g40jon
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Posts: 2,569
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Feb 23, 2014 22:28:12 GMT
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My worst cock-up was doing an oil change also. The oil change went fine on the car, no probs there! I had drained the old oil into an old coolant bottle with the side cut out of it. (the idea being that you could then remove the screw top to pour it into an old oil bottle to dispose of it) Problems started when I forgot that I had cut the side out of the coolant bottle and picked it up by the handle! OIL FAIL!!!
My other big fail was rebuilding my polos supercharger and somehow missing an oil seal, which resulting in a pretty savage oil leak! thankfully I spotted my fail and put it right before any harm came to the engine or charger!
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g40jon
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Posts: 2,569
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Feb 23, 2014 22:05:50 GMT
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Took the 325 out for a pleasure drive today and have come to the conclusion that the best thing to spend my bm spending money on is petrol! Took a few pics of the interior, didn't take any exterior ones as I couldn't find an interesting enough backdrop whilst out on my drive! Didn't come out as well as they might have (still finding my way with my new camera, might have to dig out the nikon d40 instead)
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g40jon
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Feb 23, 2014 19:00:28 GMT
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Please don't M spec it. It's so nice to see an early black bumpered one in such good nick. I would even be tempted to return to the standard indicators and tail lights. Only modifications it needs is a slight drop and some nice wheels. I know what you are saying and tbh I pretty much agree! I actually like the standard wheels on it and very much in two minds about lowering. The back sits fine, but the front could use dropping 40mm. I do like the way it drives as standard and wouldn't want to change it in anyway. I still have the standard lights and indicators, so can swap them as and when my mood takes me.
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g40jon
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Posts: 2,569
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Feb 23, 2014 18:53:07 GMT
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If you want to get your grey plastics looking brand new black again, without the need for painting/replacing, there is only one product to use imo...GTtecnique C4. Its not cheap, but it permanently (a good few months) turns them black. I've tried many different products including peanut butter nnd this is by far the best product I've ever used. The bumpers aren't black, never were! They were as grey as they are now, the very moment it rolled of the production line!
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g40jon
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Posts: 2,569
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Feb 23, 2014 11:12:25 GMT
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Thanks for the tips and info, I have next to no knowledge on bmws, having mostly owned vw polos for the last 13 years, so feel free to add more tips and tricks! I knew about the rebadged radios on ebay. I will be keeping a look out in my local scrappy for a radio. They often have e36s in and only charge a tenner a radio. I only want it for shows as the rest of the time I will be running one of these www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200984009320?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649The bumpers do look a bit grey primerish! (std on the base trim level for those that don't know) There is a little part of me that wants to source some cheap M spec bumpers, so I might hold out on getting the bumpers painted till I have some. The car is almost too good to mess around with, I kinda wish I had got a less clean car as I wouldn't feel so conflicted about changing bits of it. I haven't driven it much as I am trying to keep the miles down on it, but the miles I have done have been a total pleasure! Just found a pic which is pretty similar to the image I have for mine
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Last Edit: Feb 23, 2014 11:22:22 GMT by g40jon
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g40jon
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Posts: 2,569
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Feb 22, 2014 23:35:09 GMT
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So my re-union with my old polo gt was short lived! bought the car back cheap, fixed it up, then realised carting my 1 year old daughter about in it was no fun. The polo gt had to go and I needed to find a more door! I have always had a thing for 3 series bmws, especially e30s. It would seem I have missed the boat with e30s as they are starting to fetch good money for tidy ones, so I decided to have a look for an e36. A quick browse of ebay turned up a local low mileage 325 manual in a fetching champagne colour. Got outbid on it and thought that I had missed my chance. But I thought it would be worth e-mailing the seller to state my interest should the winning bidder not take the car. A few days later I got a call. The lady informed me that the car was still available, but had started to burn oil. I thought it was still worth a look and to my relief the oil leak was just a weap from the cam cover gasket. Agreed a price with the seller and I am now a very proud owner of a low mileage 325 in near showroom condition! The car has had only two previous owners. The last owner had owned it for 17 years and always kept it garaged. The condition of it, you'd never guess it was 22 years old! The interior still smells like a new car, the seats with the exception of the drivers seat barely look like the have been sat in. The bodywork won't take much effort to make mint. Plans are to keep everything pretty much std (i've already upgraded the indicators and rear lights to later spec ones, but still have the originals) and try and get into into showroom condition. One arch has a small rust bubble and the passenger wing needs a repair at sill level. Half tempted to get the bumpers and sills colour coded, but not 100% sure if that is a good idea or not. Also need to source a cheap std stereo as that had been replaced at some point. A few quick pics I took after washing it today
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g40jon
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Posts: 2,569
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Pretty much any car from the early 80s up to the mid 90s is getting rare, so many cars from my childhood are gone, there are simply too many cars to list!
