TrabbieRonnie

Nice one, they're really great cars. Mine is off for a much delayed visit with the MOT man tomorrow... Looks to be a very similar colour, mines called Aqua Blue Pearl. The parking brake light was on as part of my ABS module woes, but as you've nothing else lit up I'm sure it's actually just the parking brake itself 🤞. Have you got VCDS? Makes working on them so much easier, even required for back pad change, you have to tell the car how thick the pads are for it to re-calibrate?! About £250 I think for the genuine RossTech cable. I see you also have a mix of post and pre facelift tail-lights, they're getting hard to come by, but there is a fella on the FB page supplying them reconditioned (if you're bothered). Anyway, what a great addition to your fleet, good luck with it, I'm sure you'll continue to enjoy 👍

Brilliant work 👍

You get a warning cough from the engine when the tank gets down to 6 litres remaining... You switch to 'Reserve' on the fuel tap at that point, and get fuel next time you're passing!

As one old Audi approaches roadworthiness, the other recedes from it... Just back from Halfords, after buying A8 wiper blades, upon which journey the wee Coupe broke a front spring. No damage done, sitting fine with the broken bit snugly sat in the bottom. The slightly lowered suspension is non-standard kyb stuff, need to see it in daylight tomorrow before deciding on replacement options. There are loads of different suppliers for these cars thankfully, most seeming to provide a drop of 35-60mm from standard. The current set up has been on for a lot of the cars life (and its 218,000 miles) I think, so hasn't done too badly. Should at least have the A8 tested as soon as the garage opens again, and Rosie's more than up to my work commute anyway.

It's the details that get me, and if I had to describe what driving a Trabbi felt like... that picture says it all!

Merry Christmas all! Check out my pressie, from my son, drawn by our friend and neighbour... He normally does motorbike and BMX work (he has a small but perfectly formed collection of very cool old motorbikes), but I think it's fair to say he's pretty good with cars too! Adi Gilbert is his name, @99seconds_studio (I did check with him before posting, in case anyone's after similar). Made my day, hope all's good out in the shiteyverse.

No, no intermittence is available!

Hi all. I suppose it's pretty depressing that after four months, I don't have much to report fleet-wise. The reason is a combination of me starting a new job, and one particular member of the fleet being more demanding than usual! That's right, the BIG liability A8 finally bit back! Pictured in sunnier weather, probably the last time she behaved herself... Regular readers will know that over my time with this beast, I have replaced all the ABS sensors, the wheel bearings, and latterly the ride height sensors. All chasing sporadic braking, traction control and then headlamp levelling issues. This is thanks to the way 'moderns' are wired, using witchcraft, where everything relies on everything else! Just great. Well, I decided enough was enough, ordered brake discs and pads, and nonchalantly threw the ABS control module at a local computer repair firm. This was a mistake... the unit was faulty, but not as faulty as it came back from the incompetents! After 3 weeks, it was returned to me, with a 'Sorry bud, we can't fix it...' Righto, having attempted to support a local business, I sent the bugger off to ECU Testing in Derby. The experts. They expertly explained that t'was indeed buggered, and that they also couldn't fix it. Nevermind, eBay provided one with the exact combination of digits on it, that when fitted... refused to communicate with the car. Off it went to ECU Testing, and back it came 'unrepairable'. The seller was good enough to refund the £400 smackers paid, and so (re)began the search. No joy on the right part no. this time, however, I was assured by Facefook that a later model would fit, once coded to the vehicle (as they all have to be). You may have already guessed dear reader, at how much use that £150 lump is... bugger. I don't even know which one this is, just thought I needed a picture to break up the rant a bit... The removal... The removed... It easy if you don't like your skin. Anyway, to cut a looooonnnngggg story short, I have, today, fixed my car. I have a twenty-year-old Audi without a single untoward light on the dash! All it took in the end, was the purchase of the exactly right unit, from a reputable reconditioner, handily located in POLAND(!), with whom I exchanged 999 euros for the privilege... I need a lie down, thought I was over it. HMRC, the Dick Turpin bastards, then set about me, demanding another £118 for it's right to remain. I know. This all took months, I am broken, but it is done, parked innocently on the drive awaiting the booking of it's overdue MOT. Coupe has valiantly carried the can, and made a new friend. Same but different... The Rover belongs to my friend's 19 year old son... Top lad. The wee Audi's been faultless thankfully, performing family duties in all weathers, even doing well in snow, surprisingly. Commuting for me has meant more Trabi time, spurred on of course by Zelandeth's latest adventures. What a bloody awesome machine it is, although it has lowered the tone at the local (and very posh) distillery that now pays my mortgage. I've no pictorial evidence, but I make it my mission to park in an electric charging bay whenever possible! That's me for now, happy 'shiting all!

