desertdude

3 hours ago, Barry said:

And in other news, all pubs and clubs are told to shut down and stop serving alcohol

https://gulfnews.com/uae/dubai-bars-and-pubs-ordered-to-close-until-further-notice-1.72227034

 

Hopefully they stay that way.

Both Amani and Al accad can be found in deira too

11 hours ago, Xaf said:

Thanks all for the recommendations. 

@desertdude How can he get in touch with you?

WhatsApp me on xxxxxxxx I'll be deleting this post in a while so note it down

33 minutes ago, Xaf said:

I am writing this for a good friend.

His wife took the car out without coolant (let the jokes come), it seams that the Head Gasket needs to be replaced. 

Could you advise a workshop/ garage for us?

It's a Landrover LR4 2012 V8 5.0 HSE

Your friends name wouldn't happen to be Matthew now would it.

Edit : Oh no can't be just saw that it's a V8 his is a V6 Must be LR4 gasket popping season. Tell him to get in touch with me if he wants to get it done by a good LR mech on a very reasonable budget. Only draw back is he's in Sharjah.

5 hours ago, syed salman raza said:

I belive the value of car never goes up no matter whatever you put in it, therefore it is better not to put too much extra, spend what is essential, evaluate car in stock condition when purchasing ,avoid private car dealers.try to buy from someone you have refererance with

Read the date of the thread before you decide to post. This thread is 5 years old 

Unfortunately I know nothing about Nativas hardly even see them on the road and never even driven one. 

Loss of power could be due to various issues. So start with the easy one first. 

Check fuel pressure. See if your fuel pump is excessively noisy when with just turn on the car and not start it, you should hear it for a few seconds and then shut off. If it buzzes a lot it could be on its way out. Off roads cars can get sand in their fuel tanks which can clog up the pick up screen hindering the fuel pump. Similarly the fuel filter might have choked up with sand  

Most cars have a Schrader valve on the fuel rail, exactly the same like your tyre valve, check the fuel pressure there. In a bind I've actually used my tire pressure gauge to check fuel pressure. 

Check online how much pressure should be normal for your car. I'm guessing 50 ish psi if it's low that means engine isn't getting enough fuel.

Rare chance on a working car but maybe your injectors are clogged or sticking. 

Also check for any leaks in the fuel lines 

Another easy thing to check is if you throttle body butterfly is working properly. I don't the Nativa has a fly by wire system and is mechanically connected by a cable.

So fully press the gas pedal and see if the throttle body opens up properly.

Anyways this is as far as I would like to make an educated guess with the limited info available.

Also if you car is overheating and not running hot (there is a difference) in 4L that means your cooling system is not up to spec and not cooling properly under heavy load which it should not. 

Start with the obvious again from fan clutch working your way to the radiator.

And as a general note what the hell is wrong with you people it is hot like hell and you people are mucking about in the desert in this heat. 

I was getting paid and I hated to go out to the desert in this heat and you all doing it for free. You folk are crazy! 

Nope. I don't.

Put some clear tape on the crack

Man Covid 19 lockdown symptoms must be really kicking in you OCD that you even want that teeny bit to be perfect.

Like fine in the pic. Just leave it alone.

P.S : it's called the gather cover

Go to Sharjah BMW roads there are many windshield replacement guys on both side of the road.

It should be around 300ish for a new one with fitting. 

I've gone many times to this pace called Batariq on the same road. 

1 hour ago, Shadab Khan said:

Hi @desertdude, I can't tell if you are sarcastic or not, but I am curious to know what you think of old Defenders. They are revered by countless, and they are famous for being really tough. On the other hand, I have also read on defender forums that people (like me) who haven't really had experience with it, and who fantasize about owning one because retro is the new cool, have no clue about the numerous problems old defender used to throw at the owner – something to do with oil leaks and the comfort level of a tractor.

Nevertheless, there are fan forums filled with tall tales of old defenders overcoming anything thrown at it, but I think by now I have learnt that a lot depends on the drivers and what the car was outfitted with apart from the engine and a tough chassis (e.g. tires).

I do like the idea of new defender, on paper at least. LR claims is the strongest defender they have built. I of course have no reference and no way of knowing what "strongest defender" even means here. On the other hand, I see that LR is again trying to pitch defenders to people who have on road bias but want a "cool" retro modern car, whatever that means.

So what do you think? Are you a fan of old defenders? If so, how do you see them against their peers from the late 90s e.g. (Land Cruisers)?

