mikeh's silver 182 FF

[mikeh]

So I picked my 182 up a couple of weeks ago for an absolute steal.

Outside it is almost completely mint, owing to a life of motorways (no idea what would possess someone to buy a 182 for this task, mind!).

It is on 135k miles but given it has lived most of it's life on the motorway, it is in brilliant condition - my only real criticisms (and I'm very picky!) were some stone chips in the bonnet, a ripped thumb grip and scuffed gear knob insert. Engine is sweet as a nut and pulls hard - probably owing to it's easy life and FRSH.

To do:

Replace thumb grips and paint gear knob insert - done

Replace one odd tyre with a PE2 to match the others - done

Cambelt and Dephaser pulley needs doing, I'm just waiting on a member selling just these bits but either way, this will be done by the end of the month/first weekend of April at the latest.

New discs, pads, braided lines all round with some new fluid, just waiting on G 172 to get the 1144s.

Polybush the dog bone mount. Bushes are sat on my desk to be done tomorrow;

Full "fast road" geometry setup, I just need to grab some camber bolts first - again, waiting on a member selling some on here before buying new.

Possibly some new dampers at some point, probably OE items.

More updates as they happen. I want to try and document all of the work in as much detail as possible, partly because it may be useful to others, and partly because it's nice to have this for a new owner, should I ever sell it.

 

[Dan29]

Looks spotless. Doing the bushes yourself? Easy job?

 

[mikeh]

Yes, I'll be doing them myself, they should be easy but I'll be sure to report back on how I get on.

 

[silentsnake]

Looks tidy, would never have thought id had done 135K.

 

[Joe R26]

Looks really nice mate. I forget how much the standard exaust looks like pea shooters though. lol

 

[mikeh]

The exhaust is a minor annoyance, but I'm trying to keep it standard for this year at least to stay in a class I actually have a chance of winning in local Autotests.

I've no idea how long that'll last though.

 

[Joe R26]

Lol, it will rot out before long then you'll be forced to upgrade.

 

[mikeh]

It looks all right, although I've noticed a slight blow.

If a Milltek or Yozza came up for less than £300 I could be tempted

 

[TinaHingas]

nice!!! - same as mine but i have 1/2 the mileage and that looks 2x as clean!! not fair lol

 

[mikeh]

It helps that I have a penchant for cleaning cars, and a dab hand with a machine polisher

Although, I did not go mad with the Clio as it did not need it, that was just a quick 3 hour job - just a polish over to burnish the paint and bring up a little more shine. No correction was performed.

 

[Christopher]

Looks superb for the mileage!

Nice one. I get depressed because mine's on 77k.

 

[mikeh]

I looked at several on less than half this one's mileage, and they were all crap. This one had one owner from new and FRSH, which helped, too.

It just reinforces that you should buy on condition, not mileage.

 

[mikeh]

So I tackled the lower gearbox mount this afternoon, it wasn't as easy as I thought it'd be owing to a very stiff bolt (even though it was soaked in Rostex the day before, and before starting the job).

This is what was required to get the bolt in the end, and even then it snapped a cheap ratchet first (no way was I risking my Halfords Advanced one! Solid bar seems to have gone missing)

New bushes in place

Fitted

There isn't much to report in terms of fitting otherwise, it is ridiculously simple.

I'm very pleased with the results though, gear change feels rock solid all the time, even when booting it. Feels more solid when coming on power harshly, too. I've noticed none of the vibration issues that others have reported, so it's definitely a worthwhile "upgrade".

 

[Joe R26]

Much extra vibration on idle?. Halfords advanced ftw!.

 

[mikeh]

Not that I've noticed, there was perhaps a little more vibration when cold, but this soon went away so it's hard to really judge it.

I'm generally quite fussy about stuff like that, so I'm pretty sure I'd pick up on anything significant.

 

[mikeh]

A bit of LPP action today.

I removed the sound deadening, polished under the bonnet and gave the engine bay a scrub. It was pretty filthy after 135k miles.

I could use some ideas on what to do with the engine cover and the inlet manifold.

