Preparing the '5 for a big trip abroad!
Discussion
Morning boys & girls!
I shall in 7 days time be departing for the below trip!
http://www.fb5k.com/tours/2010/alpine_tour.php
Slightly excited doesn't quite cover my emotions right now!
However, aside from doing the following what else can I do?
- Giving the thing a thorough service
- Adding a rollbar + Windblocker
- Front strut brace
- Headrest speakers
- New rear pads/discs
- Raybrig headlights
The car is currently at 144k, & since I bought it in March, I've done just over 16,000+ miles in it, so it's been used & abused in that time frame! From what I know the bushes & clutch specifically are in good nick, so no worries there
Now I know there are a number of common faults with the mechanicals which I'm tempted to get sorted now, JUST in case. Fire away with anything & everything...Most of the usual bits required (Passport, hi vis etc) have been covered by the guys I'm going with it but I'm after a better idea of anything that's worth checking on the '5 itself before I go.
Thanks in advance!
I shall in 7 days time be departing for the below trip!
http://www.fb5k.com/tours/2010/alpine_tour.php
Slightly excited doesn't quite cover my emotions right now!
However, aside from doing the following what else can I do?
- Giving the thing a thorough service
- Adding a rollbar + Windblocker
- Front strut brace
- Headrest speakers
- New rear pads/discs
- Raybrig headlights
The car is currently at 144k, & since I bought it in March, I've done just over 16,000+ miles in it, so it's been used & abused in that time frame! From what I know the bushes & clutch specifically are in good nick, so no worries there
Now I know there are a number of common faults with the mechanicals which I'm tempted to get sorted now, JUST in case. Fire away with anything & everything...Most of the usual bits required (Passport, hi vis etc) have been covered by the guys I'm going with it but I'm after a better idea of anything that's worth checking on the '5 itself before I go.
Thanks in advance!
I'd give the cooling system a thorough servicing too. Replace the thermostat & rad cap. If it's the original rad I'd probably replace that too. you don't want overheating issues when you are that far from home!
Make sure there is plenty of life in all the brakes/discs & tyres. Take a 12v pump and instant tyre repair with you.
I'd consider changing a few sensors too i.e. the temp sensors on the back of the block & thermostat housing. Take a spare set of plugs & leads with you. Coil pack too if you can get hold of a spare (especially if you can send it back if you don't use it
).
Good luck with the trip
Make sure there is plenty of life in all the brakes/discs & tyres. Take a 12v pump and instant tyre repair with you.
I'd consider changing a few sensors too i.e. the temp sensors on the back of the block & thermostat housing. Take a spare set of plugs & leads with you. Coil pack too if you can get hold of a spare (especially if you can send it back if you don't use it
).Good luck with the trip
The problem with these trips is you can think of it in two ways
- your car has done 144k miles, a few more aint gonna kill it
BUT
- You really dont wanna spoil your trip
Its finding the balance. It sounds like your cars in decent enough fettle to be honest but I have to say - the cooling system is the one thing that I would focus on as it will get worked much harder on repeated attacks of alpine passes than it ever will over here.
New stat, new rad cap, flush it through, do it ASAP to give you time to spot any potential problems.
Mighty jealous though, looks like an awesome trip.
Do you know what the other people are driving? Will you going to be mixing it up with the Ferraris and 911's? (showing them how to take hairpins I suspect you might want some rear tyres when you get back!)
- your car has done 144k miles, a few more aint gonna kill it
BUT
- You really dont wanna spoil your trip
Its finding the balance. It sounds like your cars in decent enough fettle to be honest but I have to say - the cooling system is the one thing that I would focus on as it will get worked much harder on repeated attacks of alpine passes than it ever will over here.
New stat, new rad cap, flush it through, do it ASAP to give you time to spot any potential problems.
Mighty jealous though, looks like an awesome trip.
Do you know what the other people are driving? Will you going to be mixing it up with the Ferraris and 911's? (showing them how to take hairpins
I suspect you might want some rear tyres when you get back!)MX-5 Lazza said:
A bunch of helpful info
Lazza & Snotrag, that's ideal! Thank you!snotrag said:
Do you know what the other people are driving? Will you going to be mixing it up with the Ferraris and 911's? (showing them how to take hairpins I suspect you might want some rear tyres when you get back!)
I've JUST put on a new set of T1-R's on the rear end! & yes, here's the list from the forum, it's a VERY PH lineup dontcha think? I suspect you might want some rear tyres when you get back!)
Lotus Exige 260
BMW 650
BMW 130i
MINI Cooper S
BMW Z4M coupé
Ferrari 360
Lotus Exige S1
Porsche C4
Aston Martin DB9 Volante
BMW Z3M roadster
Renault R26 Meg
Ferrari 355
Ferrari 360
Honda Civic Type R
Mazda MX5
VW Scirocco R
BMW M3
Audi S4
Ferrari 360
Chevrolet Camaro
Lotus Elise
Porsche 996 GT3
Porsche 997 GT3
Westfield
ironictwist said:
I bought it in March, I've done just over 16,000+ miles in it,
Thanks in advance!
Blimey do you ever get out of it Thanks in advance!
Only thing I think I would add to the list is some sort of break down cover that includes Europe ,mine comes via my insurance and cost an extra £30 ,well worth the peace of mind if the do do really hits the fan.
MrV said:
ironictwist said:
I bought it in March, I've done just over 16,000+ miles in it,
Thanks in advance!
Blimey do you ever get out of it Thanks in advance!
