VXOC Astra-J/GTC

Thanks for the inspiration, car looks mint.

Did you spray or wrap the centre console and the surrounds for the A/C?

How easy is it to replace the LEDs in the Speedo?

Is it easy to get multi-line on Speedo screen?

Cheers.

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Thanks.

I sprayed the parts.

It get's easier the more you do if you can solder you should be fine.

Not that easy no, it's more involved than people think.

Did you key the plastics before painting or just prime directly onto original finish?

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(6:th-Mar-2018, 10:20:44)Gavinj87 Wrote: [ -> ]Did you key the plastics before painting or just prime directly onto original finish?

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I keyed the surface with a green Scotch pad, then used a plastic etch primer.

On the soldering question, I've been meaning to do a soldering basics post for a while. Must sit at the pc and do it this week.

It's easy enough, even for a beginner to soldering, but make sure you are prepared.

Buy a soldering iron & a fine soldering tip.
Buy desoldering wick: a pump is optional.
Buy solder paste.

Get a spool of 0.5mm solder wire.

Get a pair of "helping hands"

Lastly, get yourself a cheap mobile phone repair kit from eBay/Amazon that includes spudgers, angled tweezers, tweezers etc.

The pairs of tweezers and spudgers will be a massive help in dismantling parts to get to the PCB without damage.

Apply solder paste & a little MORE solder to the pads of what you want to remove. Not much, but enough to to transfer the heat better.

Apply heat again & use tweezers at the same time to gently lift the smd, be careful not to lift the PCB pad.

Apply desoldering wick and remove remaining solder.

Use PCB cleaner to clean up afterwards before adding the new smd.

To add the new smd, apply some solder paste, I personally added a small amount of solder to the positive pad and used this to position the new smd. Then do the final solder to all connections.

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New wheel hub fitted today and ABS error has now gone.

We found the hub was corroded in place and it took some whacking to get it out. And took some cleaning up.

Also had to change the top mount on the spring as it had come apart.

As the bi-turbo exhaust that’s going to be a doddle just waiting on the retaining nuts for the heat shields & a new gasket.


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Where have you had the Bi-turbo exhaust from Rusty, I like the idea of the twin pipes?

(22:nd-Mar-2018, 22:43:31)sparkyscfc74 Wrote: [ -> ]Where have you had the Bi-turbo exhaust from Rusty, I like the idea of the twin pipes?

I had to buy it new cheapest place I found was genuinepartsearch.


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There's a guy on the vxoc facebook group called Craig Rumbelow that is selling a bi-turbo twin exhaust iirc.

(23:rd-Mar-2018, 09:28:45)stigeye Wrote: [ -> ]There's a guy on the vxoc facebook group called Craig Rumbelow that is selling a bi-turbo twin exhaust iirc.

Yeah there is but he wouldn't budge on price and for the extra it cost buying new it worked out only a few quid more after adding fuel on etc to collect.

(22:nd-Mar-2018, 23:12:39)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]

(22:nd-Mar-2018, 22:43:31)sparkyscfc74 Wrote: [ -> ]Where have you had the Bi-turbo exhaust from Rusty, I like the idea of the twin pipes?

I had to buy it new cheapest place I found was genuinepartsearch.


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Have you got the part number mate if it’s the same for the GTC including the ones for the heat shield?


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I’ll grab them later for you mate I think they are same I’ll see if I can find bi-turbo GTC to check.


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(23:rd-Mar-2018, 11:37:07)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]I’ll grab them later for you mate I think they are same I’ll see if I can find bi-turbo GTC to check.


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Cheers mate


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Ok for 5-door part numbers are as follows.

13253837 Heat shield
13253836 Heat shield
13370142 Exhaust
13278369 Clamp
13499081 retaining clips for heat shields.
13229872 Gasket
11516076 Nut Flange
Last 2 you only need if you doing it the way I'm doing mine.

I've not had a chance yet to find a GTC Bi-turbo.