 

[Jon.G]

I'm amazed how mint that looks for a car that's done 135k!

Looks mint!

 

[Jon.G]

I'm amazed how mint that looks for a car that's done 135k!

Looks mint!

 

[mikeh]

After a bad PAS leak emptied all of the PAS fluid last night, I set about looking for the problem today.

There is a steel pipe that has a small bracket welded to it and is bolted to the front of the gearbox, this has failed around the bracket. Renault's fix is a £250 pipe and gearbox off to fit apparently, however airbox off, cut pipe, make new section of pipe and two olive/compression fittings later (£10), and we have working PAS again

 

[mikeh]

KTM panel filter fitted today and a few more pics with a friend;

 

[mikeh]

Decat fitted yesterday, I haven't really noticed any difference but it sounds a bit louder now I guess.

De-phaser, aux belt, cambelt, crank bolt etc. all ordered as well, ready to be done next Saturday

I've also ordered some braided lines, so it's just discs and pads and it's all done

 

[mikeh]

I've finally done something I've been meaning to do for ages, and that is to have a dedicated button for my garage door in my car.

Please excuse the shocking solder, I bought a soldering iron under the impression it came with assorted tips when in fact that's an extra and it comes with a 5mm tip! It's like trying to thread a needle with a hammer.

 

[G3 NYX]

Thats awesome! But you have to change that back if your selling it.

 

[mikeh]

Yeah, I figured one of these panels would not be expensive or hard to source with the number of cars breaking on here (the switches are removable).

 

[mikeh]

Little update:

Got my numberplate through, a huge improvement for such little cost!

Some more goodies arrived, too. For a bargain price of £29 inc. delivery!

Camber bolts have been ordered and I'm hoping they'll arrive tomorrow, as it's booked in to Advanced Automotive to have the geometry done. If not, it'll need to be booked in again once I know how what camber shims I'll need following the initial read out.

Cambelt and de-phaser is being done Saturday, too.

Nearly there.

 

[mikeh]

Had the alignment check this afternoon;

Everything was in spec, apart from the toe (which was done quickly with micky mouse laser stuff when I first got the car - it's straight, just a little too much toe out), the caster on one side and the rear thrust angle.

There isn't much I can do about the caster short of changing the wishbone and front shock, both things that should really be done in pairs, I'm not sure how much of a problem it is, the good side is at 3°03' and the other side at 2°27'. It'll get done eventually, I'd like to look at some new suspension in the future anyway.

Rear thrust angle is only 1 minute out, and is thought to be down to worn rear arm bushes. George tells me that polybushing it would sort that out.

I'm quite happy with the rear camber, -1°35 on both sides, so I just need to pop it back up there with the camber bolts that turned up shortly after I got back from AA! and get them to set the front camber at around -1.5° (currently -0°56', -0°45' respectively), which is said to offer a huge improvement according to what I've read.

 

[mikeh]

The cambelt, auxbelt, tensioners, oil, filter and de-phaser pulley was done today - pretty uneventful, other than rounding the corroded torx bolt that plugs the crank pin hole - still managed without the pin though and it's all timed up perfectly

I'm not sure I understand why people say it is a specialist only job, we managed with just one "specialist" tool in the end - it just required a little education and a lot of common sense. It is a difficult job, but it seems most 172/182 owners would have you believe that no one but a specialist or certain Renault workshops can get it right.

I did speak to a Renault tech about it when I bought the parts and he seemed to think the most common thing was people not checking the dephaser pulley was locked before fitting.

Car in bits - headlight had to come out in the end, too.

That'll be why I've been getting a knocking noise then. I thought as much, but had no idea it was that bad. This is the engine mount. f**k overnight parts from Japan, SES Southampton put the replacement part on the Redjet and I had it within an hour.

Oh, and braided lines fitted. Whether it is them, the fact I've replaced the fluid or a combination of both, I do not know but the brakes feel miles better even with the EOL discs and pads that are on there - I can't wait to get the new stuff now

Yes, I'm aware the CV boot is off, that was sorted too along with finally balancing the wheels

Just a little blow in the exhaust and the discs and pads now

 

[mikeh]

A little update. The car competed in it's first autotest event a few weeks ago, everything went well and the car managed 2nd and 3rd in class with my dad and myself at the helm.

