Wow, let's see how much I can remember since I owned one then.Wheel bearings; Genuine Fiat parts or are Euro Car Parts ok?
Euro car parts sell genuine ones dont they?Suspension; Any benifit to fitting upgraded Koni / Bilstein items, or does it ruin the ride / handling balance? With suspension bushes, OEM / ECP (euro car parts), or Powerflex items?
Bilstein B6 shocks are much better than standard ones, coilovers will make it a very harsh ride but much improve the handling. Bushes... standard ones are fine, uprated ones are better.Brakes;
Discs & pads. OEM, ECP or upgraded items? Stainless braided brake lines and Mintex pads a worthwhile upgrade?
Standard brakes are good enough on the road but fade on track. Upgraded discs / pads / brake lines will improve performace and eliminate brake fade.Service items;
Belts, tensioners and filters.
Again, OEM (if still available?), or ECP?
OEM are fine.Clutch; OEM or upgraded item?
OEM if the car is standard or mildly modified, upgraded organic or paddle clutch if more heavily modified.Radiator;
Aluminium or an OEM item?
Either.How likely is the rad to be past it's best on a £2500 car?
Impossible to say. Have a look!is it easy to see the condition of the rad with the bonnet up?
You can see the back of it from the engine bay, but you want to be checking the front side - take the bumper off, or look through it's slats, or look up at the car from underneath.Turbo;
Expensive to replace?
Few hundred quid + fittingWith the clutch and the turbo, is it an engine out job?
NoDoes the engine drop out from underneath, or lift out from the top? Easy(ish) DIY job?
It drops out underneath, not particularly easy if you dont have experience with such things.
Coolent & turbo pipes. Samco items available? Any pipes that are not accessable without removing engine?
Samco do a turbo pipes kit for the Coupe, dont know about coolant pipes but you dont need to remove the engine.Exhaust manifold; prices and stockists on stainless items?
Almost everyone uses standard manifolds that have been welded so they dont keep cracking any more.Undertray; This may be a silly question, but I understand that these are no longer available new and second hand are like rocking horse poo? Do the ones off Alfa GTV / Spider fit? What about the ones off the 5 cylinder Bravo / Mareo?
Doubt it! You should be able to get one off someone on here though, put a post in the parts wanted section or try phoning the breakers.Would it be possable to knock up an undertray from some 2mm steel sheet? Or would this cause issues with heat sink / vibration or noise?
Anything is possible, not worth the effort though if you can find a used one.With all this talk of removing the engine for everything, have you owned a BMW 750i before?