Saabnut Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 11 hours ago, SiC said: Can you buy Webasto roof kits still? Maybe I should get one fitted and solve the one bugbear. Don't do it! As the former leading MG Specialist in Scotland, I know a lot about MGBGTs and Webasto roofs. When new they are OK at best, but as they get older they allow water into areas of an MGB that otherwise would never see any. They are noisy. They drip condensation in cold weather. They reduce the value of the car significantly and will make it harder to sell. For every Webasto enthusiast, there are 10 who hate them. Regularly used to hear the phrase "Pity about the Webasto". Just my thoughts, your car etc but not for me. LightBulbFun and BorniteIdentity 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tadhg Tiogar Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 ^^ I have heard them referred to as "Wee Bastard" roofs. Saabnut 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrad D. Conelrad Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 The MK4 Golf suffers from the ~~premium soft touch coating~~ on its Interior plastics breaking down. Everything inside feels sticky to the touch, and the coating scrapes off easily leaving everything looking distinctly non premium. Actually that's an understatement - the decaying soft touch coating makes the interior actively unpleasant. I read a few forum posts about it, which suggested that you can remove the coating with isopropyl alcohol and then either re-spray or leave as bare plastic. I don't have any isopropyl alcohol, but I do have a bottle of Cif Oven Cleaner which is quite aggressive, so I figured I'd try it on an inconspicuous area (the largest piece of plastic you see when you open the door). It worked beautifully! After an hour soaking in oven cleaner, the coating could be removed in soapy water with a dish sponge. The passenger door handle came out nice enough to go straight back on the car, but the driver's side didn't look as good so I painted it with some acrylic paint from Hobbycraft and then several deliberately slightly rough coats of lacquer to mimic the semi-gloss finish. Here's the before and after: It's so much nicer. But there are a lot more sticky touch panels to fix. Stevebrookman, sdkrc, Jim Bell and 31 others 33 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cort1977 Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Top tip there; I have a Passat that suffers from the same malady so will give it a go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 I had the same issue of sticky buttons on the Saab, a quick rub over with isopropanol soaked into kitchen paper and the sticky coating was gone leaving nice smooth buttons underneath. Definitely worth a go, I bought a 500ml bottle for a couple of quid from a pharmacy a good twenty years ago, it had been coming in handy for various things ever since. That door panel looks good as new, nice work Burnside and Split_Pin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod/b Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Fitted a new tonneau cover and a remote start kit with long range RF kit to the truck last night. In an underground car park at 40°c and 50% humidity. What the MERRY FUCK was I thinking? Had to go indoors for a full change of clothing TWICE. I’m still necking pints of water now, 18 hours later. Think i might need salts. And FORD you BASTARDS. Nobody has a 5.5mm socket. That’s 7/32in and by my reckoning there’s only 3 bolts that size on the entire truck, under the steering column. Which of course i needed to remove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiC Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 42 minutes ago, Conrad D. Conelrad said: I read a few forum posts about it, which suggested that you can remove the coating with isopropyl alcohol and then either re-spray or leave as bare plastic. The recommendation on the Clio forums is to use a product called Elbow Grease. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiC Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 5 hours ago, Saabnut said: Don't do it! As the former leading MG Specialist in Scotland, I know a lot about MGBGTs and Webasto roofs. When new they are OK at best, but as they get older they allow water into areas of an MGB that otherwise would never see any. They are noisy. They drip condensation in cold weather. They reduce the value of the car significantly and will make it harder to sell. For every Webasto enthusiast, there are 10 who hate them. Regularly used to hear the phrase "Pity about the Webasto". Just my thoughts, your car etc but not for me. Funny enough the Webasto in my Dolomite is the only bit that isn't leaking! Most of those issues you mention really are only a problem if you daily an MGB in all weathers. Realistically not many people do that anymore and they spend their idle time in garages. For the value, I've not seen any noticeable difference between ones with and ones without. Possibly because there isn't so many MGBs (or classics really for that matter) for sale at the moment either. Maybe also because the number of cars with Webastos is lower due to many rotting out, so supply-to-demand equalises. chadders and Saabnut 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Split_Pin Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 1 hour ago, Conrad D. Conelrad said: The MK4 Golf suffers from the ~~premium soft touch coating~~ on its Interior plastics breaking down. Everything inside feels sticky to the touch, and the coating scrapes off easily leaving everything looking distinctly non premium. Actually that's an understatement - the decaying soft touch coating makes the interior actively unpleasant. I read a few forum posts about it, which suggested that you can remove the coating with isopropyl alcohol and then either re-spray or leave as bare plastic. I don't have any isopropyl alcohol, but I do have a bottle of Cif Oven Cleaner which is quite aggressive, so I figured I'd try it on an inconspicuous area (the largest piece of plastic you see when you open the door). It worked beautifully! After an hour soaking in oven cleaner, the coating could be removed in soapy water with a dish sponge. The passenger door handle came out nice enough to go straight back on the car, but the driver's side didn't look as good so I painted it with some acrylic paint from Hobbycraft and then several deliberately slightly rough coats of lacquer to mimic the semi-gloss finish. Here's the before and after: It's so much nicer. But there are a lot more sticky touch panels to fix. That looks great, nice work. Handily my wife works in a