The Dark Wob

Probably not.

Under £29 for all 4m of fabric and a can of spray glue. Then 14hrs or so of my time.

Has taught me that I don't want to do a headliner again and I'll try outsourcing the job next time.

Hope to get the alignment sorted this week. So far out from the suspension work that it will knacker the tyres in short order if I use it to much. Also likely trigger the Traction Control warning light on steering angle.

You should be looking for nice stuff to improve though. There are still enough saveable 3 door GTI’s about that aren’t like the Titanic underneath.

I'm still under £2k all in so far. Not many GTIs can be had for that money that aren't shagged.

The body underneath this actually isn't in that bad a shape. Just those sill covers did no favours to the sills. Subframe is crusty but that's replaceable and very compared to the body anyway.

I'm seriously considering the S3 on AS atm. Want levels are high even though it's probably a bit too competent and maybe less fun than this. Also the type of car setup to make it too easy to drive like a nutter.

Would be interesting to drive them back to back. The power is a lot higher than this but I suspect the low down power is better on the GTI due to its smaller K03 turbo against the S3 with it's K04. I quite like the surge you get from around 2k+ on this around town. Generally I drive under 2.5k using the torque curve.

So my only reservation is that the S3 might feel slower real world buzzing around. Quattro is always fun for quick traffic GP launches though.

Alignment done at lunchtime today. Need to get my brain used to having the steering wheel straight in this car when going straight along. My brain gets used to a cars steering quirks with time and my brain requires it's steering angle data reset. 

The tracking guy was nearly having orgasms about how nice and easy a job it was being not all rusted solid. Apparently it was very much a welcome change from the others he had in today. 


 
Camber and caster are out on the front. Not sure much can be done about that unless the subframes are shifted about. Maybe new console bushes may help too in time. Drives fine though. 

Rear camber is within the limits but at the limits. Possibly worn bushes. It should be adjustable but I don't think anyone want to dare touch those adjustment bolts. Certainly I didn't! 

Probably no interest on here for it but reduced the Merc as I really need to make room. Agreed to buy a Z4 roadster 2.2. Will be my first proper modern BMW and looking forward to have a convertible again.

Actually was Mrs SiC that told me to buy it. Said it was lovely and I needed to buy it. Rare to get that from her and it's not as if I need much encouragement to buy a car.

Oh.

2.2.

FFS buy a proper one.

The Reverend Bluejeans wrote: ↑Tue Apr 09, 2024 4:45 pm Oh.

2.2.

FFS buy a proper one.

At least it is a 6 banger and lighter lump than the 2.5. Cloth seats for complete mingebag-ness.
Also at 1200 quid, it's worth a go for a few months until my insurance renewal is up in June then decide what to do then. MX5 money and performance while having a nicer interior.

I'd quite like to go back down to one main modern and reduce my car count after then. I'm sure at that price I could shift it back on easily enough.

Still want a Z4 coupé at some point too. Gives me a platform to do a bit of Z4 training on.

Ah……cheap.


2.2 2.5 and 3.0 engines are all the same weight but keep an eye on the dipstick as 2.2’s absolutely gallop through oil.
200 miles to a litre is not unknown.

The Reverend Bluejeans wrote: ↑Tue Apr 09, 2024 5:06 pm Ah……cheap.

It's how I like it best.

I believe NorfolkNWeigh knows more about the history of the car as it was his daughters boyfriends car or something like that.

The Reverend Bluejeans wrote: ↑Tue Apr 09, 2024 5:06 pm 2.2 2.5 and 3.0 engines are all the same weight but keep an eye on the dipstick as 2.2’s absolutely gallop through oil.
200 miles to a litre is not unknown.

Thanks, I'll keep an eye on the level. Probably only end up doing a thousand or two in it anyway.

Can't remember but do BMW airbag lights stay on after triggering a code or clear if the fault fixes? Presumably it's the usual seat connector and seat moving triggering it as with most car of this vintage.

It's had the emissions light spring on once after a long journey with Ken. Not been back since.
This was the code. Guessing probably a lazy old lambda. Or burning so much oil that the fuel trims are pulling back from burning all that extra hydrocarbons.
I'll have a look at the fuel trims & lambda values once I get it and see what it's doing. If it triggers again I might chuck a new one (is Bosch OE?) on if they're cheap and easy to get to. Or just reset it and accept it as a old BMW quirk.

Or could be an air leak in a split rubber boot too according to this:
https://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopi ... =3&t=70223

Given 174k or whatever it's on, could be any of those things. I'll have a gander once I've got my hands on it.