Defenders were very good right up until 1997 because that was the last year they offered a proper petrol V8 engine. After that all Defenders switched to a pathetic 4cyl diesel engine out of a Ford Transit Van.ater they went to a turbo diesel 5cyl known as TD5 and then again a turbo charged 4 cylinder diesel. 

Also they were priced like luxury SUVs. The last old school Defender fully loaded one was around 300,000dhs. And you basically get a farm truck from the 80s for that. The Defender didn't even change its dashboard until the mid 80s

Most of the love affair with Defenders is from old British farmers and country folk, Just the same as the Texas ranch owner loves his Ford F150 pickup.

Also since the Defender almost literally stayed unchanged most of it is basically nostalgia. Because they grew up with the same car and basically the same car was still available.

Off road wise it is or was pretty capable. By that I mean the European version of off roading with it's anemic diesel engine  Which is basically mud plugging andd some rough country roads and a few river crossing. 

After it lost its V8 petrol engine it pretty much lost favour for desert and dune bashing type of off roadinf here in the GCC plus it being over priced. Although there still is a defender fan base who basically use it for soft roading and overlanding

My favourite is the NAS spec D90 i.e 2dr short wheel base with an automatic transmission and a 4.0 distributorless petrol V8 other than that even for only off roading I would never even think of it. 

It looks cool no doubt but drives like shit and is extremely outdated.

But would I buy a 1997 NAS Spec V8 for 100k plus No way. Not unless I was made of money and had it coming out of my ears.

Save for the grumpy old luddites the Defender really needed to die because LR basically ignored it for 20 plus years while they concentrated on their other money makers.

Even Mercedes didn't ignore their G Wagon and kept updating it as time went on and only last year for the first time it was made did a totally new car from the ground up but still keeping it's boxy shape. Which was it's key selling point and the other being the massive biturbo V8.

But it still drove like an ox cart. But people overlooked that because it featured all the modern bells and whistles and that massive PowerPlant I mentioned earlier.

The Defender literally had nothing going for it save for a small select group of grumpy old men who don't like change

17 minutes ago, Rahimdad said:

All I can add is you could open the whole Defender up with a single spanner. Now that was insane.

That's just not true at all. 

16 minutes ago, Shadab Khan said:

Hi @desertdude, I can't tell if you are sarcastic or not, but I am curious to know what you think of old Defenders. They are revered by countless, and they are famous for being really tough. On the other hand, I have also read on defender forums that people (like me) who haven't really had experience with it, and who fantasize about owning one because retro is the new cool, have no clue about the numerous problems old defender used to throw at the owner – something to do with oil leaks and the comfort level of a tractor.

Nevertheless, there are fan forums filled with tall tales of old defenders overcoming anything thrown at it, but I think by now I have learnt that a lot depends on the drivers and what the car was outfitted with apart from the engine and a tough chassis (e.g. tires).

I do like the idea of new defender, on paper at least. LR claims is the strongest defender they have built. I of course have no reference and no way of knowing what "strongest defender" even means here. On the other hand, I see that LR is again trying to pitch defenders to people who have on road bias but want a "cool" retro modern car, whatever that means.

So what do you think? Are you a fan of old defenders? If so, how do you see them against their peers from the late 90s e.g. (Land Cruisers)?

Defenders were very good right up until 1997 because that was the last year they offered a proper petrol V8 engine. After that all Defenders switched to a pathetic 4cyl diesel engine out of a Ford Transit Van.ater they went to a turbo diesel 5cyl known as TD5 and then again a turbo charged 4 cylinder diesel. 

Also they were priced like luxury SUVs. The last old school Defender fully loaded one was around 300,000dhs. And you basically get a farm truck from the 80s for that. The Defender didn't even change its dashboard until the mid 80s

Most of the love affair with Defenders is from old British farmers and country folk, Just the same as the Texas ranch owner loves his Ford F150 pickup.

Also since the Defender almost literally stayed unchanged most of it is basically nostalgia. Because they grew up with the same car and basically the same car was still available.

Off road wise it is or was pretty capable. By that I mean the European version of off roading with it's anemic diesel engine  Which is basically mud plugging andd some rough country roads and a few river crossing. 

After it lost its V8 petrol engine it pretty much lost favour for desert and dune bashing type of off roadinf here in the GCC plus it being over priced. Although there still is a defender fan base who basically use it for soft roading and overlanding

My favourite is the NAS spec D90 i.e 2dr short wheel base with an automatic transmission and a 4.0 distributorless petrol V8 other than that even for only off roading I would never even think of it. 

It looks cool no doubt but drives like shit and is extremely outdated.

