What Have You Done To Your Van Today?

[DaveD]

Yesterday I got the unwelcome ABS / Traction control / TPMS amber lights on the dash - which suggested a wheel speed sensor failure, it would come and go, so not likely chewed wires.
Local garage couldn't fit me in for two weeks but very kindly, and for some beer tokens, offered to code read the van for me as soon as I could get there.
It showed rear right wheel speed sensor failure so I popped to a nearby motor factors and picked one up.
It's a bit of a faff getting the old one out and I ended up shearing it off then driving a wood screw into the remaining bit and using a claw hammer to pull it out.
Anyway, job's a good'un, the lights all went out within 20 metres of driving out of the shed.

 

[z1ts]

THQ centre armrest

Is that the one with power and fridge etc?

 

[Jayjmac]

With help of the thread on here managed to turn the centre control thingy black with all the black accessories.

 

[Tom-E86]

With help of the thread on here managed to turn the centre control thingy black with all the black accessories.

View attachment 331756

Looks great - Could you point me in the direction of the thread please? Been wanting to do this

 

[Jayjmac]

Looks great - Could you point me in the direction of the thread please? Been wanting to do this

I can’t find it now

Buzzweld PIO for the surrounds, Porsche macan air bag thingy in black, VW T-roc for the sos button in black. Someone said about butchering a golf MK7 lighting buttons but I found spraying the original ones it shows through.

 

[djmike]

Is that the one with power and fridge etc?

No it’s the cheaper one mate

 

[Deckard22]

I had spares for the dash trim surround, so i thought I'd have a go at spraying them piano black.
The basic trim is textured, so I had to build up a few layers of undercoat and sand back to flatten it.
Then a few coats of gloss black, finely sanding between each coat.
I managed to get it perfect before my final spray, and like an idiot stayed a millisecond too long on one of the flat bits, which caused a run. Had to wait 24hours resand and then do another top coat until it had gone. Grr.
Anyhow, after a final two coats of lacquer I'm dead pleased
Final thing looks fab in real life, only a couple of areas where the texture is still detectable, but I'm happy.

 

[Deckard22]

Thank you for your feedback. Sounds like my idea might be quite impractical.

I have a froli system. And it doesn't really roll up, it just comes unclipped if you try. I fold it in half and pop it on top of whatever I've got in the back of the van (Chairs, bags, etc) when driving to a site, then it goes up in the pop top. When not being used i hang it in the garage on two nails.
Comfort wise, it's a game changer....

 

[Bav]

I have a froli system. And it doesn't really roll up, it just comes unclipped if you try. I fold it in half and pop it on top of whatever I've got in the back of the van (Chairs, bags, etc) when driving to a site, then it goes up in the pop top. When not being used i hang it in the garage on two nails.
Comfort wise, it's a game changer....

What have you mounted the froli springs on, mate?

 

[Tom-E86]

I can’t find it now

Buzzweld PIO for the surrounds, Porsche macan air bag thingy in black, VW T-roc for the sos button in black. Someone said about butchering a golf MK7 lighting buttons but I found spraying the original ones it shows through.

View attachment 331781

View attachment 331782

View attachment 331783

View attachment 331784

Mega, found the T-Roc and MK7 buttons - don’t suppose you’ve a part number for the Macan airbag thing in black?!

 

[Deckard22]

What have you mounted the froli springs on, mate?

Nothing. They connect to each other and I just feed them up as one to lay loosely on my poptop bed base.
Then when the pop top needs to come down, I pull them out again. Bit of a faff, but there's only ever me or me and a mate, so I dont have to worry about space in the back when driving.

 

[Bav]

Nothing. They connect to each other and I just feed them up as one to lay loosely on my poptop bed base.
Then when the pop top needs to come down, I pull them out again. Bit of a faff, but there's only ever me or me and a mate, so I dont have to worry about space in the back when driving.

Appreciate the info, mate - good to know it's doable and, from a confort perspective, worthwhile.

 

[Jayjmac]

Mega, found the T-Roc and MK7 buttons - don’t suppose you’ve a part number for the Macan airbag thing in black?!

Pass on the MK 7 golf buttons.. I purchased these but then read the thread further and they had to be cut and stuck on. Unless you want to do that obviously then go for it. See attached.

Found the threads:

Special mention @DubHaus

Thread 'Dub Haus Build Thread'

22 Sep 2022

Hi All

Took the plunge and today the Indium Grey T32 Highline arrived. One year old next week, 9000 on the clock and fairly tidy







She’s got two captains chairs with arm rests up front and a 2+1 in the rear. She’s had the roof rails, side bars and 30mm springs added by the dealer.

Planned improvements are…
ABT genuine front splitter
Genuine rear spoiler
Wolfrace Eurosport Munich Gloss Black 18x8.5
Goodyear 255/45R18 103xl
Direct TPMS
Genuine LED headlamps
Genuine LED Taillights
Genuine Highline rear camera
3 Stage sound insulation and...

