c16rkc's mad house

Tell us your ongoing tales and experiences with your French car here. Post pictures of your car here as well.
User avatar
c16rkc
Donor 2023
Posts: 357
Joined: 31 Aug 2023, 12:38
x 98

Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by c16rkc »

Has that image came out a good size for everyone?

Looks OK on my phone, but I think it sometimes works differently on a PC.
User avatar
mickthemaverick
Donor 2024
Posts: 15475
Joined: 11 May 2019, 17:56
x 6624

Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by mickthemaverick »

Yes, here is a screenshot of my 17" screen displaying your pic: :)
MTM Demo
MTM Demo
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure!
I used to ride on two wheels, but now I need all four!
User avatar
myglaren
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 26795
Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 14:30
x 5187

Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by myglaren »

mickthemaverick wrote: 24 Sep 2023, 07:37 It will post at the size of the original, you can then click on the pic to get full screen! :-D
When it has been uploaded, preview it and click to zoom.
Yours is fine but some, particularly taken on mobile phones, mine in particular, 'fall over' or even turn upside down and need to be rotated 90° left or right, then back again, then saved and re-uploaded.
User avatar
c16rkc
Donor 2023
Posts: 357
Joined: 31 Aug 2023, 12:38
x 98

Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by c16rkc »

Seems like I have a plan for future then :-D

Thanks for the help!
User avatar
c16rkc
Donor 2023
Posts: 357
Joined: 31 Aug 2023, 12:38
x 98

Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by c16rkc »

After reading this about swapping the C5 X7 grab handle for a sunglasses holder:

https://frenchcarforum.co.uk/wiki/Addin ... your_C5_X7

I ordered something on Ebay... :roll:
Screenshot_20230924-090700_eBay.jpg
Screenshot_20230924-090619_eBay.jpg
I could not find a sensibly priced version of these brand new, but there were a couple of used ones. I'm sure they will need a clean, but it's only plastic. I can stick in my own foam or felt if it needs it. :)

I wanted to add one in both the front driver and passenger sides. I'm hoping they are a good colour match.... there only seems to be grey available , but they look like totally different colours in the photos...

Hopefully at least one will match! [-o<
User avatar
mickthemaverick
Donor 2024
Posts: 15475
Joined: 11 May 2019, 17:56
x 6624

Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by mickthemaverick »

It's so good to see someone modifying a car for comfort and convenience rather than speed and handling. Great work Chris, keep it up!! :-D
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure!
I used to ride on two wheels, but now I need all four!
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 41615
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
x 6765

Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by GiveMeABreak »

I don't even remember putting my sunglasses mod guide on the wiki - it was a good few years ago when I did it, but the beauty was in using the official Peugeot part listed is that it is a perfect fit for the existing grab handle as these are the same as the X7.

We aren't putting anything else up on the wiki these days - but I totally forgot I even put it there!
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
Gibbo2286
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 7674
Joined: 08 Jun 2011, 18:04
x 2707

Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by Gibbo2286 »

Looking at that picture someone has got a nice workshop. :)
Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. (Albert Einstein)
User avatar
c16rkc
Donor 2023
Posts: 357
Joined: 31 Aug 2023, 12:38
x 98

Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by c16rkc »

mickthemaverick wrote: 24 Sep 2023, 09:28 It's so good to see someone modifying a car for comfort and convenience rather than speed and handling. Great work Chris, keep it up!! :-D
You won't see any engine modifications from me, unless they make the car more economical :mrgreen:

I do love fettling with things though, and it tends to be adding things I wish the car had, like cup holders, reverse camera, front parking sensors etc.

We'll see how much I end up doing... 8-[
User avatar
c16rkc
Donor 2023
Posts: 357
Joined: 31 Aug 2023, 12:38
x 98

Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by c16rkc »

GiveMeABreak wrote: 24 Sep 2023, 09:47 I don't even remember putting my sunglasses mod guide on the wiki - it was a good few years ago when I did it, but the beauty was in using the official Peugeot part listed is that it is a perfect fit for the existing grab handle as these are the same as the X7.

We aren't putting anything else up on the wiki these days - but I totally forgot I even put it there!
I'm glad you did!

