Well I’ve now been in touch with Overfinch. I used their contact form on their website and gave my VIN, and received a very quick response stating that while the VIN was not on record, “the work may have been completed by an authorised agent”.

I was asked to send photos of all sides of the car and the interior, which I did. Again, I received a very quick response telling me that the car is…

A genuine Overfinch!!! Yay!

If I need any more information or a certificate then I need to cough up £50 which I will be doing in due course…

Now I just need to spend time getting the bodywork back up to the standard it deserves to be  Currently driving: 2012 L322 SE Overfinch 4.4 tdv8

Past rides:
2014 Audi Q7 3.0d (good riddance)
2010 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged
2011 L320 HSE 3.0 sdv6
2014 Jaguar XF-RS 5.0 supercharged
2007 BMW 535D
2005 Mini Cooper S

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic59478.html

Well done, congratulations! Welcome to the overfinch club lol. Just a shame it wasn't well looked after by the previous owner(s). At least you now know it's genuine and the £50 is worth it. Keep us informed of your repairs.

Cheers BarmyBrummie. It’s nice having that reassurance of being genuine, and I do intend to “bring her back” to where she should be.
It’ll be a while tho as I am planning a bottom up approach to getting things fixed. Start with the chassis, then the drivetrain, then bodywork.

I need to finish my suspension, brakes, and rust prevention before I move on to the engine. Currently driving: 2012 L322 SE Overfinch 4.4 tdv8

Past rides:
2014 Audi Q7 3.0d (good riddance)
2010 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged
2011 L320 HSE 3.0 sdv6
2014 Jaguar XF-RS 5.0 supercharged
2007 BMW 535D
2005 Mini Cooper S

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic59478.html

Good day folks… I’ve been quiet on here for a little while for no real reason other than… well, life!

I’ve been making slow but steady progress on my car now and with each job done she feels better and more like she should do.

I’ve replaced my rear bushes, and also my rear struts too and now the back of the car feels planted again. Mind you I’m not surprised the rear was off…

Click image to enlarge

I’ve just looked though the “my posts” section and realise I’ve not been keeping this thread up to date!

I finally got the front arms, links, track rods, knuckles, etc replaced. With the front and rear bushes all renewed the car feels so much better to drive. Totally planted and any road surface does not affect if composure. I’m very happy!

The replacements were a very straight forward task…except for the knuckles! I gave it a good go, but on a driveway I just didn’t have the clearance to give the big hammer a good swing. Before I got too far I admired defeat, put it all together, and took it to a local garage to replace those. Good job too, as they said it was an absolute of a job to do! It took the, a good few hours!

On the todo list is the front strut replacements. At (now) 120k miles they could do with a change. But still need to get the engine and gearbox sorted. Currently driving: 2012 L322 SE Overfinch 4.4 tdv8

Past rides:
2014 Audi Q7 3.0d (good riddance)
2010 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged
2011 L320 HSE 3.0 sdv6
2014 Jaguar XF-RS 5.0 supercharged
2007 BMW 535D
2005 Mini Cooper S

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic59478.html

As per other posts I’ve also swapped my tyres for a larger size.

I was running 285/45 R22s and after yet another cracked alloy, I said enough is enough. I took a little leap of faith that they would fit… and they do… so now have 285/45 R22s! I now have an extra inch of tyrewall

It has immensely improved the ride quality. So much better, and I’m no longer avoiding every bump, pothole or blemish in the road.
I went for budget tyres as that’s all I could afford at the time but will replace with some Verde All Seasons when needed. Some of the newer noise reduction types.

I am still not happy with the road noise. These tyres are labelled as 68dB but now understand that those figures are meaningless between manufacturers.
When I start working on the bodywork I will be checking for any missing sound insulation, as well as replacing my missing under car protection.

So far massive strides in getting the car where I want her… but still a way to go. Currently driving: 2012 L322 SE Overfinch 4.4 tdv8

Past rides:
2014 Audi Q7 3.0d (good riddance)
2010 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged
2011 L320 HSE 3.0 sdv6
2014 Jaguar XF-RS 5.0 supercharged
2007 BMW 535D
2005 Mini Cooper S

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic59478.html

I’ve had a squeal from the engine bay for a while due to problems with my serpentine belt and pulleys. I was hoping to get into January before replacing them, but in the week before Christmas it gave way and stopped turning my alternator.

Oh well, off to Duckworths to buy my kids pulleys, tensioners and belts for Christmas

I also have the delayed air conditioning issue, so also added a new AC compressor along with a new alternator and water pump. She’s stripped for access so may as well change those too. I can then sell the old parts to recoup some of the money.

So far I’ve replaced the pulleys, water pump and removed the old alternator… and am waiting for delivery of the new alternator and ac compressor.

I’ll also be flushing the coolant as it has had an oil leak at some point.

So far so good and I’m happy with my progress. It’s a huge learning curve and I’m well out of my comfort zone. But pleased I am doing it. Although the ac compressor is looking like a of a job to do. Currently driving: 2012 L322 SE Overfinch 4.4 tdv8

Past rides:
2014 Audi Q7 3.0d (good riddance)
2010 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged
2011 L320 HSE 3.0 sdv6
2014 Jaguar XF-RS 5.0 supercharged
2007 BMW 535D
2005 Mini Cooper S

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic59478.html

Then next on my list is cleaning the intake…

Well worth cleaning. I had to replace that part not too long after purchasing my FF I'm fairly sure the amount of crud built up (worse than yours) led to the gear failure in the drive unit for it.

