Dave

Hahaha, very true! The amount of times throughout my life I've stated "I've repaired it" and it's actually (sometimes sneakily!) been an upgrade i've lost count of lol. Funny thing is, this is one upgrade I wasn't sure about about the exhaust when I first started her up as I thought it might be a bit too loud, but when Gayle came out to the garage and I fired it up to let her hear it her reaction was "I love it!!! That's sounds amazing!!!". Gayle said it's staying! lol True on the parts being a minefield, but had that before with the 1st one I had (incidentally the gen2's seem to be a lot more expensive for parts than the gen 1's) so was kinda expecting it. Good thing is because these are so popular, there's plenty of help out there and groups/forums. One of the main forums I'm on for the MINI the owner of the site lives about 10 miles away from me lol Parts wise the hoses seem to be harder to get than the bloody radiators! Looking like aftermarket ones possibly (did I hear "upgrade" again? lol) Spot on mate. I don't mind replacing the bits tbh as we're wanting to keep this one for a long time, so will get the benefits out of it. Better doing the work now when I'm still able to rather than a few years down the line when working on the car might be a lot harder for me. Speaking of which, have to say for a modern car I'm really enjoying working on her. Just can't wait to get her on the road again!!

While testing for exhaust leaks (all clear on that front!) Gayle noticed steam coming from the engine bay. Here's where things take a turn for the worst. I initially though it was the work I'd done on the thermostat and new coolant tank, thinking there had maybe been spilt coolant that was maybe burning off. After looking underneath the front and tapping the under tray, loads of coolant started falling onto the garage floor. Had to then completely strip the whole front end off the car to get to the radiators to check them. Got the old one removed which was gubbed on the bottom and alo leaking at the top right corner. Got the new one ordered and arrived next day from PartsInMotion.co.uk (highly recommend!). Got the fan etc removed from the old one and fitted to the new one but can't get it fitted yet as more problems found. Upon further checks, found that the prev owner looks to have hit a high kerb on the left side front when in one of the supermarket carparks. Did notice a slight ripple on the very bottom of the bumper in that area when we bought her but didn't think too much about it tbh. It has busted the main radiator (which I've already bought), but also the air con radiator is bust too. The impact, although small, has been enough to move the radiator momentarily upwards and inwards, meaning the fan has just nicked the two top hoses too. they haven't punctured, but both have a wee chunk out of them. Totally gutted, but hey ho, it's been a fun wee car to work on so far. Unfortunately I'm skint until pay day so she's still in a thousand bits on the axle stands. Gonna replace the two hoses (one goes onto the thermostat so means I now have to strip all the gubbins out in the engine bay again to get to it!!) just to be super safe. Once I get the parts it should only take me a day to take the rest apart and fit all the new bits and put her back together. Here's a few pics of how she currently stands! Oh, and can also see the new coolant expansion tank, looks so much better than the manky old one which was ready to fail.

New exhaust is here! To get the old rotten exhaust off, you need to remove the extra bracing the convertible has underneath. Unfortunately the torx bolts that hold it on were seized solid. Paul and me spent hours trying to get them out, but 5 of them moved roughly 3mm then seized (wouldn't even go back in let alone come off!) and one would not move at all. Tried heat etc, nope, wouldn't move. In the end I had to spend over £120 on an impact wrench gun. This too took a bit of time to get them to move, but it did after about 30 seconds on each of them get them all out, including the stuck solid one! Old exhaust then came off ok, only the rear rubbers were a pig to get off. New exhaust went one easy peasy, but did notice that there didnt seem to be enough clearance between the exhaust and the damn brace bars. I bought a length of 6mm steel flat bar and made up my own spacers to go between the main brace and the chassis, which gives perfect clearance now. We pic of my fabricating skills lol All fitted and tested for leaks....None present! Decent bit of kit to be fair and was actually cheaper than the duff oem spec standard one I bought. Sounds quite nice too, jury's still out on whether I think it's too loud as not driven her yet (see below for why!) but just listening to it in the garage Gayle is a hug fan of the sound! Will get a video once she's running again (again, see below for more!)

