Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => Omega Gallery => Topic started by: humbucker on 25 January 2009, 13:34:54

Title: the mothership
Post by: humbucker on 25 January 2009, 13:34:54: in an attempt to keep all my photos in one thread, and to update a bit, here's a bunch of pics of the mothership, my 3.0i 24v V6 omega elite

a couple of months ago she was featured over a two page spread in autobahnstormers vx v6 magazine 'straight six news', and has just been featured in total vauxhall magazines 'vaux'hall of fame. i was surprised the car was featured in the mag at all, but imagine my surprise to see she was awarded 'car of the month'! that put a smile on my face!

she's a late 1997 model, which must make her one of the first mini-facelifts of the production line. colour is deep metallic jungle green mica, full cream leather interior, chocolate brown dash and surrounds, pretty much emulates the classic jaguar colour scheme. i've had her for 5 years, and i'm third owner from new. every option seems to have been ticked with this car, fully integrated carphone (pre CCRT700, this car has the CCR600 and CDC2 unit), integrated factory satnav, all the xenons, irmscher kit, the usual electrics and a/c, self levelling rear suspension, rear blind, etc etc, all the toys basically

she's my every day car racking up 400+ miles a week so while i've spent a lot of time and money keeping her in tip top condition, i've kept her completely standard with the exception of some clear side repeaters and a harmon kardon ipod integration kit (thanks to lazydocker for help with getting that wired in!).

since ownership ive never had any problems with her at all, just regular servicing, but being such a workhorse, the past 12 months have seen a great deal of work undertaken to restore her to former glory. almost all of this work has been undertaken by myself using genuine new GM parts where possible, a feat made possible by the trusty GM trade card hehe. many of the jobs on this car were made a lot easier by the assistance and help of oof members and the handy guides on the forum, so i thank fellow members and admin for all your advice!! had i known how much i was going to have to do i might have been browsing the pages of autotrader again, but hey ho...

i'll add a list below of recent work undertaken which should help illustrate what ive been keeping busy with over the past few months and how she's ended up in her current condition. of course, the work is never done and i'm sure i'll be adding more pics and info in the not-too-distant!

for now anyway, enjoy the pics (some new, some not so new). more to follow, and i'll keep 'em all in this thread from now on.

:y
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: humbucker on 25 January 2009, 13:35:16: (http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/oof/mags.jpg)

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/oof/IMG_1974-sm.jpg)

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/oof/IMG_1989-sm.jpg)

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/oof/img_2031-sm.jpg)

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/oof/mothership2.jpg)

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/oof/mothership3.jpg)

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/oof/mothership4.jpg)

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/oof/08092008230-sm.jpg)

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/oof/mothership7.jpg)

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/oof/mothership9.jpg)

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/oof/mothership12.jpg)

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/oof/mothership14.jpg)

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/oof/IMG_1992-sm.jpg)

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/oof/IMG_1993-sm.jpg)

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/oof/08092008229-sm.jpg)

