Eunos Chump

Not posted anything recently because nothing motoring-wise has been happening.  All vehicles continue to function without issue, which is quite unusual.  Gives me more time to play Red Dead Redemption 2 though. I've decided what bike to get next year; Kwak Z1000SX.  Was hoping prices might drop now we're in December but not seeing any movement so far.

My R53 Cooper S has the unexpected bonus of the Harman Kardon premium audio system.  While it has impressive power and sound quality (once you discover the hidden settings ), it's firmly stuck in the past with just CD and analogue radio.  You can't change the head unit as the speakers are all wired to the 10-channel amp that lives in the boot, so new cables would need to be run from the head unit to each speaker, which would be an almighty faff. I wanted to add bluetooth so I could play my cheesy '80s music from Spotify, so bought a Grom BT3  which is a small module that plugs into the CD-changer port on the rear of the standard-fit Boost head unit.  It allows you to stream music from your mobile, and make/receive calls via the supplied microphone.  You can also buy another module that plugs into the Grom to provide DAB radio, USB, or iPod wired connections, I didn't bother with any of those, I just wanted Bananarama, loud. There are 2 versions of the Grom...

I replaced the snapped tailgate hinge on t'old MINI today, and it wasn't too bad a job.  The design is a bit crap and they tend to seize, and then break and attempt to bonk you on the head with the tailgate.  Didn't like that. The hinge is held on by a single nut but you need to partially drop the headlining to reach it.  To do this you need to: remove the tailgate seal remove the rear seats remove the rear side panel trim on the affected side This is all covered by some helpful folks in this YouTube video.  After this, you need to remove the white C-pillar trim; it's held in by 4 plastic tabs (2 top, 2 bottom), which fit into metal clips in the body.  It needs a sharp tug but there is a fair risk of breaking the tabs, but I got away with it. Now you should be able to gently pull down the headlining, to release the clip in the centre: That should give just enough clearance to get a 13mm socket onto the nut securing the hinge.  There is...

I've been procrastinating for some months about buying another bike - either PCP'ing something, buying a used Z1000SX, or getting a damned monkey bike.  In the end I've bought another MINI instead, only this time the supercharged version, in the best colour combo with all the options - premium audio, 'leccy sunroof, A/C, xenon headlights and leather.  We had to go to Bristol for it but it's in superb condition and it's flipping PENG!  Yeah, I used that word.  I am MINI PEOPLE, this is how we talk.

It's the new Honda Monkey, which is making my trousers very tight at the mo.  You'll be able to PCP them at £500 down then £65 per month, and it can do up to 189mpg.  I can't think of a single use for it but I really badly want one.

SUMMON THE KRAKEN EUNOS!  I've had the week off to get things done but the heatwave ruined my plans, all I've managed was a few 7am-9am sessions to finally fit the new exhaust to the Mini.  Once I bought some quality drill bits it was fairly straightforward but laborious to drill and tap all the sheared off bolts.  Then I got it into my head to give the Eunos some maintenance too, seeing as it's had no attention since 2015. So far I've drained the oil and replaced the brake fluid, lubed the front calipers and dug at some of the rust bubbles that have appeared underneath.  So far it's solid but deffo needs treating with something before the winter.

Visited the hovercraft museum at Lee-on-Solent at the weekend, it was bloody excellent!  I'm very disappointed the SRN4 will never run again, it's hard to imagine something so huge (60 cars and 400+ people) could rise up 12 feet, then cruise along at 70mph.  Competition from ferries and the loss of duty free sales finished them off. The Princess Ann is the last survivor, the Princess Margaret was broken up earlier this year.  Apparently some parts will be auctioned, I want some seats for the garage.

Had a few days in the Peak District last weekend.  Finally got to ride the Cat & Fiddle, still pretty good fun despite average speed cams, dodderers, and loose chippings. Have sacked off the VFR1200 idea, too heavy/too similar to the 800.