The whole Wiki is very useful. Ever thought of allowing members to edit and add to it?
User avatar
c16rkc
Donor 2023
Posts: 357
Joined: 31 Aug 2023, 12:38
x 98

Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by c16rkc »

Gibbo2286 wrote: 24 Sep 2023, 10:56 Looking at that picture someone has got a nice workshop. :)
Yes I'm very lucky, I designed it myself and its 9.2m x 9.2m with a double electric roller door at the front. The concept was I wanted to be able to house three cars side by side, and fully open car doors without hitting the car next to it, or the garage wall.

I was going to build it myself, but in the end I found a garage/shed builder chap on Ebay who built it for less that I could buy the materials for. By shopping around, the whole project, including the concrete base cost me £25,000. A builder quoted me an eye watering £45,000!
User avatar
c16rkc
Donor 2023
Posts: 357
Joined: 31 Aug 2023, 12:38
x 98

Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by c16rkc »

To do list update

Need to update my list...

  • The naughty windscreen wipers are not working... The owner claimed to have replaced the drivers side, but it looks in awful condition so must have been a used part. I replaced the passenger side (left) with a brand new item (Part 6405LE at £320) and have ordered a replacement for the drivers side (right) another brand new one (Part 6405LA at £320) as my Dog box diagnostic software says it is still faulty. I wonder if the previous owner was fibbing about the replacement... DONE - ALL WORKING WITH 2x NEW WIPER MOTORS AND CLEANING CONNECTOR ON PASSENGER SIDE
  • The front end insists on staying in super high 4x4 mode. My the diagnostic dog box software appears to point to a faulty front ride height sensor which I have purchased (Part 5273J4 at £88.99) and will fit soon. DONE - FITTED NEW SENSOR AND ADJUSTED RIDE HEIGHT ON DOGBOX
  • When I forgot to raise the suspension first, and jacked the car up with the power steering fluid cap off, the car took a wee and expelled around half a litre of LDS fluid. I found a deal on 6 litres of Mannol LDS fluid and have bought it (£42.49) so I can top it up when I need to. ODDLY LEVEL DID NOT NEED TOP UP... BUT HAVE FLUID FOR FUTURE WORK
  • There is no history to show the CAM belt has ever been changed, so it is booked in with M&W Autos (Citroen/Peugeot specialist) in Wisbech for Wednesday 13th Sept to have this done. CAM BELT DONE
  • The MOT runs out 29th October 2023 - I'll need to get this sorted
  • The car needs a jolly good clean! 50% THERE...
  • The tyres all look a bit low, and the wheels are a bit scabby. If I get the car running nicely I spy a wheel refurbishment and fresh set of tyres on the horizon.
  • I need to remove both headlights and polish out the dull patches.
Then these are the things I'd like to do, which are a little less important...

  • Add a Brodit phone plate, and a phone holder. DONE ADDED A DASHMOUNT VERSION WITH FASTCHARGER CABLE
  • Wire in a permanent fast charger phone cable, with workings hidden in the centre console and cable poking out at the phone holder, so that I do not have to use the cigar lighter and a trailing cable to charge my phone. NEARLY DONE - JUST NEED TO TIDY CABLE UP WHEN I ADD PHONE CRADLE
  • Fashion a new front armrest top cover, with an integrated pop out cup holder assembly. (a pretty big project, so it might never get done and always be something I'd like!)
  • Add one of these (yes I know they are marmite to people) Android head units, so I can have updated maps and music.
  • Reversing camera
  • Front parking sensors - hopefully I can source genuine ones maybe?
  • Replace pitted dimming rear view mirror
  • Change headlights for facelift LED daylight running strip version, and add projector LED bulbs for better visibility at night.
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 41615
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
x 6765

Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by GiveMeABreak »

c16rkc wrote: 24 Sep 2023, 11:02
GiveMeABreak wrote: 24 Sep 2023, 09:47 I don't even remember putting my sunglasses mod guide on the wiki - it was a good few years ago when I did it, but the beauty was in using the official Peugeot part listed is that it is a perfect fit for the existing grab handle as these are the same as the X7.

We aren't putting anything else up on the wiki these days - but I totally forgot I even put it there!
I'm glad you did!

