This is very helpful, many thanks!I’m currently going through my car repairing all the early or developed areas of rust. If people don’t jump on this now there will be plenty of Ph2 cars coming off the road soon! Areas I have found so far:
1) sills - Jacking points are made of cheese and over the years unsympathetic jacking sees many of these bent and out of shape. However this creates a crap trap and you’ll find plenty of rust that needs sorting as a result. Also where the front wing attaches for the sill. Again crap gets stuck and eventually rust appears.
2) front bumper brackets. Both of my clios had this, the brackets on their own seem to poorly finished from the factory! I can see this being a real problem for people in a few years if they don’t treat now
3) fuel filler cap- Renault in their wisdom used a single thin skin of metal on the outter wing to hold the filler flap in place. The filler flap hinge gets sticky over time and the greater force required to open it flex’s the area, weakening paint and rust forms on the front side. However the back side of this area also gets an absolute kicking as mud, stones and general crap get flung like a shot blaster into the cavity around the filler neck! Which makes the petrol filler neck a particularly nasty place for rust.
4) Wheel arches - again some problems occurring usually around poorly covered spot welds, suspension turrets and where arch liner clips sit. Also the front brake hose brackets. When you start digging you quickly see there are several areas which just over time salt, mud and rubbing from use wear away the factory protection.
5) underside - messy job this, but the rear underside of these cars is a problem, I suspect many owners don’t know how much of a problem this is likely to be in the future. The box section abs suspension platforms have cavities built in from new, the rear beam attachment plates rust, but this seems to spread to the boot floor. Also whilst you are there have a look around the fuel tank. As some of the corrosion seems to spread underneath.
6) rear wheel arches - stupid lip from the factory! Catches crap. Rust forms on the inner edge.
7) inner sills - old favourite drop the rear door cards and have a look.
That’s as far as I have gotten at the moment.
I hear so many people say ‘car is rust free’ I would’ve said the same about mine, however they rarely are in my experience. I’d certainly get someone to look at it before I had the chassis and cavity covered in protection.
Will post some pics on here once I’ve had a good look at it 👍I would spend a couple of hours with the car in the dry with a good screw driver and an inspection light. Take the wheels off and have a good poke with the wheels off. The cars are just the age where these things can be saved. Another couple of years and it will get very pricey. Don’t be disheartened if you find localised rusting. Just scrape it all back treat and move on.
Will post some pics on here once I’ve had a good look at it 👍
Why not join me in the god tier restoration... 😂Please do mate, it always spurs me on when I’m picking rust out of my ears and eyes to know I’m not the only one trying to preserve one of these s**t boxes
Well spotted, didn’t notice that. Will take a better look at that.It’s gone on the filler cap mate that bubbling will need sorting View attachment 1512943
The areas I took pictures of were the worst bits so not too bad but I will have a better look at the car once I give it a deep clean and get it in the garage. Will take skirts, arch liners and bumpers off and have a poke around. Once I’ve assessed the condition I’ll then start protecting.Your rear arches look like they need some more looking at as well mate. Like I said before drop the arch liners and have a good prod. If it were me I would remove the skirts and have a proper good look
Same here mate, I got the car early November and haven’t really driven it a great deal since as I’ve wanted to get it protected before it sees the roads againI got an eye for it now mate, I am currently sorting all this out on my second 182. Trying to sort all this out over the winter. But it’s constant!
Good on you.... why the hell are you doing this to a Clio thoughWhy not join me in the god tier restoration... 😂
One. Contact a local rust proofing place for a price. Make sure that is all they do. Like preserve and protect in Scotland.
Or, Bilt Hamber products. Ignore the rest.
Getting into those triangular cavities is near impossible too, I resorted to a less than ideal liberal coat of hydrate 80 and dynax. Hope for the best and look back at it next spring with eyes half closed.That looks well tidy.
From my experience you need to have a look under the car in front of the rear spring mounts there is a cavity. IMO that is the worst spot on these, close second is the filler cap (have a good look behind with liner removed), then front bumper mounts then sills.
The rest is just ugly but not especially harmful to the car (brake servo, rear brake line/hand brake bracket etc).
Good on you.... why the hell are you doing this to a Clio though
Also, where did you buy the rotisserie from.... looks nice!
Cheaper than a Porsche or Alfa gt junior.
Plus It’s the driving experience I keep going back to and imo a future icon.
Guy called Ade Foreman engineering on Facebook & eBay.
Nice chap working out of a small workshop in Telford.
Was it bad enough to warrant the full strip down? Or are you aiming to make it better than factory etc. Off to search for a project thread if one exists!
I've only ever gone down to a totally striped shell when floors or inner sills need replacing.
I mentioned the sills earlier, but having just sorted mine I completely agreeSurprised the sideskirts havent been mentioned. Majority are still rivetted on, drill the rivets out and inspect the rear portion, and around the jacking points. Mine appeared ok on the inside but was going outside and perforated in some areas.
They also rust between the fuel tank and body on the driver side, up high so essentially beneath the rear seat but above what you can easily access.
That’s very handy to see, thanks!The red oxide coated areas conveniently highlight where i found surface rust on mine!