(24:th-Mar-2018, 09:08:00)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]Ok for 5-door part numbers are as follows.

13253837 Heat shield
13253836 Heat shield
13370142 Exhaust
13278369 Clamp
13499081 retaining clips for heat shields.
13229872 Gasket
11516076 Nut Flange
Last 2 you only need if you doing it the way I'm doing mine.

I've not had a chance yet to find a GTC Bi-turbo.

Cheers mate I’ll have a look at the prices


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(24:th-Mar-2018, 10:09:29)sparkyscfc74 Wrote: [ -> ]

(24:th-Mar-2018, 09:08:00)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]Ok for 5-door part numbers are as follows.

13253837 Heat shield
13253836 Heat shield
13370142 Exhaust
13278369 Clamp
13499081 retaining clips for heat shields.
13229872 Gasket
11516076 Nut Flange
Last 2 you only need if you doing it the way I'm doing mine.

I've not had a chance yet to find a GTC Bi-turbo.

Cheers mate I’ll have a look at the prices


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Exhaust box is the same for 3-door & 5-door.

(26:th-Mar-2018, 15:59:19)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]

(24:th-Mar-2018, 10:09:29)sparkyscfc74 Wrote: [ -> ]

(24:th-Mar-2018, 09:08:00)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]Ok for 5-door part numbers are as follows.

13253837 Heat shield
13253836 Heat shield
13370142 Exhaust
13278369 Clamp
13499081 retaining clips for heat shields.
13229872 Gasket
11516076 Nut Flange
Last 2 you only need if you doing it the way I'm doing mine.

I've not had a chance yet to find a GTC Bi-turbo.

Cheers mate I’ll have a look at the prices


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Exhaust box is the same for 3-door & 5-door.

Cheers matey, priced up at just over £300 from genuine parts search so I think it will have to wait until after my holiday in July


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(26:th-Mar-2018, 16:12:56)sparkyscfc74 Wrote: [ -> ]

(26:th-Mar-2018, 15:59:19)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]

(24:th-Mar-2018, 10:09:29)sparkyscfc74 Wrote: [ -> ]

(24:th-Mar-2018, 09:08:00)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]Ok for 5-door part numbers are as follows.

13253837 Heat shield
13253836 Heat shield
13370142 Exhaust
13278369 Clamp
13499081 retaining clips for heat shields.
13229872 Gasket
11516076 Nut Flange
Last 2 you only need if you doing it the way I'm doing mine.

I've not had a chance yet to find a GTC Bi-turbo.

Cheers mate I’ll have a look at the prices


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Exhaust box is the same for 3-door & 5-door.

Cheers matey, priced up at just over £300 from genuine parts search so I think it will have to wait until after my holiday in July


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Off anywhere nice?

I'm off to Majorca on the 6th April for the weekend need the break.

(26:th-Mar-2018, 17:13:47)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]

(26:th-Mar-2018, 16:12:56)sparkyscfc74 Wrote: [ -> ]

(26:th-Mar-2018, 15:59:19)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]

(24:th-Mar-2018, 10:09:29)sparkyscfc74 Wrote: [ -> ]

(24:th-Mar-2018, 09:08:00)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]Ok for 5-door part numbers are as follows.

13253837 Heat shield
13253836 Heat shield
13370142 Exhaust
13278369 Clamp
13499081 retaining clips for heat shields.
13229872 Gasket
11516076 Nut Flange
Last 2 you only need if you doing it the way I'm doing mine.

I've not had a chance yet to find a GTC Bi-turbo.

Cheers mate I’ll have a look at the prices


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Exhaust box is the same for 3-door & 5-door.

Cheers matey, priced up at just over £300 from genuine parts search so I think it will have to wait until after my holiday in July


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Off anywhere nice?

I'm off to Majorca on the 6th April for the weekend need the break.

Weymouth mate
Been to Italy for the past few years but don’t like flying
So we’re going back to where we used to go


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Can’t wait to see the finished product might do it to mine depending on the budget


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didn't you have an upgrade to show us? 

