CharlesM

Just changed the offside dipped bulb (the nearside will need some assistance) and fitted the steering wheel. I'll post a full photographic guide to how to do this in the steering section, but here is the before and after, it all works too! Dead chuffed...

They are grey - they open the door but absolutely no starting of the car. I tried all of them just in case.

BN Coupe - I've been caught before with the display on Classic FM so I made very certain this time! The principal problem people have in getting over when thinking about spending money is the sunk cost fallacy - that what you have spent = what it's worth. All cars at the budget end are likely to require money spent, so the most important consideration is what will you have to spend on it or an alternative. Once that is twigged, it becomes very easy to justify some expenditure and what you mention is very sensible - spend what you need and no more (which includes in my case not stinting on important stuff but not wasting money on things like large wheels etc).

A supplemental question. I have one fob with a key that starts the car, and three keys without fobs that don't start the car. I assume that I need to get a new coded key cut to have a spare, as the 3 spares are simply for unlocking but not driving?

I was quite surprised to find it for £20 on Ebay, MB ones are hideously expensive, it has an airbag and will get a good clean and polish (leather and wood) but it looks nice. The Becker has been in virtually all my cars for the last 8 years, it has nice big buttons that do what they say and the sound is crystal clear. Which has exposed a very mushy set of rear and front speakers, so I might do an upgrade. The car does need some soundproofing too. A journey into Slough just now involving lots of speed bumps revealed total quiet from the front suspension, any knock has gone with the new drop links. One problem fewer!

Radio in, bit of a bugger as the fitting is not quite suitable and the observant will note a past attempt to remove the Becker from a previous car led to some unintended rearrangement of the locking mechanism... Steering wheel is getting comfortable on the sofa, which I expect it will be for some time. Storm Katie kept on slamming the drivers door on my feet so I'll sort it when the weather's more clement. The rim of the wooden bit is just a little wider than the original leather one, so I find it more comfortable. I even think there might be some wood in the mixture too! Any advance on 45 minutes?!

At the current rate of progress the wheel will be fitted sometime around 2025. Bulbs are a bugger so gave up pro-tem, radio required a trip to Car Audio & Security to get an aerial adapter and to work out the plugs (old one a cheap Sony with its own unique loom). Now sorted, so after a well deserved cuppa, the radio will be going in for good!

Busy start to the day, my Osram Nightbreaker dipped bulbs have just been delivered, as has my wood and leather steering wheel. Now to figure out how to fit them and get the radio changed today!

Will do!

Good spot! The alternative I'm thinking about is getting an air powered mop, they are much lighter (and cheaper as I already have a compressor) and I can get the recommendations from my favourite bodyshop lads.

I find the assumption that you should not spend more than the car is worth pointless - buying any secondhand car involves risk and a £2500 car can have many issues. If you know your car well, know its maintenance history and compare it with what you can get, why not spend the £1500. I've budgeted £1000 to sort out any issue on buying mine - I want it to ride and drive properly and be a nice place in which to spend time. I've seen enough £2500 BMWs, Benzes etc etc to know that you are buying a whole world of pain. The engineering of the Honda is clearly fantastic, build quality is spot on (It may lack real fake wood but the dash doesn't creak and crack) and it would happily run me to one end of Europe and back.

It's a DAS6 Pro - certainly the best amateur one out there. I suspect that my technique has been part of the problem, I press too hard. It's not hugely expensive but just at present I'd rather have the old one working, I'm not sure a new one will get the use as I cut back on the cars I have and my Mercedes work is coming to an end.

I'm sure we'll meet at some point!

12th April. I'll come up the night before to a B&B locally to ensure I'm on parade at the appointed hour! Early starts and the M25 don't mix well with me nowadays.

I shall repeat it again, as it's worth saying again, I've never come across such a great resource as this forum for individual models. I'm very glad to have joined as it fills me with confidence that I can keep the car maintained well and economically. That neighbours are complimenting me on the car is a big bonus!

Sounds good to me! I think my trip to H6 HQ is perfectly timed!

It keeps working its magic on the Peril - all the shifts are getting oily smooth, even the softer kickdowns. I'm convinced that with the two further partial ATF changes and engine mounts it will be silky smooth.

So I need to locate an engine mount - are there any options other than handing over the wallet for punishment at a dealer?

I have yes, both fuse and socket. I think the smell of electrics burning out and the wildly gyrating speed was the clue. Anyway, I have to replace it, I can't leave this lovely car in this condition! Just gave my neighbour a lift home - he thought it was wonderful (he particularly loved the smell of the leather!)

Alas, this is a mail order only job and there are 3 figures before the pennies. My black celtic heart is in deep mourning at the financial loss...

It was very flaccid to the touch, still got some pressure but pretty soft. Needs a double dose of Viagra!

Another day another damned thing. My plan to take advantage of the sunshine today to get the majority of the car machine polished has just hit a snag. The blasted DA polisher has died, somewhat prematurely. Oh well, I might just go for a drive instead.

Well, a beautiful sunny and warm start to the day, absolutely delightful. A movement test of the engine near the mount revealed a fair amount of play, so then out with the camera. Light levels in the engine bay were so low that I couldn't get the camera to autofocus and I had to bring out the flashgun.

Looking on the bright side, as they've never actually delivered anything here, they haven't managed to deliver anything broken!

No sadder than me moaning on the interwebby! I know all the drivers as I've had so many deliveries of car parts this year. The Parcelforce guys regularly asked about the restoration and my postie Jan loves chatting about her VW splitscreen camper van. Jatinder my DPD driver is a really nice guy and goes to great lengths to find neighbours etc. But not UKMail...