Only thing I think I would add to the list is some sort of break down cover that includes Europe ,mine comes via my insurance and cost an extra £30 ,well worth the peace of mind if the do do really hits the fan.
Good list of things to be done, I'll use this thread for reference when I'm going to do my Euro Trip
MrV said:
Only thing I think I would add to the list is some sort of break down cover that includes Europe ,mine comes via my insurance and cost an extra £30 ,well worth the peace of mind if the do do really hits the fan.
Thanks for the reminder, I remembered this 2 weeks ago but naturally I've completely forgotten since!Jonny671 said:
Surely can't be 16,000 in 6 months!
Hasn't needed a thing aside from new rears, pads, oil & a service ironictwist said:
MrV said:
Only thing I think I would add to the list is some sort of break down cover that includes Europe ,mine comes via my insurance and cost an extra £30 ,well worth the peace of mind if the do do really hits the fan.
Thanks for the reminder, I remembered this 2 weeks ago but naturally I've completely forgotten since!Jonny671 said:
Surely can't be 16,000 in 6 months!
Hasn't needed a thing aside from new rears, pads, oil & a service 
Off Topic; Are you coming to the Nutz Meet in Bolney this weekend?
Last month I did a 3,000 mile trip in my Mk2 (S-reg, 105k) including the Alps. I used a litre of oil, lost the boot badge and one hubcap. I brought some tools but didn't get to use them even once, other than the tyre pressure gauge.
My bet is that yours will be one of the most reliable cars in the group.
My bet is that yours will be one of the most reliable cars in the group.
We've just come back from a trip to the French Alps, just over 2000 miles (starting/ending in Holland, not UK) in Sarah's 2004 Mk 2.5. It's only done 56,000 miles, used a third of a litre of oil and a paper cup of coolant water - probably a very small leak somewhere.
Maxxed out at a gps recorded 121 mph in Germany on the way down, went up various passes in the French Alps including a few of the highest in Europe (Col de la Bonnette, Col de l'Iseran) and it wasn't driven too slowly either. The handling was just brilliant, so much fun, it's a bit underpowered but the handling makes the car such fun that it's not a problem.
All we took was a can of tyre gunk I think, just in case we got stuck somewhere out of the way and a foot pump and tyre pressure gauge, 1 litre of oil and a few bulbs just in case. We also had a blanket in the boot, a few litres of water and some snack bars - if you break down in the alps it can be 4-5 hours before a local recovery agent reaches you and in 30-36 degree heat with the sun beating down you'll need a drink prety soon.
Maxxed out at a gps recorded 121 mph in Germany on the way down, went up various passes in the French Alps including a few of the highest in Europe (Col de la Bonnette, Col de l'Iseran) and it wasn't driven too slowly either. The handling was just brilliant, so much fun, it's a bit underpowered but the handling makes the car such fun that it's not a problem.
All we took was a can of tyre gunk I think, just in case we got stuck somewhere out of the way and a foot pump and tyre pressure gauge, 1 litre of oil and a few bulbs just in case. We also had a blanket in the boot, a few litres of water and some snack bars - if you break down in the alps it can be 4-5 hours before a local recovery agent reaches you and in 30-36 degree heat with the sun beating down you'll need a drink prety soon.
to be honest if it were me i'd get some mobil 1 0W-40 and new filters (air and oil), change the coolant (1:2), keep a spare litre of each, check pads and discs and brake / clutch fluid levevls, get a puncture repair kit, 12v tyre inflater, some latex gloves, duck tape, zip ties, and a blanket, and you're all set. and then just the usual small tool set.
no point changing stuff willy nilly just for the sake of it.
no point changing stuff willy nilly just for the sake of it.
Well...My bank balance has taken a hammering!
I went down to Autolink (I'm a a bit of a regular there) & had Andrew look over the car & get his thoughts on things too - £460 inc vat later I left with...
Cockpit Brace/Style Bar
Headrest Speakers
Rear Pads
Rear Discs
Rear Calipers
Throttle cable
Camcover gasket
O-ring
Pair of Matts
Wiper blades
& a wind deflector!
His thoughts regarding rad caps etc are internet myth...He's taken his own '5 there before so I was keen to hear what he had to say. The innards of the car seem in good nick despite the mileage I do in it!
His only tip was to keep an eye on the temp gauge as with the high altitude, it likely to jump up a bit, if so, remove the grill till you come back down to earth.
It was a case of, no point spending money where it isnt required...Which my wallet was relieved to hear, especially as hours later I'm coughing up another £200 for external HDD's, memory cards & mounts for my DSLR & GoPro video camera!
Just needs new fluids all around, then we're all set to go I think
I went down to Autolink (I'm a a bit of a regular there
) & had Andrew look over the car & get his thoughts on things too - £460 inc vat later I left with...Cockpit Brace/Style Bar
Headrest Speakers
Rear Pads
Rear Discs
Rear Calipers
Throttle cable
Camcover gasket
O-ring
Pair of Matts
Wiper blades
& a wind deflector!
His thoughts regarding rad caps etc are internet myth...He's taken his own '5 there before so I was keen to hear what he had to say. The innards of the car seem in good nick despite the mileage I do in it!
His only tip was to keep an eye on the temp gauge as with the high altitude, it likely to jump up a bit, if so, remove the grill till you come back down to earth.
It was a case of, no point spending money where it isnt required...Which my wallet was relieved to hear, especially as hours later I'm coughing up another £200 for external HDD's, memory cards & mounts for my DSLR & GoPro video camera!
Just needs new fluids all around, then we're all set to go I think
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