Car Biography - My First Signum

[Maverick]

Here we go, part 3!

In February 2007, I was at Marshall's looking at getting a few bits for the Vectra when I saw on the forecourt a 4 month old Signum 3.0 Elite CDTi V6.

The spec was :-

Signum Elite V6 CDTi (3.0)
Pomegranet Red Paint
18" Multispoke Alloy Wheels with Sports Suspension
Front and Rear Parking Sensors
3200 miles and 1 private owner.

Here's some pics on the day I decided to buy it.




I could see straight away that the car had excellent potential so the deal was done and the car came home a week later.

During this 'waiting' week, I stripped the DVD system out of the Vectra and took the headrests out of the Signum to be re-trimmed in red, ready to go back in the Vectra. At the same time the grey leather covers from the Signum were put over the Vectra headrests and cut to suit. I saw no point is cutting up another set of original headrests.

I also took the complete glove box from the Vectra which had the DVD player mounted and swapped it for the Signums.

Within an hour of getting the car home, the dark style headlights were fitted. Here's a few pics of the 'blank canvas'.






Next Day!

The original 19" Snowflakes that I took off the Vectra a 4 months before were fitted with new Dunlop SP Sports and cleaned up ready. Just glad I did'nt sell them!

A good detailing session.
V Grill painted satin black.
Mudflaps fitted
19" Alloys fitted.


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I also removed the chrome headlights and fitted SRi dark style headlights which always look better.

Next, more bodywork enhancements!!

A Call to Irmscher saw their chrome door mirror housings arrive at home, they did'nt look right so for that extra bit of attention to detail, I had the mirror arm covers painted in black texture to match the door mounting covers. Looks more factory now.




VXR Style line front spoiler and colour coded V were next. The black headlights already fitted on the day I collected it.




Just two weeks later and the rear spoiler turned up, was painted by Marshall's and fitted.



The next stagewas the one that took alot of thinking about. As an Elite it already had leather but it all looked a bit dark inside. So a call to Steve at CCS and we decided to change the seat centre to a lighter shade of grey to bring out the interior a little.

I also fitted a travel assist which no Signum should be without! As it came with a cloth lid, Steve at CCS re-trimmed the lid.

Standard




Stripped




The finished interior.

I was very pleased with the result. A simple centre change made a big difference.




Between the interior and the skirts, we went to Imrscher in Germany with the club, and of course a few laps round the Nurburgring had to be done! The Irmscher Carbon Effect door pillar trims were bought and fitted at Irmscher along with Irmscher stainless sill trims.





With the interior done, there was only a couple of things left to do, so the VXR side skirts were ordered, painted and fitted.



The weekend before we took the caravan over to France, I decided to change the front frill some some thing different. So an Irmscher front alluminium topped grill was ordered. and fitted the day it arrived.



I realised as soon as the car was back together that it was a big mistake! So back to drawing board. The day before our holiday to France it was in bits again! The Mrs did have a bit of a heart attack when she got home from work though!

After another trip to Marshall's and a chat with a few friends there, VXR top and bottom honeycomb grills were ordered. The top one was an easy fit, but the bottom one was a little more tricky. But with a bit of effort it all went together OK.




This I thought was a 100% improvement! So off to France we went!



This is how the car remained until I sold it towards the end of 2007. I only kept this car for 9 1/2 months. Due to fuel prices going mad by late 2007, and the fact that we had also bought Mrs Maverick a new Freelander 2, I did'nt need it for towing so it made way for the Astra.

Astra Bio coming next!

Thanks for reading.

[bobby-tupper]

another great thread mate and what sweet looking siggy

[bruceybonus]

That looks really nice... but correct me if i'm wrong, you can't put the 19's on the 30cdti only the 1.9... something to do with weights and emissions????

[Maverick]

That looks really nice... but correct me if i'm wrong, you can't put the 19's on the 30cdti only the 1.9... something to do with weights and emissions????

It's to do with emissions regulations in the UK. In Europe, 19" wheels have aways been an option on the 3.0 V6 CDTi.

All details for the 3.0 and 19" wheels are in the hand book for tyre pressures, tyre ratings etc.

Even some of the Vauxhall engineers could not understand this decision.

[glenboy]

Very nice Matt,great reading,thanks for another great Biography...........

[Penfold101]

The big question is: VXR grill or aluminium Irmscher one with the VXR bumper...

[ditchp]

very nice indeed and a good read matt


and penfold if going VXR it has to be VXR all the way imho

[Penfold101]

very nice indeed and a good read matt


and penfold if going VXR it has to be VXR all the way imho

I shall probably try both and see what it looks like... Gonna be hard to judge without the black AFL lights though - I've got one, just need the passenger side...

[mattv6diesel]

very nice. would love to take my v6 diesel round the nurburgring to. excellent

[Maverick]

very nice. would love to take my v6 diesel round the nurburgring to. excellent

To be honest, the V6 was not the best round the Nurburgring. Don't get me wrong, it was fantastic fun but due to the way the engine delivers it's power alot of the slower stuff was done in 4th gear.

It handled great but it was a too lazy engine. It was excellent on the long stuff though.