Thanks and me to!

Assessor just rang back.
Doing the work :)
Needs new bumper, radiator, condenser, number plate, front panel and the bonnet needs a respray............

The work will take a week (!) so have to use the courtesy car - Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 SRi......

So most of it will be new then... bonus +++

:ROFL::ROFL::ROFL:

My thoughts too :D

Good news, hope it's sorted to your satisfaction

I was given a Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 (when my D2 was being repaired) and it wasn't even an SRi. Anyone who knows, or has met me, will probably laugh at that

Cheers (and a snug fit :p)

Got her back today :)

Looking very nice to:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...psndyhwdyf.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...psbjpjkbq6.jpg

The paper work they handed over included the parts replaced/painted, labour and VAT and came to a whooping £3.6K :roll:

Someone is having a laugh.....

that looks like a nice job Andy +++
Glad you got it sorted and back now

Cheers Neil - so am I :)

looks like a good job Andy+++

Cheers trouble :D

Found it!

Car looks nice and clean mate, really well looked after (ding aside) but repaired to high quality.

Any plans for it?

Cheers +++

Just use it to be honest.
Need to change the brake fluid soon and also replace the boots - nothing else!

Decided to keep it - over the next few months the plan is to upgrade the stereo (completed this week), get the wheels refurbed, hit it with a lowering stick and if I have any money left, get the engine to produce more power+++

A few pics of the new stereo:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...psxoqbjqyn.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...psrcyhvrqd.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...psvlxvu9w0.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...pslkimaroj.jpg


The unit is brilliant - running Android (version 8) with octocore processor, 4Gb of Ram and 32Gb of Rom.
Works very well and with the Bose system sounds so much better than the original head unit :)

Excellent. I’d really like an Android head unit in the 8, alas that won’t happen.

looks really nice that Andy, what make is it, cant make out the name in the pics+++

Yeah would love to do similar with my D2 but not sure how easy it would be, only things I miss on it really are DAB radio and the ability to stream music via bluetooth..but also want to keep it looking close to oem as well:D

Bluetooth is dead easy, loads of adaptors for the RNS. I've got an Xcarlink but there are other solutions.

I had the Xcarlink in the TT but the Bluetooth was pretty rubbish (OK for phone but for audio I found very lacking)

It's an EONON unit (GA2170).
Regards the RNS/D2 situation - their are loads of head units that will replace the installed unit and give you all the modern stuff - I know people on the TT forum have installed Android (and other) units and got them to work properly.

I have a similar offering from Connects2, without the Bluetooth option, and it works well with SD card or USB stick, but plugging phone into line in jack results in a very muffled, distorted sound. Got a Parrot kit for phone+++

Strange, I find it very good, even for classical music. And my S8 doesn't even have Bose!

This is interesting. I have a RNS-D unit installed on my D2 S8 and I want a reversing cam and to stream music. I am veering away from an Android unit as I want to keep the original look but I in my infinite unwisdom can't work out how to do that! Use the defunct TV tuner for the cam and a hidden bluetooth module maybe? Plus how long will FM/AM be available, however I've been asking myself that for about 12 years now!

So andorid unit may have to do. Where can you get the correct blanking plates for these, sorry it's been a very long while since I've upgraded any ICE stuff! Think it was a radio/cassette and two big chunky speakers on the rear shelf on my Cortina!

Done all that plus digital TV. Though I don't have a TV tuner so have an extra interface box for the camera (CVBS to RGB made by T-era but NLA). All sits happily alongside a full Xcarlink.
Summary is in the final post (#90) in a rather long meandering thread: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showpost....3&postcount=90
With a TV tuner it would be slightly simpler to install I think.

This should work I believe :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A4-R...oAAOSwU-1aki35

No blanking plate required (might need a slight trim though)

Seemed to be all mid and top range when used in my car.
If I used the phone connected to the XCarLink using the cable then all was good (so used to do that).

He just needs to find someone on eBay that will ship it to exotic locations like the 'Isle of Wight'. :(

Yep, the challenge of living offshore! I wouldn't mind but Royal Mail just treat us as a normal UK postcode and don't charge more.

The best one is the RAC (or is it AA? One of them anyway). If you have European cover and breakdown in Rome they will bring your car all the way back to the UK, but won't recover it to the Isle of Wight even if that's where you live in the UK!

