_Matt_

Cheers Keyo, I've just sent him a message. It's already semi booked for the chains etc. but I've asked him to do a similar job to your car (and referenced your car) with bushes as well. I like sourcing and research so a fun job for me and you've already done a lot of the hard work.. I've made a note of all of the part numbers you've given us over the threads :) I have said he can advise on whether it needs a head refresh and if not I'll go for a stainless exhaust instead :D

Cheers Keyo, did you source all the parts or does Vince do it? Or is it just either way?

I'd love to see pictures of your cars and thoughts/progress, start a readers ride thread if you get the time or one with links to other forums if you've got them there :)

Yeah he had a Corrado years ago and there's a video in his history but not great quality. I bet you cannot wait to get yours back. As mine is going to Vince for chains, head, clutch I was thinking about getting the bushes done at the same time. Certainly the rear beam for sure as he'll have the proper equipment. I can see that garage bill growing haha. The ride on the eibach's should be pretty nice, I have eibach and billy B8 shocks so a similar setup. Initially I thought it was a bit harsh but did have my headlining out and the dampers have got more compliant with a few miles on them.

Definitely with you guys on the new vs old depreciation logic though. My wife and others don't get it when I spend a few thousand on the Corrado. I simply reply the Family car sitting on the drive has already lost £10k in depreciation and that's not that bad over 5 years on a nearly new car. Imagine what you'd be looking at if you'd blown £40k on a run-of-the mill hatch/estate after 5 years: probably £25k. Not forgetting the value of owning something different and the joy of restoring something too.

I probably saw a couple of your cars in the background on this Volkswizard video at stealth the other day then! I'm saving for chains & head refurb at stealth but too many other bills in the way. Can you believe my family want a family holiday this year. How selfish.

That's good to know Keyo, I hate having to deal with rust.. so expensive. I used to keep an eye on Nick Froome's website for W124's but doesn't seem to be active so much these days - http://www.w124.co.uk/carsforsale.php fendervg there's also a great thread on an owner's journey with a w124 300D on pistonheads https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=1382664

I do like those Keyo. Since I have a 2+2 in the Corrado a convertible would fit the bill quite nicely. I like quite a few of the pre-rust mercs - S124 being a fav too. Love an estate but have no need for it alongside my family car (also an estate). I need to move house and get a double garage first though.

Good work and nice to see you're continuing with it. I doubt the imperfection you see will be noticeable to anyone else!

Hi, After one of these handles for the drivers side (the one that allows you to flick the seat forward to allow rear passenger entry) part number 867881634 Keyo on here is also after some so first dibs to him, I'll take the next set to appear. Thanks, Matt

ohh I see. I have a silver tip, similar shape but assumed the original bolted on. Oh well, I'll leave it be and probs go for a stainless system at some point then.

Believe they were black from the factory, let me know what you've got. Thanks, Matt

Agreed on the big wheels and mega drops - looks silly and can't be the right geometry for the wishbones etc.

I like this forum and do find it easy to post pictures using the inbuilt feature. Never used tapatalk myself but do use facebook. In fact I only using facebook for my hobbies - Cars, cycling and running -> I block all the annoying people posting pictures of their dinner or showing off the latest thing they bought on credit etc. :) However there's only a handful of people on here regularly and it's been a sharp downturn since tapatalk disappeared. I only joined just over a year ago, pre-tapatalk death and it was far busier. Facebook is where it's at for chat but by the very nature of facebook threads are for the moment and gone tomorrow which is pretty useless for a car related forum. The forum is nicely organised into categories and it's easy to search for the old guides people have spent their time writing up (shame photobucket issues have lost all the pictures). As the cars age and user base diminishes it's time for change and perhaps re-branding to broaden and incorporate other VAG cars, or a Karmann specific forum to keep the footfall or even join forces with CCGB where many of us are paying membership but no one uses that forum at all; at least there would be more money, resources and people to invest in it's future. Plus the CCGB forum is very tired looking, unlike this one. Whatever happens the forum needs to integrate with Facebook somehow and the design and user experience needs to mimic it too, but with forum categorization and searching as that's how all these funky millennials communicate with each other.

