Discussion
oh no hes been shopping again 
Very easy to do and no problem to do it on your own.
First job is to disconnect all the electrics to the bonnet, noting where the broken wires came from. You'll probably want to put some decent weather proof connectors on before you put it back together. If you do, I recommend SureSeal connector.
Secondly jack the front of the car up a couple of inches and put something soft under the front of the car to protect the paintwork from the ground. Open the bonnet far enough to touch the ground, it should be nearly vertical. By very gently pushing the top of the bonnet forwards you can take all the weight off the hinge pins. By getting the height just right I can get the V8S bonnet to sit squarely on the ground with the bottom edge and the bumper taking the weight, don't know if this also works for the V6 cars. You don't have to open it this far though, just far enough to get decent access to the hinge bolts and get the bonnet somewhere near vertical.
The bonnet hinges are two big bolts that screw sideways into the chassis, with lock nuts. With the bonnet wide open and the weight taken off the hinge, you can almost undo these by hand once you're released the lock nuts.
Once unbolted you can either walk the bonnet away, or carry it between two of you, or roll the car away.
As you pull the bonnet away count yourself lucky that you don't have an air filter and air horns wedged against the bonnet on the left and a big oil cooler wedged against it on the right.
First job is to disconnect all the electrics to the bonnet, noting where the broken wires came from. You'll probably want to put some decent weather proof connectors on before you put it back together. If you do, I recommend SureSeal connector.
Secondly jack the front of the car up a couple of inches and put something soft under the front of the car to protect the paintwork from the ground. Open the bonnet far enough to touch the ground, it should be nearly vertical. By very gently pushing the top of the bonnet forwards you can take all the weight off the hinge pins. By getting the height just right I can get the V8S bonnet to sit squarely on the ground with the bottom edge and the bumper taking the weight, don't know if this also works for the V6 cars. You don't have to open it this far though, just far enough to get decent access to the hinge bolts and get the bonnet somewhere near vertical.
The bonnet hinges are two big bolts that screw sideways into the chassis, with lock nuts. With the bonnet wide open and the weight taken off the hinge, you can almost undo these by hand once you're released the lock nuts.
Once unbolted you can either walk the bonnet away, or carry it between two of you, or roll the car away.
As you pull the bonnet away count yourself lucky that you don't have an air filter and air horns wedged against the bonnet on the left and a big oil cooler wedged against it on the right.
shnozz said:
'tis strange. Was strange how I met Simon and then we ended up good mates. Look forward to meeting you - are you going to make the S meet in August?
I will do my best to get it on the road as soon as possible, from what I can gather it is only frontal bodywork / lights damage which I will farm out to a chap that is very good at that sort of thing. Hopefully it will make august.
Even weirder is the way it came about - A load of us went out for the south west mini nurburgring hoon / curry. Simon met us there with my old shed. I ended up sitting next to him by fluke and overheard him saying that he was buying the S3 back from the insurance.....
We both came to the same conclusion quickly that me buying it from him was the way ahead. So, within 2 weeks I had sold the porker, and Simon has done a sterling job of bullying the insurance company, so all I am waiting for is the nod to pick it up.
Funny old world, but a good one.
GreenV8S said:
Very easy to do and no problem to do it on your own.
First job is to disconnect all the electrics to the bonnet, noting where the broken wires came from. You'll probably want to put some decent weather proof connectors on before you put it back together. If you do, I recommend SureSeal connector.
Secondly jack the front of the car up a couple of inches and put something soft under the front of the car to protect the paintwork from the ground. Open the bonnet far enough to touch the ground, it should be nearly vertical. By very gently pushing the top of the bonnet forwards you can take all the weight off the hinge pins. By getting the height just right I can get the V8S bonnet to sit squarely on the ground with the bottom edge and the bumper taking the weight, don't know if this also works for the V6 cars. You don't have to open it this far though, just far enough to get decent access to the hinge bolts and get the bonnet somewhere near vertical.
The bonnet hinges are two big bolts that screw sideways into the chassis, with lock nuts. With the bonnet wide open and the weight taken off the hinge, you can almost undo these by hand once you're released the lock nuts.
Once unbolted you can either walk the bonnet away, or carry it between two of you, or roll the car away.
As you pull the bonnet away count yourself lucky that you don't have an air filter and air horns wedged against the bonnet on the left and a big oil cooler wedged against it on the right.
Lovely job, thanks Green.
I concur with Doddze.
I removed and refitted by badge with the bonnet open and wheels still on the ground.
It was a stretch (as I am vertically challenged!!) but was managable and only took a few minutes each way.
I am not sure if it would be any easier with the car raised so the bonnet opens further, as my arms would still be too short for the reach required.
I removed and refitted by badge with the bonnet open and wheels still on the ground.
It was a stretch (as I am vertically challenged!!) but was managable and only took a few minutes each way.
I am not sure if it would be any easier with the car raised so the bonnet opens further, as my arms would still be too short for the reach required.
Gassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff