What have you done to your car today?

[1000rr]

Making an iPhone dock for the car. Firstly, went to Poundland and bought an iPhone desktop charger. Then, butchered it with a dremel, cutting it to fit the ashtray. The phone sits in the cradle, and charges it at the same time, and keeps it from moving. I've trialled fitted it, and works fantastic. Tomorrow, ill use a bit of expanding foam to fill the gaps, trim it, hardwire the usb and cover it in a piece of black vinyl that i have lying around... it will look like it's always been there. When the lid of the ashtray is closed, it looks completely stock. Not bad work for £1 !

 

[Dav the wheel nut]

Today I removed the smoked rear lights and went back to oem.
Getting a clear third brake light this week to replace the smoked one which will then match the clear side indicators.

 

[BrianD]

Making an iPhone dock for the car. Firstly, went to Poundland and bought an iPhone desktop charger. Then, butchered it with a dremel, cutting it to fit the ashtray. The phone sits in the cradle, and charges it at the same time, and keeps it from moving. I've trialled fitted it, and works fantastic. Tomorrow, ill use a bit of expanding foam to fill the gaps, trim it, hardwire the usb and cover it in a piece of black vinyl that i have lying around... it will look like it's always been there. When the lid of the ashtray is closed, it looks completely stock. Not bad work for £1 !


dock (1 of 1).jpg


dock 1 (1 of 1).jpg


dock 2 (1 of 1).jpg


dock 3 (1 of 1).jpg

Nice cheap little mod

 

[BrianD]

Finally got around to sorting out my drivers seat belt which was very sluggish retracting.

I took the seat belt mechanism out to check if the plastic guide had come dislodged which fouls the belt when retracting, unfortunately the guide was in place. Sprayed a few bursts of silicon spray on the visible moving parts of the belt mechanism I could see before reinstalling it. I decided it must be dirty seat belts causing friction and slowing the belts retraction. So pulled the seat belt out as far as it would go and put a small clamp on the belt to stop it retracting. Then got half a bucket of hot water with some washing powder dissolved in it and put as much of the belt into the water as I could. Left submerged for 10 mins. then wiped belt off with micro fibre cloth, you should have seen the dirt that came off on the cloth and the colour of the water . I didn't think the belts were that dirty to be honest. Gave the belts a rinse off in cold water and then another wipe and left extended to dry. Once dry I gave then a quick spray with silicon spray, the belts certainly retract a lot quicker now, plus the belts feel better as well, so well pleased with the result

Mine are slow at retracting too, think its time to give mine a good clean, they have never been cleaned in 125k miles

 

[Swiftly]

Wow Brian, you've done 125k miles already, am impressed

 

[RickRob]

Yesterday a rose bush that has been there for at least 7 years jumped out just as I was going down the drive and put a scratch all the way down the side of the car. It could not, of course, have been my fault!

Fortunately it was only skin deep so I polished it out this afternoon.

Just be careful out there when you go near to rose bushes!

 

[Anonymous]

All I've done today is drive it.
Late afternoon trip into the Cotswolds. The sun was just about out, roof down and heated seats on. Great time.
I'm starting to trust the car now and have perfected rev matching on the downshifts. One thing I'm learning is that these cars generate a lot of grip (I certainly don't intend to find the limits), the Msport suspension is rather crude at 30mph, but out on the open road it all falls into place.

 

[Darren Slone]

Fitted my 15mm Machine Monkey spacers to the rears, filling out nicely, centre caps to follow

 

[Fullenglish]

Given the Z a good wash & vac.
Brushes up quite good for a 13 year old car.

 

[Highlander]

Eibach springs fitted all round

I'll be interested to hear your views after giving them a good test.....maybe after the euro trip......and a link to where you ordered from if possible.I've got the 3.0 SE which sits that wee bit higher again.
Cheers

Will do Ive got to wait until next weekend to get my wheels back from the finishers to see how the car sits now which is frustrating. Then after they settle I'll get the geometry adjusted all ready for a couple of thousand French miles
I bought them from the Eibach shop for £178 delivered I don't know if it was the cheapest place but after BMW quoted me £254 just for the rears it sounded cheap! see here: http://www.eibachshop.co.uk/eibach-prokit-performance-spring-kit-e10200190122_p31223213.htm#.WMUsohicaRs

Paul[/quote)
Thanks....good shout on the rear geo also from Smartbear..........have a good trip guys(not envious at all )

 

[kis]

Got my driver's side skirt mounted today period came in really good with the front bumper install. Very satisfied. Hope to get to the passenger side mounted tomorrow weather permitting. Weather is kind of crazy here right now. 70 yesterday 70 the day before expecting freeze tonight period Mother Nature has lost her mind. Posted more pics on my personal threads. Any comments . positive or negative welcome

Gotta link buddy? I'd like to see the progress

I finally had the tyres fitted to my new to me wheels that i bought on the forum from stevespg before christmas. I'm quite happy with them, even of i do say so myself
20170311_110919.jpg

The RS3's? Be interesting to hear about their wear rate... down the line

Given the Z a good wash & vac.
Brushes up quite good for a 13 year old car.

Extremely modern and somewhat ageless styling... Put a brand new number plate on and most people probably wouldn't realise its over a decade old!!

 

[Highlander]

I'll be interested to hear your views after giving them a good test.....maybe after the euro trip......and a link to where you ordered from if possible.I've got the 3.0 SE which sits that wee bit higher again.
Cheers

Will do Ive got to wait until next weekend to get my wheels back from the finishers to see how the car sits now which is frustrating. Then after they settle I'll get the geometry adjusted all ready for a couple of thousand French miles
I bought them from the Eibach shop for £178 delivered I don't know if it was the cheapest place but after BMW quoted me £254 just for the rears it sounded cheap! see here: http://www.eibachshop.co.uk/eibach-prokit-performance-spring-kit-e10200190122_p31223213.htm#.WMUsohicaRs

Paul

Had my geo adjusted recently, my rear negative camber is at 1.5degrees as opposed to 2.5degrees as standard to give the inside edge tyre edge a bit of respite :?
Rob

Thanks for the advice....if I change the springs this'll be the settings to go for...car is only used for normal,brisk road miles.

 

[kis]

Many people run a standard M set up...

 

[andystone]

New brembo discs and pads on the front, with new pad sensor. Found the annoying rattle, looking like I need a new backing plate at £57 for the part!

 

[Highlander]

Many people run a standard M set up...

I'm driving an E89 but perhaps the Geo settings are transferrable

 

[Pastry]

Thought I'd make the most of the wheels being off for a few days and paint the callipers and hubs. Just waiting for new calliper springs now..

 

[MJJamieson]

New brembo discs and pads on the front, with new pad sensor. Found the annoying rattle, looking like I need a new backing plate at £57 for the part!

Hub needs to come off to replace the backplate and destroys the bearing on removal so will also need hub replacing.

 

[sw4nny]

Removed my stubby and put the whippy back on.
Can't decide which camp I am in

 

[andystone]

New brembo discs and pads on the front, with new pad sensor. Found the annoying rattle, looking like I need a new backing plate at £57 for the part!

Hub needs to come off to replace the backplate and destroys the bearing on removal so will also need hub replacing.

Any guess on total cost?

 

[MJJamieson]

£75-£102 at Eurocarparts depending on which make you go for, i went for FAG, you will get 30% off most weekends.