MICHAEL McALEER answers your questions
From M Gallagher:
I have just bought a 00 BMW M5 and have been looking for 98 RON Super Unleaded with no luck.
While the car will run on 95 RON, in order to get the performance, I have been told that I would need to use 98 RON unleaded. I bought the car in the UK and filled it up before I brought it back with 98 RON unleaded and there is definitely a difference between the two fuels.
Can you please advise if you know of any fuel companies in the ROI, which sell 98 RON unleaded and if so, where I can get the specific locations?
First off, congratulations on your new purchase. I'm green with envy.
As to your fuel issue, we've dealt with this issue on several occasions and there doesn't appear to be any supplier of 98 RON in the State.
There are ways to work around it however. Most good forecourt shops will stock a lead additive that will bring your fuel up to the required 98 RON.
To maintain performance levels, it does mean buying the additive each time you fill the tank. However, if you've gone to the trouble and expense of buying an M5 and importing it, then spending a few extra euros on fuel additive will not seem that onerous a task.
From P.D. Co. Dublin
Do I get points if I don't carry my licence with me? I got stopped recently on a short trip to the petrol station and in a routine stop the garda asked for my licence. I didn't have it it on me so I had to bring it to the station the next day. Everything was fine but I'm worried that I might get points. Was I lucky or is this simply the rules?
From January 1st, 2003 you have been required to carry your licence with you at all times.
In that regard you were lucky as you were indeed committing an offence. However, there are no penalty points accruing - as yet - if you are caught without it.
From J O'Brien:
Is driving at high speed in a low gear harmful to the engine: I drive a new 3-Series and my wife sometimes forgets to change up into sixth gear. Will this do serious damage to the engine?
Speaking to our various mechanical experts, they suggest that provided she is not over-revving the engine, then it is okay to cruise along in fifth - or lower if the speed is less. However, by staying in a lower gear than is optimal, she is wasting more fuel.
The best thing you can do for your engine is keep it between 2000 and 4000 revs, and ensure that cruising speed is maintained in the highest gear, unless the engine speed drops below 2000 revs.
There is one other proviso; given that the car is relatively new, you should check the special rev limits normally applied for the first few thousand kilometres while the engine is new. It's important these are not exceeded to ensure the engine is broken in properly.
From Jim Harding:
Your article about lights in last week's Motors was correct. I would add a statement about front fog lights being always on. Even Dublin Bus drivers seem to think that it is alright to have front fog lights on at any time. There are now a number of people who are adding coloured lights to their cars in order to enhance the appearance of the cars.
I am surprised that the addition of blue lights is allowed.
I thought that blue lights were restricted to emergency service vehicles.
True, front fog lights can be annoying, but nowhere near as bad as rear ones.
The front fogs are bright, but point down towards the road and are thereby not as distracting to other road users.
Of more consequence is the strobe lighting under cars.
I have to come to the defence of some of the modifiers who put a lot of time and effort into converting their cars.
Sometimes the end result is superb; other times they lose the run of themselves and end up with a truly hideous contraption.
That's no different from the thousands of people who spend a fortune constantly renovating their homes.
The blue hue from the undercar lighting is a bit too garish for my taste.
I recently came across a BMW 6-Series with blue strobe lighting underneath.
In fairness it would never be mistaken for a garda car or an ambulance so the legal technicality of the blue lights is neither here nor there.
Why anyone would do such a thing to a car that costs €100,000-plus is beyond me. I'm sure the Bavarians aren't impressed either. The owner should be on the look-out for a fleet of X5s pulling alongside him one day. The Germans may want their car back.
From L O'Sullivan:
Two questions relating to the dreaded driving test which I have to go through sometime this year.
Can I apply to any centre and which is the quickest? Where can I get some sample questions for the driver theory test?
Don't get too caught up in the driving test.
Concentrate instead on learning to be a good driver. Once you've mastered the basic skills and improved your techniques, then you should concern yourself with the requirements to pass the test.
First you will have to do the theory test.
As I'm sure you are aware, there are 40 questions in the test and candidates have to answer 35 questions correctly to be successful.
You have 45 minutes to answer the 40 questions in the test.
The full list of test questions and answers are only available in book and CD-ROM formats on sale in bookshops throughout the country.
Some public libraries in Ireland also stock this material.
It's ridiculous that sample papers are not available online, but hardly surprising.
The nearest you can find is a sample of five questions on the National Safety Council website at: www.nsc.ie/roadsafety
When it comes time to sit the test, take a look at www.drivingtest.ie for a list of the test centres and the waiting time.
Obviously you are not going to travel across the country to sit the test, but you can nominate a centre that has a shorter delay than the one closest to you.
Good luck.
Send your queries to Motors Helpdesk, The Irish times, D'Olier St, Dublin 2 - or email to motorshelp@irish-times.ie