Newbies mk4 Astra

[Andybon]

Hi, New member here, Just thought id show off the car!

Got this the other week, Got it for a few hundred quid as it needed some work.

Done all the work now, just a few little bits to sort then its ok. Had to put a complete new exhaust on, a good service, new battery, new numberplates and a new set of tyres.

The alloys that are on it wern't on when i got it, it had vectra c wheeltrims with steelies on, So got the alloys with 4 nearly new good year tyres on for £40. Bargain!





Then today when I got home, Fitted the debadged grille to it. What a pain in the arse!

Before



After



Just read the guide for the bonnet release pull tab, So will need to get another as I just hacked it down with an hacksaw

Fitted the new headlights after what it looked like someone had attacked it with a DA sander, they had gone yellow and the brackets where broken. :!
Before

After



Also fitted the new exhaust I went and picked up the other night. Wanted one of the irmscher "double D's" but couldnt find a decent one cheap. Found this piper one on AOC so i got it. Has a nice sound to it, and i think it looks ok

Fitted a new set of Aero wipers as the old ones were past it

And here is the big part for the moment. Had enough of the wood effect centre console, So went to the scrapyard and got a new centre. Couldn't find a one peice one so had to stick to one of the two.
Here it is in primer

And after paint. Went for Rover amythest grey in the end

Got to flattern it off, put a couple of coats of laquer on it and polish it up yet.

Flatted and laqured the centre console today, will polish it up later on tonight ready to fit it tomorrow. Pretty chuffed with the way it turned out.

Gave the calipers a paint with some red caliper paint I had lying around. Done this because (Personally) I think it will go well with the new wheels and wheel colour I have planned for it.

Also de-badged the rear of the car. Just need to get hold of a mop to give it a good going over. Can still see the badges in some angles.

Waiting on a new ballast for the HIDs as they sent me out a broken one. Should be here in the next couple of days

Well, got bored just been sat around, So I fitted the centre console. Looks miles better than the wood effect, Heres a pic of how it is now.


Just got to think of getting a new gear knob now

Bit of a scrapyard bargain today.
Got one of the Irmscher/SRI spoiler in the exact same colour as my car for the sum of £10
Will be fitting it at the weekend


Nipped into the scrapyard yesterday as I remembered there was an Astra SRI in there (What I got the spoiler off) so I went and looked and the wheels where still there. Went and weighed the old wheels in then got the new wheels.

So here's how it looks now. I know it looks like any standard SRI/SXI, But its better than how it looked.



Fitted a new front bumper with fogs in



And painted the engine cover!



and fitted a vectra c intake



Heres how it stands now





Got hold of an Irmscher rear splitter, just on the lookout for a front and a set of 40mm lowering springs to fit.

Hope you all like, Oh and tell me what you think... Be nice!!!

[Andybon]

Ordered the lowering springs, A set of bonnet lifters and will hopefully be picking up an Irmscher front splitter at the weekend!

[mike--1988]

looks nice mate keep it up should look a lot better lowered

[GaryVaux]

So many people overlook the small details, its the simple things that make the difference with any car. Looking so much better

[Andybon]

Thanks!

It all usually starts with a trip to the scrap yard. If i see a car with something different what fits mine, I usually either get it if its not broke or look around for it on the net.

Got a few more ideas to do before i will be finally happy with it!

[GaryVaux]

If there was a scrap yard round here id be in it all the time! Cant beat a good route about, (nearest one is prob 80 miles away though )

[astra2004]

looking good.none of the mods are in your face.

[SimonP]

Absolute bargain and some nice things done to it to make it look a little better. The red brake calipers however are not one of them.

[Andybon]

Went to pick the splitter up and was stuck in traffic for nearly an hour, Then the air con packed in and when i got there it wasn't even a genuine one as he said over the phone and it was smashed to bits. Ended up coming home with **** all!

So, The search goes on for the front splitter!

[Andybon]

Pics of the mirror caps



Got some of the badgeless side strips. Unsure weather to colour code them though!



