Purchased a small French lightweight hot hatch - Renault Clio 172 Cup & NOW 182 Trophy

[Gibbo]

When I had my 1.2 16v 8 years ago, always felt the steering wheel was just huge, felt like a bus haha.

Yeah its a big one and the seating position is rather high up, absolutely does not feel sporty with the seat position. But its not uncomfortable and visibility is fantastic.

I do like the Sabelt Renaultsport sterring wheels, only £195 delivered.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUMMER-O...egane-r26-Sabelt-Steering-Wheels/132713026417

 

[loltim]

Just spotted this, its an absolute bargain:
https://www.gumtree.com/p/renault/renault-clio-sport-cup-172-mot-failure/1309464703

£500 for a one owner 172 cup, yes its slightly higher mileage due to the 73,000 miles, but the price is silly, clearly a lady who can't afford to fix it for MOT or has another car and has given up. Also make offer is enabled, probably bag that for £400!

The list of failures are easily fixed, yes it might need a new door or a good repair and ideally a new steering wheel, but at £500 its a steal as in the advert it does state its a runner, just hire a low loader for a day (£100) and go pick it up, probably cost you £400-£500 to resolve all the MOT Fail/Advisory notes, then you've got a one owner low miles cup for a grand. Then either restore it or enjoy it.

@spaz

Surely that's worth a punt for 500 quid.

 

[MooMoo444]

Just spotted this, its an absolute bargain:
https://www.gumtree.com/p/renault/renault-clio-sport-cup-172-mot-failure/1309464703

£500 for a one owner 172 cup, yes its slightly higher mileage due to the 73,000 miles, but the price is silly, clearly a lady who can't afford to fix it for MOT or has another car and has given up. Also make offer is enabled, probably bag that for £400!

The list of failures are easily fixed, yes it might need a new door or a good repair and ideally a new steering wheel, but at £500 its a steal as in the advert it does state its a runner, just hire a low loader for a day (£100) and go pick it up, probably cost you £400-£500 to resolve all the MOT Fail/Advisory notes, then you've got a one owner low miles cup for a grand. Then either restore it or enjoy it.

You will have to bin off the beemer and the jag to make room for more clios at this rate

 

[Amos91]

1. Wiped down interior and all is well, no marks, burns, scratches, spotless inside. But its all rather grey, any kind of recommended trim restorer anyone recommends as its one of the things I don't have in my collection of car cleaning products.

•It is a pretty grey drab interior to be honest!

2. The battery is not fastened down by anything, so you can move it and I can't see any kind of bracket to clamp it, obviously it can't escape as its in a space not much bigger than it but batteries should be clamped down, so if mine missing something?

•Yes there should be a clamp on the right side between the battery and the fuse box: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-...enic-Espace-Trafic-Modus-Kangoo-/261187050664

3. Power steering reservoir is empty, guess the leak at front of engine is power steering from PS pipe, though when I drove it home steering felt fine and was quiet. What fluid do they take, I've got ATF, CHF and slick 50 in my collection.

• Not good! It uses ATF, Dexon 2 is what Renault recommend.
•A leak on the PAS isn't ideal as the high pressure PAS pipe is expensive (I found this out last week).
•Common areas to look, just near the alternator there is a PAS pipe that heads directly down andthere is a PAS pressure switch (grey) on the pipe, if you're lucky they fail at the switch.
•Unless its the pump itself, it will be the high pressure pipe like mine (circa £200 pipe), its the the pipe that heads directly down after the pressure switch, goes over to the gearbox, then over the gearbox, back down and into the rack. Nightmare to change and the Cups have a specific pipe.

4. The ECU bracket that is bolted to strut tower is snapped just after the bolt it wobbles, can't go anywhere, can it be welded? Assume so, otherwise I guess nothing that some gorilla tape won't fix either.

Standard feature. Simplest fix is to sandwich the remaining bit of metal between two oversize washers and bolt it down.

6. The front plastic grill / shroud is faded, I've put some trim restorer on to good effect, but they are not permanent. Same for lower plastic grill and foglight surrounds, do these all remove easily as probably best to just give them a coat of matt or satin black paint.

Easiest if you take the bumper off, but its all simple push clips.

7. Scuttle panel and wipers are heavily faded, again easy to remove as can just paint too?

Pretty easy to remove - remove the rubber seal and there are some pop clips on each side. The drivers one is easy as there is no interference from the wipers. Passenger side you have to remove the wiper blades, normally one of the blades will be corroded to the spindle, so you will need a puller, something like this:

https://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/tools/hand-tools/laser-ball-joint-separator-cup

That is it, they are all minor little niggles, power steering fluid been void is an issue as it seems dry but steering sounds fine, so see what score is there, no doubt pipe leaking at rack end.

