MOT Time and More

[Matty_Z4]

MOT time has arrived and my Z has gone through its first test in my possession. It come back with a weeping NS front shock (advisory) and a binding front brake caliper ( I knew about the brake as it was pulling left under moderate braking) I was more worried about my steamy headlamps than my brakes :O

So my mechanic has done all the good stuff, new caliper and brake fluid (again, how lucky is my Z doesn't have a fluid change for 8 years then gets 2 in the same year) So the brakes are nice and crispy have a new certificate for the next year things are looking up.

He also had a look at the rattle that has been plaguing my car and despite my worries that its going to be expensive it turns out it could be one of 2 things a baffle/ceramic rattling in the secondary cat or the Automatic transmission flex plate. He is 99% sure its the cat so sent me up to a exhaust guy who has been on a test drive and thinks its the cat so thats all booked to have that sorted yay.

I have been out for a drive this morning and noticed that my mirror glass has literally gone from doing its job to all crusty overnight it did freeze last night but wasnt anything crazy just maybe -1c or -2c and now my glass looks like this.



First look I panicked as i hear the stories of alien blood damaging paint and stuff, then remembered it is just a heated mirror not auto dimming so should be ok. It looks like the plastic lens/heating element has laminated and gone all funky, but the crazy thing is this has literally happened overnight as yesterday it was doing its job perfectly as a mirror now I cant see jack out of it. How difficult is this to replace is it just held in by clips?

EDIT: ** Ive been looking at that photo thiniing somethings not quite right as the grey/black thing is plastic not glass. Went to the end of my road and guess what I find smashed on the floor yep my mirror glass. So the glass has delaminated from the heating element and failed so I think I need a whole glass assembly with the heater.



I also guess im going to have to do my roof drains soon as well, Ive seen a small puddle like this twice now once the evening after a 3 hour drive in heavy rain and once when I took the car in to be detailed.

 

[adam04]

Mirror glass falling out is fairly common, a quick search will show many others with the same issue. An easy and quick replacement youll be pleased to know!

Drains again are fairly simple, has your motor been relocated? It may be worth looking into in the future as its likely been sat in water. But we are coming into the summer months so get them cleaned and you should be okay through the drier months.

 

[buzyg]

Not seen that before. Usually the glass just falls out, because the glue has dried up due to the heater. Get a new glass, carefully prize that one off and glue the new one in.

 

[patriot66]

If you're getting a puddle in that spot either side then your drains must be working. However, they may still be partially blocked. To check how freely they drain I regularly just raise the hood and put a funnel in the edge of the hood about 2 inches from the door and carefully pour 1 litre of water in (not down the side of the car !) and using another measuring jug under that corner of the sill I try to catch approx 1 litre of water as it drains through. If it takes ages or you don't get your litre back then you've got a blocked or partially blocked drain

 

[earthdweller]

If you're getting a puddle in that spot either side then your drains must be working. However, they may still be partially blocked. To check how freely they drain I regularly just raise the hood and put a funnel in the edge of the hood about 2 inches from the door and carefully pour 1 litre of water in (not down the side of the car !) and using another measuring jug under that corner of the sill I try to catch approx 1 litre of water as it drains through. If it takes ages or you don't get your litre back then you've got a blocked or partially blocked drain

Like that idea

 

[Matty_Z4]

The roof motor hasn't been moved as far as I can tell (its not in the boot at least), I would be looking at moving it in the future but not in the short term want to try and get the car back unto scratch first.

The puddle only appears on the drivers side never noticed on the passengers side, and that photo was a good 4-5 hours after the rain stopped and dried up. So I think that ones at least partially blocked.