182_steve's FF 182 progress thread!

andy_coops · Mar 29, 2018

Glad you got it sorted in the end end Steve despite the mind bending cockwomble-ness of Renparts.

182_steve · Mar 30, 2018

I never got the car back yesterday as they couldn't start working on it until lunch time - on a normal week, it would have been done today but of course with it being easter, it now won't be finished until Tuesday - when i'm at work - so won't get it back until Thursday when I next have a day off. Gutted! But, no complaints whatsoever to the garage, they have been so understanding with this whole c**k up I only have praise for them, afterall, it was a tall order to get the new box on, clutch, and a few other little bits done all in one afternoon.

Cullen said:
Dont quote me on this but i dont think they have the cars on the shelf as readily as they say.
I think they wait til one comes in and then send the parts out, in the mean time just fobbing off the customer with false promise's.
I had the identical treatment mate, with my car off the road for 5 weeks 😧

Glad you got it sorted in the end

P.S the b******s never gave me extra monies 😧

You've hit the nail on the head mate, that's exactly right - they told me as much on the phone!! They deal in insurance write off cars, but of course have to get the paperwork etc sorted on these cars and get the 'ok' before they can start to break them - and that doesn't include the wait to get the vehicle to their yard!! I just assumed they had the part on the shelf so to speak and good to go, that certainly wasn't the case with this second box I was promised. The first being a 'scenic' box they couldn't send me. Apparently.

andy_coops said:
Glad you got it sorted in the end end Steve despite the mind bending cockwomble-ness of Renparts.

Thanks Andy, it's been almost mind blowing the whole debacle but we're getting there now!

182_steve · Apr 4, 2018

Managed to run into the local Renault this morning while at work to see how the car is coming along and finally........ finally.......... it's almost there! At 9am it was nearly done so they were very confident it would be finished tonight. Gearbox is in, clutch is in etc, the only thing that concerned me was the PMS shifter and how they'd set that up again. Being a non Renault part, the two guys working on the car had never seen one before! But when I said 'you could phone Mick at the other branch as he's the one who originally fitted it for me' they simply said yep we did that yesterday and he told us what to do, it's all done and goes in all the gears etc. Awesome! Superb service.... it'll be 3 weeks to the day tomorrow it's been gone, I want it back!

182_steve · Apr 6, 2018

After 3 weeks and 1 day, finally....... FINALLY........ the car is back home again!! I was so sure i'd get it back yesterday, but no, yet again, another problem! This time they couldn't figure out the PMS shifter (being a non Renault part!) and couldn't get reverse which put it into today. But I sent them the instructions from Pure that were used when it was first fitted and eventually, they sorted it. Went to the garage this afternoon to see this, all ready for collection;

A mechanic I trust took it round the block while I was there to make sure all was ok and he came back and said he was happy with it. The drive home was absolutely spot on, all felt fine. I told them not to clean or wash the car in any way while it was there and they didn't, so was pleased to see how clean it still looked despite being sat on a ramp for three weeks so thought it would be rude not to get a photo or two;

Old damaged gearbox has been double wrapped and boxed in the lined boot ready to take to my buddy who sorted me out the gearbox that is now fitted in the car (as it was part of the deal of having his........ swap for my damaged one and cash his way). I thought the garage would just chuck it in the boot so I was pleased to see they actually took the time to do it properly;

So there it is, car back, large bill paid 🙈 and in total it has had the following work completed while there;

Replacement gearbox fitted
Brand new genuine clutch kit fitted
Gearbox oil change
Replaced gearbox selector seals
Replaced rear main oil seal
Replaced nearside inner driveshaft gaitor

Louis · Apr 6, 2018

Brilliant news Steve!

leedsboy · Apr 6, 2018

Happy days, now give it some hammer with the better weather coming!

mintno1 · Apr 6, 2018

Let's hope for some sunshine this weekend and you can take it for a celebratory spin :smile: bet you are glad to have it back :up:

182_steve · Apr 6, 2018

Cheers guys! Yes very much looking forward to getting some miles on it soon, need to bed the new clutch in etc and just enjoy it for a bit now. But in the true tradition of these cars never being done, I've bought some Eibach camber bolts recently, I mean for only 20 quid I thought i'd just get them now but i'm in no rush to get them fitted and have the alignment done at the moment.

t90_lle · Apr 7, 2018

182_steve said:
I've bought some Eibach camber bolts recently, I mean for only 20 quid I thought i'd just get them now but i'm in no rush to get them fitted and have the alignment done at the moment.

