[DaveA]

Well, call me shocked, but I just replaced my ancient Ring tyre inflator (one of those that you plug into the accessory port) with a cordless one that you charge up via a USB port (the one I bought happens to be a Bosch, but other models are available, including cheaper multi branded ones) and I never before contemplated how simply removing the cord to the power supply in the car made things a whole load easier when popping a few psi into the tyres to compensate for the cold weather…

Got me thinking, what other affordable gizmos might be a life changer for me… 😂

For those interested, I got this one…

https://www.bosch-diy.com/gb/en/p/easypump-0603947000

... and I added a quick release air chuck to the end to make it quick and easy to connect to the valves....

[GOF_430d]

DaveA thanks for the post, I'll get one of these to save the constant [slight exaggeration] battle with the cable to the 12 volt power outlet aka cigarette lighter in my day.

I was tempted by Ryobi one, but I don't think that one has a light.

[KRS_SN]

Not a gizmo but I'm a bmw owner so a can of this in underboot storage always and Liberal spray of this on boot and door seals etc every 8 weeks to abolish those squeaks n rattles.

[DaveA]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

Not a gizmo but I'm a bmw owner so a can of this in underboot storage always and Liberal spray of this on boot and door seals etc every 8 weeks to abolish those squeaks n rattles.

Thankfully not an issue for me on the 135... one of my old F30's was a problem for this, definitely...

[DaveA]

Originally Posted by GOF_430d

DaveA thanks for the post, I'll get one of these to save the constant [slight exaggeration] battle with the cable to the 12 volt power outlet aka cigarette lighter in my day.

I was tempted by Ryobi one, but I don't think that one has a light.

Biggest faff for me with the old corded one is that the cord was not long enough when used out one side to then reach to the other side of the car without first passing the device back into the car and then out of the door on the other side, if that makes sense... (or unplugging, swapping sides, and plugging back in)...

Bosch do one that uses the same 18v battery as my other tools, but in the end I went for the one with battery in it and USB charging... Used it today first time and was impressed... it's not the fastest pump in the world, but easily topped up the four tyres nonetheless...

[KRS_SN]

Originally Posted by DaveA

Thankfully not an issue for me on the 135... one of my old F30's was a problem for this, definitely...

I have hearing loss and tinnitus after I developed glandular fever in my 30's. It makes me very sensitive to certain low frequency noises from the car that wouldn't bother a lot of others.
On the plus side it's a great excuse to say I didn't hear a word the Mrs said.

[DaveA]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

I have hearing loss and tinnitus after I developed glandular fever in my 30's. It makes me very sensitive to certain low frequency noises from the car that wouldn't bother a lot of others.

My last car, the Golf GTI, sounded like an old wooden ship it had so many of those sorts of low frequecny creaks and groans... Lots from the glass roof but there were three or four other areas that made noise too... very annoying... I totally get it...

[DaveA]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

In the plus side it's a great excuse to say I didn't hear a word the Mrs said.

Pardon...

[greatbm]

One of the better items bought for tyre inflation, got the Ring RTC4000 along with a short quick release fitting hose instead of the supplied screw on. Checking tyres has got that much quicker than power socket cabled.

[danb1979]

This:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/FreeTec-Man...s%2C112&sr=8-8

Makes life so much easier when it comes to oil changes

[GOF_430d]

DaveA, I know where you are coming from and I do have the Ryobi inflator which takes the same battery as their other power tools but I'm usually away from home when the low tyre pressure symbol appears.

KRS SN as an owner of a convertible I've got used to the squeaks and groans from the roof, admittedly the squeaks are from one corner [there's a plastic trim in the roof mechanism which needs replacing]. but the service guy who flagged this no longer works for the dealer.

[Kendo67]

Thought they had given me some lipstick by mistake when i bought the car , turns out it is for those are OCD about fingerprints in their touchscreens.

Around £20 from your OPC , or £1.08 from Temu.

K

[Somebloke]

A jump starter power pack is handy too.

My boy's i10 wouldn't start; the AA attended and as expected diagnose a dying battery. . I told him to say no thanks to their offer to install a new battery there and then for £150. And to buy a jspp on Amazon Prime to get it to start (under £40). I later swapped out the car battery for £55 from Tayna.

