VW Transporter Day Van Conversion
Discussion
I’d been thinking about this thread for a while as I look at various vans (which I started doing when I first saw this thread many moons ago).
Glad to see it’s still rolling on, and although the faults are unwelcome they’re also hardly surprising given the mileage. That said, I have a cheap Android OEM-like unit in my E46 and it’s a PoS that is essentially just a base for causing me heartache. Maybe it’s just a dodgy one-off.
Glad to see it’s still rolling on, and although the faults are unwelcome they’re also hardly surprising given the mileage. That said, I have a cheap Android OEM-like unit in my E46 and it’s a PoS that is essentially just a base for causing me heartache. Maybe it’s just a dodgy one-off.
Edited by Nunga on Tuesday 10th December 23:40
I've got one of the Chinese Android ones (made/marketed by/as Xtrons, I think) in our S-Max. Being Chinese didn't put me off, as a lot of good stuff comes out of there these days. My Honor phone has been great!
Not the head unit, though! Sound quality is cack (no better than the OEM Ford one); radio reception is poor; processor is very slow and clunky, and it was expensive (£280)...only positives are that it looks kinda OEM, and that it still works. We really NEED some of the bigger brands to pick this market up!
Not the head unit, though! Sound quality is cack (no better than the OEM Ford one); radio reception is poor; processor is very slow and clunky, and it was expensive (£280)...only positives are that it looks kinda OEM, and that it still works. We really NEED some of the bigger brands to pick this market up!
Now the Insight has gone the van has become my daily transport, despite being significantly bigger than a FFRR it's not too bad at all. That said I did tag small signpost reversing in a carpark the other day, parking sensors wouldn't go amiss. Looking back I've actually used it more than I thought, 21000 miles and counting over 3 and a half years.
With a staycation to the Norfolk broads in mind today was service day. Oil seems to be getting cheaper, £40 for 10 litres of Fully Synthetic Shell oil in the right spec, all in less than £60 for what most places would class as a 'Full Service' and Porsche would charge £1500 for
Had some leftover cheaper oil so used it as a flushing oil was the right viscosity and FS so put it in before collecting the service items, will be interesting to see how quickly the new oil turns black.
Went round all the exposed metal bits with ACF50, particularly the fuel hardlines that have suffered corrosion quite badly, if you've got a newer van I'd get on top of it straight away.
I'd forgotten how much of a PITA the oil filter location is. Without this UJ and extension, along with a 32mm socket, it would be very difficult.
With values firming up, or in some cases going a bit mental I've considered selling but then what else fits a baby and all their stuff, a German shepherd and all his stuff along with me and the missus for a week? Not much.
With a staycation to the Norfolk broads in mind today was service day. Oil seems to be getting cheaper, £40 for 10 litres of Fully Synthetic Shell oil in the right spec, all in less than £60 for what most places would class as a 'Full Service' and Porsche would charge £1500 for
Had some leftover cheaper oil so used it as a flushing oil was the right viscosity and FS so put it in before collecting the service items, will be interesting to see how quickly the new oil turns black.
Went round all the exposed metal bits with ACF50, particularly the fuel hardlines that have suffered corrosion quite badly, if you've got a newer van I'd get on top of it straight away.
I'd forgotten how much of a PITA the oil filter location is. Without this UJ and extension, along with a 32mm socket, it would be very difficult.
With values firming up, or in some cases going a bit mental I've considered selling but then what else fits a baby and all their stuff, a German shepherd and all his stuff along with me and the missus for a week? Not much.
Kitchski said:
I've got one of the Chinese Android ones (made/marketed by/as Xtrons, I think) in our S-Max. Being Chinese didn't put me off, as a lot of good stuff comes out of there these days. My Honor phone has been great!
Not the head unit, though! Sound quality is cack (no better than the OEM Ford one); radio reception is poor; processor is very slow and clunky, and it was expensive (£280)...only positives are that it looks kinda OEM, and that it still works. We really NEED some of the bigger brands to pick this market up!
I think Kenwood do a decent one but you're talking a lot more money. Not the head unit, though! Sound quality is cack (no better than the OEM Ford one); radio reception is poor; processor is very slow and clunky, and it was expensive (£280)...only positives are that it looks kinda OEM, and that it still works. We really NEED some of the bigger brands to pick this market up!
Time to address one of the MOT advisories as I've noticed recently the steering has felt a little more vague and the edges of the front tyres have feathered a little.
It's a long time since I've gone to the hassle of pressing suspension bushes in and out but with quality replacement suspension arms costing 3 times the price of good quality bushes I thought it would be worth the effort, time will tell.
Options were basically Lemforder arms or Meyle HD bushes, went with the latter. I'd used them for the drop links and was impressed with the quality and they're still fine now.
Will get to it this weekend hopefully.
It's a long time since I've gone to the hassle of pressing suspension bushes in and out but with quality replacement suspension arms costing 3 times the price of good quality bushes I thought it would be worth the effort, time will tell.
Options were basically Lemforder arms or Meyle HD bushes, went with the latter. I'd used them for the drop links and was impressed with the quality and they're still fine now.
Will get to it this weekend hopefully.
Edited by ChocolateFrog on Thursday 10th December 16:21
ChocolateFrog said:
Time to address one of the MOT advisories as I've noticed recently the steering has felt a little more vague and the edges of the front tyres have feathered a little.
It's a long time since I've gone to the hassle of pressing suspension bushes in and out but with quality replacement suspension arms costing 3 times the price of good quality bushes I thought it would be worth the effort, time will tell.
Options were basically Lemforder arms or Meyle HD bushes, went with the latter. I'd used them for the drop links and was impressed with the quality and they're still fine now.
