06 Albi Blue 197

[RalphyBMW]

Cheers Arran, I am pretty happy with it at the moment, I will be happier when the "Service Due Soon" message has gone though!

 

[Martin]

Cheers N0ddie!

Martin - if yours is green then no, blue wouldn't suit! I do have a spare plain wheel that I have rented out to people so they can get theirs retrimmed. I also have a half cage that I have decided not to fit. Collection from near Doncaster. PM me if you might be interested. I did look at fitting it though and IMO you are best removing the rear belts altogether, trying to fit the lower mounts under or to the cage is a right PITA.

I'm not fussed about leaving the car without a steering wheel for a few days as i've got a van. I may be interested in the cage, but it will have to wait until i get back from ibiza in august. Need to do some major saving for that and im going soon LOL. I will PM you when i get back if its still available tho. Hoping to get some Bride seats or recaro's aswell.

 

[RalphyBMW]

Few pics from Blyton today, my first time there and my wife's first track event;



























































Car went well, circuit is a bit tight for my liking, prefer Cadwell, but we still had a lot of fun. Harder on the brakes than Cadwell, and it was a really hot day, but the car still didn't miss a beat. Only issue we had was heat soak from the hot front brakes into the front wheels, confusing the TPMS system.

 

[litchy]

Nice to see the car being used as it should be. Still waiting to do my first track.....

 

[RalphyBMW]

Got the car back after its service, also had a weeping rocker bolt sealed, new aux drive belt (squeeling when cold), loose rad fan sorted and changed the gearbox oil.

When I got home I swapped back to the Contis, the R888's are awesome on twisty roads but are just a bit too harsh for day-to-day.

 

[N0ddie]

Got the car back after its service, also had a weeping rocker bolt sealed, new aux drive belt (squeeling when cold), loose rad fan sorted and changed the gearbox oil.

When I got home I swapped back to the Contis, the R888's are awesome on twisty roads but are just a bit too harsh for day-to-day.

Gonna agree wholeheartedly on the R888s being awesome but to uncivilised when driving on the roads.

Love the track pics.

 

[RalphyBMW]

Cheers! Took the odd corner this morning though and felt a touch more movement than I would have on the R888's.

On my way back from Cadwell a few weeks ago I threw the car into some bends that I know very well, but haven't driven for a while - the level of grip was so outstanding that I wanted to go back and have another go!

 

[FinlayJ]

Looks like you had a good time mate, great pics.

 

[RalphyBMW]

Definitely! Need some new brake pads now though!

 

[DanT]

Pictures are awesome dude. Sounds like you had alot of fun!

 

[RalphyBMW]

New pads this evening, with lots of copper slip.

I needed new pads because despite there being plenty of meat left on my old ones they were starting to crack, and one of them had a bit missing;















The previous pads were genuine Renault ones, Brembo branded but made by Ferodo, type 4446. I didn't want to spend the £80 for genuine Renault so I got some Brembo pads from a motor factor for £37.





Took the car for a short drive after fitting, they feel fine, but I guess the proof will be how they perform when I get some real heat into them.

 

[RalphyBMW]

Just checked my history workbook - I got a massive 8,000 miles out of those pads. At this rate if I could get 25k out of DS2500's, they would represent better value.

 

[RalphyBMW]

Gave the car some attention today;

Wash with Zymol, 2 bucket method obviously
Dry with AutoGlym synthetic chamois thing
Clay with Bilt Hamber soft (very sticky when dry)
Polish with 3M Imperial Hand Glaze
Wax with Chemical Guys 50/50 Ltd Edition then Chemical Guys Pro Detailer

Big thanks to RussZS in this post - http://www.clio197.net/forum/showthread.php?t=14118 for the recommendations. I did also get some Dodo Juice Lime Prime but didn't get on with it as well as I get on with the Hand Glaze, though the Lime Prime is definitely easier to use.

 

[gaz]

Lovely, think the wheels want to be a bit darker though?

 

[RalphyBMW]

Yeah, they probably do. Will do for the time being though. My usual powder coater was having some issues so I went elsewhere, work was ok, price was ok, colour is a touch light.

 

[Arran]

Absolutely lovely car mate, think the wheels are great. Real good job with it.

 

[gaz]

Albi looks ace when freshly detailed, so hard to capture on camera

Maybe a bit of tyre black/trim detailer to add to the collection?

 

[RalphyBMW]

Cheers Arran!

Gaz - totally right about Albi, as for the tyres, etc. it would benefit, I have the stuff but it was getting late and my wife had already been very patient!

I didn't get around to doing the glass either, jobs for another day!

On the plus side I did manage to partially hide a scuff on the rear wing of the Honda with some compound before collapsing on the sofa.

 

[DanT]

Looking spanking as per usual dude!

 

[RalphyBMW]

Cheers Dan!