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g40jon
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Posts: 2,569
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Feb 13, 2014 18:39:45 GMT
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If the TVR had a parcel shelf...... ....it'd be empty as MM has bought the speakers! I do still have a set of very nice pioneer pods of similar vintage to sell though!
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g40jon
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Feb 13, 2014 10:16:23 GMT
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not sold yet, so maybe you will be lucky!
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g40jon
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Posts: 2,569
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Feb 12, 2014 23:46:40 GMT
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Should you find you need tapered bolts renaults are a good supply for them, pleanty in scrappies so cheap too!
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g40jon
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Posts: 2,569
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Feb 12, 2014 23:44:31 GMT
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I've had a quick word and to put them straight should be about 30 - 45 notes each wheel that needs work. plus 100 for full refurb after in stock silver. Thanks for finding that out. Decided that I would take the £50 refund offered. Not sure what I will do with them yet. Might just refinish the fronts, so they look tidy, punt them on (with the dents mentioned) and see what I get for them. I don't think I can be fussed with spending more on them. Cheers for all the replies
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g40jon
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Posts: 2,569
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Feb 12, 2014 13:04:40 GMT
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Dan, the std polo bolts are fine for most alloy wheels with radius seat holes. There are exceptions, where the alloy has a thicker mounting surface, and thus requires longer bolts. Mercedes c class alloy wheels bolts used to be a cheap way of obtaining wheel bolts which were 10mm longer than the oe bolts and perfect for alloys. Seing as your wheels are replica BBS it will be worth checking to see if they are taper or radius seat. If they are taper, then you will need to buy new bolts.
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g40jon
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Posts: 2,569
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Feb 12, 2014 12:57:36 GMT
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I have just had an increased offer from the guy of £50. He also stated he doesn't want to loose the £35 it cost him to post. So I have messaged him back asking if he would accept taking the wheels back and I cover the postage cost both ways, so essentially he has lost nothing, bar a few days.
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g40jon
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Posts: 2,569
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Feb 12, 2014 11:17:17 GMT
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That is just full of win! I wonder if people will one day chop the chassis out of another car and fit an s2000 body on top?! Looking forward to seing more updates!
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g40jon
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Feb 12, 2014 11:01:54 GMT
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g40jon
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Posts: 2,569
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Feb 12, 2014 10:48:52 GMT
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They are clio rsi alloys made by speedline, had a few sets. great little wheels
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g40jon
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Posts: 2,569
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Feb 12, 2014 10:42:21 GMT
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They are stunning. I have a set of the manhole covers in my garage at home. Getting them converted to split rims would be awesome! If only I had the money!!! Pricey yes, but they are pretty unique and far less common than bbs splits which often change hands for upwards of £800. I know which I'd rather have if I could spend silly amounts on a set of wheels
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g40jon
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Feb 12, 2014 10:28:29 GMT
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That's the only concern I'd have too. The rest is pretty much expected wear to cheap second hand wheels. Whilst personally I like to be as explicit as possible in adverts and details, I'd take into account there's likely to be some general damage on the back like that. I don't see a problem with any of it apart from that flat spot, which could be a problem. They weren't what I would deffine as cheap! (they are a set of old wolfrace minilites in 4x100 pcd)
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g40jon
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Posts: 2,569
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Feb 12, 2014 10:26:21 GMT
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they wont get damaged just sticking them on a balancer. No, but it only takes me dropping one, or banging it against something, getting then in and out of the garage (more akin to a tardis) or car (mx5!) etc. If the seller continues to be difficult, then I will do as you suggest, as it will add weight to my case as I will be able to take a video clip to show just how wonky they are. Really the pics don't show just how bad the dents are. They would be much more visible with the tyre removed. Thanks for the opinions. I will let you know how I get on
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g40jon
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,569
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to be honest that just looks like cosmetic damage to me, have you taken them to see if they balance up fine? If the balance up fine i would run them without even questioning it. As yet I haven't for a couple of reasons. 1. I didn't want to risk them getting more damaged (un-likely but not impossible) and the seller using this as a reason to not take them back. 2. It is pretty clear by the large wheels weights and location of them, that they require a fair amount of weights to balance. (granted this could partly be down to cheap tyres, which tend not to balance as easy. The tyre fitter could also be bad at wheels balancing (wouldn't be the first time) I don't really see having a deformed wheel bead as cosmetic damage, it effects the seating of the tyre. I can't be 100% certain that the metal won't have hairline cracks in it. I had trouble trying to get the pics to show just how deformed the wheel is. It has deflected inwards by a good 5 mm or so, which would indicate it has sustained a pretty hard hit. What it comes down to is that I am un-happy with the condition of the wheels, given that they were not a cheap set.
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