The "Today I did something to my car" thread

BUBBLE WRAP

eringobragh wrote: »

Do you moonlight as a meguiars salesman :pac:

I shined up the exhaust before with coke and tinfoil...it was a fair improvement...it shall be done as finishing touches :cool:

I sure hope your reffering to the bottled variety.

MetzgerMeister

eringobragh wrote: »

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Make sure you get tar remover and meguiars metal polish at those exhaust tips!

I'm having a bit of trouble getting scratches off mine at the moment. I started round 2 this evening and Im thinking menzerna is due into the mix.

Do you moonlight as a meguiars salesman :pac:

I shined up the exhaust before with coke and tinfoil...it was a fair improvement...it shall be done as finishing touches :cool:

Lol! If im going to suggest something, i have to know that you'll be very happy with the results. That's why I mainly suggest meguiars

E39MSport

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Make sure you get tar remover and meguiars metal polish at those exhaust tips!

I'm having a bit of trouble getting scratches off mine at the moment. I started round 2 this evening and Im thinking menzerna is due into the mix.

Autosol is the shniz I believe. Will be getting some.

eringobragh

BUBBLE WRAP wrote: »

I sure hope your reffering to the bottled variety.

nah man, the white stuff is great for removing tough stains off the exhaust..

sure see how well it worked on Daniella Westbrooks nose

eringobragh

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Lol! If im going to suggest something, i have to know that you'll be very happy with the results. That's why I mainly suggest meguiars

I tried tardis as tar remover, impressed I didn't have to drain the local reservoir like the holts stuff.

+1 on the autosol stuff heard good things on that

MetzgerMeister

eringobragh wrote: »

I tried tardis as tar remover, impressed I didn't have to drain the local reservoir like the holts stuff.

+1 on the autosol stuff heard good things on that

Yeah Holts leaves a bit of a mess but the product works so I'm not fibbing :P

colm_mcm

The exhaust tips on the jaaaag are a bit dull, what's the best thing to get the build up of stuff off?

sean1141

some wire wool followed by autosol works wonders

colm_mcm

Wire wool ok on chrome?

eringobragh

colm_mcm wrote: »

The exhaust tips on the jaaaag are a bit dull, what's the best thing to get the build up of stuff off?

A bowl of coke...the cola variety and some balled up tinfoil...it works!

sean1141

not 100% sure of that.. maybe try it on a bit thats not seen first just to be sure

E39MSport

colm_mcm wrote: »

Wire wool ok on chrome?

fine wire wool is perfik

colm_mcm

Brillo pad?

166man

colm_mcm wrote: »

Brillo pad?

I'd imagine a brillo pad would scratch it but I'm not sure. I washed mine twice then used Autosol on it and it worked perfectly.

E39MSport

Too harsh maybe. Something like this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Faithfull-ASW1OOOO-Steel-Wool-Super/dp/B000C752E0

colm_mcm

Cool, will give it a go tomorrow

Owen

Did the same speedo rings mod as Alan on my e46 today. It's amazing what a simple thing will do to lift the interior of a car.

BUBBLE WRAP

Owen wrote: »

Did the same speedo rings mod as Alan on my e46 today. It's amazing what a simple thing will do to lift the interior of a car.

How exactly do you do that?

Also before and after pictures

Owen

Go back a few pages and you'll see Alan's before and after photos. There's how to's all over google. Well chuffed with it!

Mar4ix

today booked nct for my toyota avensis... only july month available... big q seems to be.

Mar4ix

OSI wrote: »

Where did you book? I keep hearing people say there are queues, but got appointments for both cars within a couple of weeks of me booking them in Dublin, 1 in Northpoint 2 and one in Fonthill.

The GTI is up for her first NCT this Saturday (gonna be emotional). It's not actually due till October, but thought I'd get it out of the way while it was still relatively fresh from the last service and enjoy knowing it's due again for another 30 months.

Will have to spend the rest of the week getting it spotless

Northpoint 2 , 11 july... couldnt get any in june, car anyway not ready for it yet, but by the time nct, shall be fine. need to do some bits and boobs.

Daniel S

Mar4ix wrote: »

Northpoint 2 , 11 july... couldnt get any in june, car anyway not ready for it yet, but by the time nct, shall be fine. need to do some bits and boobs.

:pac:

Alanstrainor

Owen wrote: »

Go back a few pages and you'll see Alan's before and after photos. There's how to's all over google. Well chuffed with it!

Owen wrote: »

Did the same speedo rings mod as Alan on my e46 today. It's amazing what a simple thing will do to lift the interior of a car.

