Imhotep's ever changing fleet - AX GT, MG ZS180 - Still improving MG

[Imhotep]

Decided to just make one thread to update as I'm sick of having to find each thread, so I haven't updated any really, so one thread for whole fleet seems best.

Previous threads are all linked below:

https://autoshite.com/topic/53532-imhotep’s-daily-fleet-bmw-adventure-part-2-mot-pass/

https://autoshite.com/topic/53448-citroen-ax-gt-shenanigans/

https://autoshite.com/topic/59659-weird-not-bike-or-car-shite-collection/

Anyway, to the present.

I've done nothing with the AX GT for quite a long time. I need to do something with it ideally but life is very in the way at the moment and every time I get some free money I end up having some sort of emergency requiring me to spend it. First it was the Saab broke, then the Mondeo I replaced it with broke, then some Xbox games came out, then my brain wanted a 3 series. I will likely get on with this in 2025 in some capacity even if it's just something like fitting the window motors and having the alloys refurbed ready to be put back on. I also need to clean the garage out and sell the spares. I essentially have the AX GT and an entire AX in parts in the garage, so there's likely £400 or so of spares there which I could put into the kitty to repair it/buy parts for it, it's just finding the motivation. I also need to do a head gasket swap on the thing as it's an all alloy engine that's been sat for years and it's good practice. Can't believe I've had the thing 4 years next week.

 

 

Sinclair C5 - Not done loads with as yet but I took it out the garage last week to assess and try to clean it up a bit before I promptly realised I was more ill than I thought (had a bad cold) and gave up. Originally I wanted this to be a quick project, so I put it in the garage in July and then forgot I owned it. Good work me. Here's some photos anyhow mind:

So first was just a general damage assessment, the top part is somehow bent but I have a heat gun so I'll try to gently bring this back:

Also has a hole in, but I'm going to try fibreglass repair on that:

Couldn't find anything to clean it with that worked (needed to buy some G3 really and have since got some, but I won't be able to do it this side of Christmas), tried toothpaste to mild success:

 

Most of my focus recently has been on my BMW, which has very recently started this really annoying habit of not starting when the engine is warm. This is a huge issue at petrol stations and I'm genuinely scared to fill the car up as nothing can bring it back until the car has cooled down a bit. This all came to a head Saturday when shopping at my local reuse centre and finding a Denon stereo I didn't buy (already got one of these but the newer model):

And then some micro machines that I got for the kids, apparently. (Bollocks, they're for me):

 

So, shortly after buying these, I come back out to the car ready to go home with my purchases. Get in the car. Starts cranking slowly like the battery is flat. 'Great', I sit there thinking, as this is the symptom it gives when it won't start warm. Usually I have to leave it for a bit to get it fired up and it's good to go. Waited 10 minutes (usually enough), same slow crank. No use. Wait another 10, same slow crank followed by a tyre pressure failure and a traction control failure. Well shit, I've flattened the battery. Big shout out to the lads working at Reusers Sutton Coldfield who pushed the BMW all the way to the end of the industrial estate while we tried to unsuccessfully bump start the car to Sutton Car Care Centre, and shout out to them for jump starting the car FOC after it cooled down too. They all earned their good karma that day, and I do mean to take them some cake or something as soon as I can reasonably expect the car to start again.

So following this I took some battery measurements. Unsurprisingly the 10 year old OEM BMW battery was dying, so new battery purchased. I wasn't sure if this was the fault or not (it wasn't, as it transpires), but it needed sorting, so that was done:

New battery fitted and coded in (you have to tell an F30 it has a new battery else it won't charge properly) - The car had 27(!) faults related to voltage and one related to my A/C compressor clutch, which likely explains why the A/C doesn't work, but that can wait. Cleared and all bar the A/C fault went away, so the battery definitely was on the way out. Not a completely wasted purchase then. I'm impressed the OEM battery lasted nearly 11 years though, good work BMW. However I had to keep hunting. After doing a dive into forums I found the earth straps can cause this, so this evening after work I got under the car in the cold and wet and had a look, and yup, I'd say that'll be it. It shouldn't be green and if you zoom in on the side above the exhaust flexi it's really heavily corroded too. So I've ordered one of those (only €17), and I'll get that fitted as soon as I can. Hopefully that should be the spends for the BMW finished then, just needs a new DRL bulb as it blew yesterday and it's back to normal thankfully! It's all good having projects, but the daily driver has to come first... And on the upside, changing the battery meant I found the missing screwdriver from the toolkit.

 

Really looking forward to getting stuck into the C5 and the AX GT to be honest.

