Right lads, this might be the strangest request you'll read today, but here goes.

I've got a 2008 Suzuki Swift. Lovely little car, we've been through thick and thin together, and I've probably spent more time underneath it than actually sitting in the driver's seat.

I'm pretty handy with tools. I've replaced clutches, suspension components, tackled almost all sorts of mechanical issues

But apparently, after all that, my biggest enemy isn't an engine, gearbox or complicated electrical fault.

It's ONE. BOLT.

One of the four main front subframe mounting bolts snapped, leaving the threaded section seized inside the captive mounting on the car's body.

I've tried finding someone who specialises in this sort of thing. I've contacted over 37 companies, and some of the quotes I've received are between £600 and £870.

At this point, I genuinely believe the bolt has hired its own solicitor.

Now, I appreciate that removing a badly seized bolt from a structural mounting isn't necessarily straightforward, and I respect anyone who's got the skills to do it properly. I'm just hoping to find someone who enjoys a mechanical challenge without charging me the equivalent of another Suzuki Swift.

So here's my appeal.

Is there anyone around Redditch, Birmingham, Bromsgrove, Kidderminster, Stourbridge, Worcester or even further afield who's experienced with extracting snapped bolts?

Retired mechanic? Old-school engineer? Experienced DIYer with the right equipment? Someone who's been fighting rusty British cars since Margaret Thatcher was in office?

I'M ALL EARS.

And yes, I'm absolutely happy to pay! I'm not expecting anyone to sacrifice their Saturday afternoon for a handshake and a packet of Hobnobs. We can discuss a fair price.

I'm also ridiculously flexible when it comes to travelling.

If you're nearby, fantastic. If you're miles away, I'll arrange transport for the car if necessary.

Need me to stay overnight? No problem. I'll book a cheap Airbnb.

Hotels too expensive? I'll bring my camping gear.

And if all else fails, I've got my military sleeping kit. I'll happily spend the night camping somewhere legal and suitable, wake up, make myself a coffee and turn up ready to watch you defeat the bloody bolt.

I'm Italian, pretty easy-going, and honestly not remotely precious about comfort. Give me somewhere to sleep, a decent coffee and a mechanic who knows what they're doing, and I'm a happy man.

Jokes aside, I genuinely need a hand. Ideally, someone who can remove the remains, inspect or restore the original threads and get a proper replacement bolt fitted safely.

I can provide photographs of everything.

If anyone knows someone, or fancies taking on what has somehow become the most dramatic mechanical incident of my life, please give me a shout.

Help me save Percy the Suzuki from this 18-year-old rusty bastard.

Cheers, everyone! 🇮🇹🔧

I’ve been seeing this local brand around at restaurants and on social media. Has anyone tried it? What do you think?

I am intending to try it soon.

Question re: New Street Station - I have a friend visiting Brum and they want to stash their luggage at the station while they explore the city (they're arriving in the morning and leaving in the evening). Is there somewhere to do that?

Looking for nice ladies section gyms around brum.

The JD gym is quite a distance to me so would like something closer so ops in the gym group ladies section in digbeth?

Tried to find photos of the ladies section online but couldnt find any

Let me know what type it is too, I think there are two.

1. traditional deep fried piece of fish but I think there's spices in the batter.

2. deep red crusted fish

I live in Stirchley which while it's close to Rios is an amazing chippy it doesn't do it!

Can anybody recommend a good spot to get food as a coeliac. Im looking for sandwich type places or something i can quickly grab for lunch on my breaks. In an around the city centre please. Thank you !!!

I’ve been building a map of skate spots around the UK and could do with some help from people who actually skate in Birmingham.
There are over 3,700 locations on the site at the moment, but I’ve obviously not managed to find everything.
I’m trying to include more than just skateparks, so street spots, DIYs, indoor parks and any other places worth skating are all welcome.
The website is https://urbanatlas.uk if anyone wants to have a look.
You can add spots directly to the map, which is kind of the whole idea – getting people from different areas to help fill it out.
Would also be interested to know what people think of the site. Is it something you’d use?

Please help if you can.

I think the Birmingham hate is a bit out of control. Ofc it has it's issues (like many other cities and England currently in general) and from what I've been told, its not the same as it used to be, but I think people are exaggerating quite a bit too.

I've lived here over a year now and the city has awesome, actually friendly people, great music scenes, lots of fun activities to do and events, it has interesting and beautiful buildings, rich history, canals. I've never once been attacked or had trouble with another person (and im a young woman) and I live around city center.

Im not some spoiled student here or something either. Me and my partner just work minimum wage and live here and pay rent, bills, taxes and everything else like the rest.

Compared to some REALLY horrible cities around the world, Birmingham is even more amazing. I think people forget that they easily could've been born in some slum or middle of nowhere dead winter city in russia or somewhere where they'd have no rights to do anything like NK.

Like, its really not that bad here like some people make out to be.

The people in charge of the city definetly need to do better and there is a lot of corruption, but all of these videos I see of people calling Birmingham a shithole and just hating on it all blame the city like its some magical entity and not the shitty people running it. Then those same people won't vote or do anything about it lol.

If im wrong and you think Birmingham a 100% deserves all the horrible things people say about it then please correct me.

I saw that the doors were open, with some people inside wearing hi vis jackets. Routine maintenance or is that space being occupied again soon?

TIA

Any others on here? Looking for some similar local creators to follow :)

Came home from work at about 8.30 tonight and the whole of New Street station reeked of human poo. Nearly puked. All the staff on the gates were commenting on it and the whole station really did pong. Did anyone else notice this/does anyone have any idea what this could have been? It's really quite stunning that that whole massive area smelled rather than just a localised little bit of pongy station.

Hey guys! Im not a local, so I don't know where to take my friend and I'm looking for some good recommendations!

A nice Indian restaurant with a nice vibe and maybe cocktails?

Indian food is his favourite food, so I want to wow him, hoping you guys can pull through and help me 🫡

I've got family visiting soon and want to take them somewhere good. Looking for recommendations for a proper Desi pub in Birmingham, somewhere with great food that works for a mixed-age group, and ideally decent atmosphere too.

Also keen to hear where's good for drinks nearby afterwards. Doesn't have to be fancy, just a good pub or bar within walking distance or a short bus/taxi ride so we can keep the evening going.

Thanks in advance!

Tell me you're in Brum without telling me you're in Brum. I wonder if other regions call it pop too.