Suj's Nimbus Clio 197 and E36 328i Trackcar

[suj]

It had some absolutely horrible top mounted bonnet pins, I knew these had to go so I fitted some aerocatches.








So I used the points that were on the car already, using them going through....I didn't take into account the aerocatch sits "inside" the bonnet....what an idiot.
So I had to rivnut the hole (to gain extra mm's) even then it didn't sit low enough, so I had to grind the side down of the pin and tap it further up to allow it go lower





It worked bang on! After a lot of back and forth!

I had bought a chassis mounted shifter on black friday, so I fitted that to replace the worn as hell one on there





Did a mock up with shifter and plastics in

 

[suj]

I had messaged RimStock (they are the storefront for Team Dynamics) before Christmas asking if they could sell me another set of 17x9 Team Dynamics, I was told unfortunately that they had to close their fondry due to the pandemic etc, they will be buying billet blocks from someone else, but they will only be doing smaller widths to start with, 17x7 or 17x8 max, nothing before Summer 2021.

After Christmas now and I was surfing the interwebs (eBay) and I noticed a set of 17x9 ET35 (current set are ET42) being sold by RimStock's other arm, Magic something, they were new old stock they were getting rid of a lot of inventory, I won them, but then they were being idiots about collecting (using COVID as a reason, or "we can't wait around all day for you" when I said just give me a time slot and I will be there bang on), I literally live 16mins away! So they got delivered but had few marks, we agreed some money back, so worked out well.






Wasn't after black, but hey-ho, will do for now lol.

I lost loads of motivation with shit weather, working long hours, lockdowns blah blah, then weather got good and it all came back!

I then set about getting the interior in (well started), with the carpet and some of plastics





Car was then finally washed, insured and taxed and used to do shakedown on things it needed






Then I took it wherever I could, it was sooo great to be out in it, brought back memories

 

[adam thomas]

Not a clio though is it [emoji849]

Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk

 

[suj]

I bought a 3d printer, so I have been messing about with it doing bits and bobs, I made a cage mounted LED light, as the previous guy took every single light out! (You may have seen it on Adam Thomas' car, I still need to charge him for that lol).





I also been making some Harness Stays, to stop them moving about on the cage, it was only a first iteration in pics, I have designed more and a new one that is 1 piece that I need to print, I will upload pics another time once they're on.

I loved this jacking adapter, it uses the OEM jacking point and helps jack a car up so much! I had one on my old car too.



I then set about fitting a convertible X-brace, so the convertible (and some M3s) had a X-brace that tied in the body and front cross member together, as it lost stiffness due to no roof, here is what the standard one looks like



I then put in the rivnuts in so that the X-brace can attach to it



Here is the difference, I had it powdercoated while off the car.



Then it fitted



I don't think any of us will feel the difference in stiffness....but for the money and the main benefit for me is it protects the sump!

We then got a bonus from work....which we got told we were not going to get this year! So I was like flip this and I treated myself to the shifter I wanted, a Coolerworx Pro Shifter and a Direct Mount Kit.

I ordered from WG Motorparts, they were brilliant when I asked about pics of the green shade knob (as in some pics it looked neon, which I didn't want), they also got it out quickly....shame the courier damaged the shit out of it and bent it where it mounts, so I had to purchase another one to get it by weekend (which is fine, as they organised a collection of damaged one and refunded me straight away when they got it back).



Look how pretty it is!!!!!!

As I had the Friday off and the direct kit wasn't damaged so I kept it, I just fitted it in morning and then delivery man came haha.



Here's the difference, it has a self centering spring, it has adjustability for how far you can move the shifter, it has a lift up for reverse, also it has a seal on the direct mount kit, so the heat doesn't come into the cabin like it was with the old (I was actually going to make something to stop it happening).



Then had it mounted



I was umming and arring about the green knob, but I am glad I did now! (I am too cautious with stuff, so was going to go for black).



I got a matching Schroth harness for the passenger seat, so that was mounted too, also a short hub and a NRG quick release (not pictured, will get pics later)

 

[suj]

Then MOT was due, I know the steering rack is shit, but I have an Purple Tag 067 rack to go in and a solid coupler (to replace the rubber one from factory) on steering column, but it wouldn't fail MOT for this, so all good.

I can confirm it failed....for a bloody headlight aim, he then adjusted it and passed it lol so I am well chuffed.





I have been using this garage for like 13years now, he has done all my cars, track or whatever, he even did my old E36, he was like "oh joy...this is gonna fail on rust and emissions" when I brought it in...then he was like "shit, it's actually in great nick and passed emissions piss easy" haha, I said take it out for a spin, he came back grinning so that's good to know it isn't just me haha.



