Mini Maintenance List
I'm struggling to decide what needs to happen to my car considering finances and overall car value. Here I attempt to outline some various stages of maintenance to be completed in the next year or so.
When I got this car, I had lofty goals of bringing it to the level of a show-car. That was until I saw that the air box was damaged, and I saw this listing while searching for a replacement: R53 JCW air box with all ancilliaries. Unfortunately, this is the kind of pricing I have to deal with for a "low-volume" semi-custom performance car, and I can't handle it right now. I think I'll stick to "mechanically operational" with minimal rust and call it a day.
Current Issues
- Front driver-side ABS reluctor ring damaged, knocking out ABS, TPMS, and stability control.
- Ambient temp sensor or ground issue causing faulty temp readings and check-engine light.
- Faulty expansion valve causing A/C to not work.
- Throw-out bearing rattle and DMF noises in transmission.
- Leaking engine and transmission seals.
- Paint chips starting to rust on front bonnet. Couple paint nicks around car and pea-sized rust bubble on driver door.
- Chrome bubbling on fuel door cover.
- Tired gasket on fuel cap.
- Muffler system bent and cracked from low-speed back-up incident.
- Gouges in driver-side rocker cover from side swiping a rock.
- Bubble crack in sunroof
- Worn suspension bushings creating sub-standard alignment.
- Some remaining mushrooming on strut towers.
- Corrosion on under-car brake lines.
- Coolant system refresh due.
- Brake fluid flush due.
- Tire rotation due.
Status
I've been aware of some of these for a while, and others are more recent issues. I have the parts to repair the A/C system other than the equipment to deal with refrigerant. It's also an invasive job, and if I already have to do the transmission and engine seals, I'd like to do it at the same time. The ABS system is just a case of bruised pride. The bearing the ring is attached to is brand new, and you can't replace just the ring. The bearing replacement is a straightforward process, though.
The paint situation is something I'm scared of. The car looks pretty good as it is, but fixing rust obviously requires expensive or skill intensive paint work. I could do the initial work myself, and do some okay but not great paint work to get by until I can afford a professional service, but it'll look bad. Better than a rust hole, though, I suppose.
I didn't list other cosmetic flaws like the intercooler cover and air box damage, and various engine covers and damaged plastics, but they're on my radar. I mentioned the rocker cover because I already have a replacement panel.
Short List
This will probably change based on how I feel each day, but I really would like to deal with the engine, transmission, and A/C soon.
- Fluids.
- Expansion valve.
- Clutch/Flywheel/Bearing.
- Engine/Transmission gaskets.
- A/C expansion valve and evaporator core.
Part 2
- Exhaust system repair.
- Paint correction.
- Sensors and wheel bearing.
The Rest
I'll check the status of the brake lines when I'm under the car, but I plan on chipping away at the rest once the other major stuff is done. Depending on the route I go for the paint, I'll defer professional help to the very end if I paint it myself.
Created: 2025-05-23