Saw your other post on how helpful this forum is. Couldn't agree more. I'm moderately handy but the info and help on here is great.

Enjoy your beast. Cheers
Richard

(there are no such things as an ordinary FullFat, an ordinary cat or too many tools)
2011 TDV8 Vogue Santorini Black
Gap IIDBT

Ah ffrr lover you have been a busy boy. I'd love to see your kids faces when opening their presents and finding an AC compressor and serpentine belt

The air intake is easy to clean, use carb cleaner and lots of it, really lots of it. I do that on all my cars but not on the fatty as I checked the other week and it was somewhat rather clean.
You must be so unlucky to keep getting cracked wheels, the roads that bad around your way then?
You are saving a fortune by doing
Most of the work yourself, wish I could but I just don't have the time, I have the tools but just no time. I'm looking forward to seeing the end result once you've done all the bodywork and cleaned it up. I would recommend a 2 stage machine mop, I own one and they are a fantastic machine to have if you know how to use it. I would use a G3 compound followed by a G10 finishing compound followed by 3 coats of polish and then a wax. You will have to, seeing as yours is black and neglected by the previous owner. I did it on my black Saab and that took all day so God knows how long it would take to do your fatty, but good luck

Quote:

The air intake is easy to clean, use carb cleaner and lots of it, really lots of it. I do that on all my cars but not on the fatty as I checked the other week and it was somewhat rather clean.

Quote:

You must be so unlucky to keep getting cracked wheels, the roads that bad around your way then?

I’ve had the same on my l320, and my 5 series before it. All have been low-ish profile tyres. I don’t drive aggressively, and I take care to avoid any problem surfaces… so I don’t think it’s me
The roads here aren’t great, as anything off main road is often single track roads (or not wide enough for road markings) and the near side edge is often crumbled and full of pot holes.

Lincolnshire councils don’t like to spend money on the roads, despite the number of lorries that use them…

Quote:

You are saving a fortune by doing
Most of the work yourself, wish I could but I just don't have the time, I have the tools but just no time.

Quote:

I'm looking forward to seeing the end result once you've done all the bodywork and cleaned it up. I would recommend a 2 stage machine mop, I own one and they are a fantastic machine to have if you know how to use it. I would use a G3 compound followed by a G10 finishing compound followed by 3 coats of polish and then a wax. You will have to, seeing as yours is black and neglected by the previous owner. I did it on my black Saab and that took all day so God knows how long it would take to do your fatty, but good luck

Cheers for the advice. I have every intention to get the bodywork as it should be, and hope to get her looking as good as yours (I am very envious of the post-detailing pics you have posted! ). I have a list of what I need to do in an order of priority… but that is way down the list.  Currently driving: 2012 L322 SE Overfinch 4.4 tdv8

Past rides:
2014 Audi Q7 3.0d (good riddance)
2010 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged
2011 L320 HSE 3.0 sdv6
2014 Jaguar XF-RS 5.0 supercharged
2007 BMW 535D
2005 Mini Cooper S

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic59478.html

Hi Ffrr-lover

What tyres were you running before please ?

I was running 285/35 R22’s before.

The fronts were Hankook I think but fairly worn due to the bushes… so were binned.
The rears were kept as they have plenty of tread and couldn’t bear to bin those. I’ll have a look in a bit at the age and approx depth.

The intention is to offer them up on here, or eBay as they are taking room in my garage. I just need to find our how you ship tyres? Do you just wrap them and courier? Currently driving: 2012 L322 SE Overfinch 4.4 tdv8

Past rides:
2014 Audi Q7 3.0d (good riddance)
2010 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged
2011 L320 HSE 3.0 sdv6
2014 Jaguar XF-RS 5.0 supercharged
2007 BMW 535D
2005 Mini Cooper S

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic59478.html

Well, I have just competed work on my engine.

All pulleys, tensioners and belts. Also changed the alternator, water pump and ac compressor!
The car is running and I’ve managed a drive, but suspect I have an airlock. I’ll tackle that tomorrow as I ran out of light and, quite frankly, can’t be arsed anymore tonight!

I also have a whooshing sound when revving the engine around 2,500 revs, and suspect it’s the turbo bypass valve. It was removed as part of the “open car surgery”, cleaned and oiled the actuator too. Hopefully I just need to tighten the hoses. Again, one for the morning.

I’m happy as I now have my car back on the road, have an alternator that charges, and she no longer screeches whenever running!!!

Oh, and need to re-gas the ac too.

For someone who, before this fatty, never touched anything more than a dip stick I think I’ve done pretty well! Currently driving: 2012 L322 SE Overfinch 4.4 tdv8

Past rides:
2014 Audi Q7 3.0d (good riddance)
2010 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged
2011 L320 HSE 3.0 sdv6
2014 Jaguar XF-RS 5.0 supercharged
2007 BMW 535D
2005 Mini Cooper S

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic59478.html

Well done ffrr lover. Saved yourself ££££ doing the work yourself. What's your address, I'll bring mine if it needs anything doing

So what's next on the to do list? Get the bodywork up to a glossy showroom shine?