Sorry - we aint mentioned this for a while but....

I had my 60000 service on my 2000 C4 and it was a good feeling having new boots on all 4 corners, tracking and geometry checked and adjusted, the aircon re-gassed and working like a dream, hand brake re-assuringly tight, windscreen wipers that worked properly, even the cracked side wing indicator was now assigned to the trash bin in the OPC, and the ink still drying on my extended warranty. So all was well Err NO Back in October I wrote on this very Forum: 8 Months - just 8 soddin months and 8k since my RMS was replaced and guess what? The thing is leaking again Well 4 months and only 4k more down the line and the F*****G thing is leaking again! I absolutely love my car but this is getting to me big time. That's 3 RMS in 12 months. We will see if Mid Sussex can succeed where Tonbridge quite obviously failed. My wife reckons I am starting to sound like I come from Liverpool?????

It's covered under warranty so why the stress? JCB..

Well JCB I would have thought that was obvious - 3 repalcements of the same item in any car within 12,000 miles is not normal. Then there is the inconveinence of loosing the car for a few days on what now seems like a regular basis. I bet there are people reading this thinking I am glad that's not me and my car - I know cuss I used too. Now I am on the receiving end and I really don't find it amusing and yes even with the warranty I am getting stressed because it shouldn't be happening. RB

I absolutley agree, and it is a disgrace. One alternative is to save yourself the stress and just don't replace it, unless it is dripping all over your garage floor.

Agreed. Unless you are actually losing oil (the level is going down - rather than an occasional drip on the garage floor). Then you may as well leave it - and if the car is under warranty, get it replaced at the next service. If it's out of warranty, wait until either the clutch needs replacing, or you actually start to lose oil.

Sorry to drag the thread away. Having had an RMS that fixed itself and changing the subject entirely, how do you know when your aircon needs re-gassing?

Mark When the leaking RMS was reported to me over the phone, the opinion of Mid Sussex OPC that there was no real rush as the leak wasn't that bad. Although annoyed I accepted that. When I went to collect my car the OPC opinion had changed and they asked me to let them have the car back as soon as was practicable. So I don't know why the change of urgency. Lucky for me I am off to the States on business for 5 days at the end of the month so they can have it then. John As for Aircon and regassing - the OPC tested the system because I didn't think it was getting cold enough. They agreed so I decided whilst it was going to be re-gassed I might as well have a full service on the system which includes removeing the remaining refrigerant, de-odourising the system to clean out any nasties and re-gass (£200 including vat) and now it gets as cold as it should. RB

Good luck with the RMS - there are numerous technical bulletins with tips on fitting, blue bolts, retighteneing the engine mounts in the coreect order etc etc. Trouble is some OPCs don;t seem to know about all this. Perhaps the latest seal will end your woes !

Ron I can understand the frustration over the repeated attempts to fix the problem but as Mark posted is it that bad that it needs to go in? My car has been diagnosed twice as needing the RMS replacing and has done once under warranty 4 years ago. Both then and now I can see no evidence of an oil leak and there certainly is nothing on the deck. I also agree entirely that it shouldn't be happening. JCB..

Adrian, I specifically asked the last time the RMS was fitted and was told it was the latest seal so I felt nervously optimistic that I might be OK this time as I had read favourable reports of the latest incarnation. But I aint a lucky guy. In fact I am so unlucky, if I fell into a barrel of tits I would come out sucking my thumb[ ] RB

Don't know if this has happened to anyone else but: The RMS in my '02 was 'weeping' (their description) and a tiny bit of oil was noticeable (saw it myself) at the join between the engine and gearbox about 12 months ago. A year later and the car has just been serviced at my local OPC - now there is no sign of any oil leak at all!! (Yes, looked for myself again)! Self-mending oil seals? Too weird by half! (Same as self de-tuning engine management systems but that's another story in another thread)!! Ian W

I now use Tonbridge not Mid Susssex .....(mid sussex fitted a new RMS for me and it lasted days ...)

Its really odd isnt it..I dont think mine has ever had one!