Great to hear... I think they got pre-mixed out the pumps in the DDR, so no extra step for them. Reading about it, they apparently used to put extra oil in the mix, artificially creating demand for the state oil producer. As a side effect, everyone of course associates Trabbies with comically excessive amounts of smoke. I find that once warm, there is none visible at all (although still definitely smellable), that's at 40:1. I once used the Trabi for work for an entire year (12,000 miles...!), and I reckon I was getting near 60 mpg. It all became totally normal, and I think the engine gets better with use. This year, after 15 years of ownership, I discovered that if I press and hold in my (rotary) wiper switch, I get an automatic two-wipe cycle!? Guht farht mit Trabant, indeed.

I've got stick on beam deflectors, and the headlights are pretty good to be fair. Better than an Audi 80 anyway!

Yeah, they do stock them, have they despatched your order yet? https://www.trabantwelt.de/Trabant-601/Beleuchtung/Ruecklicht-Gehaeuse-Trabant-601::2828.html

See this guy has a rear light surround... https://www.facebook.com/groups/ifaclubuk/permalink/10161115906009549/ No price, might be worth a look, or did you get one from TW?

My door cards have nothing behind them either, but don't (currently) leak. Must be the seal like you say. My boot latch is also exactly as you describe. None of this helps, I know! Good tinkering Z, I've actually come to work in mine today, don't know why I don't do so more often!

Found a pic of the two together, must've been a while ago, the kids are bigger than me now!

Great progress, and thanks for the disc brake pics... looks a neat conversion. I wonder how much stronger the brakes are. The gearbox is a bit oily, but I don't think Trabbi engine bays are ever that clean tbh! The 'boxes take around a litre of hp68 hydraulic oil iirc, although the manual also says you can use SAE 30 motor oil. I found some of the hyd stuff at work a few years ago, seems right enough. TW sell it obviously, used to be around £7. It's interesting to me to see a later one... Although mine is registered as a G (1989), shes actually an '82/'83ish car. Apparently they were sometimes refurbished by the factory, given any upgrades and pumped out as new! I still have the old six-volt regulator in place, unused as she's fitted with the 12 volt setup including 'Ebza' electronic ignition. I also have the slimmer b-posts, yours are thicker (meaning the rear side windows are slightly different), which was a 1984 change. Rosie also 'keeps it real' with the old manual 'push-pull' windscreen washer pump, and I don't have the 'modern' dash switches you do. I've often thought of trying to convince the DVLA of her true age, but the vin plate is right for '89. So, either they had an old shell knocking about the factory and built it up (seems unlikely with the old style interior, dash etc.), or she was out in the wild for a few years before being called back to the mother ship for upgrades. My other Trabi (garaged since purchase, much to my shame), is a 1987 'D' with even more decadent and luxurious features... Heated rear screen, pop-out side windows... headrests! There's a great 'changes through the years' post on TrabantForum.com that explains it all (next time you're struggling to sleep!). Also, you can input your vin into a decoder online (think it's Czech, but Google translate works ok), and find out the exact date of build.

Here's Rosie hitched up to the Qek Junior (specifically designed DDR caravan mentioned). It's about 350/400kg and I can confirm that the weight is no bother... the aerodynamic drag is an issue above 45mph though!

Aye, just on fourth (top), saves engine wear while coasting (engine drops to idle without touching the clutch, and the freewheel takes up the drive again when the accelerator is pressed).

Great stuff. I have exactly the same windscreen rubber gap, siliconed every now and again, but it still drips onto my knee with the wipers on and at speed. I think my tyres are at 26 psi, not an issue with the newish Vredestein's, but the old Pneumant's got very slidy at anything more. I'm hoping at some point you'll have a front wheel off and let's us see the sexy* mysterious disc brake conversion...! Very much enjoying your posts, good work fella 👍

Sounds like you're speaking from experience!