Ahh yes that’s what I thought might be the breathing system - I have replaced the PCV with a genuine part and had it all apart for cleaning. No leaks there but I will try blowing through back towards the engine (pcv detached) to see if there are any blockages in the camshaft cover.

Ha funny you should mention the gps/speed control - we chatted about that too. People will just completely disengage from driving and the roads will become even more dangerous. Speed isn’t always the killer, it’s people not paying attention. Agree re: other cities where people will suffer. What is the point, I need to research but I thought most of the green house gases that is driving this change came from the farming industry and not the trader in his 15 year old van or worker across all industries making ends meet. Probs going a little off topic now.

I was chatting with my mechanic yesterday. He’s retraining in leak detection which gave me some confidence it would be possible to eventually change direction once the mortagage is paid etc. He’s only retraining as he’s a mobile VAG mechanic based in east London and has found since the government plans to stop older cars driving in London his business has begun to take a down turn as people turn to leasing new motors. He fears another scrappage scheme will take what is left of his business and he’s also going to be forced to buy a Euro 6 van at a cost of 12k plus (people won’t pay 12.5 on top of say diagnostics at 40 quid) Something a self employed trader can’t really do. Must be the same across all trades in London and whilst I get the environment I think it’s ironic killing off decent useable cars only to go and pollute 10 times more than those cars ever would by building new cars!

Yeah it’s had a new sump in the last couple of years, it’s dry around the sump seals. The drip comes from the cover that covers the gearbox next to the sump. Oil makes it was across to the power steering pump as well. Is the breather hose the one that joins the inlet above the thermostat sensors? If so that’s all dry up there. I have stripped the cool pack off and whilst there was a very small amount of oil on the end of the coil pack bolts it was pretty dry.

Hi, I've got an oil leak on my VR, more so when I drive it harder. I suspect crank seal as upper parts are dry and the drips are between gearbox and sump. Whilst my mechanic was servicing my family car today he suggested I check the breathing system for blockages as that will cause oil to leak via the easiest exit, he suggested I blew through it to check. He had a Corrado 16v for many years but without looking wasn't 100% on the VR6. I know the PCV valve, and have replaced it in the last 12 months, but is there any other hoses I can check for blockages before succumbing to the gearbox off & new clutch job of replacing the crank seal.... I have tried forte stop leaks to no avail. Secondly, if I so find a blockage in the breathing system how do I clean it out? Probs should have asked my mechanic but didn't want to take the pish too much. Cheers, Matt

Shame everything is out of date - my first aid kit is still in its original shrink wrap.

Has anyone changed career paths later on in life? How do you do it - can't do apprenticeships, join the forces etc. I'm 36, have a decent job but work in an office. I vowed to myself I'd get out by the time I'm 40-45 and do something active or with my hands. I'd love to do something with my interets: cars - restoration, aeroplanes - technician/mechanic, national park warden, maybe cycling (probably not though) related. I like the satisfaction of doing a job and being able to stand back and admire, whether that's restoring somehting or fixing something. Although I get that to some extent in my office role (I create reporting and planning soltuions) I just don't want to be stuck in an office forever and certainly don't want to climb any further up the management pole (hate the politics and less hands on).

Hi and Welcome. Good luck in your seach - I agree the things like the spoiler, VR6 (and other engines such as 16v and G60) are what makes it special to me. Sorry to hear about your old one. I carry a 10mm spanner in the car just incase so I can disconnect the battery if it happens. Do inspect your wiring around the battery connections - seen a couple go up in smoke due to this (and hence carrying the spanner!). Matt

Recreation of the centre console VDO gauges would be epic

Bobby this thread is 6 years old but you never know! Just don't wanted to manage your expectations...

Thanks for coming back to us, that's a shame but I get it from a business point of view. Sometimes wish I bought a mk2 Golf instead - waaay easier to spend money on....