TG's stratus grey coupe

[tee.gilding]

So it's probably about time I posted an update for the coupe - it's been a few months now! Since the last time I posted in this thread I have:

• Adjusted the ride height - about 12mm higher at the rear, about 3mm higher at the front

• Adjusted the damper rates - roughly halfway through the range at the front, roughly 30% at the rear

• Fitted dimpled/grooved MTEC discs all round

• Replaced all four pads with Brembo stoppers

• Rebuilt the front calipers - front right was getting sticky...

• Upgraded to braided Goodridge brake hoses

• Swapped the stock grilles for gloss black grilles

• Had the roof wrapped in gloss black

Some pics from the South Downs Run in September, at BMW HQ Farnborough and at Goodwood Circuit:

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And the roof wrap:

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I also had a good friend do this custom artwork for my zed, which is now sitting proudly on the wall in my study:

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[tee.gilding]

With the new year comes new things to do to the car... right? At some stage in the not-too-distant I'll be replacing the front lower control arms (MOT advisory on excessive play in the ball joint) and fitting some poly bushes to replace the old RTABs which I think have decided they've had enough. I'm also planning on replacing the headlight bulbs with some bright HID-effect bulbs as the current bulbs are about as bright as a tealight candle. Also looking to either polish up the exhaust tips or replace them with some new ones, clean and paint the calipers, and drop in a K&N or BMC panel filter.

[mr wilks]

Lovely car refreshing to see no hint of CSL in the plans

[tee.gilding]

Lovely car refreshing to see no hint of CSL in the plans

I prefer to innovate rather than replicate...

[SamP84]

Hi Tee,
Love those wheels! Your car is stunning... funny, you nearly went for my wheels and I very nearly went for yours.

I will get the exhaust tips link for you... not sure if they are in stock at the moment. Quality is good but not epic but they fit well and look very good. For about £20 you can’t go wrong.

[SamP84]

Tips

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B017XLG2H8? ... ag=z4fo-21

[tee.gilding]

Hi Tee,
Love those wheels! Your car is stunning... funny, you nearly went for my wheels and I very nearly went for yours.

I will get the exhaust tips link for you... not sure if they are in stock at the moment. Quality is good but not epic but they fit well and look very good. For about £20 you can’t go wrong.

Thanks for the kind words, and for the link! Do they just slip over the OEM ones, or do you need to remove them first?? I'm wondering if just dropping the exhaust and polishing them with some Autosol might get the same result for £6 and a bit more time and effort?

[mj2k]

That looks stunning! Just caught up on this thread, the REALLY low setting had me cringe a little but it looks great now...makes my old one look like it was on stilts, or some sort of clown car!!

Damn, I miss my Stratus coupe, such a stunning colour & the way it changes in the light.

I remember it aways being a car I'd look back at after parking and walking away.

Was hoping to pick up my M4 with Stratus and Amarone to keep the theme going, but could not locate one, so ended up with Mineral White CP on black 666s, love it!

That art by you friend is great - did it take him long to do? Quite fancy one of those myself, as a desktop image. Dream would be one of my Z4C, the Z4M and the daily M4, but I imagine that would be a long old job lol.

Although just noticed he gave you orange indicators

[Trav]

Snice

[SamP84]

Hi Tee,
Love those wheels! Your car is stunning... funny, you nearly went for my wheels and I very nearly went for yours.

I will get the exhaust tips link for you... not sure if they are in stock at the moment. Quality is good but not epic but they fit well and look very good. For about £20 you can’t go wrong.

Thanks for the kind words, and for the link! Do they just slip over the OEM ones, or do you need to remove them first?? I'm wondering if just dropping the exhaust and polishing them with some Autosol might get the same result for £6 and a bit more time and effort?

Evening, the tips you have at the moment pull off. You could easily polish them up with elbow grease and autosol.

Where in Hampshire are you? I used to live in Odiham.

[tee.gilding]

Hi Tee,
Love those wheels! Your car is stunning... funny, you nearly went for my wheels and I very nearly went for yours.

I will get the exhaust tips link for you... not sure if they are in stock at the moment. Quality is good but not epic but they fit well and look very good. For about £20 you can’t go wrong.

Thanks for the kind words, and for the link! Do they just slip over the OEM ones, or do you need to remove them first?? I'm wondering if just dropping the exhaust and polishing them with some Autosol might get the same result for £6 and a bit more time and effort?

Evening, the tips you have at the moment pull off. You could easily polish them up with elbow grease and autosol.

Where in Hampshire are you? I used to live in Odiham.

I think you lived at pretty much the opposite end of the county from me. I live in Ringwood, right on the edge of the New Forest, bordering Dorset.

Might have to have a go at polishing the OEM tips this weekend...

[tee.gilding]

Gave her a wash and wax yesterday, then headed out for a drive with the Mrs.

Snowfoam pre-wash with Poorboy's snowfoam, two-bucket wash with Autoglym shampoo, then a couple of coats of Poorboy's Natty's Paste Wax to (hopefully) keep her shining for a few weeks!

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On the drive I noticed the front end has a light knock every now and then and there's a little bit of a shudder from the steering/front wheels above 65 mph - I think the lower control arms might need some attention... ?

[tee.gilding]

Washed the zed and decided to try my hand at an industrial style photoshoot. Took her down the road to my local industrial estate and snapped a few pics while the sun dropped. Pretty happy with the results, but I've definitely got a long way to go to reach the standards of the big guns out there!

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[mj2k]

Every time I see this I miss mine

[DOOM]