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I keep a list of the "real" maintenance jobs needed on the B5.5 such as freeing pinch bolts, water drains, wiper spindles etc. This is based on the weaknesses of the vehicle's design - the B5.5 is well built and if you address the design stupidities, a 1.9 diesel will run economically for a long time.

Most have been discussed in these columns but after an annual inspection, here are a couple more.

The narrow bore vac lines are vital to this engine - so dear old VAG use rubbish material and assemble it like a kid's toy. Check carefully the vac takeoff from the sevo vac line under the EGR. The narrow bore pipe runs up to the bulkhead where it meets a "T" to feed the EGR control on one side and the anti-shudder and N75 valves on the other. On my Superb this line was chafing on the brake servo vac line - not good for either of them.

Under the plastic cover above the air filter box is a one way valve in the vac line to enable the reservoir for the N75 to remain under vacuum and give smooth control. The lines here were mis-routed and one connection was half off. There are no pipe clips - thanks, VAG.

It's also worth taking the brake bleed screws right out when changing the brake fluid and giving the threads one turn of PTFE tape. This should prevent them seizing in the calipers.

If only VAG could write a service book which was both useful (addressing the real problems) and understandable...

rotodiesel.

Some of you may know I'm not very complimentary about the Superb and VAG in particular.

Well - I posted this in "general car chat" so I thought it only fair to print it here:

I borrowed a petrol Volvo S60 auto for the weekend whilst my son was using my AWX Superb.

Sorry chaps, the Volvo was an enormous let down. I'll ignore the fuel consumption (just unbelievable) as Volvo make a good diesel.

The turning circle is somebody's idea of a joke. They put a 5 cyl engine in sideways and then forget the front wheels have to swivel. I just could not live with tanker style manoeuvrability - reversing with a trailer would be sheer hell.

There's no room in the damned thing - no rear legroom and the front passenger is pushed over towards the door by this huge console - what's in there? The car is a reverse Tardis. The boot is even worse than the Superb's.

At 70 mph on a motorway the petrol auto is noticeably noisier than my diesel Superb. It rides over concrete sections like a plank too.

Volvo seats - hmm. Nice in theory, but the leather is so slippery that you slump down into an uncomfortable position and get lower back pain. The cloth seats in my poverty spec. Superb are actually much more comfortable for me - and I don't rate them particularly highly.

Despite being a "2.4T" whatever that is, it's noticeably slower than my AWX Superb - I suspect the slushbox kills it. It does handle a bit better than the Superb though - but nowhere near BMW standards.

Anyone following the Superb Mk 1 section may notice I'm not always very nice about it - after a weekend with the Volvo I may love it a bit more. The S60 was a very big disappointment.

rotodiesel.