Kept that quiet bud, it’s not going to make the front look lower :tongueout:
Bet you glad to have it back though!!

imprezaworks · Apr 7, 2018

Great news. Credit card took a hit no doubt

Jamess182 · Apr 7, 2018

Great news mate! Still looks super clean and now much drive even better!

flebay · Apr 7, 2018

182_steve said:
I got the KTR induction kit fitted today and wow, certainly adds a bit of noise which is what I wanted and sounds pretty naughty after 5k revs, BUT it's not over the top......... great quality kit, you get what you pay for as they say, all the brackets and fittings were included and all went together well. When driving feels even more responsive now :up:

View attachment 1286953
View attachment 1286954
View attachment 1286955

When you look at the standard parts that come off the car, you can see why it feels a bit restricted with the air-box on and why it feels more responsive now, look at this!! I know it's obviously there for a reason but your loosing a fair it of air-flow there........

View attachment 1286956

182_steve said:
On a positive note however, thanks to the kindness of a friend (and previous owner of my car!) I have sourced another. He has two Clio's, one bought for parts and another being made into a track car and he and his Dad are very kindly taking the box out of the 'spares' car tonight, for me to collect and pay for tomorrow and take straight to Renault.

Did they know anything about the diy turbo?

182_steve · Apr 7, 2018

T9 0LLE said:
Kept that quiet bud, it’s not going to make the front look lower :tongueout:
Bet you glad to have it back though!!

Haha no I know, just for handling! It was a bit of an after thought really, bought them on a bit of a wim, might get them on, might not, but we'll see :up:

imprezaworks said:
Great news. Credit card took a hit no doubt 😧

Credit card took a BIG hit!! Especially when my daily car needed MOT, service and two new rear tyres in the same week 😊🙈

flebay said:
Did they know anything about the diy turbo?

Wowzers i'd forgotten all about that!! I've never thought about it again tbh!

t90_lle · Apr 7, 2018

182_steve said:
Haha no I know, just for handling! It was a bit of an after thought really, bought them on a bit of a wim, might get them on, might not, but we'll see :up:

1.5degree camber and 12mins toe is what you need, it’ll be noticeable for sure like mine was.

182_steve · Apr 8, 2018

T9 0LLE said:
1.5degree camber and 12mins toe is what you need, it’ll be noticeable for sure like mine was.

Nice one, have made a note of that :up: was going to ask again what did you get yours done at

182_steve · Apr 11, 2018

So today there has been some wheel whoring going on with the end result that I have some new wheels on the Clio, just to mix things up a bit!

Met up earlier today with Ollie and took the standard 'Clios are out together, let's get a pic' photo........ has to be done!

I knew a little while back that @T9 0LLE was thinking of selling his minty mint Subaru Gold 16" Oz F1 wheels so asked @mintno1 to kindly mock me up a couple of photoshops to potentially see what they'd looked like on my car. Great work in these, I wouldn't have a clue with photoshop!!

This was the result;

Both look great, so this got me thinking........... do I fancy a change? YES!

So today Ollie has been a star, did all the graft while I took the all important photos and got the Turini's off and put the Oz's on for me and we both agreed, they do look smart!

But when you have Ollie's collection laying around (bar the Silver Turini's which are mine), would it be rude not to have a play? :smile:

While swapping wheels around, this lot was scooped out of my off-side rear arch, I can't believe how that lot has built up and proves my need for a pressure washer....... potential 'buy' I think soon, I've never had one at home!

With our job complete, it was time to load up the Clio and go home. This is a (rare) moment when you truly see how impractical an upper rear strut brace can be!!!

