Hello.
- Thread starter samuelsmiles
- Start date
BigSilverEstate
Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2012
- Messages
- 474
- Location
- London
- Car
- 2011 E350cdi Sport Estate, and the wife's car: 2008 Audi A4 Avant 2.0tdi
Lovely car. There can't be many about of this vintage with such low mileage, must have been in the hands of enthusiasts and weekend drivers for much of its life. Excuse my ignorance but how are you finding driving without power steering, servo braking etc. (or maybe they already had these things in 1981)
OP
OP
samuelsmiles
Member
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2012
- Messages
- 41
- Car
- 1981 Mercedes 200 Auto
Really pleased today.
The old girl has passed the MOT with just a headlight bulb needing replacing......I was actually hoping it would fail on something minor so I could get my hands a bit dirty.
I've also done some other bits and pieces. The stereo (Original Blaupunkt Toronto) sounded awful, but after a little investigation it turned out that the speaker innards were perished so a pair of replacement speakers from Halfords were mounted in the same under dash position.
Also managed to source a couple of chrome/plastic trim pieces for the sills from a car being broken on Ebay which will be fitted with the new clips that also arrived today.
Regarding detailing the exterior rubber and plastic trim parts, after trying some off the shelf 'trim cleaner/restorers' the best thing I've tried up to now has been a tin of black shoe polish that cost about a quid.
However, the bonnet seems to lose its shine quite quickly. I've cut it and polished it a couple of times already but it doesn't seem to hold a deep shine. Any suggestions for the best cutting compounds and polishes?
Chris
The old girl has passed the MOT with just a headlight bulb needing replacing......I was actually hoping it would fail on something minor so I could get my hands a bit dirty.
I've also done some other bits and pieces. The stereo (Original Blaupunkt Toronto) sounded awful, but after a little investigation it turned out that the speaker innards were perished so a pair of replacement speakers from Halfords were mounted in the same under dash position.
Also managed to source a couple of chrome/plastic trim pieces for the sills from a car being broken on Ebay which will be fitted with the new clips that also arrived today.
Regarding detailing the exterior rubber and plastic trim parts, after trying some off the shelf 'trim cleaner/restorers' the best thing I've tried up to now has been a tin of black shoe polish that cost about a quid.
However, the bonnet seems to lose its shine quite quickly. I've cut it and polished it a couple of times already but it doesn't seem to hold a deep shine. Any suggestions for the best cutting compounds and polishes?
Chris
niketpatel71
Active Member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2010
- Messages
- 232
lovely my friend
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2006
- Messages
- 2,608
- Car
- Mini Cooper S, BMW M140i
Nice looking car there, perfect for wafting as you say. Congratulations on aceing the MOT, always a good feeling with an older car..
Cheers,
Gaz
Cheers,
Gaz
re the shine thing, the paintwork could have been cut too far so has lost quality. If you've already cut it a couple of times I wouldn't do it again. Try something like Autoglym Super Resin Polish, which effectively gives another gloss top surface; once its gone off, a coat or two of carnauba wax should keep the shine going for a bit longer.