It's great isn't it? Took me about 10 minutes all in, it's a bit fiddly, but nothing major. I coloured my needles red too, I take it you left them stock?

I'm actually tempted to change the LEDs to white, but I'd be worried my soldering skills wouldn't be up to the task. It definitely makes them look a lot better though.

dr.fuzzenstein

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Things that come back to bite you in the ass:
Did the timing belt on the MX5 a while back and thought to myself: "Sure that waterpump is grand, no need to change it along with the timing belt, it'll never give you any trouble"
So today it crapped out on her and deposited a large amount of coolant on the drive.
So out with the rad, off with the rocker cover, off with the timing belt, undo the alternator, undo the power steering pump and a thousand other ancillaries. Hours of fun!
Here's where things are at the moment:





I saw the trick with the two spanners on a Youtube How To. Very nifty if you don't have the appropriate Mazda tool.
This will have to hold both cams at TDC till tomorrow, because my blue goo sealant had congealed into a blue blob. And I need a paper gasket, or at least some gasket paper.
And a bit of coolant would be handy too...

Well, today the conclusion (almost):

After working on it on Sunday for 7 hours and Monday for 8 hours (fighting me all the way), I finally had it back together again.
Turned it over, fine. Started it, engine sounding like a rubbish compactor full of teaspoons.
Panic, but all was not lost. I forgot to tighten the nuts on the waterpump pulley.
Ever hear that chatup-line "Baby, your eyes are like spanners, every time I look into them, my nuts tighten"
Started her again, all was well, bled the system, all fine, but it still overheated on her.
No leaks, coolant level fine, but that rad is looking a bit cruddy. A new one is on the cards.
Anyway, here she is in all her glory:



Apologies for the crappy pictures, all I have is a phone for taking pictures.

UnawareCaesar

Mar4ix wrote: »

today booked nct for my toyota avensis... only july month available... big q seems to be.

Only booked mine earlier and got it for next week down in arklow

BUBBLE WRAP

I made this, I dont know exactly what to call it. But I drilled a hole in homers head and sliped a steel ring into his head. he now hangs from the back of the car.

MetzgerMeister

^ LOL

BUBBLE WRAP

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

^ LOL

Hahaha, You a simpsons fan?

But it needs a slight tweeking.

L-M

That made me laugh BW haha, fair play!

damo86

Wire up voice control for the RNS 510 so it works with a third party microphone (dension gateway).

Not sure it was worth the hassle...seems easier to use the buttons!! :P

MetzgerMeister

BUBBLE WRAP wrote: »

Hahaha, You a simpsons fan?

But it needs a slight tweeking.

Not really but it's still funny as hell!

Owen

Alanstrainor wrote: »

It's great isn't it? Took me about 10 minutes all in, it's a bit fiddly, but nothing major. I coloured my needles red too, I take it you left them stock?

I'm actually tempted to change the LEDs to white, but I'd be worried my soldering skills wouldn't be up to the task. It definitely makes them look a lot better though.

Left mine stock alright, and even though on my MINI I replaced all the LEDs to a different colour combo, I'm really inclined in the e46 to leave everything amber. I just like the glow inside, especially the cascade light in the headliner that bathes your gearstick/shifting hand with orange light at night time.

Big Nasty

Owen wrote: »

I just like the glow inside, especially the cascade light in the headliner that bathes your gearstick/shifting hand with orange light at night time.

It's the little things!

fasttalkerchat

BUBBLE WRAP wrote: »

I made this, I dont know exactly what to call it. But I drilled a hole in homers head and sliped a steel ring into his head. he now hangs from the back of the car.

Saw something similar the other day. I thought a dog would go for it!

BUBBLE WRAP

fasttalkerchat wrote: »

Saw something similar the other day. I thought a dog would go for it!

I had no dog problems yet with it, but I stoped at a petrol station today and there was nackers sitting outside the shop smoking fags and drinking red bull. Once I filled my petrol I then went into pay for the petrol. I came out and to my horror, one of them nackers had homer stuck up the exhaust. :eek::( I pull him out and when got home, cleaned him off and hes ready for some more road trips.

166man

BUBBLE WRAP wrote: »

Once I filled my petrol I then went into pay for the petrol.

Like a good solid citizen eh? :pac:

CianRyan

BUBBLE WRAP wrote: »

I made this, I dont know exactly what to call it. But I drilled a hole in homers head and sliped a steel ring into his head. he now hangs from the back of the car.

Pic's not showing for me?

