Link's Racing Blue 197

[link]

Not one for progress threads as it's only an A to B car, but since Clio ownership is pretty much a project initself... Got a tad excited over the bank holiday and went a wee bit mad

Ordered some new F1's from Tyre Shopper for £175 (3% off using discount code TS3):

https://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/goodyear-eagle-f1-asymmetric-3-tyres?size=215-45-17&speed=y&load=91

Get new rear disks from ECP for £120 (50% off using discount code MAY75):

https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/...32febf38bef331c7a417e4d822de0fd4dc5e7e&000027

New rear pads from MTEC for £11 (10% off using discount code NEW10):

https://www.mtecbrakes.com/mtecpad4182.html

New track rod ends from CP4L for £40 (17% off using discount code PAYDAY):

https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4...bbccef9448935f9d0c5f731cdc339497372586&000349

https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4...4d6d7bf252432c17ea6ec0c4c0c6288828f7ec&000349

New engine mounts from Mister-Auto for £120 (free delivery using discount code FREE):

http://m.mister-auto.co.uk/en/engine-mount/febi-bilstein-34264_g247_a10134264.html

http://m.mister-auto.co.uk/en/engine-mount/febi-bilstein-45796_g247_a10145796.html

http://m.mister-auto.co.uk/en/engine-mount/febi-bilstein-33206_g247_a10133206.html

And to top it off I went for a poweflex insert on the torque arm! (no discount here sadly)

Mr postman arrived today, or to be politically correct several postman and a postwoman:





So it's been a busy few days...



Got some retaining springs off ebay for the handbrake actuator, such a brilliant addon:



Rear end done... Onto the front, fitted new track rod ends and then headed out to get tracking done and new boots fitted:



Credit to National Tyres, generally wouldn't trust them with a barge pole but they got my steering wheel centered first go! Thank fuck for that 

Back home and time to get sunburnt...







And it doesn't even end there... Sprayed up my rusty front Brembo hubs which have been bugging me for ages:





And fitted a new rear level sensor, at last my xenon's are working properly again!

So what next... Nothing more surely

Come on now it's a Clio after all! I've got B-pillar vinyls to replace, rear quarter panel glass seals to replace and gearbox oil to change... Mr RPD:

https://www.renaultpartsdirect.co.uk/parts/popular-products/clio-rear-quarter-glass-seal/

https://www.renaultpartsdirect.co.uk/parts/service-kits/gearbox-oil-elf-tranself-nfj-75w-80/

So it finally ends... Or perhaps not, now I've got nice shiny hubs my calipers and wheels really need refurb/painting now.

Oh yeah, and it's due MOT next month.

 

[///M]

Brilliant updates mate. Why no build thread?

Always great to see a nice Clio getting some love.

 

[Benno]

Nice one on the ECP discount code. Completely forgot they had a big sale on this weekend.

 

[Pav]

look after them and they will look after you

 

[link]

I wouldn't call it a "build", it's more like a "keeping this old boat alive" thread...

If I was to summarise my experience so far, bought my RB in 2015 after several years of sensible car ownership...

It began like all French cars by letting me down on the way home when the fuel filler cap was stuck... So on the very first day I'm stuck in a petrol station with my arm up its arse effing and blinding trying to flick the solenoid open!

That lead me here so wasn't a bad thing.

Didn't do much to begin with, got carpet mats, foot rest and steering wheel insert from RPD just to make it feel like a proper sport.



First MOT was another letdown with a snapped spring. In hindsight I should have replaced the shocks and springs with cup ones but hey-ho, think that'll be at 100k...

First fettle was retro fitting satnav, wouldn't be without it now but not for the faint hearted!

http://www.clio197.net/threads/retrofitting-the-oem-sat-nav-tomtom-into-a-197.55975/

Next was steering arms and ball joints...

http://www.clio197.net/threads/replacing-the-lower-ball-joint-from-the-hub-carrier.57231/

Last year was front disks and pads, genuine Brembo with new pins (damn were they stuck in!) but hindsight struck again. Got them very cheap from GSF but they were uncoated, doh! Should have got coated jobbies all round from MTEC but too late for that now...

After that I couldn't help it any longer, it just had to be done... Oops!

http://www.clio197.net/threads/the-recaro-saga-missing-airbag.58973/

Then RPD started selling front splitters at a huge discount... Another oops!



p.s. Quick update, the new engine mounts equal vibrating like f*ck, hope it's just the poweflex... Even my rattles have rattles!