One wee thing to check @Zelandeth, as you're doing your rounds... The rear suspension arms can be rusty where they hold the bushes that mount them to the underside, especially the forward mount (on the right below)... I think they call them the 'spoons', you can buy just the ends, and it was a quick job to cut them off and weld on new ones. Worth a look, mine were crusty. Trabant Welt sells everything, just the import duties etc. spoiling the fun these days!

Alas, my Rosie did not come with the decadent fuel usage meter (informally 'Mauskino', or mouse cinema!). I too hear that most are removed to allow max flow, and all the horsepowers. Great buy, great read... they really are more than the sum of their parts. Rosie leaks from the joint on the screen rubber (top centre). Also, good in snow/ice...

Well, as the RX8 isn't quite done (bodywork), I thought I'd better pull my finger out... and move on to something else! The old jeep has been left off the road for a while now, but with the looming threat of winter, we want her back. Unfortunately, she has become a bit of a project. We looked under the front plastic wheelarch flares... and there's nothing under there! I need new wings. However, they are out of stock in the usual haunts, second-hand ones are probably pretty knackered too by now, and I can't imagine the price/availability from Toyota would be pleasant! Anyway, I have a welder... we're going to have a go at making them right, if a bit more 'off-road'. This is after picking a line to cut that got all the rust, and bending a 75mm strip of 1mm steel into shape. It will actually be tacked in with more of an down-ward angle on it, it just wouldn't sit that way for a pic. Once attached, we'll trim the edge to a more natural curve too, and remove the excess from inside. Then, we plan to cut and weld on the vertical strip, to finish off the edge, and make it safe. She will end up with bigger wheel arch cut-outs, but that can suit these old things I think. The bottom return edge will incorporate wee brackets to hold the rubber wheelarch liners we're going to fit, cut from some heavy-ish workshop flooring matting I've been keeping. The good thing is that none of the body or mounts will be touched, so if this doesn't work out and we can find pattern wings again, they can just be fitted instead. The project is proving ideal for my youngest to hone some metal-bashing skills anyway, there are plans for a custom bumper for the front too, of his design. Can it be road-legal in time for the snow though? Still have ball-joints and track rod ends to fit also... too many motors, too little time!

Just filled up... Real world mpg's of an old RX8 in the countryside = 17.92 Excellent 👌.

Another wee job ticked off today on the RX8... gearbox oil change. There was (and still is a wee bit) a bit of gearbox whine in this car, and I wasn't sure if tadts or I had a worn one. Anyway, as the car spends most of it life north of 6000 rippums (it really is addictive), and I don't know when it was last changed, it couldn't hurt to change the oil. First up, jack up... Never had a car up on this jack that's lifted it's other front wheel in sympathy, actually if you max out the jack, the rear wheel comes off as well, and you can rock it by hand. I will obviously regret this one day when the jack goes through something, but still, impressively stiff! Check out my new shiny things, cat and starter looking sweet... Anyway, access didn't seem great for squeezing the wee oil bottle's contents in, and so I decided I would top up from above. Some dismantling was required... The above shows the route through to the 'box past the gearshift gaiter. My kit was assembled, and so I drained out the 1 3/4 litres it holds. There was a fair bit of shite on the magplug, and the oil looked a bit grey. Not too sparkly, so hopefully there's some miles left in them thar cogs. At this point, it started raining quite heavily, so my 'top up from up top' plan came into its own. I sat in comfort with my upturned bottle of gl4 in one hand, and this fine forum's content in the other, lovely. Obviously, a test drive was in order, with the car driving much the same as before. The gear whine is quieter, but still there and just part of the experience I think? Other RX8 owners may be able to confirm or deny. It's not unpleasant anyway, and I am slowly getting my head round this quite different car. It comes alive completely when held at a minimum of 6000 rpm... pick up is great from there, and the way it settles into corners (even allowing a bit of tail-wagging!) is summink else. I've discovered the joy of 'turning around in the road' without using reverse... with the traction control off you can just spin her up and round with tyre-shredding fun wet or dry. Excellent. Really should paint it I guess! Cheers all.

One of those cars that adds a touch of class everywhere it goes 👍