1 Year since I bought my car, then and now (pic heavy)
 

So today marks 1 whole year since I took a trip up to Leicester with my Dad and collected my Monogram ZT. Can't believe a whole year has gone by already, but the ZT's come a long way since then. Looking back and thinking about all the work I've put in, I thought I'd put together everything I've done on the Zed to show how it was when I bought her to how she is now :)

At the start of 2014, my ZT came up for sale on autotrader and really caught my attention. I wasn't really planning on getting one until I was 21 but ever since I saw a Typhoon tourer at the Milton Keynes meet in 2013 when I attended with my Dad's 75 I really wanted one, but it would have to be a diesel due to the mileage I do, which made the ideal car I wanted a rare one to find. I debated for a while whether to go for it and with the input from members such as Pab, Organiser and FrazzleTC, I went and bought it.

Here's the ZT at the garage I bought her from:
http://the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/at...1&d=1420912491

Between then and now, well there has been a couple of hiccups along the way including being left stranded on the side of the M25 by the M11 in the cold and rain due to a failed fuel pump and the coolant system emptying itself out every few days, but with the endless amount of information on here and the accumulated knowledge between the members, each problem has been sorted (often on my driveway) and at the fraction of the cost I would have been hit by if I took the ZT to a garage to have repaired.

I was thinking about adding up all the funds I've spent on the ZT year to date on either repairs or upgrades, but after making the list below...I think I'll be best if I don't look into the numbers! :eek: I kind of accepted that due to the Zed having 153k miles on the clock last year that it will have bits and bobs going wrong, and being a monogram car which I've wanted for a long time, I don't feel too bad about spending some money on it :)

So since the date purchased till now, I've made the following repairs:
4 x replacement injectors
1 new MAF
Replaced Intercooler O Rings
1 x new in tank fuel pump
New Intercooler Hose
New back box
New springs due rear ones snapping
New front shocks
New battery
New Thermostat
New MAP Sensor (this one was my fault)
New Crank Pulley and belt + Aircon Belt
Failed 3 speed fan replaced for 2 speed with gold resistor

And now for the Mods. Between Jan 2014 and now I've gone a little overboard with how much I spend in 1 year on improving and adding to the ZT, but its quite addictive! So here's a summary of things I've added to her:

Apex Alloys refurbished and finished in silver (by accident) with rainbow metal flakes
Custom Back Box
Motobuild Springs
EGR Bypass
160 Map
Illuminated Sun Visors
Black Oak Dash
Black Oak (well sort of Green) Steering Wheel
Rear Power Blind
Electric Heated Memory Blue Alcantara Seats (with new loom)
Cup Holder in Rear Seat
8000k HID Headlights with LED sidelights
LED rear number plate lights
Alpine head unit with JBL sub
New badges all round (CDTI badge removed from back)
Headlamp Power Washers Fitted
Facelift BCU fitted for remote boot release
Heko Wind Deflectors
New Private Reg Plate

Exterior:
Before:
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2859/...4079b2a6aa.jpg

Now:
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8591/...f36166d704.jpg

Before:
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2884/...b530ac3005.jpg

http://the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/at...1&d=1420913232

Interior:
Before:
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2874/...01b75a7e22.jpg

Now:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5585/...6589d07e47.jpg

Before:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7302/...396799d01f.jpg

Now:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3890/...2fe4e0d350.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5563/...2cf031da7b.jpg

And today my new reg plates were fitted to the ZT :}
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8653/...1730253539.jpg

So loads has been done to my Zed but plenty more to do still :o For 2015 I've planned to have my door cards done in blue to match the seats, and to have a full new custom exhaust done with V8 style quad exhaust outlets and a sports cat fitted in time for POL :) Made a little mock up recently to show how the rear end will look with the new exhaust, which receives a good response on Facebook :)

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...1&d=1419790879

At some point in the future, I'll also be making the following mods:
Cruise Control Retrofit (with new loom)
Xpower Sideskirts
Front Seat Leon Splitter
Halo Rings in Headlights
Possibly MG7 tail lights (not decided)
Blue interior footwell lights
Full blue dash lights conversion (dials, buttons, AC controls etc)
Double Din Android headunit
Reverse Camera
190 Brakes
Engine, fuse box and battery covers resprayed in Typhoon
Dash and steering wheel painted in Typhoon
Driver's side cup holder (will probably never use it but you know how it is ;))


The ZT attended quite a few meets during 2014 which have all been great, good chance to meet many of our members in person :)

Caldecotte Arms in Milton Keys next to the stunning Spectre ZT (ZT's first appearance)
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8638/...f0a8040c89.jpg

POL
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7522/...8eb5bf0031.jpg

Gaydon
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7465/...cee336ae83.jpg

Halfway House (Essex)
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8637/...d1f1dcace9.jpg

Mannintree (Colchester)
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7489/...e18ace72e8.jpg

Star in Leatherhead
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7554/...7dc07944b3.jpg

I'd just like to take this moment so say a big thanks to all the members here who have helped me get my ZT to where it is today, without the members on here, I would not have been able to do the majority of mods I've been able to do and repairs would been much more expensive! Can't really put a price on the amount of knowledge and information on this owners club. The ZT would not have been running as well as it is either if it weren't for the great advise from our members. Thank you all :bowdown:

So overall, it's been a fantastic year for my ZT, went a bit more wrong than I expected but all problems were resolved :) Been great making so many changes to her, although there's been plenty of frustration and swearing along the way! If I had a swear jar I'd probably have enough money in there to afford a full paint respray by now :D And all achieved thanks to all the members on here :) (well not the swearing bit ;))

Thanks everyone!
Rick :)

A great post. :}

Really good, love the interior but i must say you have done a lot of meets in 2015!

Oops! I knew id make a mistake somewhere :o

Looks like you've made amazing progress with your ZT, and it's lovely to see an unusual car kept so well.

Rick,

Glad to have helped a little with the decision about buying the car, you have done a great job with all the work and updates to it. :bowdown:

It's looking great and will be even better after all the updates you are planning. :drool4: :drool4:

Look forward to seeing you and the car in 2015.

Tom.

Absolutely stunning, I like everything about you car. Its a credit to you for the hard work and passion you've obviously put into making it look so lovely.

And I thought I'd spent a lot on Spike last year! Thanks for sharing your brilliant story and for describing it with such passion. Hope you have great fun in 2015.

You have transformed the car :cool:

Same seats as my Twilight tourer:D