I then set about changing the gearbox mounts, so when you go chassis mounted shifter, as it now moves independantly to the gearbox, any play in mounts = a miss shift or it pops out of gear in heavy decelleration (like in 2nd and 4th), because the old one is mounted to the gearbox directly, so worn mounts didn't matter as much.



I went for some polybushes, but I was planning to make some myself out of Nylon 6,6 with a bolt through design, as they fail sideways loads taking the studs out over time, example.....below:





It's night and day now with the poly ones fitted, as it's pretty stiff I can't feel any worse NVH in the car, just no sloppiness / coming out of gear hard braking!

I think that brings me up to date, I will make sure I update it regularly and not these massive posts....I promise haha.

 

[EthanMenace]

The green knob looks great

 

[PITA]

Looking good bud, can’t wait for a ride and a shake down with the baguettes!

 

[tombate911]

Looking good! Another BMW on the clio forum! Who’s next?

 

[Helpimonfire]

Man this makes me miss my old E36 that I had years ago. It's such a timeless shape! I think there'll be a queue of us trying to get into the passenger seat in August!

 

[RSRowe]

Really wish I’d picked one of these up when they were cheap!
They’re a great looking car, and very capable on track

 

[suj]

The green knob looks great

Thanks, what about the gear knob too? Lol

Looking good bud, can’t wait for a ride and a shake down with the baguettes!

Ha yeah it's gonna be fun to be out on track, likewise to the SC'd beast!

Looking good! Another BMW on the clio forum! Who’s next?

Thanks Tom, yeah we need more to gain numbers back!

Man this makes me miss my old E36 that I had years ago. It's such a timeless shape! I think there'll be a queue of us trying to get into the passenger seat in August!

Thanks mate, yeah the reason I bought this, as I missed my old Boston Green one too!
Ha I didn't expect so many people would be interested in an old E36 to go out in etc.

Really wish I’d picked one of these up when they were cheap!
They’re a great looking car, and very capable on track

Yeah I'm gutted I let my old one go, that was such a peach for the money I paid (£600 back in 2011!).
I remember at the Ring when I was there and I took a guy out in my 200sx, they then took me out in their full track 328i, I was in love and came back and really needed to scratch that itch.
There were loads of them there, as they're reliable, torquey, handle well with a few mods and were cheap (even back then compared to E36 M3s, seeing as engines were 5x the price of a M52B28)

 

[Sean197]

Love it, always had a soft spot for the '36s and '46s. It'd look amazing with an evo spoiler and front splitter but maybe that's just me clinging onto my youth

 

[Big Ben]

Fantastic updates. Looking forward to seeing this thing fly round Snetterton

 

[suj]

Love it, always had a soft spot for the '36s and '46s. It'd look amazing with an evo spoiler and front splitter but maybe that's just me clinging onto my youth

Thanks Sean, haha don't worry you're not alone, I had the lower GT spoiler (came on the M3 GT) on my last one, I been looking at the one with raisers too....I think it just looks "right" without looking too chavvy (but to many people they'll think "what a chav" haha)

Also please buy another, I loved seeing your Meglio!!

Fantastic updates. Looking forward to seeing this thing fly round Snetterton

Thanks Ben, yeah I can't wait to get out and have laughs with you all!
Me and Tom are gonna be targets for all you Clios

 

[Beany]

Looking great….. wat a lovely catch up read

 

[Helpimonfire]

Thanks Ben, yeah I can't wait to get out and have laughs with you all!
Me and Tom are gonna be targets for all you Clios

Targets that just bugger off into the distance

 

[Sean197]

Thanks Sean, haha don't worry you're not alone, I had the lower GT spoiler (came on the M3 GT) on my last one, I been looking at the one with raisers too....I think it just looks "right" without looking too chavvy (but to many people they'll think "what a chav" haha)

Also please buy another, I loved seeing your Meglio!!

I need to get a thread up ASAP.

 

[suj]

Looking great….. wat a lovely catch up read

Thanks Mr Bean, shame you're not coming to Snetterton....

Targets that just bugger off into the distance

Ha Tom will be, I'll be slowing you all down haha

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I need to get a thread up ASAP.

Yessssss mate! Love that, please get a thread up ASAP!

 

[Big Ben]

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I need to get a thread up ASAP.

That yours Sean!!?

 

[Beany]

h

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I need to get a thread up ASAP.

hello cheeky