Welshname's Monaco 172

[welshname]

So nearly 4 years after joining I've finally got myself a 172 in Monaco. For now this thread will be just full of general maintenance crap and nothing that interesting.

So to start I went to view the car on Sunday in Ibstock (220 mile round trip) and didn't have much hope for it as I've seen a fair few of these now and they've all just been polished turds. This one however was really straight outside and had a lot of history with it. The car seems to have been well looked after although there were a few mechanical niggles. I paid for it (£1600 which I thought was fair), took the keys and the logbook and drove home.

Last night my dad drove me down there to collect it and we had a bit of fun on the way back up the M6 toll.

So the car:

2003 Monaco 172
80,000 miles
Not quite full service history
Blowing exhaust
Belts not due for a year yet but the invoice from the garage previously was questionable (see below)

Really Blurry Monaco 172 by welshname, on Flickr

Monaco 172 Rear by welshname, on Flickr

Engine Bay by welshname, on Flickr

100% genuine Renault parts there if you ask me...

Questionable Invoice by welshname, on Flickr





Apologies for the horrific phone pictures, it was cold.

I've got a long list of little things to do along with some bigger items that need attention which is as follows:

• Cam belt kit - ordered
• Aux belt kit - ordered
• PAS Pump - collecting this week
• Crack rear light - done
• Swap washer jets for mist items - done
• Replace the brakes all round
• Fix stupidly high handbrake
• Replace passenger side headlight washer
• Fix blowing exhaust (will be replaced in the next month) - done
• Fix cigarette lighter socket - done
• Aero wipers
• Restore passenger headlight
• RenaultSport Mats
• Interior light bulb - done
• Drivers door sensor - done
• Dogbone mount - collecting this week

I know that seems like a really long list but a lot of it is very small easy things and as you can see I've done quite a few tonight.

So rear light before:

Cracked Rear Light by welshname, on Flickr

And After:

Replacement Rear Light by welshname, on Flickr

Bodged exhaust repair:

Bodged Exhaust Repair by welshname, on Flickr

Not sure you can see but it looks like black silicone, it got progressively louder on my way home so I've removed it all and gummed it up properly. Just waiting for it to set a bit as the first time it blew through again (no pictures as my hands were covered in the stuff), then I'll start the car and let it run the exhaust up to temp.

This weekend I'll be tackling the PAS Pump and both belt kits. Fun times!

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

Whey finally! Car looks good, seems a fair price too

Just needs coilys and 2118's!

 

[Tommo.]

Looks a tidy car and good price.

Ibstock is only 5 mins away from me, can't say i've seen it around before!

 

[Knuckles]

:clap:

will this one be staying?

 

[Joe#]

Good to hear, Rhys. We'll have to go for a blast sometime!

 

[The Russian.]

I really like a well kept Monaco blue 172.

Jared's Monaco looked great at CSS last year. you done have to overly modify to make it look good.

Cup shocks and cook sports will settle that car nicely.

 

[welshname]

Whey finally! Car looks good, seems a fair price too

Just needs coilys and 2118's!

Thanks, yeah I was very happy with the price tbh. And I'm not entirely sure. I'm thinking I'll probably go for turini's and a subtle drop (more than likely on coilovers though).

Looks a tidy car and good price.

Ibstock is only 5 mins away from me, can't say i've seen it around before!

Ibstock is properly the arse end of nowhere. He lives about 30 seconds from a BP Garage if that helps you figure out where.

:clap:

will this one be staying?

We shall see. I'm hoping so, just looking forward to getting all the mechanicals sorted and driving it a lot.

Good to hear, Rhys. We'll have to go for a blast sometime!

100% decided I had to get one and it be ready for some drives out into Wales this summer. Hoping to do a track day or two and the ring at some point.

 

[JamesBryan]

At last you have one!

Looks like it's low on coolant too from the pic...

 

[jesus]

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Give me a shout when you want to go on drives and s**t. As long as there are no retards coming along.

I hope this one isn't a shed like the past few you've had either

Oh and it definitely needs a K&N that only kicks in above 5.5k revs.

 

[Jonff]

It's about time

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

Thanks, yeah I was very happy with the price tbh. And I'm not entirely sure. I'm thinking I'll probably go for turini's and a subtle drop (more than likely on coilovers though).

Something like this?

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

All the cool kids have Monacos.

Freshly detailed by TheEvilGiraffe, on Flickr

Who let you in the gang ?

 

[Joe#]

Yeah, we'll have to start organising some meets.

