Benno's UR197 & Meg 250
- Thread starter Benno
- Start date
a new job??tell us more..thought you liked your yellow arrow
Don’t get me wrong I do, but I’m ready to move up to a more operations based role rather than driving! Would like to stay local but everybody knows everybody here and I don’t think it would go down too well...
I 100% had the Geneva job but the money wasn’t enough to justify me moving away for 6 months, the same job this side of the water is what I’m looking for!
Delayed (and very long!!) update...mainly because I’ve been enjoying the car in it’s current state! (Scroll to the bottom of the post for a list of everything done if you don’t fancy the read!)
Last weekend involved a long drive to Ashford after recommendations from @Micah about his friend Chris, who is pretty handy with a spanner to say the least...
After a few weeks arranging things and buying parts I made my way down Friday evening to drop the car with him, to make my life easier he lent me his Twingo 133 for the weekend to get me to and from my hotel, great bit of fun!
He cracked on first thing Saturday morning with my seemingly never-ending list of jobs, dropping the engine oil and starting on the cambelt. Still losing oil, however on close inspection of the engine block, Chris couldn’t find anything to suggest oil is leaking from anywhere, bar a slight misting from the sump, the norm for these he said. So seems my car just likes a drink of 5w40...
Inspection of the old cambelt and associated parts suggested that it had been changed before, with a partial mismatch of Meg engine pulleys just to add to our entertainment!! Aux belt has never been touched, that promptly came out too...
I’ve never had any temperature issues, amazing considering there was no coolant in it...just water! Would have changed it before if I had properly realised but it never went down on the min/max lines and never overheated regardless of drive time...quickly replaced with some Nitro Green Renault Type D coolant.
Part of the strip down involved the upper engine mount coming off, the rubber had its day by far, my Powerflex mount went on in place of that..
Bits were everywhere in my car...as you can see by the boxes spilling out of the boot!
Whilst Chris was working hard, Micah turned up and was busy making childish jokes and entertaining the local neighbourhood with his very sleek ITG Maxogen kit and centre silencer delete on the 220! Very nice indeed!
After Micah left, I left the Clio in the very capable hands of Chris and made the short trip back to the hotel and in search of food came across a very nice fish and chip shop...lovely bit of haddock saw me through the evening, along with a pint of cider (not Carlsberg..) back in the hotel bar!
Back to the car....so whilst I was laying in, Chris was back up early Sunday morning carrying on where he left off...
Engine was back together, gearbox oil swapped out for NFP, resistors on the Recaros, bulbs changed at the front and brakes overhauled with Performance Friction Z Rated pads on the front, Brembo pads and MTEC discs on the rear with new Pro-Line Motorsport braided hoses all round! He was even kind enough to spray some black paint on the discs which I thought was spot on! Fresh RBF600 fluid and Mr Pink pins too!
Finally, courtesy of the Christmas comp (cheers Pav!) and thanks again to @oilman for the stuff, fresh Shell Helix Ultra oil and a new filter to go with.
After all this, Chris STILL had one final trick up his sleeve...I returned Sunday afternoon to find him hoovering and washing it! True gent, I really can not recommend him enough for any work that needs doing, I’ll certainly be back down there soon...
Review then...
The combination of PF Z rated pads on the front, Brembos on the rear and braided hoses all round feels absolute flawless, stopping power massively increased over my old Mintex M1144s.
I’m still wondering why I hadn’t put my Powerflex upper engine mount on sooner. Sitting in traffic is so much more bearable, reduced kangarooing whilst at low speeds to practically zero.
Overall, the car feels brilliant and I now have a bit of peace of mind that the cambelt and everything to do with it has been done before the Spa trip. One less thing to worry about for sure...
______
So what’s been done (in short):
- Full cambelt change, all supplied by the wonderful @renaultpartsdirect
- Shell Helix Ultra 5w40 oil & filter change
- Performance Friction Z rated front pads
- Brembo rear pads
- MTEC grooved rear discs
- Pro-Line Motorsport 4 braided hose kit in trans. red
- Motul RBF600 brake fluid
- Powerflex Upper Engine Mount
- Elf NFP gearbox oil
- Resistors on the newly fitted Recaro seats
- Front End bulb change, including Silvatec chrome indicator bulbs
- An unexpected but greatly welcomed clean!
