VanhireBoys

That's pretty good and a good make of belt as well ! Whatever route you go remember don't half arse it . You should put up a few photos of the car once you have her ready for action !!

What about this which is for fabricating your own ..? https://www.demon-tweeks.com/uk/omp-universal-weld-in-door-bars-ompaa108/ As long as the shoulder straps are not at an angle greater than 45deg - If you put this in like a rear strut brace it might work. A roll cage will be ready for harness straps but if you dont want to go down that road you will need to drill and weld anchor plates to the bottom of the floor - https://www.heritagepartscentre.com/eu/ac857051-seat-belt-eye-bolts-4-pack-with-plates.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwjuqDBhAGEiwAdX2cj6k7Sq1JwzDmvbYo6BNeVcZZ7BOqgd0gv00nbBBnw6Fi9JA0yP8pqhoCyB8QAvD_BwE These ensure that the harness cant pull through the floor in an accident. Even if it is a track car and is not subject to scrutiny you might want to check this out https://www.motorsportuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/harnessguidance02.04.19.pdf

A lot of people do the Border Fox thing ... Its hard for the customs to police in Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal. A yellow plater down in Galway is like driving your car with an arrow pointing at it

This this country is a complete rip off republic - Many years ago a band called The Boomtown Rats had a song which got banned here called Banana Republic. The lyrics of that song still ring true. This is way before DieselMonte's time and I remember it in primary school ! The Irish government do not want people keeping their older cars on the road - What they want is everybody going in every year for a new car to prop up the Irish motor trade. Everybody is on some form of finance agreement that most can ill afford. Mark my words lads the next financial crash will be car related. To expect a young fella like DieselMonte to fork out €7000 for a 2012 car makes my blood boil. 35% of that is red-tape ... And all because he wanted sommit nice and sommit different. If right was right then DM would be driving the VRsDi but having tax at over six times the initial price of the car has put an end to that. This country is an absolute money pit and with Brexit now they have increased the taxes on goods coming in from the UK. You know a shark wont eat a Revenue Commissioner - Its called professional courtesy I will keep driving mine on now even if the tax is high - I have never had a car that can make me smile as much as my Fabia. Its a real hoot to drive and when I pull up at the school gates for our offspring, the look of distain over the fake Dolce and Gabanna sunglasses from the overweight once yummy mommys in their PCP financed double parked Hyundai Tuscon's make it all worth while. I have ranted now so its back to work

Yeah that is right Jim ! My car had bad suspension for 4 months and the tyres were past it - I stuck on them nastys as I was waiting for the suspension and there was no point in putting good shoes on as she was cutting them up! I have put on a full set of NanKangs this week and it made an awful difference! They are a hard compound but have decent grip ! As DieselMonte said before we have really bad roads and Michelin Pilots or Pirelli P-Zeros wouldn't last us 3 weeks till we had them busted on a pothole I always thought it was a funny one with the kms thing ! My car was originally a NI reg and has the odometer in kms - the Speedo is in miles and the NCT history is highly fishy having miles at the start then kms ! At 16 years old ,€2000 and a private sale you are taking a chance but she has been good to me and I am going to drive on !

Hi All Well we are now 2 years down the road with the Fabia and you know I absolutely enjoy every minute of being in my car ! As far as the money I spent last year its about the same - Well last year we had a gearbox failure and this year we had a major outlay on the suspension. I don't in any way begrudge the wee car after all she needed it badly and she has been totally transformed. The fun is back in driving again ! I spent 4 months really nursing the car but it was worth waiting for ! The tyres were completely shot at this stage so I put on nasty's as the alignment was that far out I didnt want her destroying good tyres - The old expression of "Right tool for the job" expression I have used on many an occasion but it is true. I have resigned myself to the simple fact that an old car needs maintenance and a new car needs paying for. My car is far from mint but it is a great runner and makes me smile all the way. I have a great relationship with a VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda independent who is an ex rallycross driver so again the maintenance is on a mates rates business plan!! I am still tinkering at the light pod and when I get this painted I will get the back and front bumpers painted as well - Both are scruffy and let the car down ! Hopefully I done this right !!

Hi All Just looking for your advice/experience/info on this subject ! A workmates son has just bought a May 2008 VW Jetta TDi. She is fitted with a BXE 1.9 PD. The service history is complete with 151k miles. Once I heard BXE I cringed ... This is probably unfounded ! He was googling but you end up more confused as any stories are horror related ...! My thinking on this subject is if the car has covered 151k miles she would have thrown the conrods long ago if she was bad. I also have a notion that the car is one of the last of the PD series as common rails and DPF's were sold after this. Any vehicles I seen blow up in the past were 2 Caddy vans and a Golf Plus. Maybe she did blow up and was fixed but this would be in the service history and there is no mention. The car was imported here from the UK in 2013. The car has been bought and the lad is on cloud 9 but his dad isnt after finding out there is a BXE in her.... ! I told him that he should just not worry about it ! If anybody has any info or advice it would be greatly appreciated !! Thanks in Advance

This is quite a conundrum!! As lads have said condition is king and a full looking at by someone who knows their stuff is paramount A lad I know had a 04 Golf 1.9 PD which was of the age where everything was wearing out and he spent a fortune fixing her up - he then got rid of it saying "It's a money pit and I've spent a fortune" "That car is cursed" and so on ! But my brother bought that very car and it gave good reliable transport for 6 years and apart from normal service items and tyres she never needed a cent spent on her. The original owner had inadvertently fixed all the suspension and brakes thinking that the car was on her last legs !! Moral of the story - condition is king !

