04.00 hrs. Could not sleep watched 'Flipping Bangers' Merc. 190 - Blown head gasket and broken springs. The idiots replaced the head using the original stretched bolts!!!! They 'larded' copper lub., (not even using proper 'CoppaSlip') on the wheel to disc mounting face!!! They never used a torque wrench! They used a pneumatic impact driver on the wheel bolts without a torque limiter!! The 'Wheeler Dealer' idiots did a similar thing on a 190E 2.3 Cosworth. Firstly they recon. a 2.3 is better than a 2.5!!! They fitted a £17 aftermarket steering rod!! (probably a nasty FEBI unit made in China?) Merc. OEM are £112. Bodged the rear suspension! They used a pneumatic impact driver on the wheel bolts without a torque limiter!! Mind you they both spent 'loads-o-money' on nasty Hi-Fi systems. That's what really makes cars safe to drive. NOT!!! Would you buy a used car from these idiots? No wonder ever used car I buy is bodged if people follow these idiot's methods!
Come on Dave there’s lots of much worse mechanics out there . Everybody just used a buzz gun on wheels until a few years ago . Most people who drive today can’t even change a tyre so why worry .
Fair enough Mike, but these are on TV and uninformed people actually believe what they do is 'gospel'. Just like they believe what the fools on 'Top Gear' say. IT'S ON TV SO IT MUST BE RIGHT! I think not! You buy the best new Mike, and your old stuff is fitted with top class parts. But I, for one, who buys old stuff, ends up having to change cheapo parts that fail rapidly! You know the problems I have had with Lainey's Mk4 Anni. due to previous owners using low quality products! These people are putting buyer's lives, and wallets, at risk! Instead of using copper lubricant between wheel and disc they should be telling people to abrade the mating surfaces to get the maximum load carrying capacity into the join face! They should inform them that it's better to spend £200 on safe OEM parts than on a souped-up hi-fi system!
