Bought her last November from Palm Springs. It was in what appeared to be great shape, but needed some maintenance.
After driving her through the mountains between Palm Springs and San Diego, I immediately did the oil change @ All German Auto in Oceanside.
Then proceeded to drive it around for a couple of months, while I had relatives visiting me. Well, I actually gave Baby (my Honda S2000) to Martijn to drive, and I kept driving Roci. Which was quite funny, as I’m only almost 6’3” (1.89m) and I barely fit in the S2000. Martijn is at least a couple of inches taller than I am. It’s a mystery how he fit, but he did it!
Well, back at Roci, after Martijn and Andreea went back to Europe, I’ve continued to improve / repair / upgrade Roci (many thanks to KC and Owen for the help!).
Here are the upgrades and repairs:
Added Bluetooth to the stock radio (instead of CD player and navigation)
Installed a new head unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (for a Chinesium unit it’s awesome). The unit has also an excellent incorporated dash cam
Installed reverse camera connected to the new head unit (quality of image is on par with my old BMW 535D – meaning it’s excellent)
Funny story on the reverse camera – Owen and I installed it initially connected to the brake light instead of reverse, so the image came up every time you hit the brakes. An hour later (20 minutes of laughing at ourselves, and 40 minutes of re-work) it was properly connected
Refinished three of the fairly badly curbed wheels. Did that myself and the results are quite good, but not perfect. Never again, says I…
Replaced (twice) the hazard switch (apparently common problem, the left side doesn’t blink anymore)
Replaced the hood struts (although the comedic factor when the hood hits you in the head was priceless…)
Replaced the trunk struts
Fixed the rear license plate holder
Installed an iPhone magnetic holder and charger
Replaced one window motor and two regulators (all windows work now)
Replaced front brake calipers and installed new front brake pads
The timing belt had only 40k miles on it, but since it was ~10 years old per Carfax, I’ve splurged on a timing belt service (timing belt, Water Pump, Water Pump Gasket, Timing Belt, Tensioner, Tensioner Damper, Idler Pulley, Bolts, Washer and Cam Seals, etc). Painful, $-wise.
Flushed and replaced all fluids: coolant, rear diff, transmission (no filter chg), brake fluid, etc.
Replaced both Front axles
Replaced the valvecover gasket
Replaced a broken intake manifold link (supposedly I should sense much better torque across the entire rpm range, but the V8 has so much power that I feel no difference on my scientific seat of the pants testing)
Recharged and fully tested the AC
Condensation repair (well, this one was another expensive repair by All German Auto, but much less than the dealer and great guys to deal with)
Fog lights grilles (not installed yet)
Changed the ambient temperature sensor
Replaced all three motor mounts (thank God for eBay Germany and U.K.!), but way too mucho dinero!
Added a front license plate holder
Fixed the front cigarette lighter socket
Replaced the battery with a new one (this was an interesting one as the old one tested good, but it was generating faults – all gone now)
Replaced the wiper blades (I know, really technical…)
Replaced the fuel filter
Replaced the side mirrors with new blue tinted and heated ones (driver’s side is aspherical, passenger’s convex)
Repaired the headlight leveling sensor arm (with a Chinesium unit on order as a spare)
Did another oil and filter change with LiquiMoly oil at ~6k miles. Great truly fully synthetic oil!
I also bought a blind spot monitor but after installing the aspherical mirror for the driver side and the convex one for the passenger side, I really can’t justify the work to do it as there’s practically no blind spot left.
Replaced the front rotors and front pads (with Textar products); kept the old pads since they were basically brand new (1500 miles on them)
Replaced the tires with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 All Season. ‘Uuuuuge difference! Way better tires than the old ones… plus alignment, of course.
Got the TPMS controller module from eBay, too. Needs installing next, but not sure I’ll bother…
Left to do:
Repair the scratch on the lower part of the passenger side doors (not that visible, but…) – done by Alejandro
Repair the rear window shade (no idea why I’d do it, as the rear window is tinted)
Repair the passenger side folding mirror function
Minor alignment the front right door