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After picking it up on Monday I gave it a machine polish and today renewed the pollen filter, fitted a genuine BMW crankcase breather upgrade, new air filter, replacement steering wheel, replaced the microswitch springs in the rear door handle and fitted a new rear wiper. Still a long list of things I want to do for preventative work and am enjoying the tinkering again (ala Defender 110) after several years of Disco 4 and Freelander 2 ownership where all the work was done at a local dealer. So happy days.
 
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Put rear wheels on ramp used a pump down dip stick withdrew 4lts of oil and replaced with new .35 min total job done happy days next time it will be a complete change and oil filter
 
Put rear wheels on ramp used a pump down dip stick withdrew 4lts of oil and replaced with new .35 min total job done happy days next time it will be a complete change and oil filter

There's 6.2 litres of oil in there. Also the filter will clog, so why not change that too? Why not do it properly?
 
Good luck.

Give us updates and pictures of the journey. ;)

Done well today until one of the lads came off. Had to double back from Exeter to Okehampton to get him. New wheel needed tomrrow

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By the way, we have a FB page here, and the guys are doing it in aid of the charity Bliss which provides neo natal care for babies. If anyone is feeling generous our just giving page is here.
 
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Changed V6 starter solenoid contacts as it missed occasionally. They were bad and all is much healthier now. Just in case anyone else does it, you can remove the starter with just the battery and battery tray out. Long wobble drive and 13mm to get three bolts out then a bit of wiggling to get it past engine mount. 1 hr all in.
 
Changed V6 starter solenoid contacts as it missed occasionally. They were bad and all is much healthier now. Just in case anyone else does it, you can remove the starter with just the battery and battery tray out. Long wobble drive and 13mm to get three bolts out then a bit of wiggling to get it past engine mount. 1 hr all in.
The V6 is the easiest of all the engines for starter access. The TD4 is a close second, and the 1.8 is the worst.
 
Discovered that the rivnut I had used to repair the battery retainer had managed to be pulled from the battery support assembly. Must have been the green-laning bumping and vibrating the battery to pull it loose. Smacked it back in with a hammer - nice and tight now, but in retrospect should have used some adhesive at the same time - d'oh! I have a hunch there will be a next time...
 
I fitted a replacement front bumper to the SE, as the one on there was full of holes from the A bar and LED light bar. I couldn't find a bumper in the correct colour, but I had a spare Java black one, so used that instead. I swapped over the corners from the original bumper, but have decided to leave the centre section black. I did paint the section behind the number plate in black stone chip, as it was a bit scuffed up. I think it looks more respectable than having tatty blue bumper, full of holes.
What do you think?
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Looks very smart IMO

Thanks Rob. I think it looks ok too. It's got a few marks on it, but then it's a 14 year old vehicle, which has seen some off road work. Did you notice the stainless steel screws keeping the front silver section in place? That was due to it getting pulled off, when I reversed over some uneven ground, without the sump guard in place. :(.

As I want to sell it, I'm having to address lots of issues, which I've been putting off.
 
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like it has the nudge fitted

That was the effect I was going for. I'd even considered painting the complete centre section in stone chip, however I think it'll polish up ok, so think I'll leave it as is.
By the time you've finished it will be a great vehicle for new owner.
That's the plan. I have just replaced the drop links (again) and boots on the track rods and lower ball joints. Obviously I need to get to the bottom of the gearbox issue and put a years MOT on it too. Then all I need to do is come up with a price that I'm happy to let it go for.
 
I'm going through a similar process on our ZTT too Nodge. I doubt I'll get the money being invested in it back, but it should make it easier to sell and ensure it goes to a good home :)
 
I'm going through a similar process on our ZTT too Nodge.
All change with you too then.
I doubt I'll get the money being invested in it back, but it should make it easier to sell and ensure it goes to a good home
I hate selling cars myself. I know what I can leave for later, and what needs addressing straight away. However I wouldn't feel comfortable selling a car with a whole pile of minor issues. There are far to many people doing that as it is, without me adding to the list. I have a conscience.
 
Yes - it has been replaced by the DS!

I'm 100% with you: I HATE selling cars. I am actually generally very bad at it (hence and absurd number of vehicles parked around Chez Bell) - and I want my old cars to go to a home that will cherish this really very good family car. We've had it since it was under 18 months' old, and was ex-MG Rover management fleet. It took mum to hospital and brought home both of our babies and taken us 100+k miles across Europe and the UK. I wouldn't have even thought about selling it were it not for the explanding ULEZ. It's a 2003 diesel, so it has no chance.

Of course, if I could find a barn, I'd be tempted to park it away and come back to it in 20 years... LOL

But that ain't going to happen, so some minor bodywork scrapes are being repaired, I need to replace the in-tank fuel pump, the battery has expired 8 months after the warranty expired (typical), the air con needs re-gassing (there may be a leak somewhere, I'll find out when I take it for the re-gas!) and I may need to do an injector leak-down test if the poor warm starting persists after replacing the fuel pump. Oh, and I am getting the wheels refurbished!

Hopefully it'll look stunning for its new owner. Plus it'll have a decent history file, as well as the laminated dealer sales card showing its original specification! I hope it'll go to an enthusiast owner. Fingers crossed anyway...
 
It's sad when a local plan starts to mess with one's life. I'm so glad I moved to the south west, from the south east. It's a different world up there now, and not one I miss either. Work down here is always an issue, but quality of life is so much better.

I hate selling cars myself. I find I develop an attachment to them. I actually still my my MG ZS180 which I bought new in 2002. It was such a wonderful machine to drive, although owning it was a pain. Unfortunately it's not about anymore, but I still have it's picture as my laptop's desktop screen.

I'm thinking of selling my Hillman Avenger too, as I quite fancy going electric in the near future. Time will tell I guess, as the initial outlay is large.
 

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