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  • #61
    Getting the bodywork bits sorted will pull the whole thing together, look forward to seeing the transformation.
    2001 E46 M3 Coupe for me / 2007 E91 335i for the Dogs.

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    • #62
      My friend Nick has just expanded his interior cleaning service to now include leather restoration. So knowing my driver's seat wasn't 100% I though I'd let him loose to see what he could do...



      3 hours of work with filler, sanding, dye, sealant etc., and it now looks like this:



      The colour dye was supplied by Buffalo Leather and it's a shade lighter than the rest of the interior though with a bit of wear it should hopefully start to blend in.

      Either way, it looks 100x better than it did before & I'm happy with the outcome.

      Next on the list is that I have booked in for some electrical work later in the month then onto the bodyshop….
      ----------------
      David
      1999 M Coupe (S50)
      >>Read my journal here<<
      2005 Smart Roadster-Coupe Brabus
      2022 Range Rover Evoque PHEV

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      • #63
        Thanks to "Twink" for selling me his Thule roof bars - they may not get much (if any) use but it now means I have a "plan B" for future holidays if my main car ever lets me down!


        ----------------
        David
        1999 M Coupe (S50)
        >>Read my journal here<<
        2005 Smart Roadster-Coupe Brabus
        2022 Range Rover Evoque PHEV

        Comment


        • #64
          Trial fitted my roof box - was concerned the short footprint of the MC's bars might not be compatible with my Kamei roofbox - but I was worried about nothing - all lines up beautifully.




          I can even still open the sunroof - though I won't be listening to any radio while this is on!



          Now... I have a holiday booked for September to the Scottish Highlands - I was going to take my "practical" Kia Sportage, but this has me thinking how much more enjoyable it would be to have the MC up there.... somewhat concerned about the fuel economy though - it's hardly "economical" without a roof box on!
          ----------------
          David
          1999 M Coupe (S50)
          >>Read my journal here<<
          2005 Smart Roadster-Coupe Brabus
          2022 Range Rover Evoque PHEV

          Comment


          • #65
            good job on the seats. The pod odes increase the boot capacity some what.
            2001 E46 M3 Coupe for me / 2007 E91 335i for the Dogs.

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            • #66
              Originally posted by 137699 View Post
              Trial fitted my roof box - was concerned the short footprint of the MC's bars might not be compatible with my Kamei roofbox - but I was worried about nothing - all lines up beautifully.




              I can even still open the sunroof - though I won't be listening to any radio while this is on!



              Now... I have a holiday booked for September to the Scottish Highlands - I was going to take my "practical" Kia Sportage, but this has me thinking how much more enjoyable it would be to have the MC up there.... somewhat concerned about the fuel economy though - it's hardly "economical" without a roof box on!
              Doesn't look like you've kept the Brabus alloys on the Smart - do you go for something that didn't bend at the sight of a pothole? (I had a couple of Brabus Roadster Coupes and loved them)
              2000 Dakar Yellow

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              • #67
                Originally posted by daviddunn View Post
                Doesn't look like you've kept the Brabus alloys on the Smart - do you go for something that didn't bend at the sight of a pothole? (I had a couple of Brabus Roadster Coupes and loved them)
                Lol! You obviously know those cars well!

                I do have the Brabus monoblocks - they're kept wrapped in cotton wool and only ever find their way onto the car when it goes to a show - for all the reasons you mention!

                Last edited by 137699; 13-07-2020, 01:45 PM.
                ----------------
                David
                1999 M Coupe (S50)
                >>Read my journal here<<
                2005 Smart Roadster-Coupe Brabus
                2022 Range Rover Evoque PHEV

                Comment


                • #68
                  Didn't think Brabus came in that colour? Have you swapped out the panels and hood? I do miss mine!
                  2000 Dakar Yellow

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                  • #69
                    No smart came in that colour - I've owned 3 roadsters and those panels were on my first one which was dark blue when I bought it back in 2006. I had them resprayed into that "shark blue" colour (which is a VAG colour) about 6 years ago and then swapped them (& a whole host of other personalised parts) onto the Brabus when I bought it in 2016.

                    The bodyshop that painted them are the same one that my MC is about to go into next week (though no colour change will be happening this time!).

                    Originally the Brabus was all silver.

                    Same with the roof - there's a guy in Cheshire who rebuilds the roofs and offers you a choice of colour - so when he showed me his blue roof, I just had to have it!

                    TBH there's very little original left on that car - I had all the interior retrimmed in alcantara, changed the steering wheel for one from a later smart, had the interior plastics flocked etc. It's a fairly unique bit of kit.
                    Last edited by 137699; 13-07-2020, 04:16 PM.
                    ----------------
                    David
                    1999 M Coupe (S50)
                    >>Read my journal here<<
                    2005 Smart Roadster-Coupe Brabus
                    2022 Range Rover Evoque PHEV

                    Comment


                    • #70
                      Looks great. If you ever decide to sell make sure you post on here first!!

                      p.s. drop a pic of the inside when you get a chance
                      2000 Dakar Yellow

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                      • #71
                        Lol we're going a bit off topic here but... you asked...!




