Luke and his Z - Getting there!

[Machine monkey]

I will have a think about that. I am planing after I make the strut brace. To give heater controllers a surround for the sport button and then door pins ago.

Agreed the facelift bumper is so much better than what we have. What you had it just dose not look right for the car. I don't want an m bumper as its not an m. I am going to have a play with some mod dealing foam and see what I can come up with for my bumper. Something more modern and sporty hopefully.

That's very handy to know. Might be bringing a bumper your way for some paint.....

Quad exhaust new bumper some more shine bits for inside. Then refurbish the 108s and then the m3 wheels. Probably have a rest. Then maybe new m sport seats and think about a supercharger.........

I have got new brake discs and pads. Oil change for the engine gearbox and diff oil tomorrow. And hopefully fix the problem and get her running again.

 

[LukeMace]

Hopefully all goes well!
Have you had a look at the Cupra front Splitter for the front bumper? There is a thread on here about it and it looks pretty good. I almost got one but then remembered how low the car is and thought it a bad idea!!

Smashing list of 'to dos' mate! Going to look super!

Once you have done the strut brace, drop me a PM for price!

 

[Machine monkey]

I have looked at the cupra but I want something and I can't find it. I am not sure i know what it is!!!

Mine has not been lowered. But if I put anything lower I think I would lose it getting off my drive!!

Will do buddy I am hopping to make them for around £300 - £400

 

[LukeMace]

So, next thing on the list is an M steering wheel (or simply get my wheel recovered)

 

[ranski]

Get the M steering wheel - if only for it fatness!

 

[inkey$]

///M wheel makes a world of difference and once on you kind of wonder how you ever got on with the skinny one before.

 

[LukeMace]

That's what I want, the FAT wheel!
Only M wheel I can find is a few hundred pound. If I can get the standard wheel covered with a firm foam / material then wrap that after with alacatra, it may come in cheaper.

 

[Leesfarm07]

My gaiters came today, can't believe how quick that was. Only trouble was the gear one didn't have the lovely double stitching. Contacted seller who couldn't apologise enough and is sending another one. The service this guy offers is second to none and can't recommend enough

 

[Bing]

That's what I want, the FAT wheel!
Only M wheel I can find is a few hundred pound. If I can get the standard wheel covered with a firm foam / material then wrap that after with alacatra, it may come in cheaper.

You need to speak to Royal Steering Wheels IIRC - stark had his done by them, really good job. Others have had standard e85 steering wheels chunked up, or I think they keep wheels in stock so you send them yours and then they send you one straight back. About £120 I think. Have a google

 

[Leesfarm07]

Just had a quick look they do some nice stuff

 

[LukeMace]

Just had confirmation that the PKE system and Push Start were tried to be delivered yesterday... We are closed though till Tuesday!
Patience is key!!

 

[Leesfarm07]

My gaiters came today, can't believe how quick that was. Only trouble was the gear one didn't have the lovely double stitching. Contacted seller who couldn't apologise enough and is sending another one. The service this guy offers is second to none and can't recommend enough

Replacement gaiter arrived today with the correct stitching! Only trouble is car has been held up at the garage doing the hunter alignment so no car

 

[LukeMace]

My gaiters came today, can't believe how quick that was. Only trouble was the gear one didn't have the lovely double stitching. Contacted seller who couldn't apologise enough and is sending another one. The service this guy offers is second to none and can't recommend enough

Replacement gaiter arrived today with the correct stitching! Only trouble is car has been held up at the garage doing the hunter alignment so no car

My HandBrake gaiter arrived today too. Will be popping that on later this evening. Not 100% sure how the back end is secured? I am guessing its stapled / glued down? Will soon find out. I have both on hand just incase anyhows

You fitting yours today too?

 

[Leesfarm07]

No ... No car at the mo. anyway I'll let you do the experimental bit and ill lazily read the thread and look at the pics I assume these guys at Topgaiters must make these things to order as they can't possibly keep everything in stock! He said he could do any stitching colour which got me tempted to have the M blue and red but I must admit the silver looks the kiddy Off back to the garage to open up the second set of lights

 

[Swiftly]

My HandBrake gaiter arrived today too. Will be popping that on later this evening. Not 100% sure how the back end is secured? I am guessing its stapled / glued down? Will soon find out. I have both on hand just incase anyhows

You fitting yours today too?

I have just replaced my gear and hand break gaiters today. The hand break gaiter is glued on and is a bit of a pain to remove. The new gaiter took me about 3 hours to fit, mainly due to having to wait for the glue to dry before I could move on. It is a bit of a faff to get just right, but well worth it when you see the final result. I also had a bit of trimming to due to get the perfect fit, but there is plenty of excess material provided. I used Evostick contact adhesive which did the job a treat. I will try and get some pictures taken.

Good luck and looking forward to seeing the end result

 

[LukeMace]

Half way through changing this Handbrake Gaiter... FIDLY!!!

Have taken pics along the way so will pop them up when I'm done

 

[LukeMace]

Now that's not a job I would like to do again any time soon!!
You just have to be very patient to get everything line up, held in position, good with angles to get the corners as they should be...!!!

Few pics from start to finish.
I am going to be letting it dry over night so I won't have a picture of it on the car till the morning sometime

Start:

Get fingers under the padded area

Pull gaiter back and cut off cable ties

Start taking off the old gaiter!

The outside edge came out pretty easy. I found the easiest way to get the centre part of the gaiter off was to push up from the back like this

I was then left with this...

Had to get it finished now!!

Tools that I used...
Glue, scissors (ended up using my little boys nail scissors which were much easier to use!) that's about it! And a lot of patience!!

I then glued in the centre part round the top and down the inside and let that set for a min or two. I figured if I started in the centre and pulled outwards I could get it tight and tidy.
After gluing the centre I pulled each side tight and glued a strip on each side and the top (not corners yet though.)

I then finished off the rear (the easiest part!!) which came out quite nice. The edges are not bad to get around so I was pretty happy with that.

All the time I was working I ha the gaiter pulled in on its self so it was inside out. So as to not get any glue etc on the part you would see!

I then carefully and patiently pulled and stretched the edges tight, cutting angled slits to get the edges crisp.

After about half hour of gluing stretching, cutting, trimming this was the end result...

I'm very happy with the result and even more happy I ended up finishing it and not smashing the thing!!!
Can't wait to get it one the car tomorrow.

The gear knob gaiter was a walk in the park compared to this one!!

 

[Swiftly]

Nice write up

Got to agree with you it is not a job I would want to undertake again in a hurrry, but the end result is well worth the effort though.

 

[Leesfarm07]

OMG.... I've got this to come. I didn't realise the new leather covered the padded bit as well. Please be near the computer when I do mine

 

[Swiftly]

OMG.... I've got this to come. I didn't realise the new leather covered the padded bit as well. Please be near the computer when I do mine

Its not that bad really. Just need to take your time and if you follow Lukes write up it will keep you on the right track.

This is how my new gaiters turned out http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=45557&start=45