Will get to it this weekend hopefully.
You're going to have FUN It's a long time since I've gone to the hassle of pressing suspension bushes in and out but with quality replacement suspension arms costing 3 times the price of good quality bushes I thought it would be worth the effort, time will tell.
Options were basically Lemforder arms or Meyle HD bushes, went with the latter. I'd used them for the drop links and was impressed with the quality and they're still fine now.
Will get to it this weekend hopefully.
Edited by ChocolateFrog on Thursday 10th December 16:21
Mariosbt said:
Saw this thread a while ago. Can’t be bothered to trawl back through it. Did the guy with the silver ‘day van’ get it finished? 
If "the guy" means me then it's finished to the point I want it.There's bits to do, but it's nearly 10 years old with 250000 miles there's always going to be bits to do.
ChocolateFrog said:
Mariosbt said:
Saw this thread a while ago. Can’t be bothered to trawl back through it. Did the guy with the silver ‘day van’ get it finished?
If "the guy" means me then it's finished to the point I want it.There's bits to do, but it's nearly 10 years old with 250000 miles there's always going to be bits to do.
but come to mention it... are you not usually on an LFC thread 
Anyway got a Day van myself. Haven’t gone down the toilet, cooker & shower route. Not to mention the so called wardrobe ( you can hang 3 ties in them ) they tend to squeeze into VW vans.
Bought as a basic van 2 years ago, have had all interior done with insulation, carpet, windows down lights in roof. Bulkhead out, double passenger seat out, single swivel passenger seat fitted. Leisure battery, split charger, hook-up point. Triple rear seat with seat belts.. folding down into full width double bed. Been to Scotland, London to name a few. Never had a bad nights sleep. ( always pissed ). All sat on a set of 2nd hand Range Rover wheels (Ebay) . Quite an interesting project, only the fridge to fit. Had plug sockets and USB ports fitted 3 weeks ago. Done 137,000 miles but runs fantastic.
That's tidy.
Ideally I wouldn't have got a Silver one but mine came up at the right time at a good price and atleast hides it's sins fairly well.
Got the wishbones off, surprisingly easy, about an hour from rolling the jack out of the garage to putting tools away.
Something tells me stage 2 won't be quite so easy.
It looks like the only bush that is worn is the rear one on each side.
Ideally I wouldn't have got a Silver one but mine came up at the right time at a good price and atleast hides it's sins fairly well.
Got the wishbones off, surprisingly easy, about an hour from rolling the jack out of the garage to putting tools away.
Something tells me stage 2 won't be quite so easy.
It looks like the only bush that is worn is the rear one on each side.
mercedeslimos said:
ChocolateFrog said:
Time to address one of the MOT advisories as I've noticed recently the steering has felt a little more vague and the edges of the front tyres have feathered a little.
It's a long time since I've gone to the hassle of pressing suspension bushes in and out but with quality replacement suspension arms costing 3 times the price of good quality bushes I thought it would be worth the effort, time will tell.
Options were basically Lemforder arms or Meyle HD bushes, went with the latter. I'd used them for the drop links and was impressed with the quality and they're still fine now.
Will get to it this weekend hopefully.
You're going to have FUN It's a long time since I've gone to the hassle of pressing suspension bushes in and out but with quality replacement suspension arms costing 3 times the price of good quality bushes I thought it would be worth the effort, time will tell.
Options were basically Lemforder arms or Meyle HD bushes, went with the latter. I'd used them for the drop links and was impressed with the quality and they're still fine now.
Will get to it this weekend hopefully.
Edited by ChocolateFrog on Thursday 10th December 16:21
About 2 hours of faffing finding the right size sockets and a way to hold something square in the press that was never designed to be held square.
Still, I think i've saved £280 over buying new Lemforder arms, no doubt VW OEM would have been more still.
Gave them a lick of POR15 that I had left over, did it on the kitchen table, as you do.
Edited by ChocolateFrog on Wednesday 16th December 23:21
I have taken to using a home-made tool (BMW cylinder head bolt, some stainless pipe, 1/4" steel plate, and some shouldered VW M12 nuts) Use the impact gun to push the new ones in and burn out the old ones. I have a press but wishbones are a stupid shape.
How did they come out? The last van I worked on everything was so seized in place took ag age and had to get the heavy 3/4" tools out.
How did they come out? The last van I worked on everything was so seized in place took ag age and had to get the heavy 3/4" tools out.
mercedeslimos said:
I have taken to using a home-made tool (BMW cylinder head bolt, some stainless pipe, 1/4" steel plate, and some shouldered VW M12 nuts) Use the impact gun to push the new ones in and burn out the old ones. I have a press but wishbones are a stupid shape.
How did they come out? The last van I worked on everything was so seized in place took ag age and had to get the heavy 3/4" tools out.
We used one of the chinese hydraulic presses that use a bottle jack. How did they come out? The last van I worked on everything was so seized in place took ag age and had to get the heavy 3/4" tools out.
Took a bit of ingenuity to hold them in the right place and I think we were on the limit of it's capabilities at times but we got them shifted.
So almost 4 years to the day and she's gone.
Think it was the cheapest 2011 Transporter on eBay and I'll still made a bit of money.
I'd get another one but probably a Combi or Caravelle as we're soon to be a family of 5.
Only thing that went wrong was the Alternator and the doors hinges dropping.
Hopefully the new owner enjoys her as much as I did.
Now onto something new.
Think it was the cheapest 2011 Transporter on eBay and I'll still made a bit of money.
I'd get another one but probably a Combi or Caravelle as we're soon to be a family of 5.
Only thing that went wrong was the Alternator and the doors hinges dropping.
Hopefully the new owner enjoys her as much as I did.
Now onto something new.
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