______
Still a few bits to do before April, synchros on the box aren’t getting any better, along with a whistling clutch release bearing, so refurbed box change is on the cards next month, fingers crossed I can get the rear cage sorted and some harnesses. Think we might be nearly there then!
Last weekend involved a long drive to Ashford after recommendations from @Micah about his friend Chris, who is pretty handy with a spanner to say the least...
After a few weeks arranging things and buying parts I made my way down Friday evening to drop the car with him, to make my life easier he lent me his Twingo 133 for the weekend to get me to and from my hotel, great bit of fun!
He cracked on first thing Saturday morning with my seemingly never-ending list of jobs, dropping the engine oil and starting on the cambelt. Still losing oil, however on close inspection of the engine block, Chris couldn’t find anything to suggest oil is leaking from anywhere, bar a slight misting from the sump, the norm for these he said. So seems my car just likes a drink of 5w40...
Inspection of the old cambelt and associated parts suggested that it had been changed before, with a partial mismatch of Meg engine pulleys just to add to our entertainment!! Aux belt has never been touched, that promptly came out too...
I’ve never had any temperature issues, amazing considering there was no coolant in it...just water! Would have changed it before if I had properly realised but it never went down on the min/max lines and never overheated regardless of drive time...quickly replaced with some Nitro Green Renault Type D coolant.
Part of the strip down involved the upper engine mount coming off, the rubber had its day by far, my Powerflex mount went on in place of that..
Bits were everywhere in my car...as you can see by the boxes spilling out of the boot!
Whilst Chris was working hard, Micah turned up and was busy making childish jokes and entertaining the local neighbourhood with his very sleek ITG Maxogen kit and centre silencer delete on the 220! Very nice indeed!
After Micah left, I left the Clio in the very capable hands of Chris and made the short trip back to the hotel and in search of food came across a very nice fish and chip shop...lovely bit of haddock saw me through the evening, along with a pint of cider (not Carlsberg..) back in the hotel bar!
Back to the car....so whilst I was laying in, Chris was back up early Sunday morning carrying on where he left off...
Engine was back together, gearbox oil swapped out for NFP, resistors on the Recaros, bulbs changed at the front and brakes overhauled with Performance Friction Z Rated pads on the front, Brembo pads and MTEC discs on the rear with new Pro-Line Motorsport braided hoses all round! He was even kind enough to spray some black paint on the discs which I thought was spot on! Fresh RBF600 fluid and Mr Pink pins too!
Finally, courtesy of the Christmas comp (cheers Pav!) and thanks again to @oilman for the stuff, fresh Shell Helix Ultra oil and a new filter to go with.
After all this, Chris STILL had one final trick up his sleeve...I returned Sunday afternoon to find him hoovering and washing it! True gent, I really can not recommend him enough for any work that needs doing, I’ll certainly be back down there soon...
Review then...
The combination of PF Z rated pads on the front, Brembos on the rear and braided hoses all round feels absolute flawless, stopping power massively increased over my old Mintex M1144s.
I’m still wondering why I hadn’t put my Powerflex upper engine mount on sooner. Sitting in traffic is so much more bearable, reduced kangarooing whilst at low speeds to practically zero.
Overall, the car feels brilliant and I now have a bit of peace of mind that the cambelt and everything to do with it has been done before the Spa trip. One less thing to worry about for sure...
______
So what’s been done (in short):
- Full cambelt change, all supplied by the wonderful @renaultpartsdirect
- Shell Helix Ultra 5w40 oil & filter change
- Performance Friction Z rated front pads
- Brembo rear pads
- MTEC grooved rear discs
- Pro-Line Motorsport 4 braided hose kit in trans. red
- Motul RBF600 brake fluid
- Powerflex Upper Engine Mount
- Elf NFP gearbox oil
- Resistors on the newly fitted Recaro seats
- Front End bulb change, including Silvatec chrome indicator bulbs
- An unexpected but greatly welcomed clean!
______
Still a few bits to do before April, synchros on the box aren’t getting any better, along with a whistling clutch release bearing, so refurbed box change is on the cards next month, fingers crossed I can get the rear cage sorted and some harnesses. Think we might be nearly there then!
Pav
Moderator
that's what i call a proper update..spot on and it looks like your mate Chris has done a cracking job..