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/oof/08092008227-sm.jpg)
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: humbucker on 25 January 2009, 13:37:15: Recent Work Undertaken:
New Front Shock Absorbers
New Self Levelling Rear Shock Absorbers
Harmon Kardon Drive and Play iPod ICE install
Replacement HK Drive and Play Click Wheel
Replacement BOSE Passenger Door Speaker
Replacement backbox
Full Front End Respray (Bonnet, Wings, Doors, Grille, Mirrors)
New Oil Sump Pan and all new screws
Replacement Sat Nav Screen
Replacement Sat Nav GPS Mouse and loom
Recent Sat Nav Disc
New Irmscher Chrome Badge
New Leather Gear Gaiter
New Leather Handbrake Gaiter
New Clear Side Repeaters
Replacement Drivers Door Locking Solenoid
Replacement Passenger Back Door Locking Solenoid
Replacement Boot Locking Solenoid
Replacement Rear Bumper Supports
Replacement Rear Bumper Chrome Trim
Replacement Plenum Bolt Covers
New Cam Cover Gaskets
New Inlet Manifold Gaskets
New Heater Matrix
New Coolant Bridge and Sensors
New Coolant Header Tank
New Coolant Header Tank Pressure Cap
New Oil Cooler Channel Bolts and Screws
New Oil Cooler
New Oil Filler Neck Gasket
New Waterpump
New Thermostat
New Heater Bypass Valve
New Radiator Valve and Gasket
New Radiator
Full Thorough Coolant Flush inc. Forte BioDegreaser Flush
New Pollen Filter
New Bosch Windscreen Wipers
New GO Battery
New Front Brake Pads
New Front Brake Pad Sensors
New Cambelt Kit and tensioners
New Spark Plugs
New Fuel Filter
Replacement Secondary Air Injection Pump
Replacement Drivers Side Fog Lamp
New set of Wheel Locking Nut covers
2 x Replacement alloy wheels
Replacement set of dash switches
Replacement Illuminated Sun Visors
Breathers Cleaned
Plenum Cleaned
New ECC Climate Bulbs
New Dash Bulbs
New Rear Bulbs All Round
New Headlamp Bulbs
New Front Splitter
Replacement Key Fobs and Batteries
Oil Change Every 4 - 5000 miles
Head Gasket replacement both sides
Heads skimmed
Valves reseated
Stem seals replaced
Lifters cleaned
Exhaust manifold gasket replaced
HT Leads bank 246 replaced
New Automatic Transmission Fluid
New Automatic Transmission Gaskets
New Automatic Transmission Filter
New Air Filter
Replacement rear bumper chrome strips
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: tomoco on 25 January 2009, 15:07:43: What a fantastic example of a brilliant car. well done, great job..
Now to get the bucket out :y
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 25 January 2009, 15:10:43: Very nice to, and very much worth all that work! 8-) 8-) 8-) :D ;)
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 25 January 2009, 16:43:25: Very nice and well looked car.. :y

I have a similiar length of parts list changed..

Does this mean we are eternally together with miggy ;D
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: Macduff on 25 January 2009, 16:44:27: Beautiful car. Its a credit to you, it deserves to be car of the month :y
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: humbucker on 26 January 2009, 10:14:07: thanks. there are loads of other bits and bobs too, mainly cosmetic stuff and 'completist' bits, ie. replacement ecotec breather cover cos i got one that was in better condition than the one on there, replacement radiator protection shelf, replacement battery protection shelf etc. little bits that collectively make a difference. i'm please with the results but the work is never done... not bad for 162k (as of this week)

::)
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: SP_3.2 on 26 January 2009, 20:48:05: WOW A1 Looks great well done on all the work :y :y
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: humbucker on 27 January 2009, 13:28:35: another tight rear end shot. this is the one printed in total vauxhall and straight six news

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/oof/mothership5.jpg)
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: Pippin on 27 January 2009, 16:19:17: Thats one sweet looking motor...a credit to your hard work...well done :y
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 28 January 2009, 15:43:50: Now that is a nice car. :y :y
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: Del Boy on 28 January 2009, 19:18:03: Brilliant example mate looks fantastic :y
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: Saether on 01 February 2009, 21:41:55: it look like a million dollars! very fine exampel of a Omega! :y
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: ngrainqey on 01 February 2009, 21:55:12: eh up dan, i like that rear end shot!
have you seen my new 5 pot toy :P?
just look for the darkside thread in the gallery lol!
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: ghondie on 27 February 2009, 10:43:19: hmm now why didnt i think of putting my hk ipod controller in that position on my car? very nice car indeed.
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: humbucker on 03 March 2009, 17:48:32: Quote
hmm now why didnt i think of putting my hk ipod controller in that position on my car? very nice car indeed.