Next up, as the MOT was due, I wanted to get the exhaust changed. Had got a price from a garage for getting a new standard steel one fitted but it was going to be over £500! The garage themselves even said they couldn't believe the price of it! They did suggest I could get a stainless stell one for less than that and they would fit it for me but I initially wanted a standard one. So, found a place on ebay selling brand new oem spec exhaust for £315. Advert had 3 to 5 day delivery so went for it. 11 days later it arrived, and it was squashed falt at one end!!! Totally fubar! Was totally raging so emailed them to complain. Took them 2 days to respond, then started the pantomime of wanting pis of damage etc then emails back and forward before they finally said they'd get a replacement sent. Asked if this would be next day delivery as I'd waited so long already for it but they said no, they can't get that type of delivery cheap enough because of the size/weight (which I found out was bullsh**). 5 days later it arrived, and took it out to garage. Then realized........wrong bloody exhaust!! Went apeshit as by now the MOT had run out so buggered up my plans. They then started a right royal run around, taking ages to reply, then wanting pics of this exhaust and swearing blind this was the right exhaust fir the car. They then got sarcastic and replied "We're sorry you don't know how to fit an exhaust to your car"! Cheeky bastids! Quickly told them I was indeed very much capable of fitting an exhaust to my car and had done so over more years than they have probably been alive. I then said what I can't do is fit an incorrect exhaust to a car it is not made to fit! Then they wanted it returned and wouldn't refund until they had the whole lot back again. I argued the case this wasn't acceptable due to it now being over 3 weeks since I first ordered the bloody thing, and as they were gonna use the same slow courier once again I wanted the refund done so I could go get another exhaust. Eventually raised it with ebay who looked through the correspondence between us and issued my refund there and then. The exhaust only got picked up 2 and a half weeks after that! Anyhoo, went and bought a stainless steel Malian sport exhaust. Ordered it Monday, came Tuesday (who knew, aparantly you CAN get next day delivery on exhausts!)

Also, bought the new thermostat, coolant resevoir and hood treatment stuff to re-proof the hood. Getting to the thermostat is a pain as there's so much you need to remove to get to it. Same stuff you need to remove to get to the gearbox, so least I know how that bit all comes apart. On top of all that there's brackets/wiring/hoses and sensors to get out first. Done it though, and only got one pic of the bit the thermostat is at! lol The black bit in behind that bracket is the thermostat housing. Got the new one fitted, coolant replaced and then the bleeding of the system done. Test drove and the temp guage now sits at half way, where it should, so well pleased

Meant to update this but never seem to have the time lately! Ok, so I did remove all the gubbins to get to the gearbox. pin fitted, all the mechanism greased up as it was pretty dry. Also noticed the wee rubber gaters on the ends of the gear selector cables had came away a bot and cables looked dry/rusty. Sprayed tons of WD40 inside them, then waited a few days and sprayed silicon grease in them. Wee test drive and she did feel a lot easier to change gear. I then decided to bleed the clutch slave cylinder too, which seems to have helped slightly. At least Gayle is now able to drive her.

Do you have any plastic tools for removing interior trim mate? I usually use those, just need to slip it in the side between the cover and the actual bumper and you should be able to pop it out. Think there's a tab on each side that acts like a clip. If you don't have a trim removal tool, just use a flat blade screwdriver and be careful so's not to scratch the bumper. Once the covers off I think it's just two bolts (poss 3) to remove the light. However, I'm almost sure the bulbs can be changed without taking the fog lights out? Been that long since I changed one tbh.

Interesting pics.....has DD been lowered again? LOL nope, DD has been busy helping us improve the garden....transported 13 slabs (heavy duty thick ones too, not the usual B&Q cheapies!) in her boot. Did make the handling...errrr..interesting in the high winds we had! Just shows how bloody great practical cars these decks really are though, although have to say I won't be putting that many in her again. think that was probably the max weight she's ever had/ever will have in her. Oh, and she's filthy from a weekend on our roads that are covered in some of the shittiest salt known to mankind, god knows whats in it but it makes one hell of a mess of the cars. Don't worry though, after she was unloaded, she was straight in for a bath! Now all nice and clean and shiney again.

Was browsing the web and stumbled across this site. Know our Civic Aerodecks are getting harder to find for sale in the UK, but in other parts of Europe it seems they are still plenty for sale (and the prices are surprising considering the mileages!) Honda Civic Aero Deck used cars, Price and ads | Reezocar Just a pity they're all LHD

Amazing to see her last so long and give such reliable service. That mileage and the fact she still runs perfectly is deffo reasons to be proud of the wee Civic. I doubt there are any new cars for sale today that will still be going strong after so many years/miles. Deffo none of these stupid milk float EV's, that's for sure. Testiment to the quality of cars Honda used to make eh! Parts for these pre-facelift civic M's are like gold dust mate, especially the front wings and bonnet. The bumpers front and rear and headlights/tail lights are also unique to these early Civic M's. Again, if she's going to a breakers, would be worth removing these first as you should get them sold pretty easily.