(29:th-Mar-2018, 18:11:24)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]

Bi-Turbo exhaust fitted.

Didn't quite go to plan on removing the old exhaust we still had to end up cutting it. But here's the pic's.

























For those who want to know the 2.0cdti pipe into the backbox is 55mm & from backbox to tail pipe it's 65mm.

Loving that mate, I want one!!! No I actually think I need one


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Think it looks so much better.


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(29:th-Mar-2018, 18:50:12)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]Think it looks so much better.


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Yeah totally agree mate, hopefully something I’ll get done in the not too distant future


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looks very good, great upgrade.
big change in sound?

No not really there is a slight difference when up the top end of the rev range (but only very slight)

The car feels different to drive more like it's getting the exhaust gases out quicker.

Badass look (y)

So I’ve been abit lately still some work to do but it looks like I’m getting there with the front camera.







And a couple of other bits




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(7:th-Jun-2018, 09:18:11)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]So I’ve been abit lately still some work to do but it looks like I’m getting there with the front camera.







And a couple of other bits




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I like that look on your screen, wish I could put something on my Android screen to make it look more OEM


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Loving all this work Rust, giving me loads of ideas my friend.


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Very Impressive Rusty, quite a lot of hard work time & effort put into your car, one of the best Elites I have seen

Thanks guys.

Problem with the android units you can’t do much with them.


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Rusty2009 Wrote:Thanks guys.

Problem with the android units you can’t do much with them.


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One would think exactly the opposite!

(7:th-Jun-2018, 15:43:40)rlievens Wrote: [ -> ]

Rusty2009 Wrote:Thanks guys.

Problem with the android units you can’t do much with them.


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One would think exactly the opposite!

Depends upon how much effort you are willing to put into your own customising of an android install.

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(7:th-Jun-2018, 17:14:52)umognog Wrote: [ -> ]

(7:th-Jun-2018, 15:43:40)rlievens Wrote: [ -> ]

Rusty2009 Wrote:Thanks guys.

Problem with the android units you can’t do much with them.


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One would think exactly the opposite!

Depends upon how much effort you are willing to put into your own customising of an android install.

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Very true.

I swapped the stock radio for a 2-din pioneer and am fitting an android in place of the original screen.
Just gotta relocate the android box, will probably extend the loom and make room for it behind the glovebox.
Gonna use the android only for stuff not supported by the pioneer such as native Spotify/wifi and fancy stuff like Torque/DPF monitor.

Did you make any progress with the front cam Rusty?

How easy was it to retro fit Xenons. Are they just a straight swap or will they need additional wiring? Looking at these...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/11206384...ment_reply

Thanks

No loads of other bits needed and wiring adding plus programming it is possible tho.

(16:th-Jun-2018, 16:19:59)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]No loads of other bits needed and wiring adding plus programming it is possible tho.

Thanks mate. Do you know what else I would need and how much it would cost? Or do you think that after market options would be better? Thanks again.

(16:th-Jun-2018, 20:18:29)Steveb19111978 Wrote: [ -> ]

(16:th-Jun-2018, 16:19:59)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]No loads of other bits needed and wiring adding plus programming it is possible tho.

Thanks mate. Do you know what else I would need and how much it would cost? Or do you think that after market options would be better? Thanks again.

AFL module, level sensors, extra wiring, programming etc etc.

Someone else asked me to price up the rest of the bits needed and cost to fit came to around the £658 but have to account parts prices changing etc.

(17:th-Jun-2018, 15:50:04)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]

(16:th-Jun-2018, 20:18:29)Steveb19111978 Wrote: [ -> ]

(16:th-Jun-2018, 16:19:59)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]No loads of other bits needed and wiring adding plus programming it is possible tho.

Thanks mate. Do you know what else I would need and how much it would cost? Or do you think that after market options would be better? Thanks again.

AFL module, level sensors, extra wiring, programming etc etc.