Just don't drive it empty, I did half a lap at Snetterton (slow pace) after I noticed the smoke pouring at the back and the PAS pump has already died.

 

[Gibbo]

•It is a pretty grey drab interior to be honest!



•Yes there should be a clamp on the right side between the battery and the fuse box: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-...enic-Espace-Trafic-Modus-Kangoo-/261187050664



• Not good! It uses ATF, Dexon 2 is what Renault recommend.
•A leak on the PAS isn't ideal as the high pressure PAS pipe is expensive (I found this out last week).
•Common areas to look, just near the alternator there is a PAS pipe that heads directly down andthere is a PAS pressure switch (grey) on the pipe, if you're lucky they fail at the switch.
•Unless its the pump itself, it will be the high pressure pipe like mine (circa £200 pipe), its the the pipe that heads directly down after the pressure switch, goes over to the gearbox, then over the gearbox, back down and into the rack. Nightmare to change and the Cups have a specific pipe.



Standard feature. Simplest fix is to sandwich the remaining bit of metal between two oversize washers and bolt it down.



Easiest if you take the bumper off, but its all simple push clips.




Pretty easy to remove - remove the rubber seal and there are some pop clips on each side. The drivers one is easy as there is no interference from the wipers. Passenger side you have to remove the wiper blades, normally one of the blades will be corroded to the spindle, so you will need a puller, something like this:

https://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/tools/hand-tools/laser-ball-joint-separator-cup



Just don't drive it empty, I did half a lap at Snetterton (slow pace) after I noticed the smoke pouring at the back and the PAS pump has already died.

Thank you!
Battery clamp ordered!
Yes the majority of the oil is all on PS line near the alternator, further along to PS reservoir the pipes are dry. Maybe is the switch then.

Got quite a collection of parts coming for it, as parts arrive I shall photo and post them up. The specialist says they can do it all in a day, hope so as its mounting up:

- Major service
- All belts including dephaser, accessory pulleys, crank bolt, water pump etc.
- Rocker cover re-seal
- Upper engine mount (probably fit this myself if it arrives soon enough) along with powerflex yellow insert
- Gearbox mount
- Dogbone mount
- Track rod ends both sides (inner and outer), as NSF inner rack end was advisory on MOT, so just refreshing the pair
- Fit new dampers all round along with fresher cup or cooks springs (got a set of 20k miles cup springs for £12) and bidding on a set of 5000 mile cooks at £70) along with new top mounts
- Powerflex rear beam bushes
- New reservoir header tank
- Fix power steering issue (for now I shall add some dexron 2 and some slick50 to get it to specialist)
- New HT leads (probably fit myself, not required but £25 from ECP with Summer35 code)
- Gearbox oil change
- New plates (fit myself)
- New upper brake light (fit myself)
- New clear side repeaters (fit myself)
- New door strips and bullets as mine are scratch (found a set for £20)
- Fuel filter



The above should freshen the car up nicely and in theory will remedy all and any engine bay issues the car maybe has along with a good percentage of the suspension/bushes refreshed.
Anything the specialist finds on top shall be done on the day or at a later date.

This should make the car spot on and most of all not a ticking time bomb and safe to drive.

This weekend I plan to remove inlet manifold, air box, battery and give that area of the engine bay a good cleaning and check over. I shall then spray the inlet manifold in silver along with tidying everything else up and re-fitting. May also spray the front grills and fog surrounds in satin black or with black plastidip.

Then in coming weeks:
- All wheels repaired in silver
- set of AD08R's all round

Then I shall probably get the brakes fully refreshed and conditions all round, so Brembo HC disc all round with a good pad, like Lorraines performance option, along with the calipers all cleaned and replaced if necessary.
Then any suspension bush not refreshed, shall also be done, so front wishbone bushes, anti-roll bar bushes, drop links and any other bushes.


That in theory should fully refresh the entire drivetrain, suspension, brakes and have the car driving, handling and stopping as it did once it left the showroom, but with some additional grip from the Yoko tyres.

Then body work, touch or repaint the damaged/chips areas, then a full professional detail and correction, to get the exterior looking as new.

Don't think I have missed anything.



Quick picture of how the front grill and fog surrounds came up after an external trim restorer, before then after:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

P.S. I noticed my car has a rear wiper, yet I notice some cups do not. Was rear wipe an option, easy to remove and if so where can I buy the blanking plate?

 

[Alex_6n2]

Ah the joys of RenaultSport Clio ownership

Can recommend DS2500 pads, served me well for road and track driving over the ~5 years I had my 182 Cup

Sounds like you have everything covered though, next thing is go out and get it on three wheels

 

[Amos91]

Thank you!