But would I buy a 1997 NAS Spec V8 for 100k plus No way. Not unless I was made of money and had it coming out of my ears.

Save for the grumpy old luddites the Defender really needed to die because LR basically ignored it for 20 plus years while they concentrated on their other money makers.

Even Mercedes didn't ignore their G Wagon and kept updating it as time went on and only last year for the first time it was made did a totally new car from the ground up but still keeping it's boxy shape. Which was it's key selling point and the other being the massive biturbo V8.

But it still drove like an ox cart. But people overlooked that because it featured all the modern bells and whistles and that massive PowerPlant I mentioned earlier.

The Defender literally had nothing going for it save for a small select group of grumpy old men who don't like change

45 minutes ago, Shadab Khan said:

Hi @desertdude, I can't tell if you are sarcastic or not, but I am curious to know what you think of old Defenders. They are revered by countless, and they are famous for being really tough. On the other hand, I have also read on defender forums that people (like me) who haven't really had experience with it, and who fantasize about owning one because retro is the new cool, have no clue about the numerous problems old defender used to throw at the owner – something to do with oil leaks and the comfort level of a tractor.

Nevertheless, there are fan forums filled with tall tales of old defenders overcoming anything thrown at it, but I think by now I have learnt that a lot depends on the drivers and what the car was outfitted with apart from the engine and a tough chassis (e.g. tires).

I do like the idea of new defender, on paper at least. LR claims is the strongest defender they have built. I of course have no reference and no way of knowing what "strongest defender" even means here. On the other hand, I see that LR is again trying to pitch defenders to people who have on road bias but want a "cool" retro modern car, whatever that means.

So what do you think? Are you a fan of old defenders? If so, how do you see them against their peers from the late 90s e.g. (Land Cruisers)?

Defenders were very good right up until 1997 because that was the last year they offered a proper petrol V8 engine. After that all Defenders switched to a pathetic 4cyl diesel engine out of a Ford Transit Van.ater they went to a turbo diesel 5cyl known as TD5 and then again a turbo charged 4 cylinder diesel. 

Also they were priced like luxury SUVs. The last old school Defender fully loaded one was around 300,000dhs. And you basically get a farm truck from the 80s for that. The Defender didn't even change its dashboard until the mid 80s

Most of the love affair with Defenders is from old British farmers and country folk, Just the same as the Texas ranch owner loves his Ford F150 pickup.

Also since the Defender almost literally stayed unchanged most of it is basically nostalgia. Because they grew up with the same car and basically the same car was still available.

Off road wise it is or was pretty capable. By that I mean the European version of off roading with it's anemic diesel engine  Which is basically mud plugging andd some rough country roads and a few river crossing. 

After it lost its V8 petrol engine it pretty much lost favour for desert and dune bashing type of off roadinf here in the GCC plus it being over priced. Although there still is a defender fan base who basically use it for soft roading and overlanding

My favourite is the NAS spec D90 i.e 2dr short wheel base with an automatic transmission and a 4.0 distributorless petrol V8 other than that even for only off roading I would never even think of it. 

It looks cool no doubt but drives like shit and is extremely outdated.

But would I buy a 1997 NAS Spec V8 for 100k plus No way. Not unless I was made of money and had it coming out of my ears.

Save for the grumpy old luddites the Defender really needed to die because LR basically ignored it for 20 plus years while they concentrated on their other money makers.

Even Mercedes didn't ignore their G Wagon and kept updating it as time went on and only last year for the first time it was made did a totally new car from the ground up but still keeping it's boxy shape. Which was it's key selling point and the other being the massive biturbo V8.

But it still drove like an ox cart. But people overlooked that because it featured all the modern bells and whistles and that massive PowerPlant I mentioned earlier.

The Defender literally had nothing going for it save for a small select group of grumpy old men who don't like change

13 minutes ago, Gaurav said:

And u forgot the biggest disaster of the century - "Dressed up Defender"

What do you mean? The new Defender? That's an awesome car.

This is indeed a very old trick LR has used over and over again. The Discovery series I is nothing but a Range River Classic with a less luxurious and more utilitarian body shell. The Series II is also nothing but a P38a Range River with a less luxurious and more utilitarian bodyshell. Only this time the went around the other way and dressed up a Discovery as a more "sporty" range rover

1 hour ago, Shadab Khan said:

Ouch! I set the search params to Range Rover 08-09 and was wondering why this had a 4.4L engine as opposed to the one your referred to above (5 V8).

