Clio 172 Project

Well ok, I’ve been busy lately and I’m also lazy so I’ve not got around to updating this.  But the good news is that the 172 flew through it’s MOT with no advisories .  THANK GOD!  lol

That is all.

Ok so I struggled with a witty title.

Anyway a THRILLING update blog fans!  I fitted my “aero” flat stylee wiper blades.  Needed to replace the old ones as they were smearing like fuck and god only knows when they were last replaced so after searching about and trying to find some Bosch Aero Twins, or whatever they are called, and then attempting to get some of the Tesco’s brand I gave in and bought some povo eBay ones lol.  £11 delivered and direct fitment for the Clio.  I fully expected them to be shit…and I was wrong.  Work perfectly, even at speed, and look a shit load better than the old crap ones I had.  Nice build quality too and really quickly delivered.  So I’ll probably grab another set for spares and add them to the pile.

Before and afters:

In other news the car is now MOT’d for another year but I’ve also discovered the water pump is leaking.    I meant to get it replaced when I had the cam and fan belts done…but forgot all about it until after I’d picked the car up.  Thought it would be alright, but obviously not so back in it goes to the garage.  Ah well, I’ll be able to buy my new exhaust at some point lol just means that the track session around Rockingham at FCS is out of the window as there is no way I’ll pass the noise limit of 98dB with the current chavtastic exhaust that’s on at the minute.  Gutted tbh but thems them breaks when it comes to owning a Renault PMSL.

No not that Season Affective Disorder thing, just sad.

I got home to find that the postie had brought me lots and lots of wonderful parcels, well ok three.  One isn’t important as it’s just something to let me try out a camera mount…but the other two.  WOW!

Ok I’m concerned, I’m actually excited about this shit and can’t wait to try it out lol.

Yup more cleaning products!  PMSL

What you see is a Meguiars Smooth Surface Clay Kit, from eBay £20 delivered which is the cheapest I could find it anywhere for brand new.  Clearkote Vanilla Moose Wax Hand Glaze, oddly it’s actually polish.  Poorboy’s White Diamond Glaze.  Poorboy’s EX-P Sealant.  Annnnnnnnnnnnnd the thing I can’t wait to try out as I’ve never used the real stuff before, Victoria Collectors Wax.  Oh and for the eagle eyed I’ve got some OEM side repeaters from a Ph2, not all that sure on them tbh but figured for the price and as I’ve already got some silver bulbs for them I’ll give them a whirl.

All of the detailing stuff was from DetailedObsession.co.uk and I can’t recommend Gareth’s services enough.  He spent a long, LONG, time going through the options for my paint with me and explained what each thing would do and which would work the best, not which was the most expensive/fashionable.  Really friendly guy, a good price and really fast delivery.   Oooh and he included full instructions on how to use each individual product and in what order.  I don’t know many other companies out there that offer such a personal service, not for a reasonable price.

So now all I need is some spare time and some half decent weather.  Ideally I’d prefer to of been able to machine polish the car, but as I don’t have a DA that’s impossible lol so it will have to wait till later in the year for that but hopefully it will correct the scratch I found on the rear n/s quarter when I do.  Saturday is out of the question for this big detail as the cars in at Renault to have the bonnet catch recall work carried out and then I’m off, unless it get cancelled due to lack of interest, to meet some of the ClioSport lot from my area. So Sunday, weather permitting will be the big day!

In other Clio news there has been a creaking noise coming from the front suspension which I put down to the common turret nut problem, which I ordered some washers from a “company” (which will for now remain nameless) to fix it with nearly a month ago and they still haven’t arrived…worst service EVER, but I noticed some play in the steering, a wobble at errm “speed” and the odd knock.  Guessed it would be a balljoint gone so I ran it into the garage again, I swear to god they sees more of my car than I do atm lol, and confirmed that “both the balljoints are fucked” which is the technical term IIRC.  So it’s booked in there for the 3rd April to have them replaced ahead of ISTS/MOT.

Speaking of MOT it’s booked in on 17th April.

Sent the car into the garage for the replacement of it’s o/s CV following it deciding that it no longer wanted to stay in place or keep the grease where it should be.

An hour and £50 later the jobs a goodun. I could of done the job myself, but for £50 why would I? I fucking HATE doing CV boots and hate even more the horrible grease.

Unfortunately though the aux belt has started making a shit load of noise and has moved over on the alternator pulley or was never fitted correctly in the first place plus it’s due to be replaced anyway. So it’s booked in on the 16th for new cam and aux belts along with all the tensioners, cam isn’t due till next year but the aux belt has to come off to do it anyway so might as well get both done at the same time. £520…but it’s better to pay that than buy/repair the whole engine.

In other news I’ve had a load of deliveries recently, nothing all that exciting. Engine cover bolts and washers, silver bulbs, engine cover replacement sticker and most of my service kit (genuine Renault pollen, oil and fuel filter).

I still need to get an ITG Profilter air errm filter, NGK PFR6E-10 spark plugs and make a decision on what 5W-40 oil I’m going to go for, currently thinking it will be Silkoline PRO S though.  Think I’ll be leaving the service until after Internatioal Styling and Tuning Show (ISTS) in April though as I’m doing a track session there so it will no doubt need it after that anyway.

However next month is MOT time.  So I’ll be getting two new Toyo T1-Rs fitted to the rears just in case the scuffing causes me any problems there and unfortunately I’ll have to put up with another month with the chav Powerflow exhaust as thanks to two companies screwing me over this month with hidden charges or fucking up my direct debit payment I’ve had to pay out a lot for stuff I wasn’t expecting.    Wank.  Just have to hope that I pass the dB tests at Donnington, it’s a loud day though so fingers cross it will be fine.

Once everything has calmed down and the exhaust has FINALLY been sorted then I’m going to uprate the brakes.  They don’t really need it as it stops on a 5p as it is, but as I’ll be doing a few track sessions this year I’d rather know they were up to the job.  Not going for anything rediculous just some Brembo High Carbon (HC) discs and Ferodo DS-2500 brake pads at the front, then standard 172 jobbies at the rear, braided hoses all round and some Castrol Responce Dot 4 brake fluid.