[Somebloke]

Originally Posted by DaveA

For those interested, I got this one…

https://www.bosch-diy.com/gb/en/p/easypump-0603947000

... and I added a quick release air chuck to the end to make it quick and easy to connect to the valves....

Looks to be a quality item, DaveA. I've had this for a while :https://www.vonhaus.com/vh_en/12v-tyre-inflator

My relatives always borrow it for their tyres when they visit. Also useful for charging up pressure vessels for the water/central heating system.

[isleaiw1]

I've only just got round to getting one that plugs into the 12v supply... before that it was a foot pump or trip to the petrol station. Which always seemed a bit incongruous in an EV...

[boba-fett]

Talk about tools, I bought an air tools system. Got an On offer compressor, 30m auto return hose, wish I got it years ago. once bought you can then buy the tyre inflator you find in garages, just brilliant. Its also really good for touchless cleaning on the car as it blows all the dust and cr4p off, air jacks, air gun, cutting tools etc.

[Ennoch]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

I've only just got round to getting one that plugs into the 12v supply... before that it was a foot pump or trip to the petrol station. Which always seemed a bit incongruous in an EV...

I always used to use the high volume track pump designed for seating tubeless MTB tyres as it was pretty quick to top up car tyres with, but ended up getting a hand me down ring compressor from my parents as the valve was crap and my mum let out all the air she'd put in by the time she got it off. I can see why, so it's a last resort but when it's raining a preferable choice to manual labour!

Thanks for the link DaveA, I just ordered one. Pretty much everything power tool related that I own is Bosch so this seemed like a logical next step I'm now wondering if I can make an adaptor to make it work on the tubules presta valves fitted to the MTB...

[un1eash]

I've had a few plug in 12v ring inflators and they always break after a few uses. Was using a foot pump but finally pulled the trigger on a Einhell Pressito 18v cordless inflator and it's life changing.

[AlwynMike]

Originally Posted by Ennoch

.... I'm now wondering if I can make an adaptor to make it work on the tubules presta valves fitted to the MTB...

You can buy cheap adapters that screw on.
They are quite crap, they leak, you can't get a pressure reading and work best from flat.
But you can use one to do the bulk of the work, with fine tuning done in the old fashioned way!

[SkyJawa]

Originally Posted by Somebloke

A jump starter power pack is handy too.

My boy's i10 wouldn't start; the AA attended and as expected diagnose a dying battery. . I told him to say no thanks to their offer to install a new battery there and then for £150. And to buy a jspp on Amazon Prime to get it to start (under £40). I later swapped out the car battery for £55 from Tayna.

Originally Posted by Somebloke

Looks to be a quality item, DaveA. I've had this for a while :https://www.vonhaus.com/vh_en/12v-tyre-inflator

My relatives always borrow it for their tyres when they visit. Also useful for charging up pressure vessels for the water/central heating system.

Yep 2 really useful things. I have the Vonhaus one too, works really well.

The battery booster is great, been having probs starting my 205 even tho on a ctek, battery not that old either. Bought a little power pack and first use she fired up perfectly, you get around 4-6 starts out of it without needing to charge and it will hold a charge for a year. Other little useful bits like built in usb sockets and a light

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07S8B3T...t_details&th=1

[Alscoob]

I too have a compressor in the garage with nice long hose so easy to use for inflating tyres with a nice gauge. Handy for all other 'car' stuff as well.

Downside is it's not very mobile but then you should be checking the pressures before you go not when you're out!

I do have a slime kit with their rattley little compressor which has worked okay before so may be that Bosch jobby would be good to have as a replacement in the boot?

[cramsnik]

Originally Posted by Alscoob

I too have a compressor in the garage with nice long hose so easy to use for inflating tyres with a nice gauge. Handy for all other 'car' stuff as well.

Downside is it's not very mobile but then you should be checking the pressures before you go not when you're out!

I do have a slime kit with their rattley little compressor which has worked okay before so may be that Bosch jobby would be good to have as a replacement in the boot?

Got a flat a few months back and was let down by a can of Tyre Weld and ended up having to be recovered.

Turns out these tubes/cans of slime are a bit hit and miss, had a google and saw these type of things suggested so for less than a tenner I got this -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...e?ie=UTF8&th=1

Thankfully not had cause to use them yet but for a couple of quid worth chucking in the boot, you never know they could work and be the difference between being able to carry on under your own steam.