Like I said this isn't a Range Rover. Just like the Evoque isn't a Range Rover neither is this. This is just Land Rover trying to cash in on the Range Rover name and heritage. And to their credit pretty successful in conning people into buying it thinking they were buying a Range Rover. It's really just a glorified  LR3

The only thing it shares with the Range Rover is the AJV8 motor and nothing else. 

8 hours ago, Shadab Khan said:

https://dubai.dubizzle.com/motors/used-cars/land-rover/range-rover-sport/2020/6/8/sport-hse-2009gcc-specs-fully-loaded-first-2/?back=L21vdG9ycy91c2VkLWNhcnMvbGFuZC1yb3Zlci8%2Fc2VsbGVyX3R5cGU9JmJ1eWVyX21hcmtldD0maXNfc2VhcmNoPTEma2lsb21ldGVyc19fZ3RlPSZwcmljZV9fZ3RlPSZ5ZWFyX19ndGU9JnllYXJfX2x0ZT0ma2lsb21ldGVyc19fbHRlPSZrZXl3b3Jkcz1hZGFwdGl2ZStjcnVpc2UmaXNfYmFzaWNfc2VhcmNoX3dpZGdldD0wJnByaWNlX19sdGU9Jm90PWFzYyZvPTM%3D&pos=11

 

@Rahimdad

That's not a Range Rover, that's a LR3 with a fancier bodyshell. Commonly known as the Range Rover Sport.

Just now, Fayad Abdul Karim said:

Thanks D, do you know a mechanic who knows their stuff where I can take the car to. Considering how common Hyundais are, it is surprising how few mechanics specialise in these vehicles.

I hate to be the harbinger of bad news, but that is a very costly bill of repairs you are looking at because most of it requires expensive bits and lot of labour charges, I am guesstimating anywhere from 10-15k. depending on where and what kind of bits you use. in the current market thats 50% of the value of your car.

My honest and sincere advice would be unless you really love your car and are emotionally attached to it and want to be buried in it when you leave this world, would be to sell if for 20-25k because good similar ones are selling for 30-35k max.  

Just now, Fayad Abdul Karim said:

Bought it 2 years ago. Why?

Read my edited post above again

45 minutes ago, Fayad Abdul Karim said:

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a good mechanic or service center who can solve a number of issues with my 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe. I live in Abu Dhabi so something in Mussafah would be good, Dubai is okay too as long as the issues can be fixed properly. Not a fan of Juma Al Majid for a number of reasons their long wait times and ridiculous customer service being the main reasons.

A quick list of the main issues that need to be addressed:

1. AC compressor has become weak, needs replacement
2. Recently replaced shock absorbers (<10,000 km), car rides lower than normal ever since, feels bouncy on mildly uneven roads and bit unstable around corners.
3. Humming sound when going around roundabouts, braking, slowing down and during gradual acceleration. I suspect wheel alignment.
4. Car jerks when putting the car into D or R from Park. Feels like the clutch is not properly engaged.
5. Initial acceleration feels sluggish for the past 10,000 km.
6. Sunroof motor requires replacement.
7. Noisy door closing sounds of both front doors.
8. Both rear door hinges need replacement.
9. Some small electrical issues, requires some fuse replacements.

Thanks in advance for all your suggestions.

Cheers,

Fayad

Did you buy this car new? Or just have had it for sometime now?

Because that is a long list of things that has gone wrong and won't  happen overnight which could only mean car has been neglected for a long time by you if you are the 1st owner or the person you bought it from.

6 hours ago, Wrangeld said:

I was so desperate, that in the end I bought a Jeep! 

And you think that's a good thing! Lol

In general I love this preception people have, makes cars which otherwise I could never dream of owning very affordable and with in my reach

2 hours ago, Gaurav said:

Totally agree on the gearing issue. 

I had 2006 Nissan Patrol SWB in 2008 and it never climbed up Bidayer, let alone IFB and Faya, because 4.5 liter engine in patrol was not having same gearing as in 4.8 liter engine.

50-60% pink rock - Max Climb.

Your Patrol was the first thing that popped into my mind after reading that post. Very short 1st and anemic 2nd. I think it was a direct transfer from the Patrol pickup because you need a short and torquey 1st gear for a fully laden pickup to get moving specially off road. Same case with the Cruiser pickup. Infact when not loaded and on road I never even used 1st always started from 2nd 

44 minutes ago, sertac said:

I cant say anything against what you said, all true but it has a thing keeping you attached to it. Maybe because i was literally dreaming to having one when i was a high school child or i grew up with my grand father`s Jeep stories. 

Specially the 5.9 ZJ is my holly grail. I have more interested have one 5.9 more than a SRT Trailhawk.  