Oh come to the annual meet! We could have a good moaning session about the cost of postage to our isolated offshore islands that we foolishly believe are part of the UK. :ROFL:

Today I finished the stereo install as I didn't connect it up for night time illumination - now done:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...scfnzzdk4.jpeg

Now to just enjoy the tunes :)

This week the suspension was replaced with coilovers and had them set a little lower than the car would have been from the factory.
Rides a lot nicer now and liking the looks :)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...psjgaqfsdo.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...pszndxmzbl.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...psfyqyghxq.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...psja1sqkkk.jpg

See how I get on with it, but may lower it a little more ;)

Looking good Andy! a tad lower would be perfect unless youre having problems with speed bumps etc. . . .

Patrick, one of our German A8 friends has a Mk1 TT also . . . police car! - thought youd like to see it . . .

Aye - speed bumps :(

Neil - not over keen on what he has done but fair play to him ;)

Yesterday had all the wheels refurbed and very happy with the job +++

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...psfheisms6.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...psqqb8z1ka.jpg

Went to the Blackpool Classic Car show today.
Lots to look at (cars and people) but didn't take to many photo's.

First up was my car:
https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a...psk3zxjvm3.jpg

A view of the line-up:
https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a...psz6q1mwe5.jpg

A Mk1 Golf's trick gear stick:
https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a...psbja7jle1.jpg

I used to have a red one of these in the early '80s - brought back many memories:
https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a...psknnxtyzq.jpg

Really nice MG Xpower SV:
https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a...pssmgoyhow.jpg

Stunning ZETEC powered pop:
https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a...psbkxmc9l7.jpg

https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a...psofngmew4.jpg

https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a...psdicl2ptt.jpg

And a nice view of Blackpool ;)
https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a...psgixyiyn2.jpg

Those MGs are rare as rocking horse poo..looks like a good day +++

ETA and not cheap either :eek:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ad=Used&page=1

Had a very nice interior - but most of the switch gear could be traced back to the MG TF or one of the others.....

Not done anything to it for ages.....

Pulled up yesterday after driving home from work. Went round the back to get my bag out from the boot and could smell something burning.....
First thought was it was in the air but a quick check and nope - coming from the the car. Touched all the wheels as the smell reminded me of a friction smell (if you know what I mean missus) so felt all the wheels and the offside rear was warm so either a stuck calliper or buggered bearing.

Hoping its the brakes cleared some room in the garage and lifted the rear in the air and started to dismantle the rear brakes.
Callipers looked ok but the pads not to good - last MOT suggested the rear pads would need changing in the next 3000 miles or so and was on my list to do before the end of the year.

The pulled the disk off and............hmm not good:




https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a...psoq229nhu.jpg



Ordered new pads and disks so should hopefully get these for the weekend.

All good fun :)

Crikey! Calipers ok then?

I had a curious issue on a friend's TT where it wore one side down to nothing in a very short time - turned out someone had over-tightened the handbrake cable on one side for no obvious reason and it was dragging ever so slightly. Oddly, it only became obvious once the pads were 3/4 worn at which point the wheel started getting hot and the car was pulling to that side. I just loosened the cable in the centre console to match the other side and its been fine since. Very strange for someone to just do one side.

Caliper seems OK - has free movement but will take the pins out and clean and put back just to be on the safe side.
Will also check the hand brake once everything is together to make sure I have no drag!
Just waiting for the bits to arrive now - should be tomorrow I hope as the wife is not happy I'm using her car!!

Nearside rear done - no real major issues with this side:

https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a...psk75ehmmc.jpg

The offside is not playing - the piston is not winding back and the wind back tool is struggling to work as the handle at the end is bending........
Will continue tomorrow.

Good news/bad news.

Modded the piston wind back tool but cutting off the original (small) handle, tapping in a thread where the handle went through and put a threaded rod through - bit thicker and longer.
Could now get could purchase with both hands and wind the piston back (which I did).

https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a...psviszztgd.jpg

Got the new disk and pads on and all looked good.

https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a...pszkmgx9iq.jpg

Took for a spin and guess what. Burning smell and the wheel is hot.
So, probably a stuck caliper. Will take it off again tomorrow and see about dismantling it and getting a refurb kit!