According to my post history, the last time I posted was end of August last year. If you need a refresher, I'm the MM owner formerly known as IwantmyMMnow and resurfaced with my current name shortly before the last time a Louisville meet actually happened (2019). I just looked at some of the pics from that meet...I had completely forgotten I was there.
Without going into much detail other than to say depression is a *****, last week I started working on bringing my MM back from the dead. I moved from Asheville to just outside of Charlotte shortly after my father passed during summer 2019. Since then I've only put 500 miles on my MM and it had been just sitting (outside) since Feb this year; hadn't even started it up once over the past 8 months. Let the registration and even my driver's license expire. Like I said, depression (with a side of anxiety to boot) is a *****. Things have gotten better recently, I'm happy to say.
Last week I put a new battery in it to get it to start up and drive it around the neighborhood to see what would fall off, bust apart, or blow up and am glad to say nothing catastrophic happened; had to fight the cobwebs for room in the drivers seat though. Got it inspected (and passed) and will get the tags renewed (without issue, I hope) later this week. Washed it for the first time in probably 4 or 5 years (no joke) this past weekend, but still needs a good vacuum and wipe down of interior. Changed the oil considering it has been roughly a year since the last time it was done.
Now that I've re-acquainted myself with my MM, I've got some questions and other items for discussion that have come to mind...
- Would like to see pics of what the folks have for aftermarket headlights. I'm running HIDs myself, just curious as to what else is out there.
- The leather wrap for my steering wheel and the gear shift selector are in poor shape; anybody have similar issues and what did you to remedy these issues? I know for the steering wheel the cheap way is to buy one of those covers, but would like to see if there are other options.
- Is it possible to get/buy new interior carpeting? I used to smoke (quit when I had a heart attack 4 years ago) and my MM smells like an ashtray. I've tried Febreze and baking soda over the past week and it still smells like smoke. Also, the carpet behind the drivers seat is damp. I know it's not rain leaking in somewhere because when I took the floor mat out, it was damp and heavy and slightly discolored...something was spilled back there but I don't know what or when. Thinking I should replace all of the interior carpeting.
- The padding/leather on the elbow rest of my center console is cracked where I rest my elbow. I have a replacement, but it looks like they are pop-riveted in to the bucket piece and not fastened with screws. Is this correct and if so, has anyone else replaced this part and how? The felt lining of the bucket on the extra one I have is fubar'ed so I just want to swap the padded part.
- I have a trunk lid spoiler and the clearcoat is peeling badly on it. I found a paint/body shop I want to take it to, but don't know how to remove it. Which holes in the trunk lid give access to the bolts that hold it on and what size are they? Can it be removed via ratchet?
Thanks in advance for the help. Good to have my MM running again and that I still have a good amount of desire to start tinkering with it again. Also feels good to re-establish contact with the rest of the Marauder community and look forward to being active once again. Sad to see we've had members and/or spouses/family of members pass on...I offer my condolences to them.
It's time for the Silver Phoenix to rise yet again...