That switch dosen t look out of place at all ! Keeping it simple ! Well done ! At least you have a gremlin free window now !

That looks so class... Some attention to detail . Well done If you seen my car Lofty you would cry... ! I feel so unclean looking at those pictures

You are more than welcome DM ..... Now that stance looks right ....!! That gives me a real feel good factor to see her sitting so well . Nice to see the wee car coming round....!! She looks like she has just come off Kielder in the RAC rally ! I asked my brother one time what would he do if a bird shat on his motor - He said he would finish with her If anybody else is reading this and has any Fabia specific items that would do another turn then don't forget DieselMonte - Remember this is a learning experience and any donations or help you can give PM him.... !

Is this the sort of idea that the OP is talking about perhaps?. How To Open An Automatic Tailgate | Mercedes-Benz Cars UK - YouTube If that is what you are talking about then Im with sepulchrave........ No

I fitted one to mine and it is like somebody gave me a different car .. I just cant rate this high enough ... Mine is set in the middle ! Its nearly mandatory to fit one

Thanks for clearing that up ! A few more reasons I am undertaking this My commute starts at 4am and it's over really narrow back lanes where there could be livestock broke out of fields and other danger My car is far from mint and far from original - to do this to a low mileage minter would be a sacrilege I have been involved with rally car preparation and I was a big fan many years ago and that never leaves you !! John Mulholland a Skoda dealer from Randalstown rallied a vRS in 05 to 07 and showed just how much of a sleeper they really are !! Most of the hardware I already have and the light from these is like hitting an egg with a sledgehammer Again Wino- Thanks a mill for explaining that - I'd be absolutely lost without this forum's support. I am deffo going to put this project up at some stage as I get it rolling ! Thanks again lads - now to get the pod sitting right 🤣

Now another question!! If I put a bigger capacity alternator on let's say go from 90A to 120A will it cause problems with the ECU ? I see it discussed that the feedback from the alternator to ECU is calculated as a percentage of the output capacity ! I'm going to have to come clean and fess up ! I am in the middle of a project where I have a lamp pod from a Pug 206 and 4 Hella Rallye 3000 100w light units ! These will draw 35A as quoted above Now 35A is literally playing with fire and this has to be done right so to supply these I deffo need 120A at least to cover the massive draw Do different ratings of alternator give different levels of signal to the ECU ? Or is it a case that on a 90A alternator with a 60A draw the ECU sees 2/3 while on a 120A alternator with a 60A draw the ECU sees 1/2 ? Or has the lockdown given me too much time ?

How long is a piece of string ? ... This is a well documented subject Work out your budget and plan accordingly - Plenty of research and know what you are getting into. This forum is jam packed with info spanning the last 15 years ! We are unfortunate over here as there are lots of cowboys so try and get somebody who knows their stuff otherwise you will end up with a smoking mess ! I know of lads in the north that are reputable but pricey ... This lockdown dosent help matters but at least you can make plans and not rush into sommit you will later regret !

Looking Good DM.. The rear looks a bit high .. I have a set of back lowering springs that I took off mine ... They were the only parts that I was able to save after all the work after Christmas ! They are only kicking around our garage now so give me a PM and let me know where they are going to..! I'll only end up chucking them so waste not want not !! This what she looked like with them on !

Very true ....!! Theres no substitute for piston rings and valve stem oil seals in fairness. Looks like we will have to go the Caribbean after all when the lockdown is finished .... What a lovely thought as I stare out the window at a miserable, wet, grey day......

Thats good news Kharl... I wonder if you really need an engine replacement now at all ...?

If you can get a picture of the codes on the alternator I will have a look at my brother in laws 01 Golf Mk4 SDi - Cant be too far different ... ! Its worth a look anyway as it will be free ...! My brother in law has a penchant for driving cars on until they lie down, then just parking them where they stop .. Mechanical sympathy is not a virtue he has. The yard is like a breakers much to the annoyance of the family.....

Pity we are all in lockdown! It would be nice to go to the Caribbean using Kharls car as an excuse and funny enough it would take 2 weeks at least to sort out 🤣 All we need to do is visit a breaker and fill a suitcase with spares ! Yeah I've overthought this

That is what I was thinking as well ! We experienced a problem with a Group A Civic where it cranked slow - We had her earther to the middle belt anchor as well - we ended up boring an M14 hole in the shell and stripping the paint around the crimp and earthing to there !

That's another good bang for buck mod 👍 The French had yellow fog lights for a time and I recall people covering their lights with that yellow wrapping from a Lucozade bottle - Showing my age now

The lads that build up the things from cheap substandard materials then try and sell them on unnamed online auction sites for exorbitant prices - Well it is business I appreciate that but you fellas are going to a lot of bother and I definitely have to give yous credit for getting stuck in - Im sorry if I didnt get that point across that it was the online retailer that is the cowboy not you fellas .....! If the retailer was any good then they would supply the proper stuff that you fellas wouldnt have to go stripping at.... I dont intend falling out with anybody but Its just my opinion that it might not turn out the way that you plan and you only find out after a truck load of cash is down the swanney .. Ive been there on many an occasion and I dont want you lads getting stung as well ! Bí cúramach Mo mac

This is the best advice of the lot I had poor lights and I done this job and replaced the bulbs with Osram Nightbreakers - The difference in lighting for €40 was well worth it to me ! Not only that the car looks a lot fresher and smarter. Its amazing that manufacturers spend millions on research, development and testing only to have some cowboys bosch up substandard parts in a shed and claim that they are better because they look better. You might crack changing LHD to RHD and I have to give you all credit for working it out but to expect that there will be a big difference is somewhat optimistic.