[Imhotep]

Stupid small part arrived, this is the gearbox to bodywork earth strap and likely the culprit of my slow/occasional non-start issue:

 

Nice quick job. Went to do it tonight, ramps and trolley jack don't fit under car. Bollocks. Luckily, because I live in a terrible area, when we had the storm last week it's took a fence down nearby, and because I live in a terrible area, that won't ever be fixed, so I'm going to go out and pinch one or two of the fence panels to drive the car onto so I can get the jack under it this weekend. 

Unfortunately, despite me treating the car nicely (I even washed it ffs), I was greeted with this when I left for work this morning:

 

This lamp was replaced when the car was involved in a knock a few months ago and it broke a headlight clip. I didn't renew the bulbs etc as they all worked, so fingers crossed it might just be one of the little gaskets around the bulb...

Still, I suppose for 128k and 10 years old I could have far worse.

[Imhotep]

Unfortunately I can’t upload photos so I’ll have a quick rundown of what’s happened:

C5 is in the process of being totally stripped. I need to get the frame repaired/replaced as it’s split. I think is repairable because it isn’t as if it’s a car so I can have it welded up. I feel like returning it to stock but I may have to make the wiring up as I’m really struggling to find parts. Might see if there’s a battery upgrade I can perform too as I can’t imagine there’s a 1980s battery that’s any good any more. 

BMW still hasn’t had new Earth strap yet because I’ve screwed my back up to the extent even strong painkillers aren’t touching it. Despite having the part and it’ll end up costing me more I may have to throw it into a garage unless anyone in the West Midlands wants to fit it for beer money for me?

As it’s a new year I’ve decided to have a hankering for another car to add to the fleet (thus delaying the AX further), and I’ve decided this will be an MG ZS 180. Can’t seem to find one but I’ll get around to it.

[Zelandeth]

Probably the single best two upgrades that you can make on a C5 without major changes is switching to a lithium iron phosphate battery and adding a disc brake to the front wheel.  That vastly improves on the stock (read: Terrible) braking performance, reduces weight a fair chunk and should double the usable range.

Obviously transplanting the whole guts of an E-bike/scooter is another option, but that's both more expensive and involves major changes to how drive is transmitted etc.

[Imhotep]

Still not managed to do the earth strap on the BMW (yes, it takes THIS long). Unfortunately I have a slipped disc in my back and it’s been bad recently, especially with the cold weather. Got one day last week to do it and I decided to go back to bed instead when I saw the car:

 

At a point now where I’ve decided to actively start searching for a welder for the AX GT. This is my way of saying if anyone fancies taking a very rusty AX GT on then please speak to me, there’s no time limit, transport can be arranged and it starts, runs, drives and stops (with a jump anyway as the battery is knackered). I’ve decided to start actually doing all the projects that are sat, and as weird as this sounds I think there’s a lot of healing for me mentally if I can get that AX GT repaired so it’s time. 

Sinclair C5 is coming back out next week to be cleaned up and stored for a while. In my list of projects the AX is first because I’m sick of the poor thing looking like this:

 

Deserves better than that. It’s a cool car with some decent engine modifications and the uprated suspension makes it handle really well. 

 

[Imhotep]

On 26/12/2024 at 19:19, Zelandeth said:

Probably the single best two upgrades that you can make on a C5 without major changes is switching to a lithium iron phosphate battery and adding a disc brake to the front wheel.  That vastly improves on the stock (read: Terrible) braking performance, reduces weight a fair chunk and should double the usable range.

Obviously transplanting the whole guts of an E-bike/scooter is another option, but that's both more expensive and involves major changes to how drive is transmitted etc.

Unsure how I missed this reply, apologies. However yes the brakes are something I was looking into. I do need to sort the chassis etc first. Essentially all I have is the actual body and a cracked frame. I’m not sure how easy or hard the parts are to get but I will certainly be looking to get what I can when I can. I may have a company make a new loom for me rather than trust a 40 year old one I find online…

[Erebus]

@Jikovron Is a obviously a great welder and not a million miles away from you

[Zelandeth]

26 minutes ago, Imhotep said:

Unsure how I missed this reply, apologies. However yes the brakes are something I was looking into. I do need to sort the chassis etc first. Essentially all I have is the actual body and a cracked frame. I’m not sure how easy or hard the parts are to get but I will certainly be looking to get what I can when I can. I may have a company make a new loom for me rather than trust a 40 year old one I find online…

I have a "spares" machine here which in all reality I'm never going to do anything with and has just been getting slowly buried behind the shed for the last several years.  I can't remember what shape the chassis was in, but I can take a look.  If it's better than yours you'd be welcome to it.  Will attempt to dig it out and grab a photo tomorrow.  To be honest if you want the whole thing you'd be welcome to it.  My "good" one is exceptionally scruffy but actually works pretty well - even if the front brake did explode last time I had it out...

