Michael McAleer answers your queries
From Gerry Kelly:
I recently imported a car from Britain and I'm looking to service it here. The car is only new and still under the two-year warranty.
Can I get it serviced by an authorised mechanic using authorised parts, or do I have to go to a dealer? The difference in price seems to be as much as 100 per cent.
The dealer in Britain says it should not be a problem but I just want to check it out and confirm it's okay here before going ahead.
According to Alan Nolan from the Society of Irish Motor Importers (SIMI), provided your mechanic is well trained, reputable and using genuine parts then there should be no problem.
"There's an EU block exemption regulation which sets out the rules for such things and provided that the parts used are of 'matching quality and certified as such' and the work carried out is 'carried out by someone who is competent to do it', then there should be no risk to the warranty attached to vehicle," says Mr Nolan.
Problems arise in the matter of how competent the independent garage is, and whether they have all the requisite equipment. However, once you are happy that the independent mechanic has the all the necessary skills, then go ahead.
Be warned that if the mechanic does cause any damage during the service, then the warranty may be put at risk. Then you enter into the shady world of forcing that mechanic to cover the costs of your missing warranty.
From Phil Redmond, Co Dublin:
Can you clarify the issue of restricted motorbikes? I currently hold a provisional A licence waiting to do my test (37 weeks and counting).
I'm 32 and ride a restricted Honda CB500. I bought it brand-new as the dealer told me insurance companies will only insure provisional riders if the bike is factory restricted.
But in the 'My bike and I' column last week the reader bought a new ZX10R and was getting it restricted. I'm considering buying a Sports 600. One Dublin dealer I went to told me once a bike was restricted you could not remove the restrictor.
A different dealer told me this was not the case. So where do I stand on restricted bikes? Is it expensive to have the restrictor removed? Does it damage the engine? And is it worth buying a restricted Sports 600 or should I stick to my CB500 for the time being?
Our motorbike expert John Wheeler says that there should be no problem in removing the restriction on bikes. "Restricting the power output of any machine to fall within the 25kW limit is achieved either by mechanical means (in some cases a smaller diameter carburettor/throttle body intake) and/or by a specially programmed chip in the engine management system," says John. "Either way the bike can be returned to its original, 'designed' full-power performance. How difficult or expensive that becomes depends on the method used to restrict. Restriction systems can be either factory fitted or later 'add-ons'.
"There does not seem to be a recognised system for certifying restriction in this country. The cost varies depending on the make and model, as a rule of thumb, the more expensive the bike, the more expensive the restriction. Insurers apparently vary in their attitude to restriction, some systems are so easy to remove that they will only accept factory fitted models as being genuinely restricted.
"At most legal speeds with a typical Sports 600 the effect or a restrictor, in terms of performance, is modest. Even at its maximum, for example, the full power (37 kW) BMW F 650 CS has a top speed of 109 mph, while the restricted (25kW) version will reach 91 mph."
From Neil Cusack, Limerick:
Referring to last week's front page photograph (Motors May 12th), I don't know if that member if the Iraqi Car Club raided one of Saddam's car bunkers or the BMW Z1 he's driving is his own, but if he knew anything about cars he would not be cooking his back tyres and would have it hidden from stray bullets while it appreciates in value.
I think as the first ever BMW Z range, the Z1 is assured of clasic status before long and will be spoken of in the same breath as the 2002 Turbo or the M1 before long.
Send your queries to: Motors Help Desk, The Irish Times, Fleet Street, Dublin 2 - or e-mail them to motorshelp@irish-times.ie