AT6 OYEH! Reflex Silver T6 SWB Kombi with added ABT

[John A]

Done very little other than clean it, take a near identical picture to the previous one and then go to Ultimate Dubs.




The next plan is a front OPS retrofit. I’ve found somebody to do it - mostly because he was practically the only person to respond - I just need to make sure I can hold on to the funds as we are now in the process of moving house. Plus I need gloss black grills and it sounds like I’m better off painting some OE ones.

The list of companies that I’ve tried getting in touch with who don’t respond, would be a bit like Father Ted’s Golden Cleric speech.

 

[John A]

I have bought some of @saxoboy ’s lighting kits and yesterday, whilst ‘working’ from home I decided I would start with the footwell lights.

Easy to follow instructions, nicely put together kit. I probably spent maybe half an hour putting it all together in between doing other bits and bobs. Fishing the cable through the bottom of the dash was probably the most fiddly bit, but once you find a gap, you’re away.



Just the one issue, which was down to operator error

I removed the trim end panel and left it loose on the airbag cable. The wind blew the door shut and the next thing I heard lots of bits of plastic hitting the deck. The airbag switch had become detached and fallen apart.
Fortunately it was easy enough to put back together.




I normally disconnect it because a) they’re not a problem unless you turn the ignition on when the switch is removed and b) I’ve got VCDS, so can clear the fault. Lesson learned that is….

They’re bloody bright as well. Pic to follow.
Just the door lights to follow next.

 

[John A]

I don’t think I will ever be satisfied with the carpet mats in this van.

I had a full set of Leighton mats - the load area mat was fine (more or less), but the heel pad for the cab mat was in the wrong place and the rear bench mat didn’t extend under the bench.

I bought some replacements from Harrison’s Trim Supplies around a year ago and, whilst they are nice quality, I have never been able to get the corners to lay flat. Also, the load area mat doesn’t have cutouts for the lashing points.

So I need a rethink.
In the meantime I wanted to be able to secure the cab mat with an OE type fixing.


I heated the right diameter bit of copper pipe with a blowtorch and melted a hole in the carpet fibres and backing (top), before fitting the plastic fittings (bottom) that I scavenged out of a full set of Audi mats that were about to go in the skip.
The pegs that go in the floor were about 50p each from Skoda.



Slightly unnecessary but there were already holes in the rubber floor from the OE mats, so I have repurposed them.

I’d do it for the rest of the carpet mats but I don’t want to keep making holes.
I’d like a good quality set of mats that will fit correctly, extend under the bench seat, leave the lashing points accessible and lay flat.
Is that too much to ask?!

 

[Greybeard]

No!

 

[John A]

No!

I didn't think so!

I wonder if there is anybody who will cut them exactly to a pattern and use a material that's got a bit of flex in the backing and will fit properly.
I have read a post from somebody else saying there are supposedly several different patterns just for the cab mat (and that's before you get into bench or single seats) - so no wonder there is no consistency.

 

[John A]

I am wondering how many of my wants for this van have been met yet and if the list has changed.

When we bought it, it was already fitted with the front bumper overlay, gloss black parts, leather ABT Trim and ABT wheels, and it had had been carpeted throughout and lowered on set of Eibach springs.

The "big" stuff I've done includes:

• 4 pot DB9/TT-RS brake upgrade (only on 340s) and braided flexis
• CRS H&R coilovers (I did replace the Eibach springs with some H&R 50s when one of the Eibachs broke)
• Vanstyle LED-DRL headlights and LEDs
• ABT overlay for the front grille
• Discover Media MIB2 retrofit

The smaller, fiddly stuff:

• Rubber dash and door mats
• Rubber dash trim to stop my other half shoving pay and display tickets under the windscreen
• 2 lots of carpet mats
• Caravelle/Sportline chrome trimmed side repeaters, chrome bulbs and "Bulli" badges
• Sportline gear gaiter and gearknob
• LED step lights
• LED footwell lights
• Puddle lights/safety exit lights
• A Bentley fuel filler cap (no, neither do I, but I saw somebody else doing it...)
• Fancy genuine VW tyre valve caps
• A windscreen blackout blind
• Dashcam

Repairs and maintenance has been pretty minimal all things considered

• Full service
• Pipercross foam air filter
• New EGR and cooler
• Replaced some curtain tie backs that got 'lost'
• Wiper blades all round
• Full set of 245/45/20 tyres
• Some PDR
• Paint repair after I scraped the van
• Full wheel refurb (both corrosion and kerbing)
• Timing belt kit and water pump
• Threshold caps
• Spreader rivets in the grille
• Spare key
• Washer jet
• 7-pin trailer electrics socket (still can't get the electrics right)
• External tailgate handle switch

I also had it ceramic coated around this time last year.

