The new news 24 thread

[cort1977]

Top tip there; I have a Passat that suffers from the same malady so will give it a go.

[gm]

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  

[Rod/b]

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. 
 

 

 

 

[SiC]

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. 

[SiC]

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. 

[Split_Pin]

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]

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  

[captain_70s]

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.

[Mally]

Roadster.

I did that, sold the GT  and bought a Roadster.  Big mistake, never gelled with it, rarely took the hood off,

[wuvvum]

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.

[lanciamatt]

My old dedra is finally going to scrapyard today. 

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Why, what's wrong with it?

[SiC]

Let's get this out of the way first...
Just a bit of t-cut, etcetera, etcetera.

[phil_lihp]

What's the story with that one then?  I'm assuming it involves a tree.

[17-Coffees]

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. ?

[MikeR]

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 

[lanciamatt]

Garage roof collapsed onto it. 

[Zelandeth]

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.

[mitsisigma01]

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?

[lanciamatt]

[mitsisigma01]

7 minutes ago, lanciamatt said:

Was it covered on your buildings insurance ??

[New POD]

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. 

????????????????

[Tadhg Tiogar]

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...

[holbeck]

 

Mrs h's Dacia had its first service today.  12 year old beige Modus was a surprise courtesy car.

[Tickman]

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?

[lanciamatt]

Good bye lancia. 

[lanciamatt]

[loserone]

21 minutes ago, lanciamatt said:

Good bye lancia. 

Did someone say August 2021?

[17-Coffees]

52 minutes ago, Tickman said:

Is the Minor safe from the cull?

For the time being, definitely! It's safe in the garage and takes up little space. The Golf and Astra are the main ones I'm wanting rid of as the Abarth fills the role of being an car. 

I do really need to start playing with the Minor again though, 5 months of no work is giving me less and less motivation sadly.

 

[Tickman]

Glad it is safe at least for now.

If it is ever getting culled let me know please.