thanks for the feedback! where did you put your controller!?
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: AndyVXR300 on 03 March 2009, 19:36:56: Stunning car and a real credit to you :y
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: Deva1992 on 05 March 2009, 16:21:53: Beautiful piece of kit mate
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: Omega man 2 on 05 March 2009, 16:24:21: I'll take it. Which kidney would you like? ::)
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: p j morgan on 07 March 2009, 02:46:40: looks like you have spent some time on her .keep up the good work .she looks fantastic!
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: kjf7 on 07 March 2009, 10:48:04: wow very nice i like the fact you have kept it standard well done :y
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: humbucker on 14 March 2009, 22:56:20: thanks all, your feedback is appreciated!

well, small update. as you know, the mothership was 'car of the month' in total vauxhall not so long ago. i bought the new issue this weekend and was flicking through looking for the feature which shows DVLA records of how many performance vauxhalls are left on the road. tvx provided a pic of each vehicle with some stats next to it. naturally i looked for the omega stats and was bowled over to see the mothership featured again! the pic below has been published along with stats on how many 3.0 3.2 MV6 and Elites are left on the roads, saloon and estate. there are literally thousands of 3.0 elites, but not so many 3.2s it would seem (under 500 if memory serves). stats cover uk, germany and belgium i think. the new issue is out now. full stats here: http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1237073245

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/oof/IMG_1974-sm.jpg)
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: caolan_p on 15 March 2009, 00:05:38: Right i have a wife+her we cat for that very nice migg :D :D :D :D :D :y its a great car :y
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: going crazy on 19 March 2009, 23:55:11: What a car. Nice one & loads of hard work. Well done and well deserved.
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: humbucker on 25 March 2009, 22:42:07: thanks again for the feedback everyone. we hit 166k this week! still going strong!

:y
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: Christian on 26 March 2009, 08:23:09: I was gunna say i seen this again last night in Toatal Vauxhall!

STUNNING EXAMPLE :)
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: humbucker on 17 April 2009, 23:46:00: Quote
I was gunna say i seen this again last night in Toatal Vauxhall!

STUNNING EXAMPLE :)

cheers! i'll upload some more pics when i get a chance. hit 167.5k this week. she's not doin too bad on it! hehe :y that said it was a bit weird when i looked down to see 166666.6...
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: Deva1992 on 21 April 2009, 12:58:13: Lovely car mate, a credit to you in fact :y
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: humbucker on 16 July 2009, 22:40:16: couple of pics taken at billing, more to follow. blue mv6 is serek's, green elite is mine:

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/billing09/11072009833-sm.jpg)

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/billing09/IMG_3675-sm.jpg)

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/billing09/IMG_3677-sm.jpg)

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/billing09/11072009819-sm.jpg)

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/audiojustice/billing09/11072009820-sm.jpg)
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: humbucker on 22 August 2009, 20:23:12: car was misfiring quite a bit and as a consequence of a process of elimination i have replaced the ht leads, fitted a brand new dispack, new plugs, and new cam cover gaskets.

the passengers cam cover leaked again after the last change so i stripped it again and checked the cover itself. it is showing a slight bow in the plastic, what others might refer to as 'warped' i suppose. as i recently fitted metal cam covers from a vectra to my cavalier (see here: http://www.migweb.co.uk/forums/projects-restorations/400026-ilovemyelite%92s-cavalier-v6-wip-pic-heavy.html) i had the original plastic ones kicking around in the shed, even if they were super-filthy. so i cleaned up the cavalier passengers side cam cover til it was as good as new and fitted that in place of the original omega cover (they're both the same part). it was definitely in better shape, so to speak.

all back together again and we're hunky dory; quite literally firing on all cylinders! wahey! happy motoring! and now i can keep the miles off of the cavalier as i was using that as the daily driver until i could cure the misfire on the omega!

:y
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: i260 on 22 August 2009, 22:47:53: Facelifts never look that good as std, and I have one!

That car is a REAL credit to you.

Could do with a new hand brake grip though!! ;)
Title: Re: the mothership
Post by: Ziad on 22 August 2009, 22:52:36: Lovely example mate. Impressive the amount of work you've put in :y