Glad Micah sorted you out..nothing better than a friend who happens to be a mechanic!!
Bet Micah was very funny telling the local kids lots of jokes about Renaults in general
you'd be surprised but water is the best coolant there is..people in warm climates dont really use any special coolant in their cars..it's there only to make sure it doesnt freeze up...
Glad Micah sorted you out..nothing better than a friend who happens to be a mechanic!!
Bet Micah was very funny telling the local kids lots of jokes about Renaults in general
you'd be surprised but water is the best coolant there is..people in warm climates dont really use any special coolant in their cars..it's there only to make sure it doesnt freeze up...
Great write up mate, really pleased you got all that done - no idea what you mean about me making childish jokes, that’s definitely not like me!
Chris really thinks about all the little details, hadn’t realised he’d sprayed the hubs of the discs. Hopefully that’s less gear you’re carting around in the car now?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Chris really thinks about all the little details, hadn’t realised he’d sprayed the hubs of the discs. Hopefully that’s less gear you’re carting around in the car now?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I know, you, childish jokes, never! :excited:
Could be a placebo effect of the amount of car parts in my car adding to the weight therefore increasing stopping distance of the old brakes!!
Didn't expect the hubs to be sprayed either, they look brilliant though.
Cracking update mate.
Cars turning into a belter
Getting there slowly! Nearly April
that's what i call a proper update..spot on and it looks like your mate Chris has done a cracking job..
Glad Micah sorted you out..nothing better than a friend who happens to be a mechanic!!
Bet Micah was very funny telling the local kids lots of jokes about Renaults in general
you'd be surprised but water is the best coolant there is..people in warm climates dont really use any special coolant in their cars..it's there only to make sure it doesnt freeze up...
Too busy thrashing the 220 round the B-roads of Ashford to talk to them!
Interesting to know, got to say though, Renault Type D coolant is a much more interesting colour, me and Micah were in awe when Chris was pouring it in!
Thanks John, it already feels so much better. Thinking Rentune at the moment, they seem to have the best deal from who I’ve spoken to, exchange box with new clutch and slave fitted for £700!
As I’ve said before, it’ll be strange not having to avoid 3rd at 7k revs!
How long does that take to switch over boxes? Sounds a decent enough price
Waiting to hear back on that! Provisionally booked in subject to whether I’m working or not, I think they want it for a day and a bit by the reply they gave me last night.
Not sure what I'm basing it on, but the gearbox job sounds pretty reasonable. Once it's mechanically sound you can get the exterior sorted and it will be dreamy! Just think, you can actually spend money on yourself at some point (something I'm sure @Pav is finally getting to do now )
)
Pav
Moderator
You are always very insightful Micah...almost like my mum...Not sure what I'm basing it on, but the gearbox job sounds pretty reasonable. Once it's mechanically sound you can get the exterior sorted and it will be dreamy! Just think, you can actually spend money on yourself at some point (something I'm sure @Pav is finally getting to do now
But very true..can finally spend some money on me rather than the car..feels good actually
Bought a new laptop the other week and going to the Trafford centre today..
Think I've spent enough on the witch for now...time to enjoy it...
Spare money for a trip to Spa with the boys PavYou are always very insightful Micah...almost like my mum...
But very true..can finally spend some money on me rather than the car..feels good actually
Bought a new laptop the other week and going to the Trafford centre today..
Think I've spent enough on the witch for now...time to enjoy it...
Pav
Moderator
that would be rather nice..maybe I'll win this FridaySpare money for a trip to Spa with the boys Pav
PAV! Long time no speak. Sorry mate, been flat out the last few days/weeks. Nothing massive to report, apart from a fresh gearbox! :excited:
Rentune did it for me, new clutch and slave and a refurbed box from a 200! Feels so much nicer having a non-crunching 3rd! Little bit tight at the moment still, so I may drop the oil and put fresh NFP in before Spa just to be safe. But I love it.
Few bits and bobs to be done, rear wiper delete and what I hope is just a track rod on the off side front wheel.
Let down on the cage I was getting so that hasn't happened yet, will possibly get a Safety Devices rear half cage sorted in the next few months, depending on how funds are.
Apart from that, I've just got to give it a damn good wash and polish, take the rear seats out and get a mount sorted for the GoPro and I'm ready for the trip! So excited.
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