You're welcome!

Two things from me:

1) High level brake light, have you definitely got the right one as the CUP spoiler has a different part number. I know a few guys recently were really struggling to find a new one and its NLA with Renault

2) Fuel filter - not really serviceable as its in the tank / fuel sender. Also rated to 150k.

 

[Gibbo]

You're welcome!

Two things from me:

1) High level brake light, have you definitely got the right one as the CUP spoiler has a different part number. I know a few guys recently were really struggling to find a new one and its NLA with Renault

2) Fuel filter - not really serviceable as its in the tank / fuel sender. Also rated to 150k.

1. Ah, we shall see, is probably wrong, shall get that returned, was like £22
2. That was £8 wasted, not end of the world.


You know about the rear wiper? Can I easily delete it and the motor and get a blank plate?

 

[Amos91]

You know about the rear wiper? Can I easily delete it and the motor and get a blank plate?

Sometimes need a grinder through the arm to get the wiper spindle free but otherwise its easy to unbolt and remove the motor. Plenty of blanks available on eBay.

 

[Supernova]

With a flat rear end the soiling on the rear will be high in bad weather. Why delete? It's faster to fix it by putting a new arm on?

I don't understand rear wiper deletes. Cars that don't have them from the factory, don't have them because the spray doesn't land on their flatter rear glass.

No manufacturer would put a wiper on if it didn't serve a practical purpose. Just my 2 pence...

 

[Uncle_Gravy]

The rear wiper on the clio is pointless anyway, the the rear glass is like a bubble so only a very small portion of glass the wiper actually gets.

 

[Supernova]

I owned one for years. I wouldn't personally say that seeing out the back of the car was pointless. It wipes as much as any other hatchback.

 

[Uncle_Gravy]

i had my little clio for 6 years, Never found the wiper to be effective, I just throw on the rear heated screen and found i never had an issue, each to their own really.

 

[Duke]

Don't forget to apply UV protection on the headlamps else they'll go cloudy again quickly as you've taken that layer off. You can buy a small bottle off Amazon for a few quid and just rub it on (ooer).

 

[Gibbo]

Don't forget to apply UV protection on the headlamps else they'll go cloudy again quickly as you've taken that layer off. You can buy a small bottle off Amazon for a few quid and just rub it on (ooer).

Yeah done that, had some stuff in the garage.

 

[shauncr91]

ignore

 

[melchy]

I've had my 182 for 11 years and just can't bring myself to get rid of the little thing. Age is starting to catch up with it a little bit, but it is still so much fun to drive. It is still on shared duty with my other car.

 

[Gibbo]

Hi there


Went Halfords today to get supplies to further restoring the car, grabbed a Meguiars clay bar as a lot of contaminants on the paint so might get round to claying the car tomorrow. will then give a compound, polish and wax by hand when I get round to that, priority first is the mechanical stuff.
I also grabbed some 1500, 2000 and 2500 sand paper, also the meguiars headlight restoration kit G2000 was on offer at £1800, so grabbed that long with some engine degreaser, dexron 2, silver VHT paint, matt black, so tomorrows plan is paint front grill, degrease engine bay, paint inlet manifold etc.
Also added the Dexron 2 seems the reservoir was just very low but not empty, the leak is near the alternator so maybe pressure valve, specialist can sort.


So I had another go at headlights first with Meguiars pad and cleaner, then 1500 grit wet, 2000 grit wet and finally 2500 grit wet. Then a spray over with Meguiars UV protectant. WOW have they come up amazing, will grab better photos tomorrow once grill is painted but even in the dark you can see the extra depth, its another transformation:

Also polished up the rear lights as well, though those were pretty fine, but some compound, polish and wax later, still an improvement, no pictures I am afraid.


Another parts delivery today, just a small one:

- Yellow smelly bloke, got one in M3 too, suits colour scheme.
- Official 172 cup badges that go on the door pillars
- New gear surround as current one is ripped
- Updated top mount nuts, to go with new dampers, top mounts that arrived yesterday
- Got a rear upper brake light, but as previously mentioned its wrong one.



So plenty to crack on with tomorrow.

 

[Supernova]

"also the meguiars headlight restoration kit G2000 was on offer at £1800"

Blimey!

I noticed the Cup 172 badges were missing. Glad you got them - they are cool.

 

[Gibbo]

"also the meguiars headlight restoration kit G2000 was on offer at £1800"

Blimey!

I noticed the Cup 172 badges were missing. Glad you got them - they are cool.

Haha forgot decimal point.

Yeah seems some have them, some do not like some have rear wipers and some do not. My updates to the car or maybe they were options when buying.