Yeah, Gayle and I both said that if we were ever in an area where the only fuel was E10 then we would at least try and dilute it with a half tank of E5. Lucky not had to do that, and obviously Mindy has now gone so only DD that really needs the E5. BUUUT........even though the MINI and the Juke can run on it no probs, we are still using super unleaded for all our cars. Top hell with taking the chance of causing damage, crap fuel economy and possible fuel pipe damage.

lucky find the new-old-stock panels mate. This is a mega project, and nice to see yet another Civic M getting restored. I never thought I would see the day when these civics were getting restored when I first started Civic5 back in 2009.............really is nice to see.

Hello stranger lol. Nice to see the love and attention these Civics are now getting. Seems more and more are being modded and restored. Love this one, reminds me of Ruby. Damn I still miss that car! She is unfortunately now sitting rotting away in someone's drive which is a total shame after the way she had been looked after all her life.

Wow, top work mate, that bay looks amazing! Loving those covers.

Have seen them weeping on the side facing the road (so underside) but also a lot of muck and salt etc can sit on top of the tank unseen. By the time you spot it there (usually by the fumes) its usually rotted through. Not sure if our cars would get away with a plastic one if we could find one similar?

Ahh, thought it may have had the big screen but either a DD (no, not that DD lol) or a single din slotting into the dash. Would love an android in DD (and the MINI for that matter) but just wish Pioneer would do an Android single din with the motorized DD screen. Know they do their own one but not a fan of the operating platform. Have looked at the Chinese ones (and had a few delivered that were either didn't work or were in bits lol) but love the sound of the Pioneers, always have. Got them in both DD and the MINI at the moment.

That looks sweet as mate, really suits that head unit. Can't believe you managed to retrofit Cruise control, that's amazing! The one thing I wish DD and Poppy both had. Which android unit did you go for, is that the Atoto or the Xtrons? Oh, and was it a "true" double Din size as most of those ones aren't lol

Already started here, goes from bright sunshine to dark as hell, then snow, then sunshine...constant strong winds. Now staying dark, raining and looking like it's gonna be a bad one

Deffo gonna look into that as tbh, I'm not a fan of filler! Know I'm going to respray the bonnet and VTiS front lip at some point as the paint is shocking on both now with tiny stone chips (not so tiny ones on the lip!) but filler always sinks/shrinks/cracks over time.

getting a nice wee collection there mate! One of these going round my area in the borders, see it quite a lot. Looks immaculate too. Have these got a 6 cylinder in them?

Just a wee update with photos this time! So managed to get a hold of what are believed to be the last brand new packet of windscreen trim clips in the uk for our cars (although they are in a sealed oem "Rover 400" bag. Got them fitted to the new windscreen trip piece and fitted nice and secure. And the dent in the bonnet (close up). It looks worse in this photo than it really is. As can be seen from this angle.. The scratches came out of it all nicely, including the front passenger wing. Last two are just DD in the crib lol

lol, would be one hell of a shed mate, you seen the stuff we got in there? lmao So, will need to take pics but been busy on DD. Managed to mop and polish all the scratches out on the bonnet and wing so really pleased! Luckily it looks like the wheelbarrow didn't break the paint (god only knows how!) and the dent itself doesnt look too bad now all the marks and scratches are gone. Got off lightly I think!. She's tucked up in the garage now waiting on me getting to the bottom of that leak in the drivers side top of windscreen area. Done loads of tests and still can't find it (and it's now stopped lol) but did notice on the service pdf that there is a type of valve at the bottom of the roof drains in the front. So going to have a look at those and see if they are maybe blocked or something.

Never heard of that one mate but think it would most likely point to a relay or if there is a module for the intermittent wipe it might be a faulty module. I've got the haynes manual in the garage so could have a looks and see. I think the Honda schematics from the service guide we have in the downloads section might show what parts make up the wash/wipe system so might be worth downloading it and having a look too. UPDATE: Checked the service manual mate and page 20-76 shows the intermittent wipe module to be located in behind the centre console (I think, going by the image)

Never heard of that one mate but think it would most likely point to a relay or if there is a module for the intermittent wipe it might be a faulty module. I've got the haynes manual in the garage so could have a looks and see. I think the Honda schematics from the service guide we have in the downloads section might show what parts make up the wash/wipe system so might be worth downloading it and having a look too.