vornwend

Right decision Michael! I've been really impressed with what you've done so far and I think its probably true to say you have been an inspiration to quite a few on here so would have been a shame to lose ya. Absence does make the heart grow fonder - had a weeks seperation from mine this week while on hols in Dorset (driving a Renault Scenic :? ) and boy did it feel good to give it a good blast today. :D Picked up a replacement drivers side window from Andy Brookes in Verwood and found some absolutely fantastic drivers roads between there and Shaftesbury (B3081) on the way home. Might be worth a detour if you are heading this way from Pompey or would make a great route for a days convoy? Vaughan

But the Lib Dems in Europe are pushing for a ban on all cars that emit more than 95gms of CO2 and go faster than 100MPH by 2020 - that would well and truly scupper us! :(

Bad luck mate. Really feel for you. Having recently been rear ended at traffic lights and taking 6 weeks to get it sorted I know the feeling. Its great when you get it back though! I put grease around the exposed metal work while it was waiting to go into the bodyshop.

I'd say a bit of both really. Some sensible mods (suspension, wipers, headlight looms and maybe some under bonnet stuff if that floats your boat) will improve your enjoyment of the car without compromising its integrity as a rare car on British roads. I don't really like body kit changes although some tasteful uprating of lights for more modern styles can look good. Vaughan

Dave - yeah pity people can't be put back together like cars - reckon making me shiny and new would cost millions! :?

Thanks Michael. Felt so much different than the Z4 after a week without! Here she is.....2.8l 24v Climatronic system.pdfstormdamage4.jpg[/attachment:8fdb9]stormdamage5.jpg[/attachment:8fdb9]

At long last I got my Storm back today :D Very, very pleased with the work Colour Tech (Wotton Under Edge) did on it this week- new rear bumper and new panel above. Their work is really excellent and it looks superb - all shiny and new :D I would thoroughly recommend them to anyone who needs body work/paint doing. The owner said she might think about advertising on here. I had the added bonus of a BMW Z4 for the week as well! When I handed it back I said I'd quite enjoyed driving it and one of their staff replied he'd rather have the Storm :) BTW I happened to have some of the blue grommet thingys that hold the rear badges on the rear panel (ordered them from ARZ Tuning as an add on to another order @ 0.19 euros each) . Colour Tech said they are not available anymore so bear that in mind if you are ordering from ARZ - worth salting away for a rainy day. I'll post some pictures up if it ever stops raining. Vaughan

Got the car back from the garage today. Front nearside bearing was the culprit - also needed to get the drive flange replaced so not a cheap day but the main thing is its driveable again! :) Thanks for all the advice. Until the next time :?

Nuff said, getting it sorted next week, meantime its staying on the drive :profileright: Looking forward to getting it back on the road though!

Thanks for all the advice guys. Discretion being the better part of valour I'm gonna leave it on the drive until the service. Pretty sure its a front nearside wheel bearing and getting low drone on straights now as well. Once had a cam belt failue on my 16 valver the day before it was due to be changed so my attitude to gambling with cars is somewhat tainted! Vaughan

Cheers Dinkus - that sounds like a some trip!

Thanks Jonnyboyo, appreciate the advice. :)

Last 2 weeks or so I've noticed a low hum/droning noise which sounds like wheel bearing failure to me. More noticeable when in right hand bends at speed (hardly noticeable/ if at all at low speed). Couple of questions: 1. Is it safe to hang on for another 400 miles or so till the service is booked? 2. Assuming it is wheel bearings Is it worth getting both sides done at once (front or rear)? Grateful for any advice. :? Cheers, Vaughan

Around 0.078% of all Corrados sold in the UK then - same as having owned 5,000+ Fiestas! :study: Like the colour of those Speedlines Andy

I had this problem yesterday with the heater blower control switch. The copper contact arm had actually broken! Managed to cobble together something built on the original steel bit of the arm. Devils own job though to get the shape just right to ensure contact at all 4 settings. Just when you think you've cracked it and go to put the knob cover back on it doesn't work as the plastic in the knob just pushs it out of contact again. Anyway perservered, shaved a bit of the plastic off and now its working on all 4 settings! Job is a lot easier with aircon because these buttons illuminate when the arm is making good contact. Without that its a bit hard to hear/feel the blower on setting 1 as its very low revs.

You must be totally devastated. Keep your chin up, at least you are ok. I might be able to arrange some where for you to break it. Have a friend whose parents live near Thornbury and have a lot of land and outbuildings - I'll give him a call later and see if there is room. Vaughan

Perhaps I ought to carry some brochures around with me! :multi:

Some positive movement on the insurance front today: Insurance have now given authority to proceed with repairs :) - bad news is that I will have to wait until 11th June to get it booked in :( The "equivalent" car for the week its in the bodyshop will be a BMW Z4 - so that might be fun, depending on variant :) - the alternatives, politely declined, were a Passat or a Focus 8)

AndyVW fitted the 4x4s plug and plays for me yesterday. I can vouch for their quality and just how much care Andy has put into making them not to mention a great fitting service on a hot afternoon. Just been out to try them on the darkest roads I could find and they make a massive and really noticeable difference, especially on full beam. I can see at night again! :) I'd thoroughly recommend them to anybody who needs to use their Corrado at night. FYI, I was getting 12.1 volts before and 13.4 after. Andy - Brilliant job mate! Really, really chuffed with this mod and worth every penny. Thanks again and hope to see ya soon. Vaughan

I only had a small prang this week (rear ended at red traffic lights. see "Storm damage" post) but I know how depressing a feeling this can be. Keep your spirits up and all those people are right about you being more important than the car. Funnily enough (or not) my accident happended in Watford (close to your heart judging by your avatar) Hope you can get back behind the wheel of a Corrado soon.

What a difference! looks well worth the wait and then some. I'm way behind you but watching with interest. Saving even harder for coilovers now! :mrgreen:

Its a common problem - Mine are not too bad at the moment but gonna do replace them some time too. There is a guy on e-bay that is knocking them out regularly at c£85 a pair and you can also get them from ARZ Tuning (German) who have a v good website. Similiar kind of price I think but varies according to exchange rate.

Getting there - I think - decided to use Colour Tech and probably arrange a hire car through them. They will take the risk that they can recover the charges. Might leave it to my insurers to get the excess back. Have to provide 2 quotes as its not a recommended repair shop but that's not a problem. An insurance company engineer needs to give them the once over and agree which to use Also checked with Colour Tech about the availablity of a bumper and they reckon they have a supplier in Bristol (Bristol car parts?) I think they said the cost was around £320 with all the bits and bobs. Seems quite a bit different than others experience?? I know its early days and it could yet go pear shaped but I have to say my insurance company (Admiral) have been dead easy to deal with on this - back to counting eggs :lol:

That's probably good advice Dinkus. Colour Tech do indeed use an independant company called Accident Exchange will provide a replacement vehicle and will chase up the excess. SJ Curtis have a very fancy web site and an annoying call holding system neither of which inspires me to use them. :roll: Back on the phone to the insurers....

I'm very new to this insurance game. Rang my insurers today and I think I have may another option which, because its no fault and appears straightforward, is basically to use their recommended garage and they will pursue the claim with the council. If I want to use Colour Tech I will have to pay £350 excess which my insurers will try and claim back from the council. The risk being that they don't get it back. The recommended garage is SJ Curtis at North Common - Anybody know of them? Following BTJs experience I Googled "Corrado rear bumper" and can only find after market fibre glass ones at around £220 which might also be an option?