182_steve · Apr 11, 2018

So I now have TWO spare sets of wheels in the garage, following in the footsteps of @Coops Mk1 maybe ? 😂

With the Oz's, looking at the photoshop above they would look very smart re-done in oem silver (but 16"!) but as I already have silver oem wheels with the Turini's, i'm liking having the gold as a complete change!

NOTE: The Turini's are not for sale, i'm keeping them to put back on the car as and when :up:

Got a couple of quick photos with the Gold Oz wheels now fitted. Not the best light, making the Gold look quite dull but gives an idea!

Clio_fool · Apr 11, 2018

They do look good on it Steve, but then so do the turini's. Nice to have a set waiting in the garage for when you fancy a change though.

t90_lle · Apr 11, 2018

They do look good!!
Just don’t forget our gentlemen’s accord :tonguewink:

Here my couple of pics from today...

Darren61 · Apr 11, 2018

Gold ones look amazing

Not keen on the orange as it’s just far to pretty for those

Pics are great as always!

imprezaworks · Apr 11, 2018

So the rear brace does make a difference. To practicality lol.

Pics are great.

Coops Mk1 · Apr 11, 2018

Looks great Steve!! Been so tempted with those wheels several times but glad they've gone to someone who will use and enjoy them!

182_steve · Apr 12, 2018

OssPoop said:
They do look good on it Steve, but then so do the turini's. Nice to have a set waiting in the garage for when you fancy a change though.

Cheers bud, yes I couldn't agree more, these look great but wouldn't want them as my ONLY wheels if that makes sense? Want to still keep the OEMness of the Turini's as a back up :smile:

T9 0LLE said:
They do look good!!
Just don’t forget our gentlemen’s accord :tonguewink:

Hand shake sealed the deal....... yours back again on first refusal should I ever want to sell!

Darren61 said:
Gold ones look amazing

Not keen on the orange as it’s just far to pretty for those

Pics are great as always!

Agreed! The orange ones are very cool, but on the right car - they scream out 'track car' to me which my car most certainly is not, much prefer the more subtle gold out of the two. But would have been rude to not to try them!

imprezaworks said:
So the rear brace does make a difference. To practicality lol.

Pics are great.

Absolutely, 100% correct 😂

Coops Mk1 said:
Looks great Steve!! Been so tempted with those wheels several times but glad they've gone to someone who will use and enjoy them!

Cheers mate :up:

leedsboy · Apr 12, 2018

I do like the gold F1's, but then I like the OEM-ness of the Turinis.

At least you can play around with them and switch it up when you get bored.

Clio_fool · Apr 12, 2018

T9 0LLE said:
View attachment 1363157
They do look good!!
Just don’t forget our gentlemen’s accord :tonguewink:

Here my couple of pics from today...
View attachment 1363154
View attachment 1363155
View attachment 1363156

That last pic is worth a month for sure, don't lose the original.
I like the orange turini's. I'm sure they would look good in a black clio:wink:

Jekyll · Apr 12, 2018

Gold, looks..... so freaking good!!

Jekyll · Apr 12, 2018

I can see this going/getting modified!

Clio_fool · Apr 12, 2018

Dr Jekyll said:
I can see this going/getting modified!

OEM+ went to s**t when the PMS shifter was fitted imo. Not a bad thing though is it?

Jekyll · Apr 12, 2018

I 100% agree Paul!

t90_lle · Apr 12, 2018

Dr Jekyll said:
I can see this going/getting modified!

OssPoop said:
OEM+ went to s**t when the PMS shifter was fitted imo.

I’m just waiting for a call to tell me it’s booked in to be turbo’d :tongueclosed:

182_steve · Apr 13, 2018

Dr Jekyll said:
Gold, looks..... so freaking good!!

Dr Jekyll said:
I can see this going/getting modified!

thankyou sir!

Still 100% going for the oem+ look with the car (if gold wheels can be classed as oem+!?) so the mods will be far and few between now, i've literally done everything I wanted to do and then some more things on top lol! Long term I wouldn't mind some coilover lows, but this would be a long way off as the Cup shocks are brand new and there's no way they are coming off for a while yet! The only other thing I've thought about is the engine mod I've mentioned below under Ollie's quote.