(Excuse the mess, Went down a muddy road the other day!)

Also finally fitted the Irmscher rear splitter!



Still trying to find a genuine front one. Can't find one anywhere!

[Doyley]

the painted rocker cover looks cool how did you do the ghosted griffin?

[Paul]

Looks sweet enough now

[Andybon]

the painted rocker cover looks cool how did you do the ghosted griffin?

All i did was to prep it up as normal then spray the colour i wanted the logo in onto the area where i wanted it. Ordered some stickers in the design i wanted then put this over the area then painted the top colour onto it.

When i had painted it all in the colour, carefully remove the sticker and flat it down with some 1500 wet and dry using it wet. Then put 2 coats of laquer over the area where it is, then a further 2 coats all over (To try and level it all off. You dont want to rub it too much around the area as it may rub through the top colour).

Then just flat it and polish it up as you normally would!

[Andybon]

New front splitter ordered, Also got a set of sideskirts for £30!!!!

[Andybon]

Lowered the car today. Lowered it by 40mm all around on Jamex springs.



Now need a new abs sensor as the abs and traction control light is on. One of the wires was damaged and had been repaired by soldering and a scotchlock!

Fitted the front splitter aswell. Chuffed with how it looks now. Just need to finish repairing the sideskirts!






Also got a set of Irmscher boot struts for a fiver from the scrappys!

[Andybon]

Had a busy couple of days on the car, So here it goes!

Fitted a set of smoked side repeaters



Stuck on some Irmscher shilouette badges onto the doors and fitted the colour coded side strips



Fitted a smaller ariel the other week, didn't get a pic of it as i forgot all about it!



When i took the pic i noticed some cracks around the base of the ariel. As i touched it it snapped off along with the wire. Looks like someone had a go at trying to nick it and ended up snapping it off! No wander the radio hasn't worked for a few days! Got a replacement from the scrappys for £1, Just need a new rubber base now!



Also got the sideskirts fitted and re fitted the mudflaps.





Will be polishing it all up properly when the Black hole polish and hi def wax turns up, Try to get it looking all clean again!


What do you all think so far?

[coupe22]

looking good mate, i've a vectra cdx that im goin done the sri/irmy path!

[Kev_G]

looks great how about Omega wheels?

[Andybon]

Unsure on the wheels Tempted by either penta's or snowflakes!

Trying to shift a set of vectra CDX wheels on ebay at the minute, When they have gone will think about some new wheels!

[tomZ20LET]

link for the ebay add dude!!

[Andybon]

Link for the vectra wheels on Ebay!

[tomZ20LET]

will keep my eye on them!!!

[Andybon]

Put the bonnet extention on, But i'm not 100% on it. Think it makes it look like there is too much on the car. Can't make my mind up weather to keep it or not!



Also whilst i was picking up the bonnet extention, Seen he had a cross hatch grille, Been looking for one for a bit and thought might as well get it!



Ordered a shilouette irmscher badge and carrier for it aswell!

[Andybon]

Put on some GSI Smoked rear lights today and the Irmscher shilouette grill badge.

Before



After



And one of the grille badge.



Started on colour coding the door handles. Went to the scrap yard this morning and got a full set of door handles, A new headlight switch with the front and rear to replace the grubby looking one i had, a couple of headlight motors, some window switches and a new petrol filler flap for the sum of £10. Bargain!!!

Going to be using the window switches and headlight switch to convert them to blue LEDs, The headlight motors are for the new set of headlights i am looking for (Saves time when fitting!) and the petrol filler cap I am going to try and smooth it flat...Hopefully!

Here is some pics of the handles how they are upto now. Gave them 3 coats of plastic primer, 2 coats of colour and 3 coats of laquer. Just letting them dry off overnight.

All stripped and cleaned.



With the primer on



All painted and laquered

[the saloonatic]

nice car m8 lovin tht ur doin most if not all the work youself aswell will be keepin an eye on ur thread to see how it turns out .