What have you done to your Elgrand today?

[Lpgc]

Found Shergar

 

[Shrga]

Decided I’d set out to swap in coilovers this weekend. Am a novice and it’s definitely taken me longer than expected, still halfway through doing the rears!

On that note, would anyone mind telling me whether the rear spring height adjusters go at the top or bottom of the spring? First time fitting coilovers and they’re second hand so no install instructions!

 

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[Richard Fox]

On that note, would anyone mind telling me whether the rear spring height adjusters go at the top or bottom of the spring? First time fitting coilovers and they’re second hand so no install instructions!

Finally managed to get the coilovers halfway on this afternoon… thought I was fitting a sofa with how long the rears took! If anyone’s got a trick for the spring height adjusters without losing a finger, holler. Other than that, she’s just been sat there looking pretty and mocking my DIY skills.

Is it the weekend for fitting coilovers?! lol

 

[Highway Dave]

On that note, would anyone mind telling me whether the rear spring height adjusters go at the top or bottom of the spring? First time fitting coilovers and they’re second hand so no install instructions!

Finally managed to get the coilovers halfway on this afternoon… thought I was fitting a sofa with how long the rears took! If anyone’s got a trick for the spring height adjusters without losing a finger, holler. Other than that, she’s just been sat there looking pretty and mocking my DIY skills.

Rear spring adjusters go to the top ( won’t be able to adjust them at the bottom)
There is usually a shim between the spring and collar if not , try to get some , grease these to make adjustment easier

 

[Shrga]

On that note, would anyone mind telling me whether the rear spring height adjusters go at the top or bottom of the spring? First time fitting coilovers and they’re second hand so no install instructions!

Rear spring adjusters go to the top ( won’t be able to adjust them at the bottom)
There is usually a shim between the spring and collar if not , try to get some , grease these to make adjustment easier

Nice one! Does this usually go on or replace the rubber mount at the top? They’re Teins if it matters. Asking for tomorrow, the rain and dark have given me a good excuse to leave it for today!

 

[Highway Dave]

Nice one! Does this usually go on or replace the rubber mount at the top? They’re Teins if it matters. Asking for tomorrow, the rain and dark have given me a good excuse to leave it for today!

The original rubber cone comes off ( single bolt up through it’s centre “deep”)
You may or may not have a thinner rubber or plastic replacement in the setup you have ,the bottom of the spring will normally use the original rubber seat unless one is supplied ( make sure the spring end is in the stop position of the rubber seat to prevent the spring turning)

 

[WhatsThisFor]

Set like this.

Rubber doughnut goes on the bottom.

 

[Shrga]

The original rubber cone comes off ( single bolt up through it’s centre “deep”)
You may or may not have a thinner rubber or plastic replacement in the setup you have ,the bottom of the spring will normally use the original rubber seat unless one is supplied ( make sure the spring end is in the stop position of the rubber seat to prevent the spring turning)

View attachment 118698View attachment 118699

Set like this.

Rubber doughnut goes on the bottom.

Lovely stuff, super helpful, thank you both!

 

[BrianH]

Refitted the offside sliding door cables and motor, both doors should hopefully should be good for the next 17 years.

My nipple dropped off! 17 years! just over 17 days, I thought one hadn't soldered properly, ripped the panel and pulled cable out but ran out of daylight, I'll sort it tomorrow.

 

[exploringplaces]

Slow day today, cleaned all the mats using a spot cleaner and replaced the old front wipers which were doing next to nothing. Also put some RainX screenwash in to see how that does as haven't used it before.

 

[ElCurio]

I had the brakes all changed and heavy duty rear springs installed by Japcom in East Kilbride. Sadly my days of crawling over and under vehicles are long gone.
It's still to early to say for sure what difference the springs have made but they *seem* to have improved things. I don't feel the potholes has much and Nisa feels more 'planted' on the road.
November was meh, my alloy dust caps stuck to the valve stems due to galvanic corrosion (all four had to be replaced by GTS Tyre Services) then my front left tyre was knackered by a broken bottle (GTS to the rescue again with a cheaper no name tyre but it's round and the right size).

When I phoned them up the first time, the guy on the phone recognised me. It turns out I was one of his first customers when he started out years ago. Geez, I feel *old* !

 

[TBear23]

Were the speakers easy to change?

 

[Shrga]

After finishing fitting coilovers yesterday I took my Elgrand to a local Quik Fit to get a wheel alignment, as I've done previously, just because they have a Hunter system. Disappointingly they did not have the E51 settings on their 2025-updated Hunter machine, only E52. No Factory Japan... etc. So, if anyone has a recommendation for somewhere to get a wheel alignment around South West London / Surrey then I'd appreciate it!

 

[LeStempy]

Today I filled up with fuel and in doing so passed the break even mark for the E85 conversion kit. Elgrand still starting and running fine.

 

[-Lummox-]

Filled up last night and manually worked out my mpg between fills... 12.95mpg

Which I think means the onboard computer reading of around 4.5 km/l since I got the car is probably about right. Guess I need to take the lead out of my right boot lol

 

[exploringplaces]

Filled up last night and manually worked out my mpg between fills... 12.95mpg

Which I think means the onboard computer reading of around 4.5 km/l since I got the car is probably about right. Guess I need to take the lead out of my right boot lol

Blimey, I like to put my foot down often once the engine is warm for a bit of fun and I get always between 7.5km/l - 8km/l. Mine is only the 2.5L engine but you must be holding that thing down lol

 

[-Lummox-]

TBH mine is still reporting faults with both front lambda sensors even after they were recently replaced with new ones from JDM, so there's probably some sort of underlying issue that is causing the car to overfuel. It's running fine though as far as I can tell.

I don't drive it enough to worry about LPG conversions - my annual mileage is around 3-4k - so I'm probably going to worry about it around next service time unless anyone has some brilliant ideas as to what might be causing it to be so thirsty whilst otherwise seeming to drive normally?

I'm also looking for recommendations on an Elgrand specialist in the Herts / North London area if anyone has any recommendations? I saw two more previously-unspotted Ellies - 1 of which the driver waved to me - on Saturday driving to the tip about 2 miles from my house so that makes about 10 of them I've seen in my town alone now, there's no shortage of them around these parts so there must be a specialist garage familiar with them...

 

[Geoff130]

Blimey, I like to put my foot down often once the engine is warm for a bit of fun and I get always between 7.5km/l - 8km/l. Mine is only the 2.5L engine but you must be holding that thing down lol

The only way I can get mine over 5km/l is to reset the computer at the top of a long hill. It doesn't stay that way long though. Maybe something to do with it being the 3.5 Rider high performance version.

 

[Geoff130]

Fitted the tailgate struts from JDM Car Parts... No more sagging tailgate or clouting my head, result. SGS ones in the bin...

Also replaced the bulbs in the tailgate panel which wasn't too hard despite sausage fingers.

Noticed an annoying belt or pulley noise when starting the car this morning in the cold and damp... Hey ho, the quest for a fault-free car continues...

Mine suddenly went two days ago, I let it go as usual, walked forward and bang. I was considering SGS but now I think I'll pay a little extra. I don't want to repeat that in a hurry.