but I am very untrusting due to previous experiences.

@extremedave should be able to help here ??
 
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