Strongly considering getting a hideous VFR1200F: It looks AWFUL but then I can't see it when riding, I'll just be enjoying the VFR experience only with 160 BHP.  It's not fair on other road users perhaps, but then I do have to witness their hideous SUVs. In other news, the Mini is MOT'd and I like it very much.  Jag was roffled and collected a couple of weeks back.

 STILL fixing the Mini, 'cos I'm a lazy bastard and manage about 2 hours of work a day.  But everything at the front of the car is now fixed, so it was time to take a look at the rear... Buggered... and this is the good side, the rear of that disk is like the surface of the moon.  At least parts are cheap. Also, Jag has been roffled!  Still waiting for the lucky* winner to contact me.

...they make the car go faster. Also much better than smashed foglights for passing MOTs.  I renovated the headlamps using an Autoglym kit, it worked well once I got the hang of it.  Removed the rear lamps and did those too, annoyingly one came up like new while the other is still cloudy.  Gave it the treatment 3 times and still no change.   Now the nearside inner CV gaiter has let go and spat grease everywhere.  Too much rain to tackle that so far.

The Mini has several faults that'll upset the MOT man, the biggest one being this split CV gaiter on the driver's side.  I bought a boot kit for about £12 from ECP and just removed the outer driveshaft to swap it.  As usual I got very frustrated trying to put the new boot clamps on, and ended up using cable-ties again. Other faults are rear wiper ineffective (why can't I buy one of these anywhere?), smashed front foglight (will remove both), exhaust insecure (the studs have snapped on the supports), and brake pad warning lamp on (sensors only fitted to NSF and OSR apparently).

My neighbours have kindly allowed me to store the Berlingo on their drive, but it disgraced itself yesterday by dumping the contents of it's radiator.  It's rotted out again - this has happened at least once before in past 12 years, damp leaves and other detritus gets trapped in the corners of the fan housing. A new one was only £48 though and it was easy enough to swap out. I'm in the process of putting the fancy audio from the Jag into the Mini.  That's way more fun than fixing the CV boot and rattly exhaust.  Other Mini jobs tackled have been touching in paint chips and re-aligning the rear hatch (it suddenly went skew-whiff, which apparently is completely unrelated to Mrs Maimboy angrily trying to slam the hatch with an oversized vacuum cleaner in the boot).

Item 1: buy a large portion of Jag for just £1000.

I collected the Mini last weekend, and I love it so far - it's a proper little dodgem car. Interior reminds me very much of the Rover 75 - same bold shapes/materials, so it's odd that these became trendy while the highly competent 75 never caught on. First task was a service - the previous owner said it had had no attention for at least 20,000 miles, maybe double that.  After removing the air filter I'm guessing the latter - no wonder it didn't seem very quick.  Plugs didn't look too bad though.  Oil filter was next... ...5 days later, I eventually removed said filter, after much swearing, internet research and grazed knuckles.  It's an element type that lives in a housing on the back of the engine, and they're prone to seizing if not changed regularly.  Needless to say, this one wasn't going anywhere.  I broke the end off my breaker bar :( In the end I had to remove the whole housing from the car (not easy due to access), then repeatedly ...

When are you coming to collect the Jag you've promised to buy off me?

The problem was... a lack of juice in the battery.  I was aware low voltage played havoc with these cars, but didn't realise it would prevent the starter engaging properly.  Cost to fix: nowt. 

I've been working in the US for the past week, but unfortunately for an office closure rather than opening.  There's been a downturn in the company's fortunes and before long I may realise my dream of not working here any more, but we'll see. First leg was to Boston; BA 777 in premium economy (business class no longer allowed), not impressed but then I do love complaining, apparently. It was bloody cold in Boston.  Apart from the civil war stuff, there really isn't much to see apart from the 'Cheers' bars, which we visited maybe half-a-dozen times (the original bar shown in the TV show titles, the one with the set from the show, and the replica).  It was just convenient.  I've never watched it so it meant nothing to me! At the weekend there was several inches of snow, but they're well prepared for it and there was no disruption whatsoever. We walked up to 9 miles a day, my feet/ankles will never be the same again.  I see what the...