                        As for selling it, I swore I never would (said that about the first one until it got to 150,000 miles and then started blowing the main fuse and we couldn't work out why).
                        It's testing my patience at the moment as it's having a really odd ESP error that I've been trying to chase down for best part of a year - which is getting steadily worse - basically the ESP keeps cutting in & causing the car to stutter - started happening at about 90 mph but has been steadily happening at lower speeds and I now have an effective "top speed" of 60mph as a result.

                        It's actually going to the smart specialist on Thursday for the latest attempt to solve it (attempt number 4) - but it's getting to the point that if I can't fix it soon I am losing the will to live with it.

                        The electrics on these cars is their achilleas heal - the wiring looms are starting to give out on them due to the uber-thin copper strands everything is connected via and also the lead-free solder in the PCBs are causing modules to fail.

                        It has amused me since buying the 1999 MC in February how I am sooo much more confident of the BMW starting each morning and getting me to my destination than I am with the 2005 Smart!
                        ----------------
                        David
                        1999 M Coupe (S50)
                        >>Read my journal here<<
                        2005 Smart Roadster-Coupe Brabus
                        2022 Range Rover Evoque PHEV

                        Comment


                        • #72
                          Interesting day - took a trip over to Motor Mods nr Tewkesbury, Gloucs.
                          They have done a few small electrical jobs for me....

                          - Rewired the cig socket on the dash so it's now switched live rather than permanent live - means I can leave my TPMS monitor plugged in without any risk of it draining the battery.
                          - Also had another switched live socket put into the boot area which means I can keep a coolbox in there which will be very handy for the many planned road trips I have!
                          - Finally, the "lights on" siren stopped working a while ago (thank goodness as it sounded godawful) so rather than try to repair the original one, I have a new one wired up which sounds a helluvalot nicer - and this time only operates when you open the door rather than just turn off the ignition.

                          It's going into the paintshop Monday - oh and I have the airbag light on after moving the drivers seat (and no doubt disturbing the wiring) - alas the B800 reset tool I have won't reset the fault so I think that means the seat will have to come out & have the wiring properly checked/repaired - fortunately I have it booked in for bushing replacement in August so that job can get done then.
                          ----------------
                          David
                          1999 M Coupe (S50)
                          >>Read my journal here<<
                          2005 Smart Roadster-Coupe Brabus
                          2022 Range Rover Evoque PHEV

                          Comment


                          • #73
                            Originally posted by 137699 View Post
                            Ioh and I have the airbag light on after moving the drivers seat (and no doubt disturbing the wiring) - alas the B800 reset tool I have won't reset the fault so I think that means the seat will have to come out & have the wiring properly checked/repaired
                            Usually cleaning up the contacts on the connector under the seat sorts problems caused by moving the seat back and forth. If you can raise the seat to its highest setting then access to the connector is just about ok without having to unbolt the seat itself.
                            1998 ///M Coupe

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                            • #74
                              Originally posted by Ian_C View Post
                              Usually cleaning up the contacts on the connector under the seat sorts problems caused by moving the seat back and forth. If you can raise the seat to its highest setting then access to the connector is just about ok without having to unbolt the seat itself.
                              Ah thanks for the tip! I'll give that a go!

                              Here's a photo of the socket in the boot - put in the rear N/S corner so it's tucked out the way...

                              ----------------
                              David
                              1999 M Coupe (S50)
                              >>Read my journal here<<
                              2005 Smart Roadster-Coupe Brabus
                              2022 Range Rover Evoque PHEV

                              Comment


                              • #75
                                Originally posted by 137699;

                                Here's a photo of the socket in the boot - put in the rear N/S corner so it's tucked out the way...

                                [img
                                https://i.imgur.com/nBQemwl.jpg[/img]
                                Funnily enough I've got the parts (VW Golf boot socket) after seeing the benefits of the socket in my wife's Golf TDI GT which I was going to get fitted when I had my dashcam hard wired. The lockdown put pay to getting the auto electrician to come to fit the electrical bits and pieces I wanted doing. I'll get in touch with him shortly to see if he's back working again
                                Pete C

                                2000 Z3M Coupe - Cosmos Black Metallic/Black interior. 805 of 821 RHD built

                                Previous BMWs

                                2003 E46 M3 6 speed manual - Carbon Black/Black interior.
                                2000 Z3M Coupe - Cosmos Black Metallic/Black interior. 692 of 821 RHD built
                                1986 M635
                                1985 E28 M5
                                1983 E28 528i Alpina

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