The "Today I did something to my car" thread

Killinator

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Those stripes! :eek::eek::eek:

They're the Gulf colours, I had them done when I went to Le Mans last year.....and I like them!

Just finished a nice road wine trip of around 1400kms over the last week. Dublin - Rosslare - Cherbourg - Loire Valley, some driving around vineyards, a lot of wine drinking/buying and then home.

I had the car NCT'd early in case it'd show anything out of the ordinary ahead of the trip. Didn't have a problem at all, even with all the wine we brought back. Note how far down the suspension is in the second picture!

5500

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

The effort that manufacturers put into getting the flow characteristics in the air intakes optimum just can't be improved or even matched by some hack I'm afraid.

Probably they made an improvement in the '70s or 80's when standard intakes and filters were crap and still probably had no effect on "performance" cars.

I wouldn't be taking MCM's above video as gospel, contradictory if anything as there were slight power increases (5bhp) but the guys just chose to discount it because it weren't much, there's also the fact that every car and engine is different and will take to certain mod's differently.

I had one of the k&n typhoons linked above on my CL7R, dyno'd stock before fitting in westward it made 218, after fitting it made 229. My result wasn't unique either, the k&n typhoon on a Euro R seems to achieve good results all around.

king_of_inismac

Paddy@CIRL wrote: »

Got a small delivery from eBay this morning. Something I've been meaning to do with a while, but just haven't had the enthusiasm to get around to.



I wanted to swap out all the stock interior halogen bulbs for LED items.



The prices for this vary by quite some amount, but eventually I found a seller which offered every bulb for £25 plus postage so thought it was worth a punt.



Much to my surprise, it wasn't all that much effort to get at most of the bulbs, although one or two were a bit stubborn.



Halogen map light on left, LED on right.



Driver's vanity light, which I realised that the switch for turning it on when the mirror cover is slid across is a touch flakey. Will see to that shortly.



It's hard to capture the exact brightness of them, but they're pretty much on par with the standard lights just much whiter.



This is a pretty decent representation, without the street lighting throwing the white balance off.



The kit really does come with EVERY bulb needed : boot, rear dome & map lights, front dome & map lights, puddle lights, footwell lights and even one for the glovebox.



For the sake of half an hour and the bones of €30, it really does freshen up the interior completely.



Thanks for looking!

Hi Paddy,

Two questions:

1. Can you provide a link to the guy you bought the bulbs off?

2. Where did you buy the replacement gearstick. Mine is scratched from a previous owner.

Ardennes1944

bmstuff wrote: »

It is not too bright right? Does not look like it from your pictures anyway, just whiter/brighter light.

I have been in a few bimmers where those bulbs were so bright it was blinding me when opening the door...chinese stuff :cool:

Did you see that one too? I have seen it for real in a Audi it was quiet nice...

http://www.ebay.de/itm/LED-SMD-Einstiegsbeleuchtung-BMW-M3-E30-E34-E36-E39-E46-E38-E60-E87-E90-X3-X5-Z3-/350758160919?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_77&hash=item51aad0ca17

MetzgerMeister

king_of_inismac wrote: »

Can you provide a link to the guy you bought the bulbs off?

+1 for a link

I presume they're all the same for the E92?

Ded_Zebra

5500 wrote: »

I wouldn't be taking MCM's above video as gospel, contradictory if anything as there were slight power increases (5bhp) but the guys just chose to discount it because it weren't much, there's also the fact that every car and engine is different and will take to certain mod's differently.

I had one of the k&n typhoons linked above on my CL7R, dyno'd stock before fitting in westward it made 218, after fitting it made 229. My result wasn't unique either, the k&n typhoon on a Euro R seems to achieve good results all around.

Ok fair enough I can only talk about what I know and on Levins people who care about performance go mad looking to change their cars back to the standard air boxes etc. I'm very surprised that Honda didn't make a better stock system but there you go.

CianRyan

I know it'd probably do absolutely nothing to my car but I'd like an intake and decat on it, just for the noise.

dgt

CianRyan wrote: »

I know it'd probably do absolutely nothing to my car but I'd like an intake and decat on it, just for the noise.

Well, to give you an idea....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdMvSGPrA3E

Power and slight increase in economy. Win win

Yet another pump update! I really did stay out till a few mins ago

Pic heavy, 2 separate posts bla bla bla...

I had a brain wave


A much better idea


What its all about 11mm plunger on the left, 9mm on the right


And distributor heads, same as above


There's a big difference between them...

Decided to fit the plunger, collar and distributor springs first whilst attaching the throttle to the collar


Time to break out the seal kit!


Clean up each face well. Stick the return springs in a dab of grease to get them to stay in the head then offer the whole lot to the pump


Once all bolted, swap the delivery valves. Be careful, there are pistons and springs in these... Use new coppers supplied



Halfway there!


To the next post...

dgt

To the top half!

Replace as many of the seals as you can; they go hard and lose shape with age (haw haw haw )


New rubber rings on the gov shaft/throttle spindle


Once ready, fill the pump with diesel and put the top on. This was a right arse to put back on...


Setting the throttle to max throttle


Throttle spring adjustment and throttle cable adapter


Clean up as much aspossible. Done!



That wasn't too difficult eh

CianRyan

The Bravo sounds ****ing deadly!!
There's nothing I love more than a good high pitched rasp, never been mad for BAAAAAAW BAAAAAAW type exhausts.