A few jobs were completed last week and today, too. New discs and pads are on, both cv boots replaced (I didn't think trying to fix a plastic boot with a zip tie would really work :/), exhaust blow sorted, tail pipe alignment sorted to be mm perfect, vibration from fuel rail cover sorted.

I've been thinking about selling up for something a little more compliant on the road, but have since been contemplating keeping it and replacing the suspension for trophy stuff. That and some 15" 2118s would complete the car for me, I think.

 

[mikeh]

I've spent the day today chavving my car.

Bright callipers aren't usually my thing, but I absolutely love the silver/yellow thing, and I think it tidies things up well.

 

[WOBBLE46]

Car looking good bud,just wish i had the know how,knew i should of listened in school....

 

[mikeh]

My car got the Gtechniq treatment yesterday;

Cleaned, clayed, a couple of scratches wet sanded, these and a few lighter bits were done with P1 and Menz compounding pad, then the rest of the car was done with P1 and Menz finishing pad (it was pretty good from last time, to be fair). All topped off with C1 on the paint and G1 on glass.

[youtube]yec3lYCucnM[/youtube]

 

[Joe R26]

Looks good Mike. Loving the tripod photo .

I see what you mean about doing the cambelt etc. I recently done mine, I purchased the Renault tools which made it much easier. But like you say, people seem to think its a specialist only job and can't be performed by anyone else. Aslong as you've got some knowledge and your careful its not too bad. Check and check again.

Watch my car go bang now lol.

 

[mikeh]

Whilst I appreciate their contributions to the Forum, I think a lot of it is down to the Specialists on here telling horror stories and then the rest of the forum regurgitating this information without actually understanding it.

I met a lot of cynicism on another forum I frequent, telling me that I shouldn't come back crying when my car doesn't work if I was do to the cambelt myself - yet these same people could not tell me why, just that even some Renault garages "can't do an RS cambelt". I don't doubt some people mess the job up, but I believe the trouble comes when people fail to do their research or are sloppy in ways that perhaps may not be a problem on a "normal" belt job.

 

[mikeh]

New Cup Shocks, sportline springs, top mounts, ARB polybushes, wishbone polybushes, track rods and ball joints all done. That is now every bush that can be polybushed done now, too.


Some boring pictures:

IMG_0158 by mikehiow, on Flickr

IMG_0159 by mikehiow, on Flickr

IMG_0160 by mikehiow, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22354094@N02/6553664657/in/photostream/


[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/22354094@N02/6553664657/]IMG_0161 by mikehiow, on Flickr

(I did notice the missing bump stop and put it in there after this pic )

O[/URL]h, also picked up some F1s wrapped in R888s and Indysports for my Silverstone GP day in Feb.

 

[STRBramley]

Love that garage button. Car looks really good.

 

[mikeh]

Been out for more goodies this morning - Honda Formula Red paint for the OZ F1s, so I can get down to the unit over the Christmas period to get them blasted and painted - a brilliant opportunity to test out the new media blaster, spray guns and spray booth

Also picked up a new crank sensor - just the steering wheel, DS3000s and an oil/filter change before I'm ready for Silverstone GP in February.

 

[guysy]

Nice upgrades!!

 

[bcfc_csf]

looks nice n tidy that

 

[mikeh]

So I decided to give my new wheels a lick of paint - a perfect chance to test the new facilities.


This was a huge learning curve for me, but I got there in the end. I spent a lot of time trying different methods and techniques, figuring out what worked best for me.


The job is by no means flawless, but they look pretty good, and they are not mistakes I'll make again.


Just need to get down there tomorrow to give them a few coats of lacquer and they are ready to roll.

Blasted wheel - the aim here wasn't to strip them completely as the blaster was playing up and these were taking ages.

I'll grab a picture of the finished article once they've been lacquered tomorrow.

 

[RB182CUP-FF]

hi mate you got any pics of the car with the F1's fitted, on sportlines?