T350C MINI Restoration Project

[mr lock pick]

Dear T350C owners

Approx 6 weeks ago I took my car to Power for a 6,000 mile service & ended up fitting Nitrons all round. The car is now with Newlun Performance having a front end respray due to stone chips, but has resulted into a full body respray. All alloys to be stripped and powder coated in satin black as they were, plus new tyres all round. I have not driven the car for approx 6 weeks and can't wait to test the new set up. Some of you may recall me stating that the original suspension on T350C was SH-T! and I may have upset some of you, please don't take any offence, it was just my opinion.

However more to the point. I would like to upgrade my standard Pioneer stereo system and speakers because I believe the standard music system is defenetly crap.

Have any of you had Carl from Car & Bike Installations kit your TVR out with his system. It's the Clarion head unit with the MB Quart speakers. 2 speakers in the back panel and 2 speakers in each door. Cost supplied and fitted is £1050.00. The Head unit is approx: £210.00 cost of speakers I don't know but it seems to me that the majority of the cost could lie with the 2 day installation. Can anyone advise or help me if you have had this installation. Carl has assured me that the sound will be fantastic and well balanced even witout an amplyfier. Any advice welcome.

Regards Mr Lock Pick

P.S Don,t even ask how much I have spent so far, all I can say is that I have been locksmithing 24hr's a day to pay the Bills!

[Hoolio]

mr lock pick said:

Dear T350C owners

Approx 6 weeks ago I took my car to Power for a 6,000 mile service & ended up fitting Nitrons all round. The car is now with Newlun Performance having a front end respray due to stone chips, but has resulted into a full body respray. All alloys to be stripped and powder coated in satin black as they were, plus new tyres all round. I have not driven the car for approx 6 weeks and can't wait to test the new set up. Some of you may recall me stating that the original suspension on T350C was SH-T! and I may have upset some of you, please don't take any offence, it was just my opinion.

However more to the point. I would like to upgrade my standard Pioneer stereo system and speakers because I believe the standard music system is defenetly crap.

Have any of you had Carl from Car & Bike Installations kit your TVR out with his system. It's the Clarion head unit with the MB Quart speakers. 2 speakers in the back panel and 2 speakers in each door. Cost supplied and fitted is £1050.00. The Head unit is approx: £210.00 cost of speakers I don't know but it seems to me that the majority of the cost could lie with the 2 day installation. Can anyone advise or help me if you have had this installation. Carl has assured me that the sound will be fantastic and well balanced even witout an amplyfier. Any advice welcome.

Regards Mr Lock Pick

P.S Don,t even ask how much I have spent so far, all I can say is that I have been locksmithing 24hr's a day to pay the Bills!

Mr Lock Pick

Sounds as though your missing your beasite but i'm sure when you get her back it will be worth the wait. I had Nitrons all round as I, like you, sound the standard set-up rubbish IMO of course.

My T350 (2003) has the MB Quart speakers and in fact I understand from Carl that this was the first one to have the MB speakers installed by him, somewhat an experiement you may say. I only have the Pioneer head unit but the sound is excellent, even with JP Sports exhaust.

Good luck

P.S. how much did your wheels cost to refurb and respray?

[mr lock pick]

Hi mate

Greg at Newlun quoted approx £70.00 to refurb alloys, however I must admit they were in perfect condition prior to refurb, it's just that I wanted to freshen up all four following a full body respray. Glad you think the speakers sound good!

By the way I have just read article by sportie on this Paintshield stuff, I imagine it's a plastic coating similar to Armoufend. Do you know anything about it Hoolio?

[TvrT350t]

Mr Lock Pick,

Out of interest how much is it for just a frontal repsray and also full body respray? My T350t is Reflex Charcoal and when it was under warranty the doors dropped so they needed respraying, the garage bought the paint from TVR - £500 for 0.5l without labour and that was roughly £900!!

[Targarama]

My Red Glow Pearl paint was 250 pounds a litre. I paid around 1100 pounds plus 1.5 litres of paint for a complete front end respray & headlight lens replacement/tidyup last autumn. Used Specialized Paintwork near Reading - highly recommended.

[Hoolio]

mr lock pick said:

Hi mate

Greg at Newlun quoted approx £70.00 to refurb alloys, however I must admit they were in perfect condition prior to refurb, it's just that I wanted to freshen up all four following a full body respray. Glad you think the speakers sound good!

By the way I have just read article by sportie on this Paintshield stuff, I imagine it's a plastic coating similar to Armoufend. Do you know anything about it Hoolio?

My alloys could do with a refurb and i have always wanted to get them done in black, Newlun sound pretty reasonable.

Re Paintshield etc - no idea mate, not a sausage, sorry.

Good luck

[MADT350]

mr lock pick said:

By the way I have just read article by sportie on this Paintshield stuff, I imagine it's a plastic coating similar to Armoufend. Do you know anything about it Hoolio?

I have just had the 1st full Paintshield cover on my T350 (Bonnet, full wings, full front, wingmirrors, side strips... etc). i will be posting full pic's up soon when its stops raining and i can take some nice pics....i'm very impressed and the service Tom (paintshield) and his staff offer you can't beat it. i have done 700 miles and not a single stone ship...so it doing its job

Edited by MADT350 on Thursday 28th June 14:15

[Horse_Apple]

mr lock pick said:

P.S Don,t even ask how much I have spent so far, all I can say is that I have been locksmithing 24hr's a day to pay the Bills!

A lot of people are forced into breaking locks to pay for their habit

Please give us a full report on the suspension/handling when you get the wagon back.

[mr lock pick]

Hi lads

Thanks for all the advice, I will get car back in 1 week, but need to wear the tyres in and need some dry weather. I will report to you all on handling & suspension mods as I can't wait to see what the improvements are.

If any one else has had Carl carry out a stereo and speaker mod can you please contact me.

I am also looking to re-trim the complete interior in leather as apposed to that crap looking plastic. AJ trimmers advertise in the sprint. Are all the leather interior owners happy or are your interiors suffering.

Estimated cost of all work on completion in 3-4 weeks will be approx: wait for it! ££££££££££££££££9500.00.

I hope this Cooper Green T350C 2005 car will look the Bu--ocks on completion.

[Daftlad]

mr lock pick said:

I am also looking to re-trim the complete interior in leather as apposed to that crap looking plastic.

Crap supension, Crap stereo, Crap plastic interior, Car needed a respray....are you sure you bought the right car?

On the paintsheild front. It is very good and I would recommedn it very highly, it does discolour if you get petrol on it however. One of its huge benefits over Armourfend is it leaves the paint on the car when it is removed.......unlike Armourfend!

[Gazzab]

Not good form to post prices for Carl.