Oldest XM in the UK - Now with registration!!

[MTXM]

All went well thank you Ray and I have now put around 2,500km on the car since registration! There have been a few other recent jobs including replacement of the gear lever mechanism and a front main suspension pipe that was quite a significant challenge!! Next month I have the car booked in for bodywork improvements. With regards, Matthew T

[raynoon]

Lovely car Matthew, it was interesting reading about it. Is it the same colour as Paul's K-BAN car?

[MTXM]

Many thanks Ray that is most kind and the colour is Meteor Grey, whereas Paul's car is in Silex as I recall. With regards, Matthew T.

[MTXM]

Well I am at last moving forward with bodywork improvements, having sorted various electrical, hydraulic and other cosmetic issues, and with the car now running pretty well and proving reliable. Here is the list of tasks I presented to my very reasonable local bodyshop at drop off on Monday:

- Both front cill outer faces to replace (s/h supplied)
- Cills to repaint (inc. black)
- Rear nearside door and wing to strip and repaint
- Front nearside door lower section crease to remove
- Replacement front bumper to repaint
- Replacement nose-cone to repaint
- Door B and C pillars to repaint (satin black)
- Front nearside wing lower section to replace
- Both front wing lower sections to secure
- Rear bumper offside hole to fill and paint
- Boot rear offside hole to fill
- Spoiler to repaint
- Cill/body undersides to repaint (black underseal)
- Other dents and scratches including front and rear wings?

I am able to assist with some preparation work that includes stripping poor quality repainting off a suitable replacement front bumper kindly provided by Russ and removing the rear bumper and door trim.

Hopefully the work will be underway next week!

Regards,

Matthew T.

[russ92xmsed]

Wow, that's quite a to do list. I want to ask you how much is that costing, but that's rude! ...you don't have to say.

It's going to look amazing when done. Look forward to the results.

[MTXM]

The workmanship always of a good standard and the chap does really undercharge Russ, but hopefully somewhere around £500 plus the paint! There is not that much actual painting required apart from the door and wing due to poor previous work. With regards, Matthew T.

[russ92xmsed]

I'd say that's very good.

[MTXM]

I spent some time at the bodyshop earlier today removing parts to help the work along that included both bumpers and the nose cone and nearside door linings. The rear bumper had not been removed before in my time and I was pleasantly surprised by the condition of the corner brackets and flat panel behind. The bumper brackets seemed to be a much heavier gauge of steel than usual and both 13mm bolts unscrewed fairly easily for a change. It might be a week-ten days before the work is actually started. With regards, Matthew T.

[Dieselman]

Is that a Tipo Sedicivalvole in the background. A true Hot Hatch and very under-rated car.

[MTXM]

I noticed it was a 'L' reg. 2.0 16v slightly sporty Fiat Will, but not a car that I have registered before tbh! Regards, Matthew T.