06 Albi Blue 197

[N0ddie]

They look superb. Am still swithering weather to get my spare 197 wheels (track wheels) powdercoated properly or buy other wheels.

 

[RalphyBMW]

Thanks, depends if you can find someone local who offers good value IMO.

I have some spares that I am probably going to sell (I have 13 Raider wheels and 4 Speedlines, so need to thin out the inventory a bit!), and am going to get a set refurbished before selling them as I think I will get the money back.

 

[N0ddie]

Thanks, depends if you can find someone local who offers good value IMO.

I have some spares that I am probably going to sell (I have 13 Raider wheels and 4 Speedlines, so need to thin out the inventory a bit!), and am going to get a set refurbished before selling them as I think I will get the money back.

mg:

Thats a lot of wheels lol.

 

[RalphyBMW]

I like to build up a "spares package"! I am still trying to exit some of the Puma stuff that I bought.

We have 14 wheels for our CR-V, useful to have some spares in case of a curbing incident, or for winter tyres.

 

[RalphyBMW]

So, my preferred tyre place (who want £20/wheel to swap my tyres over) don't like refurbished wheels until they are two weeks old, which is disappointing, and means I need to find somewhere safe to put them for the next week. Fortunately someone is hopefully collecting my Puma Recaro's over the weekend, so I should be able to make some spare in a spare room or somewhere.

Given that the little car isn't going to be going anywhere between now and next Thursday, I decided to stick my Speedlines on in preparation for next weeks track evening, I am now pondering leaving the standard discs on for the time being and getting the bells on the AP's powder coated, but I'm not sure what colour to go for, and don't want to warp the standard discs as they will be going back on when I sell up.

Topically given some of the recent posts, when my small child was helping me to fit the anthracite centres to the black Speedlines, she asked me "Daddy, why are these the wrong colour?" perhaps a question for Renault?

I have only driven a mile or so on the 888's, but they seems to transmit more surface vibration, which I guess is to be expected.

Need to give the car a wash, and when we have some daylight I will take some pics. It does look strangely good with the black Speedlines though, would look better with a 200 / gloss black 197 diffuser though.

 

[mark_1873]

Can't the wheel refurb company do your tyres for you ?

Don't worry about warping the standard discs they are very good I'd be more worried about warping the bells getting them powder coated. I'd go for black or gold.

You will hate the R888's on the road once they are scrubbed in they are so noisy at 30mph.

 

[RalphyBMW]

These are part worn, came with the Speedlines, but lots of tread on them, so they are already scrubbed in, and yes, that makes sense with my experience of them so far!

The powder coaters I used only charge £30/wheel, and are a powder coaters rather than a wheel specialist. The Wheel Specialist charged a lot more, and charges for fitting/balancing the tyres.

I was actually thinking about either;

Blue - to match the bodywork
Silver - to match the current caliper colour
Red - to match the refurbished caliper colour
Anthracite - to match the wheels / just look tidy

I had gold calipers front and rear on my black Puma, I thought it looked good, but my wife thought it looked awful. Then again, she hated the car!

 

[RalphyBMW]

Excuse the dirty car, and poor quality pics, but I really like these wheels!

I wasn't a fan previously, but they look great!

 

[N0ddie]

Looks good with the speedlines on. Do you have any intention of "upgrading" the suspension (I see you dont have the Cup chassis) as you plan on tracking the car?

 

[RalphyBMW]

No, other than perhaps replacing with new FF stuff, I do not currently plan to do anything to it. I am loving the compliancy, lack of fear when confronted with speed bumps, not catching the exhaust, underside or front bumper when using car parks, etc.

I may change my tune after trying it on the track, but right now it is soft suspension and sensible ride height all the way!

 

[Foxspeed]

No, other than perhaps replacing with new FF stuff, I do not currently plan to do anything to it. I am loving the compliancy, lack of fear when confronted with speed bumps, not catching the exhaust, underside or front bumper when using car parks, etc.

I may change my tune after trying it on the track, but right now it is soft suspension and sensible ride height all the way!

and of course set up well for the british B roads :thumbsup:

 

[RalphyBMW]

That too of course!

 

[RalphyBMW]

Slightly better posing pics;

 

[RalphyBMW]

The car has been at the garage today, 2 piece discs are on, the Endless pads appear to actually just be standard Renault Brembo pads, but that is no bad thing really.

I'd had an issue with my wipers, which turned out to be a siezed linkage. Fortunately it was able to be free'd off, and is hopefully fine now.

 

[Arran]

All good news. Car is looking great and from what you have just said, sounding great too!

 

[jimmygall]

car looks great im def getting mywheels painted they look brilliant

 

[RalphyBMW]

Action Pics!









What an awesome car, I love it!

 

[kosluk]

Quote Ralphy: "What an awesome car, I love it!"

So then mate, you'll be keeping it a bit longer than first thought? roud:

 

[RalphyBMW]

I have no plans to change, whatsoever.

Based upon how it performed, I don't really even have any plans to change anything about it either.

The brakes were brilliant, no fade whatsoever, even in continued hard use.
The ESP system is excellent, the only time it cut in was when both my Dad and my sister got things wrong and it sorted threm out, but otherwise it was completely unintrusive.
The handling is brilliant. Granted a Cup may be better, but this is my daily driver and I am getting older.
The fact that my sister could jump in it, having never driven it, or on a track before, and drive quickly, safely, and have a great time, is a testament to just how well the car is set up from the factory.

 

[kosluk]

Thats great mate, i'm very happy to hear your found contentment!

So the new discs were good then? What are they like on a day-to-day basis, do they need warming up to be effective? And (finally) would you say they are better than the standard discs?