New Mini Project

[simonbuk]

Well i picked up a new motor on thursday.

Drove it 180 miles home and all was good. It was picked up by a local garage after purchase as it only had a few days left to run on the MOT and was unknown to me.
Rear brakes were seized on but only turned out to be the handbrake cable that was seized, and one of the headlight pods wasn't coming up (blown fuse). Got a new MOT with a couple of advisories.
Oil and filter change and brake fluid change and it was good to go. Just had a look at the air filter and its like new so probably didn't need an oil change as found a receipt for a service last June but never mind.

Bad things.

Nothing so far ! Nothing jumps out as anything bad, nothing has surprised me (you might be able to tell it was bought unseen )

Normal things.

A pillar seals shot (got a new pair in the garage).
Carpet trim on the door panels needs reattaching.
Rusty door speakers.
Needs a good clean inside.
Wobbly drivers window.
Drivers side seat bolster slightly worn.
Lower front rubber lip partially missing. Its odd that it has two corners but the main middle section is missing ? I always thought these were one long rubber strip ?

Average things.

Bodywork is reasonable, a couple of small scuffs on a couple of corners, some chips here and there and a bit of stone rash on the lower side skirts. can definatly make them look better with a good polish/touch up.
Paint worn where rear hood sits.
Interior is tidy.
Engine bay is a bit dirty and some parts rusty in places.

Good things.

Wheels are great condition.
Has a PNM front brake upgrade kit.
Just found receipts for PNM rear upgrade kit too (although this receipt is 2014, didn't think they were doing them then so not too sure of the spec ?)
S/steel exhaust (not too sure what make currently.)
Gaz shocks and springs kit. (spec unkown currently)
Roof looks in good condition, must have had a new one at some point i believe.
Nardi steering wheel.
The chassis was removed, shot blasted, repaired, painted in 2019. General overhaul (underhaul ?) of other components when being put back together.
Has had an aftermarket alarm installed which works with the central locking, haven't quite worked out the routine yet, but when it works - it works !!
Dashboard is good, have seen some start to have gaps around the edges and things not fit quite right, but this looks quite decent.

Probably every receipt/invoice since 1999 !

Just noticed it's got quite a nice painted rocker cover - it's kind of a light cream colour with the letters painted red.

Things not sure about.

Tweed trim ?

Boost gauge doesn't go lower than 0.5, think it was stuck for a while before i saw it move, now goes over 1.0 bar when revved hard. Going to have a look at the ECU shortly.
When sitting in traffic idling the oil pressure gauge flickers about between 2-3, its about 5 when under load, and starts from cold at about 7.
Can't remember what the performance was like on my other one as haven't driven it for 5 years, but not sure if the performance is lacking a touch, maybe the actuator rod gets stuck occasionally. Haven't really put it through its paces though.
Davanti tyres ? Looked them up for reviews - on a comprehensive tyre test they came in the top half (89th out of 201 ) Have loads of tread on them so will leave for now.
Bit of a girlie colour

First things on my list to do -

Buy a touch up stick.
Clean the interior.
Stick carpet on door cards.
Work out routine for alarm
Fix drivers window.
Change over A pillar seals.

So overall i'm happy, its not a mint show car but one to be enjoyed and driven, cosmetic stuff can be improved upon at a later date if i so desired.

[Fredjohn]

Simon
Sounds like a good buy.
Few points:
Yes the front lip is one piece. There was a group buy recently. Check it out.
PNM rears used Golf Mk4 calipers. Look on ebay for picture and compare to yours. I fitted some secondhand ones in 2015, so yes they did do them then.

Check under bonnet for the earth connection for the boost gauge transducer. The orange thing near the brake reservoir.

Speakers are paper and they rot/tear/collapse. How can they rust?? Or do you mean the speaker body?

Oil pressures very similar to mine.

Good luck.

[dapinky]

When I was first looking to buy an Elan, Medina Green was a definite no for me.....

.... but as I got older, I found it being less obnoxious a colour....

.... and now I quite like it!

Sounds like you have a nice 'running project' there with no major worries, so get out in the sunshine and get the smile back on your face.

[simonbuk]

Simon

Few points:
Yes the front lip is one piece. There was a group buy recently. Check it out.

Just had another look. Well it WAS one piece at some point in time !!

Check under bonnet for the earth connection for the boost gauge transducer. The orange thing near the brake reservoir.

Brilliant - thank you.

Speakers are paper and they rot/tear/collapse. How can they rust?? Or do you mean the speaker body?

Sorry, meant the black grill covers.

Good luck.

[simonbuk]

Simon
Check under bonnet for the earth connection for the boost gauge transducer. The orange thing near the brake reservoir.

.

Worked -

[simonbuk]

Yes the front lip is one piece. There was a group buy recently. Check it out.

Can't find anything about it ? Nothing in the group buys ?

[niall]

The lip rubber group buy was organised by Simon_P.

