Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Smart ForFour - repairs & mods to be done

Repairs to be done


  • Fix paint on windscreen wiper arms (looks ugly)
  • Remove rust from roof's cross bar (behind trunk door)
  • Fix passenger side paint with good waxing. Classic "f*ck you" scratch with key
  • Brakes overhaul (new discs, pads and calipers). Probably painting calibers also so they don't rust.
  • Fix clanking CV-joint. (not so bad yet). 
  • Buy new rear wiper arm
Total cost: 500-600€ for brakes overhaul DIY, other small repairs less than 100€, 150€ for used/new CV-joint?

Planned mods


  • Two USB charging ports on dash. 
  • USB charging port to each rear door (why not?)
  • Lounge Concept mod, basically front seats fall completely flat
  • Coffee maker for "Lounge", what would be a lounge without coffee maker?
  • OBD/II Computer for better mileage (Android head unit with touch screen and Torque App, and Bluetooth OBD-II scan tool)
  • Stickers? At least removing Advertisement stickers that are blocking rear view
  • New shorter radio antenna? Stock one is guide long and it is stuck. Well the problem is you should remove it when you drive into automated washing machine
  • Mud flaps, all that mud flies up to the window... Have to install these even though they create some drag
  • Install heated mirrors. Seriously, You would thing you get these as standard item when they bring cars into Finland but no. Veho is certainly doing bad job selling Smarts to be used in Finland
  • Modify engine to use E85 meaning 85% ethanol, 15% unleaded benzine fuel. Costs about 1€ litre and increases consumption by 30%. Yearly saving with my yearly driven distance is 300-400€

Mods/repairs I have done


  • Underseat subwoofer, for that vocational college feel! No, just because two-way speakers were not doing so good job with bass so decided to install one small subwoofer. Have to thank NedCar assembly line doing fine job. Nothing is resonating with subwoofer which was really surprising
  • Fix two-way speakers that are making cracking noise. two out of four were broken. Managed to fix one with some hot glue but other one wasn't fixable so silenced the mid-woofer. (just tweeter works)
  • Used dielectric grease used on engine compartment plugs, battery and light bulb plugs etc etc.
  • Cleaned! Vacoom cleaned, cleaned windows by hand and washed exterior by hand. Rubber mats just need to be power washed
  • Fixed handbrake that didn't return (cables were the problem) and changed rear brake pads


I will make posts about mods / repairs that I have done in future. I will not post about mods/repairs that I have done unless somebody asks how to do it.

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