White Roof Radio #116
A long one for you this time around and we discuss Gabe’s facination with cell phones and Todd parking the GP in the garage (don’t tell Dr. Kay).
A little tire and wheel talk in preparation for some cold weather prep discussion. Since Todd and Gabe were under a big pile of snow, we thought the time was right. Do your door handles freeze? Motoringfile posted a fix a while back. And some headlight talk. If you have retrofitted Xenons to your MINI, let us know how much you paid in the comments section.
I live in Norway and use Yokohama Ice guard 195/55. They are great on snow. I used them last winter. Not much use for them this side of the summer because the temprature is around 50. Regarding the difference between winter tires and summer, the winter tires have a different pattern but they are also much softer to get grip in colder wheather.
I had Zenon-lights on my Mercedes from -97 and had to replace them after 8 years. When one light bulb goes out you have replace both because they fade significantly over time. It about $100 each to replace them.
I don’t know wether to comment on this story or the original door handle story… but…
if you’re out of warranty, you’re out of luck for getting free new door handles on your old car, contrary to what the original story says. I’ve tried three times at two different dealerships. Once showing up there with door handles that were frozen. You squeeze the handle, open the door, then the handle doesn’t retract and the door doesn’t shut unless you lock it – and now you’re stuck in the car with the door locked shut – so you get to play Dukes of Hazard.
Unless something has changed since last winter, if you’re out of warranty you have to pay parts and labor for the redesigned door handles.
Thanks guys! You have just saved me $550 off my R56 with all the headlight talk. Maybe I’m getting old but there is something to be said for a $7.50 halogen bulb vs. Xenon’s with the potential issues of auto leveling systems, washer jets, and the bulb itself failing. Although I am an admitted gadget junky, I think this is one of those occasions where simpler is better.
Thanks!
Less is more my friend…