The car has been pretty much laid up over winter, but this week I have dropped off my spare set of alloys for re-furbishment.
The rear drone noise isn't driveline related as dropping the clutch at 50mph, the noise remains unalterred on the particular road surface I notice it most.
As I suspect the noise is coming from the cheap "Hero" rear tyres, I plan to fit some alternatives when I get the alloys back.
Unfortuantely all the tyres are the same, so I can't switch them around to see if I am right. My pa suggests pumping them up!
If the new tyres do not work, then it is probably the rear wheel bearing(s).

Pumped up the tyres to see if they would make less noise around 50mph and found the rear of the car still very noisy.
The exhaust system passed the MOT and emissions test quite recently, (with the same sound coming from the car)but I think the exhaust must primarily be responsible for the excessive road/noise generation?
I guess unless I want to replace the rear box etc, I'll just have to put up with it! Alternatively extra sound deadening material in the boot?
Luckly, I never use the Coupe for anything other the a local leisure drives, but it would be nice to think I could run it on the motorway without being completely frazzled by journeys end! Anyone with the same experience?

Yep, probably wheel bearings. Last year I had similar on my red Coupé and thought it was rear wheel bearing problem, or stepping on the tyres, but it turned out to be front wheel bearing.

FRONT wheel bearings? Interesting, I'll have to get them all checked out!
Hopefully yours is all sorted?

Back to my original to do list, item 11 was to get my alloys refurbished.
Subsequently I actually purchased a second set (thanks dougvt) and have now picked them up after shot blasting and painting.
As we are officially in Spring, I will go on and get the tyres switched over

Who the hell are you kidding!!

I have established my exhaust is not being held firm in the centre and maybe why the car seemed to becoming particularly noisy
Holding the tail pipe(cold!)it is possible to move the exhaust, as it articulates around the mid-section.
The tail pipe had moved and was touching the rear valance.
I am hoping a check of the mid holding brackets will remedy the situation. Need to get it sorted before the whole exhaust needs replacing, such as a fracture in the mid section?

It won't necessarily be the brackets (or rather the rubber straps at the end of the cat section and at the side by the centre box, or at the very rear) but could be the clamps instead (or as well) especially the centre to rear clamp right by the rear axle, that can allow the rear box to rotate so that it drops down by the axel so that the tailpipe end sticks up and touches the valence/bottom of bumper.

Thanks DaveG
I'll try and repair/photo the clamps.

Gave all three of my cars a wash today, having spruced up the interiors yesterday.
I also resprayed one of the rear parking sensors on my Saab, which the jet wash had taken off the paint.
I need to work out how to spray the Coupe wing mirror arms, as they are showing corrosion bubbling under the surface.
I also need to decide which tyres to fit onto my refurbished alloys, before putting them on. My local tyre shop will swap the tyres over for £12 a wheel, but I thought I'd rather have a new set and keep the existing wheels and tyres as spares? The existing wheel nuts look about worse for wear and the new alloys will really show that up

It's great to see/read that your still working through your to do list, only 5 more to tick off 😄
Miss my coupe

Get some pics up brilly when you've finished your wheels

Cheers Lezza, have you not got another yet???

They're easy to take off the car.

1 screw inside under the cap holding the inner plastic plate, once that's off there are 3 allen bolts to undo. Seal off the gap underneath them first in case they drop into the recesses of the door. Pull apart the connectors for the motor and the a/c if fitted.

After that it's a bit of a fiddle to take the mirror apart if you just want to attack the arm. Is that your intention?

No at the mo am stuck driving a ford KA
I just have to get my kicks driving porkypauls but I do miss having my own

Porky is just MEAN!!

Hi Edinburgh
Thanks for the reply post, very helpful.
Yes I want to refurbish the black arms, the Porto plastic covers are fine (so long as you like Porto!).
I see a coupe of mirrors advertised on ebay with Porto covers and whilst they are described as in good condition at over £60 for the pair it might be better to refurb my own?
Just a bit worried about pulling them apart and then getting them to go back together in one piece!

Yes the full dismantle involves the tricky business of removing the mirror glass (there are two designs which require different techniques). After that it's not too bad unless the screws holding the black plastic strip at the back are seized.

What finish do you intend to use on the arms?

Not given the finish too much thought yet, I'd suspect I'd go for something pretty standard looking?
Should they be matt, satin or gloss?

Don't get me started

Gl .. gl..whatever I you think is best

Took a closer look at the exhaust and found it appears to be suspended by intact brackets and hangers near the front and rear of the system, but quite a bit of movement exists in the hanging rubbers themselves and there seems to be nothing retaining the system around the mid point?
I think I'll just have to have an exhaust specialist look at it. The exhaust is a stainless steel one, so seems ok in itself, with nothing obvious, broken?
I'll get my refurbished alloys fitted at the same time.

A glowing tribute to your perseverance and besottedness mate

Cheers Edinburgh!

I have purchased a whole set of 2nd hand aircon pipes on ebay this weekend, so I have used the latest Euro Car Parts discount of Parts25 to get 25% off of a new A/C Receiver drier/accumulator.
I also purchased a new cabin filter.
Now to find someone to either fit or re-gas the system.

Any aircon repair threads would be appreciated!

Exhaust movement - bracket check;


http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj621/Brilly1uk/FrontsectionofexhaustApril2013_zps9f5ab827.jpg

She's looking very nice brilly x

Cheers Lezza, I still have not fitted the refurbed alloys, but the originals still look good in camera phone photos!

They look good go me

Full set of second hand aircon pipes arrived yesterday. Now I just need to clean them up etc and work out how to fit them? I have also received seperately a new aircon receiver unit.