Ash's old Monaco looked great on Turini's. His where anthracite iirc though.

 

[Chi]

Lovely motor. . CONGRATS

 

[Jonff]

Yeah, we'll have to start organising some meets.

Ash's old Monaco looked great on Turini's. His where anthracite iirc though.

This 100%, still haven't been to proper driving meet in the Focus yet.

 

[Joe#]

Agreed! Race?

 

[Jack!]

That 172 Brentnall posted is sooooo nice, like absolute perfection, incredible paintwork.

 

[Mr R.]

Oh my that is bloody epic.

 

[Tommo.]

Ibstock is properly the arse end of nowhere. He lives about 30 seconds from a BP Garage if that helps you figure out where

Yeah I know it mate. There's always a nice Mini GP 1 parked outside a house on that road!

 

[welshname]

Yep that's the one. It's about 5 or 6 doors down towards the BP from there

 

[Jonff]

Which trackday date are you booking then?

 

[welshname]

So anyway, as I said the PAS Pump is properly ropey:



But on the plus side:

Intact Thumb Grips by welshname, on Flickr

Just been told the weather is going to be s**t this weekend...Great.

 

[Tommo.]

Fancy selling that steering wheel?

 

[Matthew]

I'd love a nice Monaco to run around in during the week.

Best colour along with RB for the mk2.

As said above; cooksports and silver turinis and your a winner!

 

[MonacoDan]

Looks great, best colour too , plans look a good start too.

 

[Jules172]

Are the Monaco blue rare or just preferred colour of make 2?
I have one and just interested before I go mad and spray it!!!

 

[Jules172]

*mk 2

 

[Jon.G]

Deece.

 

[Jon.G]

PAS Pump sounds like mine did. Get it sorted ASAP before you kill the rack.

 

[JoeyD]

Good progress so far Rhys. You'll have to venture out so we can see it
Needs a cup spoiler.
Race?

 

[welshname]

PAS Pump sounds like mine did. Get it sorted ASAP before you kill the rack.

Will do. I haven't driven the car since I got it home. Keep getting ready to go to work in the morning and looking at both sets of keys before being sensible and taking the 1.2

 

[Paul.M]

Good work Rhys!

Do you feel like it was worth the wait? I'm glad I finally decided to try one.

 

[welshname]

100% worth the wait. Just in the process of stripping everything down to do the belts when they arrive. Saves messing around when I could be doing more important stuff on the car.

Currently being dicked by the bolt behind the archliner trying to get the front bumper off

 

[welshname]

Tonight I decided to start stripping down the front end ready for the belt change at weekend. The weather is forecast to be pretty poor on and off so I want to make the most of the good bits of weather to be doing the important stuff.

Started by getting the front bumper off (which took an absolute age because I couldn't get the drivers side bolt out of the wing). Followed by the slam panel and the headlights.

Slam Panel and Bumper off by welshname, on Flickr

Then drained the PAS Fluid which was completely black

Black PAS Fluid by welshname, on Flickr

Then decided to take the upper inlet and airbox off

Inlet and Airbox off by welshname, on Flickr

Quick inspection of the end seals (no idea what they're actually called) to find they're leaking

Leaky Seals by welshname, on Flickr

Quick check of the throttle body showed some oil around the outer lip (is that normal or does it appear to be breathing a little heavily?)

Throttle Body by welshname, on Flickr

And that's all I managed to get done. A friend popped round so ended up chatting to them for an hour so didn't get anything else done.

Tomorrow I plan to take the PAS Pump off (so aux belt and tensioner naturally will come off also).

 

[Gaz_H]

Hi mate, looks a good buy and uve defo went for the best colour

Enjoy and ill b keeping an eye on the thread to see how the project goes

 

[Cub.]

Good work Rhys, glad you got a nice one. Hopefully see it at the unit or on track? Do the Oulton RS day in aug!

Needs white hoses. Lol!

 

[welshname]

LOL. Cheers Oli.

I might see if I can make that day actually. It'll be more than ready by then

But yeah I'll be down t'unit at some point in summer, probably a couple of times tbh so I'll no doubt see you there.

 

[Cub.]

There is a good bunch of us heading to the Oulton day, so should be good. Let me know when you're unit bound.

 

[welshname]

Will do. And even if I don't go on track I'll venture up to the day at Oulton.

 

[Cub.]

In respect to the throttle body oil, that is breathing a little bit. You going to compression test / leak down at some point?

PS. we can sign you on as a passenger and you can come out in mine at Oulton, if you want.