I'd rather have a Corolla than a trailhawk. Rather than another shitty jeep with the hellcat motor in it

Gaurav had the ZJ with the bigger magnum engine. Was still a jeep like I said it was fast and powerful but still shit and still a jeep that's. Why he sold it in 3 months! Lol

Like they say never meet your heroes. And if you really still have that itch. Import one from the US dime a dozen there. Less than 20k you would have one parked in your garage with in a month or two

11 hours ago, Gaurav said:

Yup, sold within 3 months.

Lol yup I think that's the max non jeepers can stand a jeep. I sold my jeep also in around that much time. And all the time I had it. I had to constantly tinker with it. And it was the best well kept full service history British woman expat owner never off-road mechanically solid blah blah blah jeep one could buy and it was still shit.

First I had to change the rims because it came with 17 inch bling bling wheels. Once I did that it got the death wobble. Fixed that, overheating issues with bigger radiator and extra fan  fixed and lifted it 1.5 inches then everything went crazy. More death wobble had to recalibrate and drop transmission just for a tiny itsy bitsy lift. Still drove like shit. Went back to original tyrevsize and oem steel wheels then it sort of behaved but drove like a pig due to heavy steel wheels 

Got fed up and got rid of the the POS

P.S skipping all the other tiny bullshit it had in that much time. Like temp gauge 3/4th during desert drives ( suppose to be a jeep thing) raised the hood at the back with spacers helped a tiny bit. Also coolant always boiling out after you come to a stop. Turns out the original Mopar radiator cap was shit. So a cheap 10dhs saniya cap which was a tiny bit a more tighter fit did the job. Etc etc etc

8 minutes ago, Rahimdad said:

@desertdude I know I got all the dirt that I wanted from you last night, but wanted you to share the write-up from Robison as you have tonnes of great knowledge. As I am in the mood for looking out for a one of deal which I can turn around in a year to enjoy some luxury without loosing too much. I have no intention of taking them off-road. I really loved their article about the drive chain and how it effects the cams and stuff. I want this to be reference for anyone who ever wonders on my path.

That only effects the 2010 5.0 V8s like I mentioned the most bullet proof range rover you can get is the 06-09 and from within thosr the 08-09

2 hours ago, Rahimdad said:

Still waiting for @desertdude with his unique knowledge to learn more about his beloved brands and beyond.

I thought we already discussed this? Anyways screw sports car-esque handling mandling nobody gives a crap about it, I'm pretty sure your Mrs doesn't neither do you and neither do I, if you want handling buy yourself a sports coupe, not a luxury SUV. 

Like I said and everybody pretty much agrees is stay away from the BMW. I technically have a Land Rover but the engine is directly out of the BMW parts bin it shares the same engine as the 1st gen BMW X5 and earlier model 7 series. the BMW M62tub and that is the thing that has gone wrong on it most. 

As most know I havent bought a non Land Rover product in over 12 years now ( save for that brief period I had a sheep). 7 to 12 Land Rovers in that much time 2 Discovery series 1 and 5 Range Rovers. 

And this BMW engined Land Rover has been the least reliable among them all and till date has had the most work done on it out of any car Ive ever owned by myself and my LR garages , and this is not just an anecdotal story within 2 months of me buying it two other friends bough the same exact cars as well as its the same story there also. 

The 2010 Range Rover should be fine IMO but do expect bills every now and then, because remember just because you are buying it for 30k doesn't mean it is a 30k car. This was over a half a million dhs when it rolled off the showroom floor and so you have to treat is as such. But don't worry I know a very skilled and very reasonable priced LR specialist right here in Shj. 

But if all of this is not your cup of tea then I suggest You can always look into a early to mid 2000s Lx470. reliable as fek' can literally go 500k kms plus and still drive like new with 0 issues just needs a timing belt every 100k and you can drive is proper off road in the dunes as well or the cheap as chips much more roomy and brawny infinit QX56 

Navigator is a great car something I have considered myself but that Triton V8 engine has a few bad habits depending on which one you are getting from spitting out spark plugs to chewing up cam phasers

But a second hand Cayenne only if you don't like money. 

BUT do buy and own a Range Rover once in your life even if it is for a short while, until Bentley and Rolls Royce came out with SUVs of their own this was the closet you could get to that level of opulent luxurious drive specially in a SUV format for 1/100th the price. 

And like once my friend said after he sat in a new to me range rover. Doesn't matter which one, new or old, but once your get it, you definitely know its a Range Rover, nothing like it.