For all their limitations and flaws they are a lot of fun to ride.  Here's mine a couple of years ago.

Oh...or a year or two before that when I took it with us when we went on a week away at Center Parcs, not as though we got *any* baffled looks from other motorists on the way there...

We're just a perfectly normal family away on a holiday, not at all eccentric...why would you have ever thought otherwise?

[Imhotep]

46 minutes ago, Zelandeth said:

I have a "spares" machine here which in all reality I'm never going to do anything with and has just been getting slowly buried behind the shed for the last several years.  I can't remember what shape the chassis was in, but I can take a look.  If it's better than yours you'd be welcome to it.  Will attempt to dig it out and grab a photo tomorrow.  To be honest if you want the whole thing you'd be welcome to it.  My "good" one is exceptionally scruffy but actually works pretty well - even if the front brake did explode last time I had it out...

For all their limitations and flaws they are a lot of fun to ride.  Here's mine a couple of years ago.

Oh...or a year or two before that when I took it with us when we went on a week away at Center Parcs, not as though we got *any* baffled looks from other motorists on the way there...

We're just a perfectly normal family away on a holiday, not at all eccentric...why would you have ever thought otherwise?

That I would be very interested in, what kind of monies are you looking at? 
 

Also that Lada is great, my grandparents had a few of them, I don’t know if they and a Riva but they definitely had a Samara Flyte… 

[wesacosa]

7 hours ago, Imhotep said:

That I would be very interested in, what kind of monies are you looking at? 
 

Also that Lada is great, my grandparents had a few of them, I don’t know if they and a Riva but they definitely had a Samara Flyte… 

Not sure what's better, the Samara Flyte or the TAT number plate!

Regarding the C5, if you haven't already I'd suggest joining the C5 owners club group on Facebook.  Also the C5 alive website has a lot of useful documents to download , and this series of videos is great to see how it all works and goes together 

 

Some before and after pics of mine 

 

 

[Imhotep]

10 hours ago, Erebus said:

@Jikovron Is a obviously a great welder and not a million miles away from you

@Jikovron if you’ve ever got any free time at all let me know, I’ve got some of the panels etc ready to go but may need to source sills…

[Jikovron]

10 hours ago, Imhotep said:

@Jikovron if you’ve ever got any free time at all let me know, I’ve got some of the panels etc ready to go but may need to source sills…

Yeah always welcomed any time, we've got abit of a hill to crest but I'm hopeful in a few weeks it will be sorted 

[Imhotep]

1 hour ago, Jikovron said:

Yeah always welcomed any time, we've got abit of a hill to crest but I'm hopeful in a few weeks it will be sorted 

Good to hear, I’ll drop you a PM later on with some details, obviously no rush on anything at all, it can sit in my garage for as long as needed really!

[Imhotep]

BMW finally has a new Earth strap. Very big thanks to @Heidel_Kakao for swapping the Earth straps for me, especially as a 10 minute job ended up taking longer thanks to seized bolts! Now starts every time, and cranks over a lot faster than it used to. I no longer have a little feeling of dread setting in at petrol stations about the car not starting. Just air con next and it’s basically functional again. 

[Heidel_Kakao]

No problem mate happy to help, it really would have been a 10 minute job if the under trays weren't there.

[Spiny Norman]

1 hour ago, Imhotep said:

 I no longer have a little feeling of dread setting in at petrol stations about the car not starting.

Sorry, I had a little chuckle at the notion of you, the man who has given his name to the low fuel warning light, ever visiting a petrol station... 🤣

[Imhotep]

17 hours ago, Spiny Norman said:

Sorry, I had a little chuckle at the notion of you, the man who has given his name to the low fuel warning light, ever visiting a petrol station... 🤣

Very fair assessment, I had an excuse with this one, it terrified me doing it because the amount of times it wouldn’t start again!

[ruffgeezer]

On 15/01/2025 at 21:04, Imhotep said:

Good to hear, I’ll drop you a PM later on with some details, obviously no rush on anything at all, it can sit in my garage for as long as needed really!

I've still that Mk2 forte shell to strip here, not sure how bad yours is or if you'd want to use it for body cuts? It's got all the fixtures for the body kit clips to attach to.