Update: after about 1k miles the vibration eventually became bareable, thank f*ck for that!

 

[Benno]

Rattles will die down, soonish....!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[///M]

Ha, see, build thread. BOOM!

Nice one mate. Some good pics too! Always think those posh lights look super cool.

First time I've seen your car I think. Me likey!

 

[Doogle]

Good job! The engine mounts will dull down, I have fitted the Powerflex Torque mount, gearbox and dogbone bush and initially it was very rigid. It has settled down but I still get a few vibrations, especially on startup.

 

[Pav]

all this above..

 

[Micah]

What a post! Looks like you got some bargains there.
I wouldn't worry too much about the coated discs from MTEC, wasn't there a thread last year about the coatings coming off really quickly? In hindsight I should have just removed my rear discs and sprayed the hubs instead of doing a hand job hand painting with some Hammerite and a brush.
The vibrations settle after a few hundred miles, nothing to worry about. Made everything much tighter.
As much as you had to spend out, you can't beat that feeling of knowing the 'perishables' are refreshed. Great job, sir!

 

[link]

Cheers all, yeah I think I read something about MTEC coatings but wasn't sure if that was just the braking surface coming off as the "whole" disk is coated so the pads wear into it...

My hope is the engine mounts saves the flexies from going, there is a little wear on the braid but I think there still intact which isnt bad for 80k, speaking of which it surprises me just how much stuff on my car has been original...

On 50k was still on original tie rods

On 60k was still on original rear tyres

On 70k was still on original brake disks

On 80k was still on original engine mounts

Also I had a slight engine related knock which was either the dog bone or the torque arm, that's gone now

 

[Barney626]

You mentioned in another thread about seeing if you could pull the xenon sensor apart and look at fixing it yourself? Any progress on that?

Stupid question but are you meant to replace engine mounts after certain mileage?

 

[link]

Ah yeah, gimme a mo I'll drop it on that thread.

There's no specific interval for an engine mount but nothing lasts forever and you could rock my engine back and forth by hand, add that to the flexi issue on the manifolds and it's probably a good contributing factor to why they fail.

 

[link]

Given the fact its far too hot to do any work I've decided to hide in the dark alley that is clio ownership and post an update...

It's been a busy few months, picking up with the tail end of of this thread I got a new subframe fitted under warranty:

http://www.clio197.net/threads/front-radiator-support-aka-front-subframe-please-read.59899/

Despite my requests I'm pretty sure they only replaced the subframe and not the supports (which are also corroded)...



Thankfully it was all a freebie including courtesy car etc. The only real down side being that they washed my car when I explicitly told them not too. They put some horrible tyre shine stuff on and it leeched all over my alloys, so then I had a real reason to wash it!

After that it was service and MOT time, fresh oil and some silky smooth Elf NFJ 75W80 for the gearbox... For the first time ever the car sailed through the MOT without any advisories etc. Sweeeet!

Next up is cosmetics, been meaning to do this for ages so another call to RPD got me some more goodies to replace both weather strips and door vinyls...







The weather strips were easy enough, the vinyl was a PITA. It took ages to scrape the old vinyl off! My advice to anyone doing this is to prep, clean, clean some more and be very careful to get it lined up straight. It's a one trick pony, no second chances if you screw it up!

And it doesn't end, the other day this arrived...



What might it be?

A toaster?

A jet ski?

A cuddly toy?

Nope, just another awesome job by Royal...





Definitely a 9/10 job, feels lush compared to the horrible sticky melted perforated leather.

p.s. @Chris fancy moving this to project thread?

 

[Doogle]

Very smart, those little jobs add up and make a difference. I removed the vinyl altogether and it made it look cleaner. Royal steering wheels are awesome too.

Was your subframe claimed for under corrosion warranty?

 

[link]

was your subframe claimed for under corrosion warranty?

Yeah mate, they've all got 12 yr anti corrosion warranty. Haven't got FRSH neither, not even sure if they checked service book tbh.

 

[Big Ben]

Are they genuine Renault vinyl strips? I’ll check into this

 

[link]

Are they genuine Renault vinyl strips? I’ll check into this

Yup, and well expensive!

 

[Big Ben]

Yup, and well expensive!

Look good though

 

[Pav]

looks great ..done for you mate