DMC Autos

Back to where it all began in 1997.. bodywork and paint 😍 nothing quite as satisfying

Don't want a service, but your car is looking a little bit tired?
Drop me a message for quotes for valeting and detailing work...
Anything from a simple wash wax and tyre shine to a full cut on the paintwork and interior wash and clean.

Serviced and MOT'd this little beauty on Friday... passed MOT with no advisories.
Currently working with the customer on potential tuning options to increase performance ce even further and enhance the handling and braking...

Having changed the turbo, sorting out emissions, brake swap and several other MOT necessary repairs, this clubman got through its MOT first attempt (having had 3 pages on the failure list) I advised the customer that the clutch was on its last legs at that point in time, and it failed soon after.
Sunday was spent changing clutch and dual mass flywheel, along with main crank seal as a precaution while everything was apart.
Full job compete in a day at the customers address with no need to get the car taken anywhere.

Drop me a message if you want a quote for yours.
Cheers
S.

Do you ever have bolts where the heads are so rusty you can’t get them out??
Simply weld another bolt onto the head, lock two nuts onto the new bolt and unscrew them. The heat of the welding will help loosen things as well…

Little photo montage of the work on the N/S of the T4 project.
Combination of bought in panels and repair sections I have fabricated myself.
Next steps cleaning up the welds and prep for paint.
Still got to do rear of sliding door opening..that’ll be more fabricated repair sections….
Happy to quote for jobs big or small..
Simon.

Inner sill, outer sill, b-post and sliding door repairs coming along nicely…
Drop me a message if you have any bodywork requirements…

Just thought I'd share a few progress
Pics of progress on project T4.... 27 years and 260k miles on, she needs a little TLC...nothing too major... inner and outer N/S sills...tidied up the bottom of the B-post at the same time.
If you're attempting this yourself, take time to disassemble rather than just cut it out..then trial fit panels before tacking them into place... Will seam weld it next ....
Don't fancy it yourself...drop me a message for an assessment and quote..

Do you have an issue with your car but don't know what the issue is??
Recent customer was quoted over £150 by a main dealer to look at the car and assess the situation before any work was carried out...

I have a flat call out fee of £50.

I will come to you, diagnose and assess the situation, and if I can fix it within 1/2 an hour will do so there and then at no extra cost to you.
If it can't be fixed in that time, I will give you a no obligation quote for the work necessary.

Drop me a message or email

Simon 🔧🚗

Rain does not stop the work going on... I come fully equipped for all weather to work on your car at your house...

Mentioned Friday about seized calliper...
New one would have been £250+ with fitting on top...when I was doing vehicle restoration course, we were trained to re-build callipers.... rebuild kit for both £41with about an hour to complete. Only did one as the other was free, and working much harder as referenced by the most worn pads. Unfortunately the wear indicator is on the side that was seized so had not registered how worn they were!! Fortunately not damaged the discs..
Message me for a full brake assessment or re-builds.
Simon.

Inner CV boot on T4 camper had expired, causing the CV joint to wear…
New CV fitted, packed and all reinstalled….
Ignoring split or worn CV boots only leads to further issues.

That moment when you discover it’s going to be more than just a brake pad swap…
Most people would just replace the calliper… there is another option if the bore is ok though, and that’s a calliper rebuild… it can work out cheaper sometimes… updates to follow…

Time to change the brake pads on my own workhorse… can’t fix other peoples and not look after my own

For those moments when a 2t trolley jack just isn’t big enough for the task at hand…

Cardnet account is fully up and running... DMC is now able to accept a wide range of card and contactless payments. 👍

Busy day on project T4
Cooling System re connected and filled
PAS reconnected and filled
Front headlights and indicators fitted
Full exhaust replaced
F/N/S hub stripped
F/O/S driveshaft removed
Inner CV removed ready for renewal
O/S top ball joint replaced
O/S/F shock absorber replaced

Reassembling next before moving onto N/S/F for more of the same 😁

DM me if you have any vw van or any other projects/jobs you need help with…

Cheers
Simon

Operation front cross member… reassembly. Cleaned up front chassis legs and painted prior to re-build, including grinding out some rust and welding a small area on N/S leg to stop any future issues. Removed and cleaned alternator while I had clear access…should be good for a good few years more now, given the original had lasted 26yrs (just😂😂)

Pleased to add the following to the list of routine jobs that DMC can carry out on your car for you:-
Wheel bearings
Ball joints
Suspension bushes

Do you get daunted and unsure when it comes to replacing tyres, or simply don't have time?? Let me take the hassle out of it for you.
Yesterday I took an Audi TT to have all 4 tyres replaced, then got it MOT'd before returning it to the owner...
Get in touch for a quote on this or anything else you would like sorting out.

Operation T4 cross member continues... fully stripped now and as you can see, replacement is definitely the right call... the re-build starts today after some tidying up behind the scenes.

Also yesterday, the continuing renovation (not restoration) of a T4 camper van... yesterday's job... replacing front brake backplates...some nuts were stubborn a d tequired welding a second bolt and removing with that 😁
Ball joint tomorrow...
Will soon be doing bodywork and welding ..... watch this space...
Simon

Been a busy couple of days...
Yesterday I was working on a van that the owner wanted me to stop water coming through the roof... he didn't care about showroom finish, just something practical...
Turned out that the issue was far worse than expected...cut out the rust to solid material, fabricated 2 repair panels from flat sheet, welded them in and sprayed with general white paint..

Latest update.... now able to take card payments 👍 (once it is set up)

New equipment ordered this morning...being delivered in the coming days...
From next week, I will have facilities to replace wheel bearings, suspension bushes and ball joints all available fully mobile alongside my existing services.
Have you had 'advisories' on your MOT for bushes, bearings and ball joints?? They don't get better on their own... call or message for a quote and I can sort it out for you.
Simon 🔧

Before and after pics of what can be achieved on headlights…. Message me for a quote

Do you ever have a list of small annoying jobs that you keep meaning to get sorted on your car but don't quite get round to??
Things like bulb replacement....
Drop me a message and I will sort it out for you .
Wipers and bulb replacements for example....
I will price match Halfords, but save you the hassle of having to go to halfords...I will come to you, supply and fit parts you need.
Also, are your headlight lenses cloudy and discoloured? Get in touch, and I will come to you, clean and re-seal them to close to origi Al clarity....cheaper than a replacement unit and could avoid failing an MOT....