OssPoop said:
OEM+ went to s**t when the PMS shifter was fitted imo. Not a bad thing though is it?

😂😂 I stand by my new hashtag creation;

#becauseNOTracecar

T9 0LLE said:
I’m just waiting for a call to tell me it’s booked in to be turbo’d :tongueclosed:

Engine Dynamics level 2 is a far as i'd go, with a set of cams going in. I've looked into this before, as part of this package is a timing belt change, therefore it makes sense to do it when the belts are due - which is a way off yet, but something to maybe consider at the time! Would be cams and another remap so would hopefully see around 190bhp with that done but at the mo, NO TURBO! 😂

Coops Mk1 · Apr 13, 2018

Everyone always cracks, standard is all well and good, but we love a tinker and modding is just too warm and fuzzy a feeling to ignore .

Clio_fool · Apr 13, 2018

You may have done everything you wanted to, but we all know that's not a static thing as there's always something else you'll fancy trying. Gold F1's anyone? 😂
What you really need is another clio to focus all your pent up modding energy on. Maybe an inferno cup to go clubman spec on? What a compliment to the oem++++(OK + a couple of sneaky mods) Arctic that would be.

You can thank me later:up:😂😂

182_steve · Apr 13, 2018

Yeah I know what you mean there @OssPoop there IS always something new to 'bolt on' :smile: If I had the £££ and space i'd love a minty mint and totally original phase 1 like @mintno1 's car or a Clio Williams parked next to mine. Then, I probably would go turboooooooooo on the Arctic LOL!

Coops Mk1 said:
Everyone always cracks, standard is all well and good, but we love a tinker and modding is just too warm and fuzzy a feeling to ignore .

This is very true to be fair, you get a standard car and think 'yep, that'll do as they got it spot on from the factory'........... then you see all the better made, performance enhancing, handling enhancing, aftermarket parts to personalise the car and make it even better and two years down the line you look back and think 'yep, it's come on well' 😂

182_steve · Apr 15, 2018

Spent some time on the Clio this morning, it needed a good bath and a tidy up after spending it's time away in the garage for three weeks. Two and a half hours later, this is what I was looking at!

Didn't have all morning, so just a simple procedure but was very happy with the results;

Rinsed
Washed with Auto Finesse 'lather' shampoo
Rinsed
Dried properly with decent towels (probably better than I use on my face!)
Good coat of Auto Finesse 'Glisten' spray wax
Tyres dressed with Meguiars tyre gel
Interior plastics dressed with Autobrite 'Pinksheen'

........ and a cheeky bum shot! :up:

182_steve · Apr 17, 2018

Photo credit to @T9 0LLE here, love this photo

Can also spot @rsdan lurking in the background lol!

Got quick a big steering wheel wobble at around 70mph, so assuming it's just a simple wheel balancing issue with the new wheels, will be sorted Thursday all being well..... got a mate who can re-balance them for £9 a wheel for me at his work he said so should be straight forward, might just get the tracking checked as well while he's at it :up:

imprezaworks · Apr 17, 2018

£9?

I take it for granted mine gets done Foc lol

Stefan. · Apr 17, 2018

I got mine done by no 'mates rates' for £32..

182_steve · Apr 19, 2018

Never said it was a mate's rate, just a friend who was doing it at his work........ i'd pay double that for someone who I trust to work on the car, it's getting the job done right that matters

182_steve · Apr 19, 2018

Beautiful day outside today and a good day to get the car out for a drive, achieved getting the front wheels rebalanced and the front tracking sorted too - my steering wheel was a fraction to the left meaning with the wheel straight, it would want to slowly pull over to the right. Not a huge surprise with all the work done on the car lately but now all sorted!

Front wheels being rebalanced, both were quite a way off where they should be so that explained the big wobble I was getting at 70mph - pleased it's now sorted, especially without the need for a large number of weights! The wheels are all true with no buckles or anything so was hoping it would be a simple job and it was :up:

These two photos show the readings on the two front wheels - all numbers should be zero!

But now all done..............

Obviously at the start of the morning while waiting for the garage to open, it would have been rude not to get some photos :wink:

182_steve's FF 182 progress thread!

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