Someone else asked me to price up the rest of the bits needed and cost to fit came to around the £658 but have to account parts prices changing etc.

Thanks Rusty. Looks like they may have sold anyway as the FB post is no longer available?
Have you had any experience with aftermarket headlights? Cheers

(17:th-Jun-2018, 22:52:34)Steveb19111978 Wrote: [ -> ]

(17:th-Jun-2018, 15:50:04)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]

(16:th-Jun-2018, 20:18:29)Steveb19111978 Wrote: [ -> ]

(16:th-Jun-2018, 16:19:59)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]No loads of other bits needed and wiring adding plus programming it is possible tho.

Thanks mate. Do you know what else I would need and how much it would cost? Or do you think that after market options would be better? Thanks again.

AFL module, level sensors, extra wiring, programming etc etc.

Someone else asked me to price up the rest of the bits needed and cost to fit came to around the £658 but have to account parts prices changing etc.

Thanks Rusty. Looks like they may have sold anyway as the FB post is no longer available?
Have you had any experience with aftermarket headlights? Cheers

Sorry for my delay in replying, I think it's the set I brought in the end as I need a spare set to work on as I want to do some modding to them but my set will be up for sale once I've done it.

I'm going to do a small update I was having issues with car doing a regen every-time I went out in it DPF cleaner didn't do anything, I did a 300mile round trip and she did 3 regens on it then the same day when the Mrs took her out I got a text to say it was stuck in limp mode.

So out came the MDI and laptop only to find the fault to the Particulate filter differential pressure sensor again which was only replaced in January, after arguing with the dealership and Vauxhall customer care (who wouldn't pay for recovery) I got the part of ebay for £17 genuine GM part I replaced the part myself. She did another regen on first run out after changing the part and when I check the DPF was at 0%.

Given this sensor seems to fail every 6 months I'm having a remap ASAP the remap is not cheap at £750 but I feel the person that's doing it is going to give the best service to me as he will not touch it until he's happy with the car and injectors etc have all been checked.

This is my next port of call £350 for stage 1 remap and £50 for the rolling road.
On another positive note my car flew it’s MOT last week and the emissions were really low!!! Just an advisory for a crack in the engine cover


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(30:th-Jul-2018, 18:29:43)sparkyscfc74 Wrote: [ -> ]This is my next port of call £350 for stage 1 remap and £50 for the rolling road.
On another positive note my car flew it’s MOT last week and the emissions were really low!!! Just an advisory for a crack in the engine cover


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That's a good price you keeping the DPF? I want a rolling road but chap doesn't have one and I've been unable to find one localish to me.

That's great news mate (never heard of that before bit of an odd one).

My MOT is booked for the 15th AUG with my major service on the 16th, hoping to have the money for remap to be done while I'm away in October.

Yeah I’m keeping the DPF because of these new MOT laws. In the new MOT it comes up as Gas blast measurement

I suppose I could save £50 by not having the rolling road but I think it’s nice to see the before and after figures


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(30:th-Jul-2018, 18:53:56)sparkyscfc74 Wrote: [ -> ]Yeah I’m keeping the DPF because of these new MOT laws. In the new MOT it comes up as Gas blast measurement

I suppose I could save £50 by not having the rolling road but I think it’s nice to see the before and after figures


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Just be-careful a lot of people seem to have issues with the DPF after a remap.

Wonder that will show up then if DPF removed.

(30:th-Jul-2018, 19:10:03)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]

(30:th-Jul-2018, 18:53:56)sparkyscfc74 Wrote: [ -> ]Yeah I’m keeping the DPF because of these new MOT laws. In the new MOT it comes up as Gas blast measurement

I suppose I could save £50 by not having the rolling road but I think it’s nice to see the before and after figures


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Just be-careful a lot of people seem to have issues with the DPF after a remap.

Wonder that will show up then if DPF removed.

I’ll keep you posted when I get it done, hopefully before the end of the year


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Cracking work mate, love the exhaust. Have you been changing oil & filter after the DPF sensors being replaced?