OV9

X5 gave a low beam warning the other day, yet the next day was working fine.

Anyway, kicked me into action to order the osram hids that have been sat in my basket for months.

Of course, being a fairly modern car, and the hid system designed to be long lasting and tamper proof, you have to take the bumper off to take the lights out to change them.

Looks fairly dramatic


Found the reason why they were both different colours, one Philips brand the other Alite.


Also repaired some of the mounting points on the rear cover with some hot plastic staples. Someone had tried to force it open without undoing the torx screws that hold it on. Unfortunately the left headlight mounting bracket is broken so the bottom of the light isn’t held securely so I’ll have to take it all back off at some point to replace that.

Carlos wrote: Sat Apr 22, 2023 11:39 pm I asked the dealer about the door handle cap a couple of months ago and they said I had to buy a door handle!

Where did you get the cap from assuming it's the outer door handle trim for the Mito?

I bought the whole handle
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/32395484742 ... BM4rnK0vVh

integrale_evo wrote: Sun Apr 23, 2023 12:17 am Also repaired some of the mounting points on the rear cover with some hot plastic staples.

Oooh. What kit are you using ? I'm finding a few things that could do with patching up like that.

This is the one I bought, but I’m sure they’re all pretty much the same.

Heats up almost instantly, press into the plastic, twist slightly, wait a few seconds for it to cool, pull the gun off, snip off the protruding spikes.

Need a dremel or something to get the stubs completely flat and use a soldering iron to smooth the plastic over, depending how visible it’s going to be.

color tree Plastic Welder, 50W Plastic Welding Machine Car Bumper Repair Kit, Hot Stapler Plastic Welder Machine Hot Staple Gun Car Bumper Crack Repair Kit for Auto Body Dent Cracks Removal https://amzn.eu/d/bruI2OI

I spent HOURS yesterday trying to reconnect the drivers side sunroof drain. The passenger side last week was quite easy, once the glovebox is out you have decent access. The drivers side obviously has a lot more stuff going on. You can't see the joint directly, only with a mirror on a stick, and you can't get a grip on it either. And the whole thing is also only possible while lying upside down with your head in the footwell. I am hurting today.

I fed a bicycle brake cable down from the top to act as a guide to line the connector up and wiggled as much as I could to get it into place. It's not fully engaged but we had pretty steady rain overnight and the carpet is no wetter than it was yesterday. So hopefully that'll hold.

I suspect that in the past someone used compressed air to try and clear the drains and was a bit too vigorous, the pressure causing the joints to pop off.

Pumped the tyres up on the boxster. Wondered why it was handling funny as one rear was 17 not 37.

It's fixed

We've had to new coilovers fitted to my Dad's MR2 and are now waiting for it to go in and have the geo stuff tweaked accordingly.






Stock image......

integrale_evo wrote: Sun Apr 23, 2023 12:17 am
Anyway, kicked me into action to order the osram hids that have been sat in my basket for months.

Std or upgraded (which are great in my experience)?

Only noticed yesterday that the small patch of rust in the leading edge of the passenger side front wing has started spreading, so guessing the panel is fucked in behind it. Suppose I'd best think about that at some point in terms of replacement. Looks fairly bolt on, at least.

mik wrote: Mon Apr 24, 2023 10:11 am

integrale_evo wrote: Sun Apr 23, 2023 12:17 am
Anyway, kicked me into action to order the osram hids that have been sat in my basket for months.

Std or upgraded (which are great in my experience)?

Xenarc cool blue intense for a crisp white light. 6200k so not really blue!

Beany wrote: Mon Apr 24, 2023 10:52 am Only noticed yesterday that the small patch of rust in the leading edge of the passenger side front wing has started spreading, so guessing the panel is fucked in behind it. Suppose I'd best think about that at some point in terms of replacement. Looks fairly bolt on, at least.

Yes, pretty simple bolt on job. Decent secondhand one in the right colour is a better bet than an aftermarket one plus paint. Worth keeping an eye out for one to come up if it’s not urgent.

Mechanic has the Galaxy in for the compression test. He noticed a drip from the corner of the radiator when everything was warmed through and under pressure, so it is being replaced. Fingers crossed that solves it!

integrale_evo wrote: Mon Apr 24, 2023 11:37 am

Beany wrote: Mon Apr 24, 2023 10:52 am Only noticed yesterday that the small patch of rust in the leading edge of the passenger side front wing has started spreading, so guessing the panel is fucked in behind it. Suppose I'd best think about that at some point in terms of replacement. Looks fairly bolt on, at least.

Yes, pretty simple bolt on job. Decent secondhand one in the right colour is a better bet than an aftermarket one plus paint. Worth keeping an eye out for one to come up if it’s not urgent.

It's not got any holes in it, so I guess I'll be learning how to watch things on eBay or something

Also to make sure I get a coupe/convertible wing, not a saloon/estate/M3 one

Like a massive idiot I've been putting regular petrol in the Bentley. It was only yesterday while washing it, and cleaning the inside of the fuel flap, that I noticed the sticker saying it needs 98 RON

Local repair shop have fitted new wing and bumper to the Tesla so we're back on in time for a trip to Scotland.

I was fortunate to be given a hire Tesla 3 but unfortunate in that the previous driver seemed to spend his or her entire time in the car eating KFC and the thing stank.

Haldex was done at the VW place in my village on Monday although only driven the car 12 miles since, today my wife is away to drop it in to my usual garage to check back left tyre.

Either a slow puncture or leaking valve I suspect but they'll hopefully have a good nose round and make sure all is well as a clean bill of health from them would be peace of mind.

Given I have never even heard of the make of the 3 ditch finders and given they are so cheap they don't even have rim protectors, at least two of the wheels have minor scuffs from reversing off tiny curbs etc. Might use a sharpie

Putting the Aston away I managed to clip the ns door mirror. A “oh fcuk” moment.


Followed by a LOL when I saw the details inside.


The clips are broken so I need a replacement. I’m thinking eBay and some @integrale_evo style painting action.

Sundayjumper wrote: Thu Apr 27, 2023 3:49 pm Putting the Aston away I managed to clip the ns door mirror. A “oh fcuk” moment.


IMG_0612.jpeg


Followed by a LOL when I saw the details inside.


IMG_0613.jpeg


The clips are broken so I need a replacement. I’m thinking eBay and some @integrale_evo style painting action.

Facelift Volvo P2 platform mirrors if I remember. There's quite a bit of Volvo in that platform - dash binnacle, electric mirror/window switches, head unit/nav, key, electric seat mechanisms. The dash face is basically a re-coloured S60R with the needles sweeping the wrong way.

Sundayjumper wrote: Thu Apr 27, 2023 3:49 pm Putting the Aston away

Heh

I've just moved the Compact. It's been off the road since err... Nov 2020 when it failed its MOT and I've definitely not done anything with it since at least before Christmas, but with a fresh battery it fired right up and runs perfectly. It's a good car and deserves a bit more love this year.

MOT fail was on emissions and I suspect it's the cat, so that should be an easy fix, then I can put it in for a test and see what else it fails on !