Russ's 2.1 SED Auto now in Mandarin

[MTXM]

I will check through my bits on the weekend Norman and let you know. With regards, Matthew T.

[djg]

Russ, your proposed nut oil treatment for the external trim (bumper and side strip) is just fabulous. I don't know how long it will last and whether it's really helping the plastic in the long run or it's just a cosmetic improvement but it beats all commercial chemical stuff I ever tried. [emoji1]

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[russ92xmsed]

Oh great! It's very effective and I have had no problems using it. Because it is a natural product I can't see how it is damaging the plastic. Infact I have found the plastics around the windows becoming more flexible because of it. Classic car mags like Practical Classics have recommended peanut butter on bumper trims, but having tried it, Wiping of the butter is a nightmare. So I thought why not the oil. That's what is making the plastic look new again. Not the peanuts! It does wash off in the rain, eventually, but you need so little and it's so cheap you don't mind having to re apply it. Works a treat on the silver trim too. I also think Vaseline is very good too, and that lasts much longer.

[djg]

No, I'm not afraid of it doing any harm, my question was just whether it does any good actually, or only a cosmetic change. But even if only cosmetic, doing it every couple of months is no big deal.

Rain is less important here than in the UK, although we had a relatively rainy summer this year, that's still nothing compared to yours. [emoji2] But with snow arriving sooner or later (I hope later) I'll try the Vaseline version, too, one of these days.

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[normanlindley]

Morning Russ and Matthew,
Did you's manage to find a replacement door seal for me as I would like to replace it before the rains come.

Thanks,
Norman

[russ92xmsed]

Hi Norman,

I would PM Matthew directly. Mine as I said is damaged. Of all of them, it's the only one typically. I have glued the tear but it is far from perfect I'm afraid.

[normanlindley]

Hi Russ,
Thanks for the reply I just remembered I forgot to show you the patches you did for my reflective jacket when at the 25th meeting.
I'll have a word with Matthew and see what he has for me.

Norman

[normanlindley]

Hi Russ,
Thanks for the reply I just remembered I forgot to show you the patches you did for my reflective jacket when at the 25th meeting.
I'll have a word with Matthew and see what he has for me.

Norman

[russ92xmsed]

Oh yes Norman, I totally forgot to ask you about those. I haven't seen them at all. Drat!! Another rally then....

Had a good afternoon tinkering with the car today. After spending all week as a slave to the computer, it's nice to not stare at a screen and get some fresh air. On my grey XM about three weeks before it was killed, I had the Bosch pump resealed and along with that, I had the rubber manifold connectors replaced. So having done less than 100 miles I got the connectors off the spare engine and popped them on the mandarin XM. The Mandarin ones were not too bad actually, but they are now spares and some nice new ones are now in place. Hopefully it might improve a little boost pressure. I doubt it!
I also checked the leak off pipes whilst there with the intention to replace them. But they look in very good condition and no visible leaks. So I have let them be for now.
Found some pipes to do with the oil breather, I think they are, loose with either no clamps or a totally useless one. So they have been sorted out with some nice new jubilee clamps. Checked fluids, all spot on. Which is great.

One thing I have noticed is the ride has gone really fidgety. And I know why. I pumped the tyres up before Xm25 and the air compressor at out local Esso must be way out as the ride has suffered considerably. So I must let some air out tomorrow.
It's amazing how critical the tyre pressures need to be to maintain a good comfy ride.

Tomorrow I have to sort out the squealing hydro belt. It's getting annoying now. I am going to replace the belt as it has polished a bit and hopefully get it tensioned right. Fingers crossed....

One pressing thing that I am itching to get on with is to underseal it. Especially the rear subframe ect. It really should be done before the autumn really takes hold.

Otherwise it's been running okay. The cold start issue is alright. The other day it fired in to life really nicely. But the hot start ..by that I mean after a good two hour drive and then restart it fails to start till it has cooled down. Maybe a starter motor, maybe a ignition switch issue, either way it has only happened twice.
I love the colour, i know it's a common XM colour, but being my first red car, it's quite refreshing not to have a blue, black or grey car. I really would like to get the nose cone painted in the future. Pity my grey one was smashed to bits as I could then swap them whilst the mandarin one is repainted. But there you go... Ummm.. Nothing else to report really.

[White Exec]

"It's amazing how critical the tyre pressures need to be to maintain a good comfy ride."

Russ, this should be WRIT LARGE somewhere . . . perhaps a sticker for everyone's Dash . . .
Never a truer word, old friend!