Right, have to start thinking about the cheapest way of doing that.

dgt

CianRyan wrote: »

The Bravo sounds ****ing deadly!!
There's nothing I love more than a good high pitched rasp, never been mad for BAAAAAAW BAAAAAAW type exhausts.

Right, have to start thinking about the cheapest way of doing that.

And I gave up that experience for a dayyysel.... Heavy times

Not all is lost: my aim is to have the car sounding like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zJB_Vtdk6M

:cool:

CianRyan

Not bad for a diesel. Haha
I'll be looking forward to the twinspark in the van though, I'd say that'll be something else when it's done. :cool:

dgt

CianRyan wrote: »

Not bad for a diesel. Haha
I'll be looking forward to the twinspark in the van though, I'd say that'll be something else when it's done. :cool:

There's quite a rasp from it as is in the 156 :eek::cool:

Which reminds me: said engine in the car still. Note the all important cable going to the tb :P

Toyotafanboi

where do you get the energy dgt? :pac:

CianRyan

I'll be honest with you, I'm not very sure where anything is in there.
I'm used to staring at this.



Note my stick. :pac:

dgt

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

where do you get the energy dgt? :pac:

Tesco I thinks :P

And Cian, clean that engine asap!!!!

CianRyan

Everytime I think about doing it I worry about getting my electrics wet... Then I just leave it.

The filth of it.


Ideally I should take off the rocker cover and give it a lick of silver along with a good wash.

dgt

It's the one part of the car I try to keep spotless....

A useful vid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m2qNC6JThM

vectra

dgt wrote: »

And Cian, clean that engine asap!!!!

Yes Cian,
Just whip it out and wash it

dar83

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

Ok fair enough I can only talk about what I know and on Levins people who care about performance go mad looking to change their cars back to the standard air boxes etc. I'm very surprised that Honda didn't make a better stock system but there you go.

Completely depends on the car and engine. Also big difference between NA and Turbo/SC cars as well. To blanket statement that CAIS are completely useless is as wrong as saying all CAIS will improve performance.

Also most of the Jap NA stuff doesn't react too favourably to them, but that's the nature of those engines.

Ardennes1944

More DA work today. REdone half the bootlid and used the britemax black max polish and vantage wax vectra gave me yesterday,

Redisle

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

More DA work today. REdone half the bootlid and used the britemax black max polish and vantage wax vectra gave me yesterday,

It's hard work isn't it!

I've been at it again the last two days in the sunshine on my own. Done the driver side and bonnet so far with the heavy orange pad & the strongest menzerna polish. Arms/back killing me after it

I'm seeing much better results now than I did previously with the lighter pads and I'm going much slower too.

Ardennes1944

It is alright. The paint on the beemer is so bad I've had to order the most coarse menzerna and wolfs polish on the market afaik

It's very rewarding though and with some music it's enjoyable enough on a day like today

Alanstrainor

Got the car back from paint, looks unreal. Will most likely get shots tomorrow. But I'm very impressed.

CianRyan

Go for a spin now before the sun disappears.

dgt

Just another day up here....

Cleaning the XUD. It needs it


Removing the pulley


Much better (yes I know it's still dirty but it's not black)


Cleaner engine! Here you can see the screwdriver for locking the flywheel


Moving onto the van. Attempting to start it meant I had to make the wires seem a bit hot.....


And a big hat's off to barura for showing me an ingenious way to feed power to the pump!

However.... Failed! Back to the drawing board...

To a pair of 156's

First one: stripping


Easy to remove


To another 156... This was irritating me!


Conveniently I have several mirrors to choose from! Why does this one have these bolts though...


Seems the trim was off before...


Yaaay!


Decided to keep the clocks that came with the car. But I'm using the black carbon effect trim


The somewhat finished article!


More to do, after I finish this excellent coffee cake :pac:

Conchurl

today i bought a new set of alloys for my car, http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/alloyswheels/4805511
changed the both dim bulbs in my aunt mazda 3, dipped it for oil :mad: no oil in it so off i go put 2 litres in her car and it is about 85% full on dip stick
check my cousins mazda 6 for oil same thing no oil on dip stick so i put the other 2 litres into that and it is only 1/3 full on dip stick.
my aunt has the mazda 3 from new from in 2008 got it serviced for the first time about 6 months ago 120000kms on it now
i also started my friends boxy starlet and took it for a drive around the yard i do this every week or 2 as emigrated 6 months ago

dgt

Conchurl wrote: »

today i bought a new set of alloys for my car, http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/alloyswheels/4805511
changed the both dim bulbs in my aunt mazda 3, dipped it for oil :mad: no oil in it so off i go put 2 litres in her car and it is about 85% full on dip stick
check my cousins mazda 6 for oil same thing no oil on dip stick so i put the other 2 litres into that and it is only 1/3 full on dip stick.
my aunt has the mazda 3 from new from in 2008 got it serviced for the first time about 6 months ago 120000kms on it now
i also started my friends boxy starlet and took it for a drive around the yard i do this every week or 2 as emigrated 6 months ago

Corails! I have them too Did you pay full whack for them? Funny that mine also came with winters when I bought them...

Conchurl

dgt wrote: »

Corails! I have them too Did you pay full whack for them? Funny that mine also came with winters when I bought them...

i paid 130 for them. i wont be putting them on for a bit as i have other 406 alloys on the car and want to use all the thread off them i . what did you pay for yours?