• DubHaus
• build thread. plastic painting
• Replies: 147
• Forum: Show Us Your T6

• 

Thread 'Front cab fixtures re-colour'

25 Sep 2020

My next planned job is to line the cab roof in the same suede effect as the rear roof panel. I’ve chosen charcoal (I know. . . maybe a bit dark) which will mean the light beige/cream visors, grab handles etc will look out of place (I think)
question is has anybody got any tips on how to re-colour them? Not fancying lining them in the same material, or can they be purchased in different colours?

thanks

• Kips
• plastic painting
• Replies: 20
• Forum: Interiors, Seating, Lining

 

[Tom-E86]

Pass on the MK 7 golf buttons.. I purchased these but then read the thread further and they had to be cut and stuck on. Unless you want to do that obviously then go for it. See attached.

Found the threads:

Special mention @DubHaus

Thread 'Dub Haus Build Thread'

22 Sep 2022

Hi All

Took the plunge and today the Indium Grey T32 Highline arrived. One year old next week, 9000 on the clock and fairly tidy







She’s got two captains chairs with arm rests up front and a 2+1 in the rear. She’s had the roof rails, side bars and 30mm springs added by the dealer.

Planned improvements are…
ABT genuine front splitter
Genuine rear spoiler
Wolfrace Eurosport Munich Gloss Black 18x8.5
Goodyear 255/45R18 103xl
Direct TPMS
Genuine LED headlamps
Genuine LED Taillights
Genuine Highline rear camera
3 Stage sound insulation and...

• DubHaus
• build thread. plastic painting
• Replies: 147
• Forum: Show Us Your T6

• 

Thread 'Front cab fixtures re-colour'

25 Sep 2020

My next planned job is to line the cab roof in the same suede effect as the rear roof panel. I’ve chosen charcoal (I know. . . maybe a bit dark) which will mean the light beige/cream visors, grab handles etc will look out of place (I think)
question is has anybody got any tips on how to re-colour them? Not fancying lining them in the same material, or can they be purchased in different colours?

thanks

• Kips
• plastic painting
• Replies: 20
• Forum: Interiors, Seating, Lining

View attachment 331807

View attachment 331808

You’re a legend - thanks a lot!

 

[Lucasimo]

I had spares for the dash trim surround, so i thought I'd have a go at spraying them piano black.
The basic trim is textured, so I had to build up a few layers of undercoat and sand back to flatten it.
Then a few coats of gloss black, finely sanding between each coat.
I managed to get it perfect before my final spray, and like an idiot stayed a millisecond too long on one of the flat bits, which caused a run. Had to wait 24hours resand and then do another top coat until it had gone. Grr.
Anyhow, after a final two coats of lacquer I'm dead pleased
Final thing looks fab in real life, only a couple of areas where the texture is still detectable, but I'm happy.

View attachment 331788

View attachment 331789

View attachment 331790

View attachment 331791

Nice job! Getting a paint job spot on takes time and effort. Much more so than many people realise. You did well here.

 

[Deckard22]

Nice job! Getting a paint job spot on takes time and effort. Much more so than many people realise. You did well here.

Cheers. Took my time (ahem 4 days). It looks much better in real life than the pix. I'd recommend anyone does it.

 

[Sasquatch]

Gave it a going over, reset tyre pressures, checked lights, horn, washers, wipers etc for forthcoming MOT. Minor adjustment to OS washer jet to keep Mr MOT happy.

Without a 4 wheel lift to check everything for play and security Im as confident as I can be of a pass.

 

[Ayjay]

By coincidence, I went through all that yesterday and passed with a couple of advisories . The guy on the desk said it was a close thing whether they were mentioned or not but, they were, albeit he said that they might even still pass the next test if I only do the same 8-9 K miles in the coming year. The certificate says:

'Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting excessive movement Nearside Front Lower (5.3.4 (a) (i)'
and
'Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting excessive movement Offside Front Lower (5.3.4 (a) (i)'

TBH, I've only a vague idea what it's all about and intend to seek advice from a local expert at some point but could anybody on here enlighten me please and comment on how worried I should be. Also does anybody have an idea of cost to do the job (s)) please?

 

[Stay Frosty]

@Ayjay As long as you don't tour Europe on your holidays and only do 300 miles per year in total then you'll possibly get through next year's MOT too... or just get at least a couple of estimates to get it sorted.
That leaves just the Adblu 650 mile countdown, EGR, DPF, cam position sensor, ABS wheel sensor, DMF, clutch and crankshaft seal, cam belt/water pump, coil spring pig tail snapping, punctures and flat starter battery to worry about... get decent recovery cover or a box of matches.

 

[Sasquatch]

Its not a huge job. Some people prefer to re-use the old control arm and poly bush them.

The good news is ifmits done properly with decent quality buses its a lifetime fix and tightens up the steering feel. The bad news is you really want to be doing both sides together, which adds to the bill for labour.

If you're DIYing it I'd go the poly bush route. If you're paying someone just fit a new control arm, but do check it first before blindly reaching for the piggy bank - I recently had an MOT advisory on the Volvo for a "deteriorating" ball joint dust cover, but when I checked myself there was absolutely nothing wrong with it (or it's twin on the other side.)