Russ's 2.1 SED Auto now in Mandarin

[russ92xmsed]

I hope it is very a one off thing Chris. But if they have any ideas of coming back, then they won't find it.
It's the mindless damage that annoys me the most. Still they didn't attempt any other doors.

Thanks for the o ring tips. Do they have to be any particular material? Like nitrile or what ever, or can they be standard heating / plumbing rings?

[mds141]

Keep an eye out for the low-life scumbags.

[White Exec]

I would presume that standard synthetic 'rubber' O-rings would be ok (usually made of polyurethane or something like) would be ok - all they have to survive is hot coolant mix, which isn't aggressive/damaging like LHM, fuel, etc.

Someone will surely shout if something special is needed. Hylomar a good choice; used to have a Rolls-Royce accreditation.

[xmexclusive]

The problem of leakage is usually poor seating pipes on a renewed matrix.
The pipe ends need pushing out the way to get the old matrix out and the new one in.
Because the pipes go through the firewall and have hoses fixed the other side they twist a bit.
When pulled back into the new matrix you cannot see that the pipe swage the o ring sits against is square to the matrix seat.
As you tighten up its too late as the pipe will not rotate and seal.

John

[captainhaddock]

Verry sorry, what makes you think they were kids Russ?

[russ92xmsed]

Not sure Jaap. Gut feeling maybe. I think it was quite ammaturish how it was attempted. Or maybe they were interrupted and didn't get too far... Who knows.
Maybe it was the fact I saw three Chavy moped riders last night with no lights on, riding through a pedestrian crossing with pedestrians on it, through red lights.
Not impressed.

[russ92xmsed]

A little update on proceedings. The car is has been ensconced out of sight for over a week now. Whilst it has been garaged, I have done some much needed jobs on it. well I say 'I' ....I mean my handy helper from Ireland who was on his way back from the Netherlands.
Jaap insisted on helping with some car jobs, in exchange for some bed and board. ...and this was the first time he and Liz have seen the replacement Xm. I am happy to report it got a nod of approval.
Jaap checked over the rear brakes for me. I was a little concerned they were binding a bit, but a bleed of the brakes and a little check over got a clean bill of health.
Next was the dreaded heater matrix o rings. So he set too for me! The blasted screw that clamps the bracket and the pipes together was a pig. Probably down to my tools if anything, but it put up a fight anyway. The first attempt at sealing failed and it leaked. The next attempt Jaap tightened the screw up a little more and so far so good. All dry.
So big thank you to Jaap for your help last Friday.

Jaap advised me to do a coolant change,... so I did. Only it turned into a bit of a fiasco. As only it could! Confession time here, I have never done an XM coolant change. I was about to do my grey one, but that was not to happen. So I was a little nervous for some reason. I have done coolant changes before so not exactly first time. Anyway, drained it fine. But not much came out. We did loose quite a bit with doing the o rings, but I was slightly perplexed as it should be near enough 10 litres in there somewhere. No more would come out. So I refilled with blue coolant as before ...with distilled water at 50/50 mix. Bled it and got to the point of starting the car. Battery went flat didn't it. So an over night charge up and had it running yesterday. I have to say the heater on this car is furnace hot. It ran for an hour I think in the end and it was fine. The level sunk a bit, when it cooled off so I topped it up a bit. Nothing too unusual. I expect it will spit out a load of coolant as it finds it's natural level. My grey 2.1 always had a lower coolant level and like it that way!
I think I might do it again in the spring to make sure all old coolant is out of the engine.

Probably to Robs disgust, I removed the under tray today. It was mucky and oily under there. I want to keep it off, one to underseal the subframe and two, to keep an eye on any drips. Makes it easier to work on too.
Also found a couple of grot spots just inside the sills where a box section chassis leg out rigger thing near enough joins them on both sides. So I got them sorted out and did some more undersealing. Spare wheel carrier is all back together and top coated now. Which means the spare wheel is out of the boot at last. One job that is left to do now is to reconnect the alarm and then it's back out into the world.

[ragger]

Bad luck on the attempted break in - it's grim in the Cotswolds!

As you know there is an alarm fitted (an extra at original purchase!) but I never armed it.

The undertray spent most of it's time in my ownership in the shed at the bottom of my garden. I refitted it in case the originality police came asking questions.

The coolant was drained and refilled not too long ago when the thermostat was replaced - it should have been in good order.

You are obviously taking a lot of care with the old dear - I hope she will repay you with some good service.

Meanwhile, her replacement is running well and giving me lots of smiles from the driver's seat, but she will never look as good from the outside.

[Dieselman]

Anyway, drained it fine. But not much came out. We did loose quite a bit with doing the o rings, but I was slightly perplexed as it should be near enough 10 litres in there somewhere. No more would come out.

Did you undo the block drain?

[russ92xmsed]

Anyway, drained it fine. But not much came out. We did loose quite a bit with doing the o rings, but I was slightly perplexed as it should be near enough 10 litres in there somewhere. No more would come out.

Did you undo the block drain?

Ahhhhhhhhh. No I didn't cos the HBOL didn't mention it at all. Where is that then Will? ...apart from being on the block!
I will do this properly next spring, that explains everything.
The old coolant wasn't brown or anything and as Rob has mentioned was recently changed.

Bad luck on the attempted break in - it's grim in the Cotswolds!

As you know there is an alarm fitted (an extra at original purchase!) but I never armed it.

The undertray spent most of it's time in my ownership in the shed at the bottom of my garden. I refitted it in case the originality police came asking questions.

The coolant was drained and refilled not too long ago when the thermostat was replaced - it should have been in good order.

You are obviously taking a lot of care with the old dear - I hope she will repay you with some good service.

Meanwhile, her replacement is running well and giving me lots of smiles from the driver's seat, but she will never look as good from the outside.

Glad to hear your V6 is going well Rob. I hope the work I am doing on Mor will be repaid with some sterling service. Jaap said he would drive it to Ireland from here!! Must be good then.
The attempted break in is quite rare in these parts. But from time to time you get the odd bit of vandalism. I have had wingmirrors snapped off and a boot lid destroyed having been kicked in ....before now.

I don't ever think S1 had under trays. Anyway it's not that I am worried about originality, it's because I just want to keep an eye on things underneath. The coolant was nice and clear and blue, so it wasn't as though it was badly needing a change. I did know that the coolant had been done with the thermostat. Just might as well do another having lost a load doing the pipe seals.

The alarm is definitely be reactivated.