The Green Hell

[sparkie]

As some of you might know, I've been running around in a red mini cooper S convertible ( supercharged) for the last few years, until its finally kicked me in the goolies a few too many times. Melted an exhaust valve, scored the head and cam, snapped a PCJ bolt, etc etc. Needs two new tyres, a battery and paint on the door, scuttle and under the rear light. I.e too much to spend right now. Also max I could get out it driving like a granny was 28mpg.
So....for the last 6 months I've been tapping up this guy at work who is emigrating to Canada. Drives a diesel. So I thought I'd get it off him cheap cheap, and I knew it'd be reliable as he drove from Crewe to Wolverhampton everyday.
So I bought his car... a 2000 X reg 115k miles VW Bora 1.9 TDi PD 115, with a complete set of spare alloys.
For £350

 

[sparkie]

First things first, I removed the back seats and jet washed them then wet vacuumed the fronts. Interior was alot better.
The guy told me it needed a new N75 valve, which explained why sometimes it wouldn't go over 40mph...
So I bought the valve and followed the vac line to see if I was lookin at the correct valve. As I pulled the vac line as it disappeared over the top of the engine, I heard a loud " ting ting " noise. I figured that the line shouldn't be making that noise, so I went under the car to investigate. The wastegate wasn't attached to the wastegate bracket - completely missing the two nuts. I suspect that it's been like that since the guy I bought it off took it to a garage and they changed the turbo... August 2022!
So with a bit of deft finger work I tightened two nuts, changes the n75 valve and it transformed the car.
2 days later I realise its still slow and look into remap options.

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Not the green hell I was expecting to read about… but it is German, so see the link!!

SUPERB bit of cheap motoring you’ve got yourself there Mr Sparks…!!

Look forwards to reading your journey to turn up the wick a touch..

Trip down to City Powdercoaters will have those wheels looking new!!

 

[sparkie]

Remap options are plentiful, but unfortunately my clone mpps doesn't work anymore and the 'blacksmoke' website ( £40 a remap file) has disappeared. So I paid £90 for a complete ecu with launch control at 2800rpm, a hard cut popcorn limiter at 4200 rpm, immobiliser off and stage 1 remap to 145bhp. The ecu is hidden under the scuttle tray panel - wiper arm off job, so I bought a wiper blade removal tool. Bish bash bosh, all sorted and fitted. Drove down the road, pulled like a train! Then stalled and stopped. After multiple attempts to start the car, I eventually got it running. I emailed the company that supplied the ecu and they said it must be faulty, that I didn't need to send the old one back and they sent out another ecu, which arrived today. I fitted it and it works like a charm. Looking at EGR blanking now....

 

[sparkie]

Not the green hell I was expecting to read about… but it is German, so see the link!!

SUPERB bit of cheap motoring you’ve got yourself there Mr Sparks…!!

Look forwards to reading your journey to turn up the wick a touch..

Trip down to City Powdercoaters will have those wheels looking new!!

Steve, there's a place down the road that will take the tyres off, strip and powdercoat the 16s and refit the tyres for £120.

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Steve, there's a place down the road that will take the tyres off, strip and powdercoat the 16s and refit the tyres for £120.

Got to love the Black Country!!

 

[sparkie]

Got to love the Black Country!!

True, but these idiots also powdercoated some engine parts I recently took to them. I specifically said DO NOT SANDBLAST THE ROCKER COVER TO GET THE OLD PAINT OFF. Gave it a week, no call, I phoned them up, guy blatantly had not done it, so he said he was doing it the very next day. I gave him a days grace, turned up and the finish was awesome - on the outside and the inside of the rocker cover....

 

[RS_Rowe]

Not the green hell I was expecting to read about… but it is German, so see the link!!

Wasn’t just me then

 

[sparkie]

Whilst changing the ecu, I noticed my pollen filter had seen better days, so I ordered a new Febi one. I don't think the old one had ever been changed!

 

[sparkie]

£19 off ebay, EGR blanking pipe fitted.

 

[andybond]

Does it throw a cel with the EGR blank?

 

[sparkie]

Does it throw a cel with the EGR blank?

No it doesn't, it's an early 1.9 PD engine. No DPF, just about has a cat.

 

[sparkie]

It was a short sweet love affair.

 

[andybond]

Everyone ok?

Gutting

 

[sparkie]

Mine and my daughters necks are in a bad way. Been to hospital, they said we need to keep an eye on it.

 

[andybond]

Speedy recovery for you all

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Mine and my daughters necks are in a bad way. Been to hospital, they said we need to keep an eye on it.

Double whiplash claim, you should be back up and running in a new car in no time!!

Sorry to read you had a bump mate, hope everything cures up ok for you both.

 

[DaveL485]

Thats a fair old shunt mate, hope you recover quickly!