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[El Tel]

So... soon it is time to get a lot of things on 'Fifi' the ForFour fixed and improved.

Over the next 3-4 weeks, I'm going to sort out (or pay someone to sort out) a long list of things. Some are safety improvements, others just maintenance, and then there are a bunch of bits I've spent a couple of years looking for / collecting which will add a bit of luxury to the interior...

• Fit new main radiator
• Replace coolant overflow tank (original is full of crud and cracked)
• Replace front radiator surround/subframe (original has a cracked mounting point)
• New water pump
• New thermostat
• Retrofit wing-mirror tweeters
• Retrofit MF wheel (+slipring)
• Retrofit brab handbrake lever
• Retrofit brab pedals
• New brake discs front
• New brake pads front and rear
• New brake hoses
• General service (oil, oil filter, plus brake fluid change & fresh coolant of course)

All the brake bits are brembo (OEM style, nothing fancy) except the hoses which are Goodridge. Safety first...

-and to finish it all off, I've currently got my eye on a leather gearknob at edsmartparts.nl which I'm sure I'll cave in and end up buying real soon. Along with the leather steering wheel and handbrake trim, I'm sure it'll make a real difference to the interior of the car!

The plan is to get 'Fifi' totally sorted and maximally reliable before summer's end, when I sincerely hope I'll be able to go drive somewhere nice with the family without being too paranoid about lurgies...

Anything which I do myself which isn't well documented already, or could do with more photos; I'll endeavour to post them in due course.

[454_1.1_55_2004]

Enjoy!

[El Tel]

Got a few jobs done this last weekend....

Retrofit wing-mirror tweeters
Retrofit brab handbrake lever
Retrofit brab pedals

The tweets make a subtle yet huge difference, like slipping on a new pair of prescription glasses for the first time does for your vision, everything sounds just a little clearer and sharper. Well worth the effort.

I didn't take pictures cos it really isn't rocket science, but a wire coat hanger (plastic coated) was the order of the day to easily drop the speaker cable from the wing-mirror trim down through the door cavity. I did a right bodge job on the soldering but it's all nicely installed now with spade connectors and whatnot.

Fifi also passed her MOT today, that's before I had the brakes changed. Looking forward to feeling the fresh stopping power in a couple of weeks.

[El Tel]

Fifi is back from mechanic no.1....

Fit new main radiator
Replace coolant overflow tank
Replace front radiator surround/subframe
New water pump
New thermostat

Unfortunately the rad shroud replacement has revealed the extent to which the front end was bent by some shock (before I got the car, probably hit a bollard). However it looks no worse than before the replacement and now I know the full ugly truth.

The coolant circuit was indeed full of crap and Raúl (Mr mechanic) confirmed I was right to replace the thermostat and pump as well. It should all be perfectly reliable now.

He refilled it with green coolant. Is that right? I presume he knows what he's doing but it isn't MB antifreeze, for sure.
 

[454_1.1_55_2004]

As I read on this forum, blue is good, pink/red is good. G11 or G12. Don't know what G is green or if it's ok.
There is a topic for this.

[454_1.1_55_2004]

https://www.forfour.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=367.0

[El Tel]

https://www.forfour.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=367.0

I reckon green is fine then, I'm pretty sure it's ethylene glycol based. In a year I'll get it replaced again with good ol' MB325.0

[mr singh]

As I read on this forum, blue is good, pink/red is good. G11 or G12. Don't know what G is green or if it's ok.
There is a topic for this.

PINK Coolant IS NOT for our engines! from the factory they are filled with coolant that is BLUE in colour. you shouldn't mix different coolants and would go as far as saying use the same colour coolant after draining and flushing.

https://www.valvoline.com/our-products/antifreeze-products/antifreeze-education/engine-coolant

iv had a look at the chart and it does indeed say you can use pink coolant in our engines BUT having worked in the motor trade for over 16 years and having seen many Japanese part exhanges, i have yet to come across a Japanese car that uses pink coolant as all the ones i have seen have used blue

[El Tel]

Fifi is now with the usual mechanic to get the oil, brakes and steering wheel changed over.

The old girl still drives well, but should have some serious stopping power (compared to before) from tomorrow.

I am looking forward to being able to use my second LCD for something other than an Italian trip computer, too.

[El Tel]

All done! New brakes all round and MF wheel fitted and working now

I just need to find somewhere far to drive (in the middle of lockdown) to run in the brakes...

Til then, I will enjoy the new view:

[454_1.1_55_2004]

Just escape from the lockdown and drive free.... for testing the brakes, of course!

[El Tel]

Unfortunately lockdown around here has been tightened and we are confined to our local areas, and police here DO set up roadblocks.

Not a big issue if I stay local, or even go wherever I want in weekday rush hour, but a potential 600euro fine on a quiet Sunday with no good excuse to be out.

Basically the authorities know that easter will push Covid transmission rates up, so this is the price we pay for it.

No trips to Barnard Castle for me, my friend

[mr singh]

No trips to Barnard Castle for me, my friend

use the excuse of 'i was testing my eye sight' 

[El Tel]

If you tried that here you'd DEFINITELY get a fine for insulting their intelligence, if nothing else! That said, Dom Cummings is an utter jerk and I'd never follow his example, ever.

If you look up 'hypocrisy' in the dictionary there's probably a picture of him with Barnard Castle in the background...

[El Tel]

It's all done!

Fit new main radiator
Replace coolant overflow tank (original is full of crud and cracked)
Replace front radiator surround/subframe (original has a cracked mounting point)
New water pump
New thermostat
Retrofit wing-mirror tweeters
Retrofit MF wheel (+slipring)
Retrofit brab handbrake lever
Retrofit brab pedals
New brake discs front
New brake pads front and rear
New brake hoses
General service (oil, oil filter, plus brake fluid change & fresh coolant of course)

...In addition, I have also:

Repainted my wiper arms (satin black)
Installed Connects2 CANbus adapter for the radio + MF wheel controls
Retrofitted a factory subwoofer and DIY harness

Not bad for a month's work! Now it feels and sounds like a new car (on the inside)...