The whole Wiki is very useful. Ever thought of allowing members to edit and add to it?
We haven't got plans to continue with the Wiki as it stands. It's a lot more fiddly for people to add content and not very user friendly, so we may end up moving some of the content we want to keep into the Forum Chris. :wink:
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
User avatar
c16rkc
Donor 2023
Posts: 357
Joined: 31 Aug 2023, 12:38
x 98

Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by c16rkc »

GiveMeABreak wrote: 24 Sep 2023, 11:38
c16rkc wrote: 24 Sep 2023, 11:02
GiveMeABreak wrote: 24 Sep 2023, 09:47 I don't even remember putting my sunglasses mod guide on the wiki - it was a good few years ago when I did it, but the beauty was in using the official Peugeot part listed is that it is a perfect fit for the existing grab handle as these are the same as the X7.

We aren't putting anything else up on the wiki these days - but I totally forgot I even put it there!
I'm glad you did!

The whole Wiki is very useful. Ever thought of allowing members to edit and add to it?
We haven't got plans to continue with the Wiki as it stands. It's a lot more fiddly for people to add content and not very user friendly, so we may end up moving some of the content we want to keep into the Forum Chris. :wink:
Come to think of it, we have wiki pages for our products at work, and I agree they are not easy to use. The forum format is much better.
User avatar
c16rkc
Donor 2023
Posts: 357
Joined: 31 Aug 2023, 12:38
x 98

Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by c16rkc »

Cars are all naughty...

I think we all know this to be true... but here are a few tales that I think illustrate it very well... cars are downright pesty and annoying.

The Mercedes CL500

The first tale is a Mercedes CL I bought as a nice project, in 2021 when I was a little more flush with cash than I am now. I had hoped it would be a nice little project for me and Aston to enjoy together.
20210910_142807.jpg
I intended to drop it off at my favourite Mercedes specialist, Alex Crow, get all the major work done, then enjoy periodically driving it and slowly working through the non urgent stuff...

What could go wrong?

For starters, it turns out Alex Crow was not a CL500 fan... he told me their owners tend not to be happy people, and he seemed reluctant when he let me book the car in. After diagnosing the things I already knew needed doing, along with more moaning about how awful these cars are.... Alex said he did not want to do the work.

I was rather annoyed.

So then I booked it in with another Mercedes specialist garage, but fate changed our plans, as the day before I was due to drop it off we had to rush Aston to hospital (this was back when he was on his Chemotherapy, and this used to happen every now and then). I cancelled the Mercedes garage, and when we got home we were so busy it was a while before I sorted out booking it back in again.
20211017_180520.jpg
Fast forward a month or so, and I decided to move the Mercedes and see about getting it booked in for repairs, but to my horror it would not even start! Being a car with Hydraulic ABC suspension, it had sank so low you could not even turn the steering, and it was therefore completely stuck, and no garage would come out to look at it. I was completely puzzled about what I was going to do.
20220206_125737.jpg
20220320_131806.jpg
After a couple of months of searching, I finally found someone who specialised in car electrics who agreed to come out. The managed to get the Mercedes started and I breathed a huge sigh of relief - it turned out water had been leaking through the rear light, running down into the front drivers side footwell, and had corroded a connector. What a pain!

The Mercedes was then parked in the corner of the (newly built) garage, while I decided it's fate.
20220410_134758.jpg
After reading that garages don't tend to know much about the ABC system on the CL500, due to how rare it is, and after reading an interesting blog/article all about how it works and how to repair it... At some point I had the dumb idea I'd sort the issues myself.... what a silly idea.

I spent pretty much the rest of 2022 on and off refurbishing the ABC, and a little of 2023 too.
20220424_105838.jpg
20220522_160819.jpg
20220918_160229.jpg
20220924_133540.jpg
20220924_151115.jpg
20230212_120931.jpg
In Spring 2023, I had finished the work, the whole car went back together, and I readied myself for the triumphant feeling of watching my car rise up like a Pheonix...

...but that didn't happen. Instead, the car sat depressingly still on the ground.

I have since replaced the ABC pump with a brand new one, but the car still sits on the floor... I await time to give it another go.

What a naughty toad that Mercedes CL500 is!

.... more tales of naughty cars to come...