Stonejag

Don't worry, I had to wait a little longer anyway to let the caliper paint harden off, it dries a lot slower than I was expecting! I think they're going to look pretty good though I'll drop my address to you in a PM. Thank you!

I used to have one of the VW six-disc changers with a Gamma head unit in my Lupo. You could make the in-dash version fit if you cut up your centre console a bit - I've seen double-DIN conversions that look pretty good. Beware - there are two near-identical types of CD changer and they aren't the same! (the Beetle ones have different cable connections - it looks like the cable you bought might have been for one of these). On the one you want there's a three-colour plug coming out of the changer like this: (pinout here). This plugs into the back of the Gamma, and there's a separate cable for illumination if it's going to be mounted in the glovebox or dash (part number is 6X0 051 734A - about £15 - never comes with the changer because people don't know it's there and leave it in the car. I only mention it in case future visitors need one, it's a really awkward number to find...) You then just need an extension cable for this plug to the back of the Gamma - I'm pretty sure there is a VW part for this but never looked it up since mine was in-dash. I think you want this one to mount it in the boot, but check the connections first! You should be able to take your Gamma out and plug the changer directly into the back of it (floating free) just to test it - that would rule out the cable you bought. Beware: you may need the empty cable shells for the yellow and green portions of the plug (they snap together) because even though the pins aren't used for the changer the latch on the radio doesn't hold the cable very securely with only the blue portion inserted. Guess how I found that out ;) That part number doesn't come up in Vagcat - any chance of the pic of the changer you're trying to use? Where are you mounting it? Mine was this one: Stone

I would put everything in writing, keep a copy and send it to them recorded so you have proof of delivery. State what happened, the damage caused and estimated cost of repairs. Put down what the offer was that they rejected, then maybe get a couple of quotes from local garages as to what it would cost to get it all sorted properly, which would reinforce how reasonable your offer was, plus the crime number (and put in that you only approached the police at their request). Then you just use the small claims track of your county court - all the info's here but you could try your local citizen's advice bureau. Normally they recommend not doing any repairs until you've got an agreement as to who pays for what, but if you haven't got anything else to drive that may be a problem so I'd probably get the windscreen done so you can drive it, then stick a bit of primer on the paint damage to protect it until you can get it sorted. They're probably hoping you'll just give up and go away so don't give up! :) Good luck with it, anyway. Stone

Looking lovely! Don't let the plod catch you with those numberplates ;-) I had about half an inch sat on the car earlier but it melted within the hour! Quite glad to be honest, it's been really snowy here the last couple of years and it brings out terrible driving like you wouldn't believe...fingers crossed we won't have too much this time around. Stone

Hello mate, What's the driver's side door handle like? Stainless striker or original? I've just lost another one :( Cheers Stone

I will do, thanks. Mine are 95% OK but it would be just my luck..! Stone

Just seen on Police Interceptors that they don't need the BS AU mark if they're pre-2001! I don't think they know what the right answer is :lol: Stone

Does that mean you still have it in the garage, then? ;) That looks very good actually, the sticky-top screws are a cunning way to fit it. You can't see out of the very top bit of the rear window anyway so it shouldn't get in the way too much. I think people are so used to the third brake light now that any older cars are always at risk, especially when it's getting dark and you have your sidelights on. Unfortunately you can't do much about the single fuse that runs all the brake lighting (!) without running new wiring. I found this out when a bulb popped the fuse as the brake-light filament burned out - in an auto the solenoid that unlocks the gear selector runs off the fused brake light feed as well so when it's blown you can't get it out of Park! Could have been done that way as a safety feature but it's mighty unnerving when you don't know it works like that. Of course it's not mentioned in the user manual or in Bentley :roll: On a related note I saw this the other day: Overkill? :lol: Stone

Have you got any pics of yours fitted? Stone

Who were they from? Tempted to replace mine since they've no BS AU mark. Stone

Brilliant result, now you just need some camber... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H11E0zwI7QA&feature=related (yes, I am joking) Stone