Pharmacy too if I ever need this stuff! gm and DVee8 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Can you ask her if it is still available to the general public ? I recall having a bit of a debate when I bought mine many moons ago DVee8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain_70s Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 17 hours ago, SiC said: Can you buy Webasto roof kits still? Maybe I should get one fitted and solve the one bugbear. Webastos are a shit compromise. Buy a convertible. MorrisItalSLX and BorniteIdentity 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mally Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Roadster. I did that, sold the GT and bought a Roadster. Big mistake, never gelled with it, rarely took the hood off, SiC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuvvum Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 26 minutes ago, gm said: Can you ask her if it is still available to the general public ? I recall having a bit of a debate when I bought mine many moons ago I bought some isopropyl alcohol off eBay a few weeks back, as a cheaper substitute for MAF cleaner. It's still readily available. gm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanciamatt Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 My old dedra is finally going to scrapyard today. Coprolalia, richardmorris, Austat and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrad D. Conelrad Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Why, what's wrong with it? NorthernMonkey, HarmonicCheeseburger, Six-cylinder and 16 others 3 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiC Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Let's get this out of the way first...Just a bit of t-cut, etcetera, etcetera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_lihp Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 What's the story with that one then? I'm assuming it involves a tree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17-Coffees Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Been trying to thin down the amount of cars I have, the Golf and Astra are definitely going. The Abarth has been a 'will I-Wont I' affair still, I hardly use it at what it's best at (B-Road blasts, etc) and the fuel economy is rather bad for commuting on the A90/AWPR to the point where the LS400 would be just as economic! So I decided to try WBAC for a valuation, and being honest about its condition, and they are offering me much more than I paid to buy it outright! I'm tempted to try and see what other places would give (Arnold clark, etc) and take it from there. ? DVee8, paulplom and BL Bloke 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeR Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 The C1 now has some paint and underseal on various bits of its underside for the first time in its life .. New pads and discs next time the brakes are done , which should be in about 5 years time at some 3K a year paulplom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanciamatt Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Garage roof collapsed onto it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zelandeth Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Damn. Gear selector linkage has dropped off at the box end again. Mercifully while drive was selected. Easy fix, just annoying and fiddly. Especially when it's 30C outside. Double damn! Got back and noticed the back of the van was soaked in diesel. Looks like the seal in the cap has failed and the hot weather has caused it (or more likely the air in the top of the tank - the breather is marginal) and forced it back out the filler while I was driving. Well that's the van immobilised until a new cap arrives then. HarmonicCheeseburger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitsisigma01 Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 14 minutes ago, 17-Coffees said: So I decided to try WBAC for a valuation, and being honest about its condition, and they are offering me much more than I paid to buy it outright I must look to see who is replying.... I thought this was still about the dead Dedra? 17-Coffees, HarmonicCheeseburger, Three Speed and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanciamatt Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 paulplom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitsisigma01 Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 7 minutes ago, lanciamatt said: Was it covered on your buildings insurance ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New POD Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 49 minutes ago, MikeR said: The C1 now has some paint and underseal on various bits of its underside for the first time in its life .. New pads and discs next time the brakes are done , which should be in about 5 years time at some 3K a year I've seen the way your wife drives. She brakes quite hard. No anticipation. Everything is a surprise. That was before she needed glasses. ???????????????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tadhg Tiogar Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 2 hours ago, Conrad D. Conelrad said: Why, what's wrong with it? The badges and a couple of other bits might still be salvageable... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holbeck Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Mrs h's Dacia had its first service today. 12 year old beige Modus was a surprise courtesy car. Six-cylinder, Split_Pin, nomiST and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tickman Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 1 hour ago, 17-Coffees said: Been trying to thin down the amount of cars I have, the Golf and Astra are definitely going. The Abarth has been a 'will I-Wont I' affair still, I hardly use it at what it's best at (B-Road blasts, etc) and the fuel economy is rather bad for commuting on the A90/AWPR to the point where the LS400 would be just as economic! So I decided to try WBAC for a valuation, and being honest about its condition, and they are offering me much more than I paid to buy it outright! I'm tempted to try and see what other places would give (Arnold clark, etc) and take it from there. ? Is the Minor safe from the cull? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanciamatt Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Good bye lancia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanciamatt Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 BL Bloke and Burnside 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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