Bretts dirty derv

[Brettles1986]

I want to do some subtle mods to the exterior.

I'm thinking:

Smoked headlights (similar to saxo mod)
Smoked side indicators
Paint calipers (undecided on colour)
Different colour Ford badges

Anything else subtle? It's already lowered slightly it seems and needs a new front bumper as a result

[Andy_K]

It you want the coloured badges, dmb are the best quality. But you'll have to be quick as ford have pulled there license so they're stopping making them end of this month

[Brettles1986]

Well today I got bent over and penetrated dry.

Paid £340 for 2 driveshafts and one damper to be replaced. The mechanic charged me £110 for the driver side d/s which I have since found on eurocarparts for £57. The best part is that I got charged this after he had already fitted the part and bought it without even confirming the price with me. He initially said that he would need to replace a bearing in the shaft but after not being able to purchase it separately, he just bought the whole shaft and fitted it.

So I am £340 lighter and I still need to spend money on 2 x bottom arms, 2 x drop links, starter motor and a crank pulley.

Beginning to regret selling the Kalos other than the fact that the mondeo is lovely and torquey

[D4MJT]

to be fair Brett, £340 isnt TOO bad, the cheapest stuff on ECP tends to be either shit or incorrect for the car anyway, and £340 for 2 shafts and a damper fitted, and labour isn't massively bad imo.

Get some tools man!

[Brettles1986]

Originally Posted by D4MJT

to be fair Brett, £340 isnt TOO bad, the cheapest stuff on ECP tends to be either shit or incorrect for the car anyway, and £340 for 2 shafts and a damper fitted, and labour isn't massively bad imo.

Get some tools man!

I have tools but the problem I had was that I didn't know what was causing the vibration so it had to be diagnosed properly.

On the plus side, the things that are wrong with it now are things I know about and how to remedy myself.

[Brettles1986]

Fitting new Drop Links that have arrived tomorrow. Tenner well spent.

The progress in this thread is scary.

Also managed to look at how much the driveshafts should have cost me, on J&R Driveshafts they are £35 each!

[Brettles1986]

Decided I am going to do the wheels anthracite. Just want to find the right colour.

Also for the past 2 months I've had no tunes as the code for the radio is nowhere to be found. Taking the fucker out to get the serial is proving a bitch as well. Getting to the stage where I am going to put a hammer through it as it won't budge.

[mattknight1984]

Go to your local ford dealer, they'll remove the stereo free of charge. Shouldn't be that difficult though.

[Brettles1986]

Originally Posted by mattknight1984

Go to your local ford dealer, they'll remove the stereo free of charge. Shouldn't be that difficult though.

May well have to.

I know it should be simple but I think someone fucked about with it before and knackered the clips up, also I have a generic stereo key stuck in one of the slots ... my bad!

[Hazmanscoop]

After looking mate, im trying to find a decent one of these! any advice on what to look for?

cheers pal

[Brettles1986]

Originally Posted by Hazmanscoop

After looking mate, im trying to find a decent one of these! any advice on what to look for?

cheers pal

Good choice mate, they are lovely cars.

DMF/clutch is the most expensive things, press the clutch down and listen for noises that don't sound right. Also if easy to install that is an indication.

Injectors failing, watch for smoke on start up and poor MPG.

EGR valve blocking up is another. You can blank them off without warning light depending on the year of the car.

They give great performance gains with minimal mods. A remap, exhaust, intercooler and air filter purchase will give you around 210bhp and 400 torques

[Hazmanscoop]

Yeah i can imagine the DMF and clutch are expensive, probs not as much as a vw one though...

Thanks for the info mate.

With the money i have im looking at an 06/07 plate with the lowest mileage possible, with a warranty if i can find one at a dealers.

So i know that the age im looking at the EGR will set the warning light off. Not sure ill be doing much to the engine if im honest, probably cosmetic changes!

[Brettles1986]

Originally Posted by Hazmanscoop

Yeah i can imagine the DMF and clutch are expensive, probs not as much as a vw one though...

Thanks for the info mate.

With the money i have im looking at an 06/07 plate with the lowest mileage possible, with a warranty if i can find one at a dealers.

So i know that the age im looking at the EGR will set the warning light off. Not sure ill be doing much to the engine if im honest, probably cosmetic changes!

DMF and clutch on mine was £700.

I think with the EGR it depends on the model, I believe the switch was done mid 2006.

I paid £3000 for mine on 129,000. Engine wise it pulls like a train but it has been serviced well before my ownership.

You can get them fully loaded with Sat nav and parking sensors. The black and grey are the best colours imo.

[Hazmanscoop]

Ah so a similar price!

I've got around £5k to spend, I'm looking at either a black or a blue one mate!

[Brettles1986]

Well it went in for MOT on thursday and failed well....

2 x Ball Joints
3 x Tyres (knew about them and the MOT garage was providing and fitting them)
2 x Brake pipes corroded - Front to back
1 x ARB bush on rear
2 x ARB bushes on front
1 x Rear wheel bearing


Looking at about £450 in total including parts and labour. Not what I needed when I am going on holiday in May.

Also it's developed a water leak needing considerable amounts of water every few days. I started it the other day and it chucked out a load on startup. Hopefully it's just the thermostat being jammed closed, if not I shall look at getting the pipes checked and if needs be the waterpump checked and replaced.

TBH the car is doing my head in atm.

[RobVT]

Fix Or Repair Daily.

[Pricklep]

It's no VTS

[Brettles1986]

Originally Posted by RobVT

Fix Or Repair Daily.

Found On Rubbish Dump.

Bloody thing is costing me an arm and a leg but I do really like it so sod it.