thanks both @Chris - actually I went for a dive in the local paper recycling skip ...

I've been repainting my SIII 88 CSW. It took a couple of weeks to deal with the bits of rust on the bulkhead and remove the old paint. Yesterday I finally applied the first coat of top-coat. Attached is a link to a time-lapse sequence which shows the transformation. Still a lot to do but finally...

Hi Mark - my frst drive in my S3 was pretty terrifying as well. I had heard the steering would be heavy, but my one was impossibly hard to steer. And incredibly imprecise. So when approaching another car along a narrow lane I felt it was touch and go whether I would get past it safely. It turned...

I am repainting my S3. It used to be a public authority vehicle painted bright yellow. The chap who bought it from the council obviously didn't like the yellow so painted it Limestone. Unfortunately he was ina bit of hurry and didn't do enough preparation and now the paint comes off when it's...

thanks Murtle - that is really helpful info I'm impressed that you managed to get back to bare metal with B&Q paint stripper! the Marine Blue looks good

I've read all the stuff on the merits of 2 pack, and the dangers, and as I'm going to be doing this with my son had decided on traditional enamel. My question is really about whether there are differences of quality among the trad enamles that people have practical experience of so that I don't...

I am planning to repaint my Series 3. I have a compressor and spray gun so that is the way I intend to go. Choosing the paint has me confused. Tractol 'single pack enamel' costs £30 fo 5 litres here whereas 5L. of 'synthetic coach and machinery enamel' from these people costs £120. It seems to...

thanks Davidss - checked the box for movement and it's OK. That did the trick - I've fitted a beefier spring and it returns without problems. I did drench the spindle with Plus Gas penetrating oil and in time it may loosen up, but meanwhile it should pass its retest. thanks for all your...

thanks Davidss for both your posts. Particularly the second one. I will investigate. You were spot on about the MOT fail by the way. regards, Justin

Hi - my brake pedal is sticking a bit and I have to raise it with my foot to get the brakes off completely. From reading the Forum I know there is a spindle lubricating bolt I need to remove to get some oil in there but I can't find it. I guess it is under the servo? How do I get to it? Is it in...

thanks, v. helpful! :tea:

I have fiddled with my dash wiring and am left with a stray wire with no apparent place to connect it. In the first photo it's the purple wire coming from the indicator switch. I think it is the wire that operates the head light flashing as that is what doesn't work now ... To explain how I...

Hi - maybe this is too basic; but are you sure the bulb is in properly? When I bought my series 3 I found that on one side the wiring was the wrong way round so that tail lights lit up the brake element and vice versa so the PO had simply put the bulb in the wrong way round. So the bayonets were...

I am thinking of leaving mine off and just connecting the driver's side demisting duct to the heater outlet directly. I never liked the look of the S3 lower dash. The other idea I am considering is buying a defender dash - which can easily be found on ebay for reasonable money such as this one...

Dave, you will find some commentary on how to get the bits off here. I removed mine last week - same problem as you no demisting becasue the ducts had rusted away. Four self tapping screws - two on the wiper motor cover and two the other side and then two bolts into the bulkhead along the top...

Hi - sounds familiar. See my first post on this forum - here! Hope you have an easier path to getting the stubs out. Good luck! Justin

Hi Toby, I asked a similar question last week but without the helpful picture. I got no answers to my post because it seems it is a tricky one to answer. Hence Dr Evil's inability to provide any useful information. From the look of your steering column I think it is a 48 spline version...

Can anybody tell me what the specifications for my 1982 S3 Safari steering column are - I think it's 36 spline but how may mm is the shaft (I have seen it described as 17mm and 16mm) and what TPI? I have got myself a good looking 17" steering wheel, but I need to find a steering boss and...

thanks for all the input - I whipped off the the steering column shroud, but also needed to undo the instrument binnacle to get at the wiring at the back of the ignition unit. As soon as I started prodding the wiring the charge and oil pressure lights came on and the engine started with no...

Thanks for the advice chaps . Thanks Bump, but I guess I wouldn't get the headlights working if the earth had gone? I will follow up on Beasty's point about the possibility of the ignition switch or contacts being the issue just as soon as I figure out how to get at the back of the...