Coupe modifications so far .............Latest update - Carbon Roof

[1536Z4]

I have been meaning to do this for a while so here goes . I bought my 2008 Montego Blue Coupe in July 2020 during Covid unseen ( yes madness ) but I just loved how it looked and it was delivered to me all the way from Wiltshire to Shropshire .

Bear with me whilst I go through my photos and add comments .

I think the first mod was having the wheels powdercoated black . Not to everyones taste I know ( Mr Tidy )

[1536Z4]

Next was changing the silver headlights to black . These needed some work but came out looking fine . I also removed the fog lights and replaced them with colour matched blanks .

[1536Z4]

Next was changing suspension to BC Racing coilovers with rear Millway reinforcement plates . H & R anti roll bars front and rear . Adjustable rear camber arms . Meyle HD front suspension arms. Adjustable front drop links . Powerflex Black series trailing arm bushes . Braided brake hoses . Stripped and rebuilt brake calipers including brass slider bushes and powdercoated black.

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[Mr Tidy]

It seems my dislike of black wheels is becoming common knowledge, but so long as you like them that's irrelevant - it's your car.

Might as well ditch the foglights as they're a PITA, and when did any of us actually use them?

Montego Blue with Pearl Grey is a great combination, and the other mods so far look great.

It may have been a brave purchase at the time but we all needed something to cheer us up at the time. I only bought my MC 3 months before lockdown and wondered if I had made a big mistake, but it turned out I hadn't.

Although you could have bought my Montego Blue with Pearl Grey E86 in February 2020.

[1536Z4]

Next Ultra racing 3 point front strut brace powdercoated black and Eisenmann Race Backbox which sounds great . I have just sold the backbox to a forum member but only for one reason which will come later in the build

[1536Z4]

Although you could have bought my Montego Blue with Pearl Grey E86 in February 2020.

I would have but I think yours was a manual and due to a knackered left leg I can no longer use a clutch pedal

[Mr Tidy]

Mr Tidy wrote: ↑Sun Oct 01, 2023 8:01 pm
Although you could have bought my Montego Blue with Pearl Grey E86 in February 2020.
I would have but I think yours was a manual and due to a knackered left leg I can no longer use a clutch pedal

Fair enough - mine was indeed manual. I'll stick with 3 pedals for as long as I can still operate them all.

But I expect the Autos with 6 speeds are worlds different to the last Auto (4 speed) I had in a 1994 Mercedes C280!

[1536Z4]

Then I went a bit mad and decided to try and make a part kevlar airbox . I made a mold of the top and then laid the carbon/kevlar and epoxy resin in . I smoothed out the inside of the airbox and drilled some holes . I then covered this in some carbon / kevlar .

My intention was to try and get more resonance but it didn`t really work . I later realised that the kevlar is more for strength than resonance which is why companies use just carbon .

It was good experience though .

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[1536Z4]

But I expect the Autos with 6 speeds are worlds different

Especially with the xHP maps they make a world of difference

[1536Z4]

Ok next I think was the wet sanding !!!!! This all started out well as I knew that there were a couple of deep scratches and the paintwork looked ok from a distance but I wasn`t completely happy with it so why not . I had done it before so pretty happy with the process .

However after finishing the wet sanding and polishing up I noticed that all was not right . The paint in some areas just didn`t look right so I took it to a local paint specialist and he pointed out that it had been resprayed at some point and not very well and even pointed out a paint run on the inside of the boot . I handed the car over to him and he resprayed the areas that needed it and I couldn`t tell where he had sprayed it was so good .
If my memory is correct I am sure he said there were 5 different Montego Blues and he tried samples of them all against the original to get the right match . This is probably why when you buy colour match spray cans they dont always match .

[1536Z4]

Next I changed the throttle body to a second hand and cheap N54 one as it is supposed to be slightly better and larger than the N52 . I did clean it first not like in the photo . It works fine but could`nt tell you if it makes bugger all difference

Also fitted a BMC filter and removed the intake and sound generator and replaced with a silicone hose .

[darich]

Mr Tidy wrote: ↑Sun Oct 01, 2023 8:01 pm
Although you could have bought my Montego Blue with Pearl Grey E86 in February 2020.
I would have but I think yours was a manual and due to a knackered left leg I can no longer use a clutch pedal

Fair enough - mine was indeed manual. I'll stick with 3 pedals for as long as I can still operate them all.

But I expect the Autos with 6 speeds are worlds different to the last Auto (4 speed) I had in a 1994 Mercedes C280!

My last 2 daily drivers have been autos....both Audis with the 7 speed DSG box. Gear changes are so quick and seamless, you genuinely don't feel them....amazing.
I'm not going back to manual for my daily, but I love my manual E86

[Ed Doe]

Cracking thread this, some nice mods going on!

What make are those droplinks - got a link for them?

[1536Z4]

What make are those droplinks - got a link for them?

Got them from a company called spring loaded but are under the name of RoadNutz - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234181208495 or here https://www.spring-loaded.co.uk/proddet ... F2006-2009

Works out cheaper to buy from spring loaded direct rather than ebay .

[1536Z4]

Sound deadening the boot area .