Hi all. So, I've been on the lookout for a cheap Clio 197 for a while. My plan was to replace my previous track car (Mini Cooper S JCW R53) with something a bit more serious. I rebuilt the Mini last year but I never really bonded with it.
I decided the Clio should have black Speedline alloys, Recaros and Cup chassis and ideally be white. Not worried about mileage as long as it had good SH and had been well kept. Amazingly I found not a 197 but a 200 close to me and the exact spec I wanted. It looked amazing but on the test-drive it had a significant engine issue as it was extremely lumpy and refused to rev past 5000 revs. Suddenly the bargain price made sense....
...so I bought it for an even more bargain price. Did I do the right thing :-(
After getting some advice on this site and looking up codes on my OBD tool I diagnosed a knackered Knock sensor. A replacement was fitted by myself and it was better but not perfect. Hmmm. So I fitted new plugs and did the MAP sensor fix. Better still but far from 100%. Argh!!! Was worried I'd bought a dud!! Anyway I brimmed the tank with Nitro+ and it was totally transformed!!! Rev'd freely, loads of power, amazing!! That lasted for 1 run but on the next it was missing and misfiring like a bastard. My instinct when I bought the car was that a Coil was on the way out so I replaced them all...the car is fixed!!!
Just something I noticed - the windscreen washer tubing had split and was spraying right onto Coil number 1 every time I cleaned the windscreen! It was really groggy looking. Maybe something to be aware of??
Next, some mods and fixes. Firstly I checked the dreaded drains...yep, fully blocked!!! You can see the water below!
I also fitted a PowerFlex Torque Arm bush because there seemed a lot of movement to the engine.
It felt much better but I do plan to fit the engine and gearbox mounts by PowerFlex, just to make it a bit more rigid.
Finally I fitted 'blue ice' interior LEDs, rear number plate LED and Upgraded Phillips bulbs. Oh and silver indicator bulbs!! Now looking ace!!
So far I've fitted the following parts (in addition to the above):
- BMC panel air filter
- New Thermostat
- Renault Valve caps
I've got a load more parts to fit so I'll try and keep this thread updated as I go. Parts bought but not fitted:
- Temperature Sender
- Carbotech Front pads
- Brembo HC Front discs
- Front caliper pins
- Braided brake lines
- ATE Brake Fluid
- Carbon Fibre spats
- Rear brake discs
- Rear brake pads
- Black Renault wheel centres
- full service pack (oil etc.)
So that's it for now. Loving driving it now it's fixed and amazed that I got such a bargain!
I decided the Clio should have black Speedline alloys, Recaros and Cup chassis and ideally be white. Not worried about mileage as long as it had good SH and had been well kept. Amazingly I found not a 197 but a 200 close to me and the exact spec I wanted. It looked amazing but on the test-drive it had a significant engine issue as it was extremely lumpy and refused to rev past 5000 revs. Suddenly the bargain price made sense....
...so I bought it for an even more bargain price. Did I do the right thing :-(
After getting some advice on this site and looking up codes on my OBD tool I diagnosed a knackered Knock sensor. A replacement was fitted by myself and it was better but not perfect. Hmmm. So I fitted new plugs and did the MAP sensor fix. Better still but far from 100%. Argh!!! Was worried I'd bought a dud!! Anyway I brimmed the tank with Nitro+ and it was totally transformed!!! Rev'd freely, loads of power, amazing!! That lasted for 1 run but on the next it was missing and misfiring like a bastard. My instinct when I bought the car was that a Coil was on the way out so I replaced them all...the car is fixed!!!
Just something I noticed - the windscreen washer tubing had split and was spraying right onto Coil number 1 every time I cleaned the windscreen! It was really groggy looking. Maybe something to be aware of??
Next, some mods and fixes. Firstly I checked the dreaded drains...yep, fully blocked!!! You can see the water below!
I also fitted a PowerFlex Torque Arm bush because there seemed a lot of movement to the engine.
It felt much better but I do plan to fit the engine and gearbox mounts by PowerFlex, just to make it a bit more rigid.
Finally I fitted 'blue ice' interior LEDs, rear number plate LED and Upgraded Phillips bulbs. Oh and silver indicator bulbs!! Now looking ace!!
So far I've fitted the following parts (in addition to the above):
- BMC panel air filter
- New Thermostat
- Renault Valve caps
I've got a load more parts to fit so I'll try and keep this thread updated as I go. Parts bought but not fitted:
- Temperature Sender
- Carbotech Front pads
- Brembo HC Front discs
- Front caliper pins
- Braided brake lines
- ATE Brake Fluid
- Carbon Fibre spats
- Rear brake discs
- Rear brake pads
- Black Renault wheel centres
- full service pack (oil etc.)
So that's it for now. Loving driving it now it's fixed and amazed that I got such a bargain!
