Rob Draper's White Si 2.0 Automatic J645BYA

[Dieselman]

Ummm. Strike the comment on the resonance

There is a rather unpleasant drone at around 70mph

Check the exhaust isn't within 1" if the body at any point, as that will transmit resonance.

[cxprestigeauto]

Thanks, I must admit I thought she was pretty clear around.

That said only one more run round the top of salisbury plain and then across it!

Then into the garage for some serious spannering and bodywork.

I have cancelled the insurance from 2016 so getting her off the road is now a done deal.

My new lift has arrived Very excited. Piccy to follow.

Rob

[cxprestigeauto]

Big thanks to Marc who came over on Wednesday to take the Speedline alloys off the XM and put a set of steels on. We managed to find two decent pairs of wheels out of the eight stacked in the garage.

Marc was happy with the alloys loaded into his rather lovely S2 GTI turbo CX. I enjoyed a very comfortable ride from home to the garage and back.

Took the car out today prior to the Imber trip tomorrow. Pleased to find my new rubber is all OK.

Bought myself a new, heavy duty tow rope just to be on the safe side!!

Rob

[cxprestigeauto]

XM in the garage up on the hoist

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Rob

[cxprestigeauto]

A few shots underneath.

I would like to support the front on the subframe but the hoist has limited length and limited options for supporting the back end other than the subframe. Obviously I could use the jacking points but the pads on the hoist arms are too flat. I may have to make a couple of custom mountings to lock onto the jacking points in a suitably vertical manner.

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After her run to Imber the front height controller has started leaking

Looks like a trip over the pit after I have sorted the bodywork! FDV replacement and height controller rebuild.

Rob

[russ92xmsed]

Wow, flying XM! ....that's quite a handy lift. Looking good under there Rob, from what I can see. Pity about the dripping height corrector, but it's good timing on its part, wot with the winter lay up and all to sort it out.

[cxprestigeauto]

Well it has been quite a while since I updated the thread.

The car was SORNed in January after her run across Salisbury Plain. Plan to do the respray and sort out a few mechanical issues.

Things have not gone to plan

The rot was pretty much as expected but the paint has been the biggest problem. I originally estimated that it would take 5 litres of cellulose to do a good job. I didn't need to paint the roof so that could be left but would need to do a colour change on the replacement front bumper from dark green to Alpine White. My paint supplier said I was over ordering and that three litres would be fine as white 'covers well'.

Welding and prep done I managed to squeeze two coats out of three litres. Finish not good enough. Went back for another four litres. Got it custom matched to a sample panel off the car.

Rubbed the whole car back down, cleaned the garage, put the plastic sheeting booth back up and used my new 1.4mm tipped gravity spray gun. Chuffed with the result, good shine nice depth. Pulled a bit of masking off to find the colour was far too creamy. AAARRGGHH. I know I should have checked more thoroughly first but I don't have much to check colour match against having sprayed the whole thing!!!

Now bought another 4 litres of standard EWT and third can of thinners. All being well will apply it next week (weather permitting). Total paint spend so far £600+

[Dieselman]

How much would a respray at a bodyshop have cost?

It's only a 2.0i...all that extra weight is going to slow it down...

[cxprestigeauto]

I was quoted £750 if I did the prep and stripping There has been plenty of rectification work.

That said my only tow car is the XM! The economics are pretty balanced. I have all the equipment, resources and ability to do the job myself and want to be able to look at the finished result and say that it was all my own work, warts and all.

Hopefully by the end of Monday she will be ready to reassemble. I have to have her out of the garage in two weeks so the clock is ticking loudly now.

[russ92xmsed]

I have been wondering how you were getting on Rob. Sorry to hear it's been frustrating for you. Not funny getting the paint colour just off. Best of luck with the third coat! Looking forward to seeing it all finished.