36 volt systems what are the pros and cons

[4 forty]

in reply to sheerwater [nigel] you have raised some very interesting points on this topic, some of which never crossed my mind. and as jimmy cricket would say, "theres more" !!

[sheerwater]

I think that there is lots more to come!!!!!! As an amateur computer builder it seems that car manufacturers are finally going the same way as the computer bods. Each upgrade requires new faster chips but these need faster boards , different memories, different voltages and different plugs for mouse,printer etc. Not to mention new software. The old stuff which in earlier days was transferable is now binned in total. (ok not all) The more I look at it the more I see the disposible car coming. It works great but costs a fortune to fix in the same way that we treat washing machines today. Cheers Nigel

[pettaw]

Yep, that's certainly true on the computer front, the only stuff kept from my original computer are the mouse keyboard and the floppy drive (about 10 years old now). Nowadays when your video breaks, you don't call out the repair man at 80 quid a throw, you buy a brand new one with the latest specs for 120 quid!!! Its almost the same with cars. The 'mechanics' don't really repair them anymore, they just fit new assemblies that have been pre-prepared on a big production line somewhere, trying to repair these things now you would need oscilloscopes and computers to work out which chip has blown.

Andy

[sheerwater]

Certainly true on the car engine front. I cant remember the last engine I rebuilt from complete stripdown. We used to do it quite regularly in the past as did most of my friends. Engines are far more reliable etc. but even reading through all the forums the trend is to replace with a scrappers unit or a fully recon unit. If manufacturers start to fit car specific bits i.e. 36 volts then the only alternative will be the local dealer. But is this a bad thing ? Do we want to spend all our time under a car instead of driving it!!!!! Cheers Nigel

Indeed, Nigel, if the car of tomorrow is as reliable as my computer and costs as little in relation to its performance, then I have no problem. However, if in the future they will still charge me 50 quid to fill up some power steering liqiud or similar, then having to go to the dealer no matter what will make me a very angry man.

George

'87 745 GLE Turbo Diesel Intercooler
'88 745 Turbo Intercooler

[sheerwater]

Hi George
Recent surveys still state that every single make and model of car needs fixing in the first year!!! How many recalls are there for ''thoroughly tested cars'' . I agree that if cars were very reliable things would be good but how many times have we all owned a 100% car? Bulb blown sir? Sorry we will have to tow you to the nearest garage which is now shut and wont reopen until after the bank holiday. A water pump on my 740 cost the AA over £700 is claims because the garage was shut for a bank holiday!!!
Many new cars are almost sealed with only holes for top ups. Audi as one example. Most fuel systems cannot be looked at by anything other than a computer. Great while they work but as the computer boys found standardisation of component fitting built a huge market and a huge choice. Their solution? Change the motherboard format every so often so the old bits would not fit. Seems car makers have learnt this as well.
Cheers Nigel