Search results

I had my car into the dealer for service and this time they offered me their Stasis A4 show car as a loaner for the weekend. Stasis is an Audi-approved tuner that makes all sorts of hop up parts for the Audi line. This loaner has all the bells and whistles offered by the dealer. This car had...

I started winterizing the fleet today. Cayman S was first up. Clayed with Sonus green/fine clay. I polished with Menzerna Intensive and Finish polish and then applied Nitro Seal. It was pretty easy to apply but I probably used too much. I look forward to seeing how this lasts and how easy it is...

Unfortunately I found a rear axle seal leak on the 4Runner. So after calling the dealer and an independant shop, I couldn't bear to fork over the $300 estimate to have it fixed. So I took a trip to the Toyota dealer and bought the $25 worth of seals and tore into it. Thanks to the help of a...

For years I have lusted after some alloy wheels for the BMW. The wheels were a factory optional-extra for the 2002tii model only. They were pretty rare. These very wheels are now being remanufactured in limited numbers and I snagged 4 of 8 in the USA. I'm psyched! No plus+1 or plus+2 fitments...

I have found many sources for sprayers, bottles, etc. Of course you can get them online, from your favorite detailing website, at places like Containers and More stores, etc. But I happened to be at a beauty supply store the other day (Don't ask.) and I hit the motherload of cheap supplies...

I use Aquapel on the windshields of my cars but have historically used a sealant for the sides, back and mirrors. I have always found that it aids in reducing spotting, streaking and overall dirt/dust attraction. I should note that I always clay the glass prior to the sealant application. 3...

Well, at least that's what my wife calls me. I like to think I am organized. That everything has a purpose. Heck, anal-retentive is a badge I wear with honor. The old girl got a bath today. That's what got me thinking. Case in point. I make binders for every car I own. I keep every...

The nasty looking stock air cleaner on my BMW 2002tii finally got a redo. I purchased a top of the line sandblasting cabinet to go with my hand held sanblaster and removed the 35 year old paint and a couple of poorly applied touch up layers. I used a fine blast media which made very quick work...

The '72 BMW 2002tii got some more attention today. I renewed the upper strut bearings (big rubber bushings with a center bearing that anchors the top of the McPherson strut.) which were showing signs of rubber rot. The Bilstein Sport struts were fine so I left them alone. Working with...

I hate front license plates. I see them as a wart on the face of beautiful machines. But Officer Harry, (real name) really likes license plates up front. And Officer Harry, who patrols his 500 foot piece of two-lane in a small community near my home, rules with an iron fist. Officer Harry has...

I recently upgraded the 38 year old BMW brake hoses to stainless steel and in the course of doing so several thing snowballed. They always do, I guess. I found 4 hard steel lines that were somewhat suspect and wanted to replace them at the same time. Luckily I could order the OEM brake lines...

This weekend is the annual Japanese Festival at the St. Louis Botanical Garden. All things regarding Japanese culture are celebrated and the focal point are the Japanese Gardens. The St. Louis Bonsai Society, of which my wife is a member, is a big part of this festival. Bonsai, is the ancient...

Finally got to a bunch of to-do's I have been putting of on the Carrera. Pulled the car on the lift, cranked up the A/C (it was 102 degrees in St. Louis today) and bonded with my child from Stuttgart. My first task was to replace some shifter bushings. This is just a preventative measure to...

It's been a while since I have done a treatment on my windshield(s) so I recently used an Aquapel applicator and managed to get two coats on two windshields - my Carrera and my 4Runner. Gotta say, this stuff always impresses me. It has been about a year since my last application on the...

About 3 months ago I got new tires on the back of my Carrera. The other day I went for a drive and something didn't feel quite right. It turns out my left rear tire had about 10 pounds of air in it. They are 305/30-18's so the sidewall is very short (and stiff) and virtually impossible to see if...

I have a scratch on the vinyl dash of a 1997 Toyota 4Runner. The tan interior vinyl has been scratched to reveal the black interior color. Any suggestions on where I can get some dye/paint so I can touch this up myself? Obviously the match needs to be right on. Oh, and did I say I need this...

Back in the day I spent a lot of time behind the camera. Back when they had this roll up stuff called film in them. :( Now all I have is a digital point-and-shoot. I love the little half-a-cigarette-pack-sized-camera for it's convenience but have to admit the shots arent that good unless I get...

Here is an interesting challenge for you. I drive my Cayman S at track events throughout the year. I run upgraded brake fluid (ATE Super Blue) and brake pads (Pagid Yellow) to aid in stopping. I also run titanium shims between the calipers and the brake pads to help stop heat transfer from the...

My once-pristine garage floor now has several years of pretty hard use under it's belt and badly needed a re-fresh. I tried soap and water. Nada. I powerwashed. Zilch. So I got out the Porter Cable buffer and polished the floor. It actually came out pretty decent. At least it makes me feel...

Advance Auto has frequent % discounts on online shopping. The best part is you can order something online and within an hour go to your local store and pick it up. I save big bucks this way pretty often. They have deals ranging from 20% to 40% off. The trick is just to check the website. These...