Brettblade's 2005 Ibiza FR TDi

[BrettBlade]

Finally got around to having the TT brakes fitted:

And painted the side strips, long overdue on reflection:

A couple of forced expenses...

 

[BrettBlade]

So needed a couple of new tyres again, on the front. Went for Toyo Proxes T1R, couldn't fault the Rainsports (2), but with the 3s having been released I didn't want to go for the older version, and my usual tyre place isn't stocking the 3s yet. They'll probably get a run out next time I'm due some tyres.

Toyo's seem grippy enough so far, and seem to be considerably quieter. Quite a common complaint is how long they last though, so we shall have to see.

Car has also had a minor service, and a drop link replaced. I'll be changing a split CV boot in the next week or so, but the joint itself is fine. It seems as though I also need a bottom ball joint on the same side, so that will get done at the same time.

I've taken delivery of a reversing camera and sensors recently, and hope to have them fitted soon!

I've also got "the bug" back and have ordered:
Cupra handbrake cover
Chrome button
Cupra bushes
Boot light and wiring
FR sill guards
Audi TT pedals
Audi R8 oil cap

My insurance is due in a fortnight or so, but my renewal price isn't looking too bad with 5 years protected NCB!

Gave my barn space a bit of a tidy too:

Looks much better than the previous sprawled out mess:

(That's a fairly old photo, it was much much worse!).

 

[BrettBlade]

An "in-progress" pic! Reversing camera and sensors to be fitted in the morning, wiring is all in place, just need to get the bumper back on, and see about putting the interior back together!

 

[BeezaDave]

You'll have to post pics once it's all set up. Tough job to do?

 

[BrettBlade]

You'll have to post pics once it's all set up. Tough job to do?

Pretty much all done! Just got the rear quarter panel "door card" to go back on.

It's fiddly and time consuming, but not awfully difficult. I'm pleased with the results. The sensors are actually quite straight forward as the whole unit and sounder is contained within the boot area, including all of the wiring. The camera is a bit more involved, as it requires running the reverse gear signal to the head unit (from the power source, the reverse bulb feed) and the video feed as well.

 

[BrettBlade]

Bit of engine bay painting!

Just on with machine polishing at the moment! May have to look at getting my front bumper resprayed, the lacquer is woefully thin!

 

[BeezaDave]

Reversing camera is cool fair play! Where'd you get it?

 

[BrettBlade]

And the Cupra handbrake cover, below. I did order the chrome button but made a mess up of removing it from the rod. So, I colour coded my original plastic button. Platinum Grey is similar to the FR gearknob colour so it actually blends in quite well!

 

[BrettBlade]

Reversing camera is cool fair play! Where'd you get it?

Only from eBay, was less than £15!

 

[BrettBlade]

Insured for another year! Stayed with Greenlight, happy with the renewal problem and had no problems with them whatsoever, so I'm a returning customer!

 

[BrettBlade]

Wearing a week old single coat of Dodo Juice Light Fantastic!

 

[BrettBlade]

Audi R8 oil cap:

FR brushed aluminium sill guards:

Audi TT pedal covers:

McGard Ultra locking wheel nuts:

Not overly impressed with the oil cap or the McGard bolts to be honest. Sill guards and pedal covers are great though!

 

[BrettBlade]

Set about my bonnet today, trying to do some spot repairs on the horrendous rash of stone chips. Not a perfect finish obviously, and I don't have a before picture I'm afraid, but the end result is this:

And a close up of some the chips, whilst a coat of Supernatural Hybrid was curing:

Also jacked the car up and G101'd the whole underbody before jet washing off and under the arches got the same treatment too. Whilst up in the air, I attempted to make the sills look a bit better - which to be fair have been absolutely battered by the looks of things!

From this:

To this:

The front wheels got a good clean, front and back, and were coated in Extra Gloss Protection. Also took the chance to do a bit more painting:

Finally got my fog light changed as well, since a rogue stone made a mess of one. Still can't figure out how the speed clips work though!

To do shortly:
Cupra bushes to fit
Replacement temp sender
CV boot
Ball joint
Brake fluid change
Respray the front bumper

And the continued debate in my head of whether to spend on this car! (I'm thinking FMIC, exhaust, clutch and so on).

 

[BeezaDave]

Steady work going on here, fair play!

 

[BrettBlade]

Steady work going on here, fair play!

Keeps me busy lol!

 

[IBIZA_W1LL]

Car looks great mate, same colour as mine, shows me what it could look like if i actually polished it! I think I better crack the machine polisher out. How did you do the spot repairs on stone chips?

 

[BrettBlade]

Tin of paint and a toothpick! Fill in the stone chips, leave to harden but not dry, clay, machine polish, wax.

 

[BrettBlade]

So, it wasn't a ball joint that was causing some vibration on the wheel but rather a track rod end, so that was changed.

Temp sender on, Cupra bushes on at the second attempt, brake fluid changed, and the wheel re-balanced and tracked again. I've still got the slightest bit of vibration through the wheel but this could be down to road surface more than anything, you really do feel everything with this sort of set up!

A pic with my brothers new (to him, 61 plate) Mk5:

The interior got a good clean too:

And the boot had a long overdue clear out!

Next on the agenda is more than likely a service that's due in around 5k or so, and a timing belt kit and water pump in around 12-15k, I forget the exact mileage without having a look!

I've still got the majority of the bits to fit a boot light, but just waiting on the plastic boot trim with cut out from Dave at Sere.

 

[BrettBlade]

Had a go at tackling my B pillar rust today, it's shocking how many Ibizas suffer from this!

This is the surface after a bit of preparation, you can see where the rust was:

And this is the end result:

Not too bad of a turn around, but I feel I could have done better, and I'm very tempted to give this another go when the weather is good again.

 

[BrettBlade]

Hopefully will get some time on the car this weekend, it's desperately in need of a clean and a few other bits, namely the driver's side door lock module and I also need to take a look at the wiring for the components in the driver's door, I'm not getting any sound at all from them, suggesting a loose wire somewhere.