Edit: It is now? DAFUG?

gollywog

BUBBLE WRAP wrote: »

fasttalkerchat wrote: »

Saw something similar the other day. I thought a dog would go for it!

I had no dog problems yet with it, but I stoped at a petrol station today and there was nackers sitting outside the shop smoking fags and drinking red bull. Once I filled my petrol I then went into pay for the petrol. I came out and to my horror, one of them nackers had homer stuck up the exhaust. :eek::( I pull him out and when got home, cleaned him off and hes ready for some more road trips.

Bastard!
Hope homer wasn't too traumatised!! :eek:
Are you going to the next meet bubble wrap?
Would be cool to see homer and my old white fluffy dice in the flesh lol!!

TestTransmission

CianRyan wrote: »

DAFUG?

JDM Yo

BUBBLE WRAP

166man wrote: »

Like a good solid citizen eh? :pac:

Has to be done.

gollywog wrote: »

Bastard!
Hope homer wasn't too traumatised!! :eek:
Are you going to the next meet bubble wrap?
Would be cool to see homer and my old white fluffy dice in the flesh lol!!

Ah, no he wasnt to bad tbh. Just abit dirty from the exhaust.

Il have to see, Like I would have to go to longford and down then, as the ould yaris wouldent be fit for the motorway and Im still on the LP, but Im planing on going for the drivers test soon enough. (Im egar to get the full licence.) So we will just have to see what the future hold..

dgt

Ah the sunshine. Perfect for cleaning the Alfa :cool:



No plate is better than a scabby one

Legal or Italian for the new plate? I feel I've asked that before...

CianRyan

TestTransmission wrote: »

JDM Yo

Needs more tow hook/Domo.

BUBBLE WRAP

CianRyan wrote: »

Needs more tow hook/Domo.

Well, I have homer simpson and fuzzy dice, Tis all the JDM I need.

BUBBLE WRAP

dgt wrote: »

..............................................................

No plate is better than a scabby one

Legal or Italian for the new plate? I feel I've asked that before...

I like the italian plates mate, Legal one is too ........... Meh..:)

W0bble5

Today I serviced my car myself....for the first time ever. It was really handy - would have done this for years if I knew how easy it really was. Only problem was I had the wrong oil filter but I'll change that tomorrow after work.

dr.fuzzenstein

W0bble5 wrote: »

Today I serviced my car myself....for the first time ever. It was really handy - would have done this for years if I knew how easy it really was. Only problem was I had the wrong oil filter but I'll change that tomorrow after work.

Did you change the oil already? Did you put the old filter back on? Not ideal really.
Also, don't know if there will be a spillage if you take off the filter with the oil filled up to the max.
I'd say have plenty of old newspapers and kitty litter at the ready!;)

Worst thing happened to me:
Put in the oil, started the car, got no oil pressure.
Forgot to screw new oil filter in place. Near five liters of engine oil on the garage floor. Nice.

colm_mcm

I did something similar years, did an epic oil change, forgot to put the oil filler cap back on, a few days later wondered why there was oil flowing down my front bumper from under the bonnet.

Car needed new cam followers or something, expensive mistake

Found the service history for that car last weekend, shocking stuff, 2 replacement gearboxes, 2 head gaskets, all in 70000 miles. Car was rarely below 4000rpm though so not that shocking.

(fiat)

W0bble5

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Did you change the oil already? Did you put the old filter back on? Not ideal really.
Also, don't know if there will be a spillage if you take off the filter with the oil filled up to the max.
I'd say have plenty of old newspapers and kitty litter at the ready!;)

Worst thing happened to me:
Put in the oil, started the car, got no oil pressure.
Forgot to screw new oil filter in place. Near five liters of engine oil on the garage floor. Nice.

Ouch!!

Yep, put the old one back in. The filter on my car (a 1.4 Astra 2006) is one of the paper ones that screws into a plastic cover up above the exhaust manifold and *should* not lose much oil if any at all I hope.

BUBBLE WRAP

:eek:

colm_mcm wrote: »

I did something similar years, did an epic oil change, forgot to put the oil filler cap back on, a few days later wondered why there was oil flowing down my front bumper from under the bonnet.

Car needed new cam followers or something, expensive mistake

Found the service history for that car last weekend, shocking stuff, 2 replacement gearboxes, 2 head gaskets, all in 70000 miles. Car was rarely below 4000rpm though so not that shocking.

(fiat)

Punto??? :eek:

colm_mcm

BUBBLE WRAP wrote: »

:eek:

Punto??? :eek:

Brava