[Fredjohn]

See here, but not in group buy section for some reason!

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=27856&hilit=Rubber&start=20

It's closed now, but Simon_P may still know where he sourced them.

[TorqueHorse]

Car looks really smart, congrats!
And, If you can't get the group buy of lip rubber, there is this https://www.ebay.com/itm/223046139504

[Fredjohn]

Thanks for reminder of what it was! Just did a quick search on UK ebay. Think it was something like this garage door seal.

Item no. 395293723027

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395293723027

[Hector2021]

Fix drivers window.

Looks a real good find and not in need of 'too' much work. Well done!
Pound to a penny that the drivers window wobble is a snapped front slider. Mine suffered the same wobble and i managed to fix it with a 2.5mm bolt through both halves of the slider rather than buy a new weak piece of replacement plastic.

[simonbuk]

Thanks for reminder of what it was! Just did a quick search on UK ebay. Think it was something like this garage door seal.

Item no. 395293723027

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395293723027

I like the fact that it sticks on but that would be higher up wouldn't it ? I know it's only aesthetics but would prefer it lower

[simonbuk]

Fix drivers window.

Pound to a penny that the drivers window wobble is a snapped front slider. Mine suffered the same wobble and i managed to fix it with a 2.5mm bolt through both halves of the slider rather than buy a new weak piece of replacement plastic.

You Sir are correct

Missing slider

I know from a previous For Sale advert I found that's it's been like it for over 3 years.

The only good thing that has just come out of removing the door card is the fact I have removed the rusty speaker grill.

Most of the plastic screws in the bottom of the door were f*cked, been attacked before, acceptable I guess.

The piece of trim backwards of the door handle didn't want to budge. I had to pry it off gently but didn't want to shift, I could see there was no clip/fastening behind it. Had to keep trying to get it off - 'SNAP !!' . Bloody thing has shattered into 3 pieces. It was simply wedged in place, glue ain't going to fix that if I have to press it back in place. Fibreglass the back of it ?

Red button did of course break. I knew it was going to as I could see a hairline crack in it with some glue residue on it - been stuck back in place before

Metal trim on top of door that is normally pop riveted in place. Has a 2/3 mm clearance as there are just some screws going down into - nothing ! Only one has a clip that screws it in place

One (at least) slider is missing causing the window movement issue.

Needless to say the whole door/window needs removing/rebuilding - but in the short term I might get the speaker cover painted !!

[dapinky]

The snapped plastic is a common issue - I have had great success in the past with just a thin layer of fibreglass matting and resin - rough up the plastic first for a good key, and never had one fail yet.

If you expect to have to remove the door card at any point in the future, it is worth replacing all the screws and fittings with stainless bolts/setscrews. I use M5x30 button-headed setscrews along the bottom edge into new rubber wellnuts, and the other ones are generally M4 threaded setscrews of various lengths..... don't use ones that are too long or they may impede the window travel.

[Fredjohn]

I like the fact that it sticks on but that would be higher up wouldn't it ? I know it's only aesthetics but would prefer it lower

You don't stick it on! You put holes in it to correspond with the holes in the bumper and bolt it on!
In the same position as the existing one.

[simonbuk]

I like the fact that it sticks on but that would be higher up wouldn't it ? I know it's only aesthetics but would prefer it lower

You don't stick it on! You put holes in it to correspond with the holes in the bumper and bolt it on!
In the same position as the existing one.

Ah ok - that makes sense !!

[Tuga2112]

The snapped plastic is a common issue - I have had great success in the past with just a thin layer of fibreglass matting and resin - rough up the plastic first for a good key, and never had one fail yet.

If you expect to have to remove the door card at any point in the future, it is worth replacing all the screws and fittings with stainless bolts/setscrews. I use M5x30 button-headed setscrews along the bottom edge into new rubber wellnuts, and the other ones are generally M4 threaded setscrews of various lengths..... don't use ones that are too long or they may impede the window travel.

you can use the same technique to also repair the speaker enclosure, as the 4 screws that old the speakers have an habit of destroying the plastic

[simonbuk]

If, IF this is the only slider that is missing, can I unscrew the bobbins, raise the glass and inch or two and add the slider without having to take the window completely out ? Or is it an all or nothing type of job. Window has to be removed to do that job ?

[Tuga2112]

If, IF this is the only slider that is missing, can I unscrew the bobbins, raise the glass and inch or two and add the slider without having to take the window completely out ? Or is it an all or nothing type of job. Window has to be removed to do that job ?

i have removed the window a few times to do the weather strips in 3 cars so far.

i believe the short answer is "yes" but i cannot be 100% sure.

[dapinky]

I see what you are getting at, but would add this....

.... to do as you suggest means that you will need to remove the window from the butterfly (to slide the glass up further), and remove the upstop bobbins....

..... and at that point there is nowt else holding the window in the car, so I can't see that it will save much time, and may lead to strain and breakage as you try to fix the broken bits.