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[Problemchild]

I love how you are looking for things to fix now

Yeah wifey, dunno how but the pipe front he thing to the whats it for bent somehow honest

Gotta spend a week fixing it while you look after the kids

JJ

[mr singh]

sounds about right! 

[mr singh]

I ordered a new rad for my SB3 and decided to fit it on the 30th... only to find that the rad that my local motor factors ordered was for a Brabus . I took it back and they are arranging a new one for me, I figured whilst its in bits id fit a new A/C condenser.

the cable ties did there job of securing the radiator but didn't stop the a/c pipe rubbing on the compressor pully.

I got a 'new' condenser to compressor A/C pipe from u-pull-it in York (<- great place) from one of the forfours they had on site, unfortunately its a little longer than the one fitted as it came off a 1.1 rather than a 1.3/1.5. I did have a mooch round the Colts they had there weren't many and the ones that were there were all 1.1 apart from a facelift 1.3/1.5 but the pipe was different.

during the tear down I found a couple of things that really surprised me, the impact sensor on the left side was connected but left dangling and not connected to the impact sensor that was fitted to the rad surround. had that impact sensor seen something and set the air bags off, that would have meant that my SB3 would surely have been a write off.

to make matters worse im back at work and im now confined to fixing it on the weekends, weather permitting

on the plus side i am using one of the cars i recently added to my fleet.

[Problemchild]

At least it’s summer mate 

That poor block paving though haha

JJ

[mr singh]

That poor block paving though haha

JJ

I know! cant wait to get a garage up so I can save the drive!

[mr singh]

its been a while since iv updated my progress.

the front ends has been rebuilt, coolant blead and a/c regassed.

the exhaust has been finished... sort of.

and im glad to be out of the brabus that i was using whilst it was of the road as its become dangerous to drive.

the exhaust has been finished but it needs a new cat as the sports cat fitted kept failing the emissions on the MOT at 2 different test stations. it failed twice at mercedes of leeds and 'failed' at the test station we use for our MOT's. after speaking to the tester who did the last test he said that it wouldnt pass with the current cat fitted even tough he got the cat stinking red hot, but he gave it an mot
its going back to the place that fitted the exhaust for a 400 cel cat fitting instead of the 200 cel that is currently fitted.

[El Tel]

With your skills and experience you should start a business specialising in forfours... I'd trust you with mine

[mr singh]

With your skills and experience you should start a business specialising in forfours... I'd trust you with mine

i might think about it once we get a garage built

[Problemchild]

Although 27 pages and he’s still not fixed it

Hahaha

Best looking ForFour in the U.K. though

JJ

[mr singh]

its kept me out of trouble... apart from the missus and parents saying im spending too much on it and i could have bought a 'better car' given how much iv spent on it. my argument is, yes i have spent a lot but its over a period of time. if i were to fork out what iv spent on my forfour over the time iv owned it in one go... well lets just say it would take me longer to save up and possibly wouldn't get the car i wanted.

i still want a Jag though, which one iv yet to decide. i have narrowed it down to 2 potential models and possible engine choices.

all i need now is to find a garage that will do some engine work. i need the valve stem seals replacing (iv started another thread) but iv contacted 3 garages, the Smart indi basically said no, the mercedes specialist said get a replacement engine and the mitsubishi specialist hasnt even quoted me. iv asked the garage that does the MOT's for our customers if they would be willing to do the job, they didnt exactly say no.

[mr singh]

just a bit of an update.

i managed to get hold of a genuine Comand APS radio, that has now been fitted, although it does need a new GPS connector at the back of the radio. i managed to plastic weld it back on but it broke when i went to fit it.

the burning oil/valve stem seal saga will hopefully be resolved next month.
after messaging several garages and being turned away, i messaged Rob at s2smarts, who, i am pleased to say has said he is willing to rebuild the head AND whilst its stripped down compare the cams fitted in mine with a set of SB3 ones he has.

[Problemchild]

Good news mate

As for costs - just start saying to others you’ll start monitoring their spend on their hobbies

Soon shuts them up

JJ

[mr singh]

exhaust has been tweeked a little from the initial set up. the original set up was straight through with a rear silencer and that was 'loud'. i opted for an active exhaust set up but the valve that was arranged for me turned out to be faulty. 6 months later i had the valve fitted and it was LOUD but very raspy so that was tweaked so some of the raspyness was removed, but after firing up the Brabus which was deep and burbley, i asked for the sound to be deepened. i played with it on the way home yesterday and im chuffed to bits with it. it sounds stock when the valve is shut but its loud when its open.

ill see how it goes with this latest set up but i think i'll be able to live with it.

as for the trip down to s2smarts next month, im a little on edge, so much so the workshop controller noticed my attitude was different, in a quiet kind of way, im possibly on edge as itll be the first time iv had my car so far away being fixed.

[Problemchild]

I’m sure rob will help out if needed

He gives good snuggles

JJ

[mr singh]

an update regarding the SB3

the exhaust has now been sorted, noise wise. it been deepened when the bypass valve is open and im chuffed with it.

its been over a week since i dropped it off at s2 and progress appears to be going well. engine has been removed and head taken off and machined, new sump, water pump, thermostat and other parts that i didnt supply have been ordered. im also hoping the EML/emissions issue has been sorted as i had a hunch the exhaust manifold gasket was blowing.

i asked Rob to compare the cams fitted to my engine with a brand new set of SB3 cams he has and... its good news ! i have an SB3. the doubt has been removed whether or not i have an SB3 or not. i can finally say that i have the rarest forfour, or at least the rarest option fitted.

i have some pictures that 'G' has very kindly sent me, which will be added once i have it back.