[Imhotep]

2 hours ago, ruffgeezer said:

I've still that Mk2 forte shell to strip here, not sure how bad yours is or if you'd want to use it for body cuts? It's got all the fixtures for the body kit clips to attach to.

That could tempt me, ideally I’ll wait until it’s basically a shell though as I’d need both inner wings and the sills cutting out, was a 3 door if I remember right wasn’t it?

[ruffgeezer]

Yeah, it had the full gr kit and is a 3dr.

[Imhotep]

6 minutes ago, ruffgeezer said:

Yeah, it had the full gr kit and is a 3dr.

How are the sills on it? Could be very useful for shell cuts that!

[Bear]

On 14/01/2025 at 22:37, Imhotep said:

Unsure how I missed this reply, apologies. However yes the brakes are something I was looking into. I do need to sort the chassis etc first. Essentially all I have is the actual body and a cracked frame. I’m not sure how easy or hard the parts are to get but I will certainly be looking to get what I can when I can. I may have a company make a new loom for me rather than trust a 40 year old one I find online…

C5 projects and mods Facebook group. One guy on there always breaking up C5s and was giving away bodyshells. Allegedly. I say this because I wanted to get them and I just found dealing with him to be the single most infuriating experience of my life. But he's in Barwell, so midlands-ish...

[Imhotep]

1 minute ago, RichardK said:

C5 projects and mods Facebook group. One guy on there always breaking up C5s and was giving away bodyshells. Allegedly. I say this because I wanted to get them and I just found dealing with him to be the single most infuriating experience of my life. But he's in Barwell, so midlands-ish...

Is his name Sam? That’s where my C5 shell came from. I think he was Barwell area if I remember rightly. 

[Bear]

2 minutes ago, Imhotep said:

Is his name Sam? That’s where my C5 shell came from. I think he was Barwell area if I remember rightly. 

No, Jon Webster - he makes modified parts and can't be as dense as he seems when trying to get bits (and pay for some at that).

[Imhotep]

4 minutes ago, RichardK said:

No, Jon Webster - he makes modified parts and can't be as dense as he seems when trying to get bits (and pay for some at that).

I do want to sort the C5 out, issue I’m having is actually transporting some of the larger stuff. In my infinite wisdom I got a saloon with seats that don’t fold down. Should have got an estate…

[Imhotep]

So my work finally got the news I knew was eventually coming, but not for years. We are moving office to a more suitable location. It doesn’t strictly take me through CAZ but CAZ would be the fastest way. I don’t want to pay £160 a month in clean air zone fees so I ignored everybody and bought a Monogram MG ZS180 anyway. Means I need to (genuinely very sadly, because I love it) move the BMW on. There’s a lot to say about ULEZ/CAZ and wasting perfectly usable vehicles, but I won’t turn this into a rant, and to be honest, selling the BMW will pay off a substantial amount of debt, so there’s a good side to this.

Anyway, new car:

[Heidel_Kakao]

Looks good that, I like the spoiler. My ZT is the first KV6 I have experienced and I must say it's a nice engine, I appreciate the muted but pleasing growl it makes.

[Imhotep]

3 hours ago, Heidel_Kakao said:

Looks good that, I like the spoiler. My ZT is the first KV6 I have experienced and I must say it's a nice engine, I appreciate the muted but pleasing growl it makes.

I’ve had a Rover 75 auto with it in before but I’m very surprised about the ZS. I was expecting it to just feel like a 45 with a huge engine but MG really have worked the suspension, entirely different drive, I really like it. 

[Imhotep]

Anyhow, took it out for a shakedown today. The clutch pedal has a snapped clip so I need to sort that as the pedal (not the bite, the actual pedal) is really high. Garage can sort that as my back has been awful the last few months. We did some digging and for the anoraks out there this was the first of nine ZS180s to have Monogram Typhoon as a colour and first of four ZS hatchbacks to have it. Few daylight photos below. I am aware the steering wheel is wrong, I have the right one in the boot:

[Imhotep]

Clutch pedal on this since I bought it has been touching the dashboard when resting. Garage have fitted a new clutch master cylinder, advised the pedal box is very worn out (apparently that’s a thing), but at least I have an actual bite point and a pedal I don’t have to look for now which is nice. Immobiliser is playing silly beggars too, keeps bleeping at me and refusing to let the car start. Apparently this is a common fault but I’m not 100% how to fix it. And one for Rover/MG lickers - the fuel gauge doesn’t move down to 0 when I turn the engine off, is this normal? 
 

 

As I have no other photos to share, please see a photo of some quality parking in my street. No, the handbrake has not slipped off.