I still want

• Front OPS
• Reverse camera
• A decent DAB aerial
• Spare set of wheels - possibly 19s
• Some carpet mats that actually fit....

And that's it!

 

[John A]

Blimey they’re bright

 

[John A]

Yesterday evening, en route to retrieve an errant welly the little one lobbed out of the side door after a trip to the park, I met a pillock coming the other way straddling the white line and had to go left, in a hurry.

I've run the rear left wheel up against the kerb and now it (they) needs a refurb. Very frustrating. When I sent the van in last time, I was without it for a couple of days - no big deal, it just meant a bus home and to work and a couple of taxis, however it all adds to the expense and it's about time I had a spare set of wheels (I've had bloody loads of wheels for every car for ages, and I'm only really getting out of the habit...)

Anyway. Of course I've been looking. If anybody reads this, feel free to share your thoughts.
They're all 20s

Alutec DriveX



3SDM 0.66



Calibre CCU - not my favourite but they're ok



6Performance Loaded 02


AST 3



Aluwerks Aero RS



Supermetal Charger or Rocket


Wildcard - Radi8 R8H something or other



In order of preference:

1. 6P Loaded
2. 3SDM
3. = AST and Aluwerks Aero Wheels
4. 
   
5. Alutec
6. = Supermetal (both)
7. 
   
8. Calibre CCU
9. Radi8

I've found the Alutec on offer, however they are only load rated up to 735kgs maximum. The same wheel, in the same spec (20 x 9.0 ET43) in a different colour (from the same retailer)
Price of all of them is similar.

The other option is available on this forum although I have to say the design doesn’t do it for me. It’s a very personal thing, a wheel…



I nearly bought a set of Rotiform
BUC in 19” with Aerodiscs but the tyres weren’t loaded rated and I’m not sure the wheels were either.

So - any thoughts or opinions?
Do you run something similar on your own van?

 

[Chippie1]

I run the rockets on mine easy to keep clean

 

[John A]

I run the rockets on mine easy to keep clean

I did try to find a thread with your van but I couldn’t - I think I found a pic with Navis Twin Fives

 

[ricko1]

Looks well

 

[Chippie1]

I did try to find a thread with your van but I couldn’t - I think I found a pic with Navis Twin Fives

 

[John A]

Very nice @Chippie1 - what size?

 

[Chippie1]

20s
I also like the 6P loaded

 

[JumpShip]

I like the simplicity of the 6p but need something with dish

 

[John A]

Well....



I also like the simplicity of the 6P but what swayed it for me in the end was that the SM wheels are flow formed (I know technically, they're still cast, but the "flow forming" process does make them slightly lighter and stronger), they are 9J and ET45 so identical to the other wheels and they also have a radiused seat so the standard wheel bolts can be used.

I'll probably change my mind in the next few days, but for now I better get some tyres ordered.
I think I've spent about 60 quid less than I was planning to...

 

[Skyliner33]

Well....

View attachment 283115

I also like the simplicity of the 6P but what swayed it for me in the end was that the SM wheels are flow formed (I know technically, they're still cast, but the "flow forming" process does make them slightly lighter and stronger), they are 9J and ET45 so identical to the other wheels and they also have a radiused seat so the standard wheel bolts can be used.

I'll probably change my mind in the next few days, but for now I better get some tyres ordered.
I think I've spent about 60 quid less than I was planning to...

Are you 100% sure about using the OEM radius bolts as I cant find anything on the Supermetal website.

 

[John A]

I know it’s difficult to tell from a photo but that does look more radiused than tapered

 

[John A]

Also from SuperMetal’s website

 

[Chippie1]

Correct these do use oem bolts