Awesome, thank you! Dimensions as shown: (outer diameter can vary a bit - don't bother turning them down to 24mm if you have 25mm bar stock :)) If only they were stainless...thanks anyway though :) Stone

My mate in the machine shop at work has been rushed off his feet with the usual Christmas panicking and today was my last day in before the new year... I'd like to get my 312mm brakes fitted at the same time as the rear beam's off to do the bushes (fitting mk4 rears at the same time) so they only have to bleed the system once. Ideally that would be next week - I've got all the bits, but no spacers. Any chance someone with access to a lathe could help me out? I'm obviously happy to pay for them! Thanks in advance, Stone

Likewise, my replacements are Febi ones (hopefully going to get them fitted next week...) See here - for the VR6 ones it's £8.34 each! Chuck in a new nut and bolt and it's £10.91 per side. Darn sight better than the stealers' prices! Stone

Personally I'm quite tempted by a set of these - metal links that fit around the circumference of the tyre so no possibility of damaging your alloys. Only drawback I see is the price (£250 for two wheels), and that they won't fit in any Toyo Proxes tyres because they don't have a straight channel all the way around. Would work fine on my winter wheels though... Stone

Just for info, I rang up the parts place after finding a few numbers on Vagcat (and got a few extras while I was at it...) The handbrake sleeve (535 711 463 4FB) is still available but they want £37.50! I told them to keep it ;) Stone

I think that's the point of drilling it. No holes in my one...;)

I will do if I get a CDA for Christmas ;) Can you hold on a month or so?

Another auto driver! Hello :) They do still exist - do be prepared to wait a little while though. Mine came up after a couple of months of watching eBay: in that time I saw 5 or so. You should be prepared either to wait a long while for the perfect one or buy one regardless of condition and do it up, which is basically what I did. Mine was pretty straight and came with heated leather, but the engine was pretty poorly and there was a LOT of trim missing (plus the rust spots, plus the dents, plus plus plus) but it still worked out on the expensive side for a VR6. I think quite a few end up broken because less of us want them :( On the bright side because they're a bit unloved they hang about a bit longer before going, so you may be able to get a cheeky offer in. Only 55 left! I think that number might be a little off since the autos often aren't registered in the DVLA database properly (for Congestion Charging mine comes up as PURPLE VOLKSWAGEN UNKNOWN MODEL :lol:) and insurance companies don't seem to have the autos available on their list. I've seen a couple myself though... Whether it's before or after purchase, whatever you do check the gearbox fluid (it has a dipstick - look below the battery. Only check when it's running and in Park so the torque converter is full of fluid, otherwise it'll over-read) before doing any significant driving in it - VW call it lifetime fluid but that's only true because when it runs out the gearbox implodes :lol: Flushing it isn't a tricky job and it vastly improves the shifting since most haven't been maintained properly. I still love the funny looks I get when I roar up and park in disabled bays :mrgreen: Stone

Another vote for these guys - no problems delivering a set of alloys from Glasgow to the door, even when the collection address changed at the last minute :) Stone

Yeah, let us know. Mine's on the brink of death after the previous owner put a K&N filter in with nothing holding it up, so every throttle adjustment and corner wobbled the MAF and filter around the engine bay all hanging off the elbow... Where does the small pipe on the outside of the elbow come from, the oil breather?

Got started on this: Still not sure if I've crossed the line or not :lol: Stone

Reminds me of the auto gear shifter cover the stealers wanted £186 for! I could use one of the square fusebox holder clippy things if someone wants to sell me one for under a tenner. If not I can ram the paperclip back in :lol: Stone

Mine had two or three very rusty brackets screwed to the top which slipped under the headlight mounting screws - one on each headlight (and there may have been one in the middle, can't remember). I sold it to fla so he might be able to take a pic for you... Stone

I was idly looking at something similar (got distracted looking at silicone couplers for a CDA!) and found this - the last post looks pretty sensible if you'd rather roll your own. I bet you could get a local machine shop to knock up something similar to the American one for not too much :) Stone