I fitted some new Bosch wipers today, they were on offer from ECP and with the 25% holiday discount were much less expensive than elsewhere. The juddery, smeary rubbish that I removed was possibly the cheapest no-name wipers available! Now I have a clear screen, no judders and just the occasional noise at the end of the travel.

I also got the second hand door seal fitted, despite missing one of the attachment strips. I used some trim take and trim buttons for now.

The DTV module I ordered from Singapore arrived, so I'm just waiting for the conversion kit to get my TV updated! I should get the spark plugs I ordered from ECP delivered soon too, then I can finish the servicing. Once I replace the odd tyre with a matching Kumho that Blackcircles have lost, twice.

I took the car for its first long-ish motorway run this evening, and it seemed to run pretty well. However, in a crosswind on the M25 there was an ungodly howl from somewhere round the front screen! I shall investigate the front cowl and A-pillar trim at the weekend.

Tried them all, found these to be the quietest and have the best clearance in all conditions plus less wind noise... last a long time as well...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360919244511?_tr...EBIDX%3AIT Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Spot on Pete. altho mine were only £15.95.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/jsddqdj

Work silently and perfectly. Easy to fit too. 15 mins tops.

Available all over the place, I actually got mine locally last time...

Advanced Factors (site sponsor) used to sell them but they have been out of stock for over a year now....  Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

I'm happy with the Bosch wipers - I read about the flat ones, but I've always used Bosch on my previous fast cars (Porsches, Maserati) so with the good deal I went with them. They work perfectly.

My new tyre arrived, so I'll get that fitted and wheels all balanced, then to sort the howl out.

Can't knock Bosch wipers they are very well made, it's just the flat blade ones are so much better technology, no noise on the screen, reduced wind noise, no fishtailing in cross winds and don't lift at speed....

It must be nearly sorted now.... Time to enjoy it....  Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

It's close (I hope). The remaining list, for anyone that cares


Replace mismatched tyre
Wheel balance (slight vibration at 65-70)
Remove road wheels and apply anti-seize
Spark plug change
Track down crosswind howl
Upgrade TV to DTV
I might paint some of the foundry trim
Possible wheel alignment - steering wheel is off centre a little, enough to annoy me
LPG filters
Maybe sort the nav if I'm feeling flush and a MK4 turns up somewhere
Repair/repaint rear bumper parking damage (not me)
Polish/repaint crappy earlier paint work
Driver door mirror flaps about a bit
Mirror reverse dip works intermittently
Clean climate sensor fan

I'd do the balance and alignment pretty quick, if your steering wheel is off center it can upset the steering angle sensor and cause problems, and both can cost money...

The rest are a normal list of things to do on most cars our age....  Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Tyre and balance should be today - it would have been last week but Blackcircles lost the tyre and had to order another! Steering wheel isn't miles off, and the car tracks straight, and front tyre wear is even so I'll get to that at some point.

Tyre changed at a local garage. I was impressed that he used a torque wrench to tighten the wheel nuts, not so much that he stood there with the door open waiting for the suspension to raise - "I know all about these"... no, you don't!

I didn't have time for a balance of the other wheels, but the vibration through the steering is all but gone and the wheel is nearer to centre. In fact the difference is so tiny I may not bother. One mismatched tyre...

Now I have to get my Series running again. Time to get oily!

 Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

I'm visiting a customer in Switzerland, so left the beast in a Heathrow car park. Will it start after 3 days of being ignored? We'll see!

My new spark plugs and DTV upgrade components have been delivered, so a weekend of soldering and spannering awaits...

After 3 days at Heathrow it started just fine, which was nice after a 3 hour delay. I've done some small jobs in the meantime:

Painted the rear silencer with Eastwood Under Hood Black, since I had some for another project. It's holding up well.
Got spark plugs delivered, also a filter and O-ring set for the LPG, so hope to get that done on Sunday.

And.

upgraded my TV module to DTV! And it works! I ordered a conversion board from a guy in Oz, a DTV module from Singapore, and with some de-soldering, soldering, drilling and mucking about I now have DTV! It's useless on the move (to listen to satellite radio, no TV display of course) but waiting in the school car park it's great!

Next step is to add a USB input.

Last edited by mr_spock on 22nd Jun 2016 12:43pm. Edited 1 time in total

Getting there....  Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Yup, that will be the end of the service items - well, maybe balance the other wheels - and the main upgrade I wanted. I still have some small cosmetics to do, but that's more for my own satisfaction. Paintwork is a bit tired, but that's another matter.

I also got some factory rubber mats for £30 from here which cleaned up well. Yes, there's wear to the drivers' one, but it's ok.