8bit's Mk1 Leon Cupra R. Scarlett - as in Johansson...

[KatCowie]

Niall I use Blackfire Long Lasting Tyre Gel, and I think it's possibly one of the best out there. Stays on for ages if you clean the tyres properly before applying. I don't use anything else but it now Polished Bliss stock it. Thats what I would recommend anyway

 

[Willie]

Niall I use Blackfire Long Lasting Tyre Gel, and I think it's possibly one of the best out there. Stays on for ages if you clean the tyres properly before applying. I don't use anything else but it now Polished Bliss stock it. Thats what I would recommend anyway

I use the same and have had this for 2 years +, still heaps left ina

 

[8bit]

Nice one, cheers both How does one "clean the tyres properly"? Good, stiff brush ok?

 

[Willie]

Stiff brush would do but I have a specific mitt for the tyres and wheels.
A scrubbing brush would do the job just as well.
Gets a big assed cup of tea, find a comfy seat and get all over the guides on Polished Bliss and seek enlightenment

 

[KatCowie]

Blackfire do a wheel and tyre cleaner, and yeah a brush is fine.
http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/blackfire-gel-wheel-and-tyre-cleaner-cat4.html

 

[8bit]

Stiff brush would do but I have a specific mitt for the tyres and wheels.
A scrubbing brush would do the job just as well.
Gets a big assed cup of tea, find a comfy seat and get all over the guides on Polished Bliss and seek enlightenment

This is why I stated to the g/f that whatever house we buy must have a decent, flat driveway, so I can happily spend hours or even days detailing the cars Had to cut yesterday's wash short cos we were at her Dad's so I could use his hose, outside tap etc. and she was getting fed up. I'll get reading up so I've got a good idea where to start when we do get moved house, hopefully in the spring time.

Cheers Kat, I'll see if I can pick up some of the Blackfire cleaner and tyre gel before the next wash.

 

[8bit]

Got rear-ended tonight. If it's not one thing it's another

No real visible damage but one of the rear number plate lights has disappeared inside the bumper while trying to push it back into place.

Also getting regular fault codes for the post-cat lambda. So will have to add that to the shopping list for Seremotors at the end of the month.

 

[tyrer]

Mate not good that!! Hope not too much damage and an quick fix

 

[8bit]

It looks OK, wasn't a high speed impact. Guess it'll need checking out tho. Anyone know how much of a pain it is to get the rear bumper off?

 

[Willie]

Fcuk me man, this is really not going well for you!!!
WTF is going on??

Was it a hit and run, your speaking about fixing yourself etc?

 

[8bit]

Fcuk me man, this is really not going well for you!!!
WTF is going on??

Was it a hit and run, your speaking about fixing yourself etc?

Tell me about it! Nah the guy stopped, he was really apologetic, handed over his contact and insurance details etc. no problem. There's no visible damage other than maybe some scratches on the bumper, thing is that bumpers are plastic and flex, if any of the metalwork behind it has taken any force then I guess that wouldn't pop back into shape. His car was worse off, the plastic on his front bumper was broken.

Think I'll call my insurance company in the morning. Don't want to risk it, looks like there's no actual damage but don't want to risk anything behind it being damaged and becoming a problem further down the line.

 

[RDS]

Sorry to hear yet more bad news mate. Hope you manage to get it all sorted soon and with minimum problems.

 

[h7 cya]

Mate im gutted for ya...i hope your luck turns around!

 

[8bit]

Cheers folks, taking it to my usual garage tomorrow for them to check for damage. They don't charge for that so if there's nothing then it's all good, if there is anything needing sorted then I'll ring the guy and give him the option of sorting it out between us or going through insurance.

Fingers crossed!

 

[8bit]

Right, had the car at the garage today, looks like the rear impact bar is damaged and the bumper is going to need removed, resprayed and refitted, possibly requiring some clips of some sort or other. There's also a bit of plastic hanging down around the rear towing eye cover so that'll probably need replaced.

Insurance company informed of the score, have to take it to their "approved repairer" tomorrow for assessment and get it booked in. Getting a courtesy car for while it's getting sorted out too, all at the other guy's insurance co.'s expense. Could live without the courtesy car tbh but it just might turn out to be OK for a few days

 

[KatCowie]

Glad it's getting sorted out Niall. Hopefully your luck will change after all this!

 

[tyrer]

good luck with the repairs, make sure you are on the ball over the repairs mate.

 

[8bit]

Cheers folks Hopefully it'll all get done quickly.

 

[8bit]

Right, few bits and pieces worthy of note. The insurance thing rumbles on, Scarlett's going in for repairs on the 7th and I'm getting some rental car for the duration. The car hire company said I'd been authorised for the executive saloon category which is one above what they'd place my own car in. I told them I would be happy with a decent hatchback so will see, might get a reasonable Golf or something.

Got paid this weekend so splashed out a little. Ordered a 24mm Whiteline rear ARB from DPM to go with the R32 one I had fitted recently. Also bought an ECS dog bone engine mount from another member on here. Hopefully I'll manage to get those fitted next weekend.

Also ordered a new MAF, 4x new "R" badges and some spare throttle body to manifold gaskets from my local stealer. Have some new center caps for the alloys I bought recently too, will wait until she's back from the garage and get those fitted and the tatty R badges replaced sometime I've got time to give her a good wash too

 

[8bit]

Well I managed to wash the car at the weekend and had another go with the Autoglym tyre dressing - seems to have come out a lot better this time, it's messy tho as I had to keep nipping back out to wipe excess off the wheels, it's a thin, white liquid that runs a lot. Also fitted new center caps, sorry for the crap pic but take my word for it, the wheels and tyres look infinitely smarter now than they've done for ages:

Next time I'll need to take some tar remover to the calipers, they're caked in brake dust...

New toys arrived today

Had lined up some help from another SCN member to get these fitted this weekend but I've decided to hold off adding or changing anything until the car's back from getting damage repaired from when some bloke in a Smartcar decided to remodel my rear end.

Also got a new MAF today which will hopefully help my fuelling issues and some new "R" badges to replace the tatty ones on just now. Got an extra one to stick on the front, not sure where to put it tho. Drka-drka has one on the slatted grille between the S badge grille and the passenger-side headlight so that's out, wonder what it might look like on the passenger-side foglight grille...

Found a local place that do proper, 4-wheel laser alignment so will get booked in there and get that done too, the front settings will be out as the garage that fitted my front ARB couldn't do it since their machine was out of action.

Tried to get some new photos when out and about tonight but they didn't turn out well, phone cameras are hopeless at night. Only half-decent one was this...