My cheap(ish) 172 Cup

Polynesian · Dec 3, 2025

Sharpie did not work well on mine. In the end I junked the whole setup when input buckets in and used BMW receivers… sorry.

Polynesian · Dec 3, 2025

I’d also tried Gtechniq trim restorer, slight improvement but still like one of those old white dog poos.

ex-Chinese Dave · Dec 4, 2025

Polynesian said:
I’d also tried Gtechniq trim restorer, slight improvement but still like one of those old white dog poos.

Yeah, I think some of these videos online are probably not of the first attempts. I gently heated mine but the point at which it starts to look crap happens so quickly that all you're left with is something that needs replacing.

Colin-S · Dec 4, 2025

Polynesian said:
I’d also tried Gtechniq trim restorer, slight improvement but still like one of those old white dog poos.

Tried this on mine as well - did nothing

I don't want to risk a heat gun incase I melt them.

ex-Chinese Dave · Jan 5, 2026

First time in weeks that the drive was free and perfect temperatures for working outside…

I decided to fit the door trim that got to replace the exploding one. I took the card and bits off again and had to cut the strip a little to fit. It’s not the same as the original but you wouldn’t know unless you looked at the other door. I couldn’t find another so it’s fine for now. Some of the trim is loose but I guess that’s a lot of 172’s are the same as there is nothing missing or broken. I need a fix for it and have asked in the interior thread.

I also flushed out the screen wash as it was not a strong dilution. I’ve checked that no pressures were down in the tyres but it was -5 when I checked so I just brought the near side front up to the others. I’ve no idea what the pressure should be at such low temperatures.

I e a chance again this week to do a few other bits….

geoffn · Jan 5, 2026

My Cup has the same door trim issue - its a feature!

Louis · Jan 5, 2026

Show a photo of the inside of that bracket and the inside of the door where it fits.

I'm sure it's meant to have a little hook at the bottom but I can't remember now

ex-Chinese Dave · Jan 5, 2026

Louis said:
Show a photo of the inside of that bracket and the inside of the door where it fits.

I'm sure it's meant to have a little hook at the bottom but I can't remember now

This was inside the door card loose when I took it off. I’m not sure how it fits. If this is what you mean I’ll have to take a look at the other side as well as that’s not perfect but not as loose as the drivers side.

ex-Chinese Dave · Jan 7, 2026

Yesterday I decided to tackle the issue of the top half of my heated rear window not working. I had already checked the contacts on each side and they looked perfect. So, I bought a cheap tester and a conductive paint repair kit from eBay a few weeks ago and in I went!
I looked at a few guides on YT and they were easy to follow. I used the tester as described and found four tiny scratches in the wire on each line. I cleaned it all up and opened the paint only to find it had gone hard. Bummer! So I ordered some from Halfords and collected it today. I've put in on as per the instructions and will test it tonight. If it all works i'll need a new blade to tidy up the edges but i'll be happy I didn't go down the route of a new tailgate!

ex-Chinese Dave · Jan 7, 2026

Well, b****cks! None of the 'repaired' lines work. Tomorrow i'll go over them again with another coat of the paint and do another test just to make sure there aren't any other breaks i've missed.

Brigsy · Jan 7, 2026

The mrs 225 has same issue on rear heated window, i also tried the paint and no joy. Worth a shot though, 2nd coat wont hurt

ex-Chinese Dave · Jan 8, 2026

I tried another coat of the paint and there is no joy. I'll give it another one tomorrow but it's looking like a fail on this. At least the bottom half works.

npt · Jan 8, 2026

Just get a good back window and through it in, very easy to find locally I'd imagine

ex-Chinese Dave · Jan 9, 2026

A lot of hassle, though. There is a tailgate going in Hull but i'd have to get it and fit it and there's no guarantee the heated window part is working.

ex-Chinese Dave · Jan 9, 2026

Managed to refit the rear badges this morning. The ‘CLIO’ one is a little loose so that’ll need doing at some point.
They are on straight but the RENAULT badge was broken and they are expensive to replace.

ex-Chinese Dave · Jan 18, 2026

New radiator and knock sensor have arrived but won’t be going in until the service in June.

Polynesian · Jan 18, 2026

I’ve got the rad, aircon condenser thing and hoses to go in this week… all going well (which it doesn’t).

NickReilly063 · Jan 19, 2026

A little bit of a sale on at the moment on badges -

Monogramme arrière RENAULT SPORT Clio II R.S.

Monogramme arrière RENAULT SPORT Clio II R.S. Monogramme arrière R.S. d'origine pour Renault Clio II R.S.

shop.renaultsport.com

ex-Chinese Dave · Jan 31, 2026

I still have the slight knocking sound that i'm convinced is coming from the gear selector rod under the car. I've got some small springs which I'm going to try and fit in such a way that it dampens any movement but still allows the gear change without hindrance. There really isn't much to fit the springs to so I'm going to have to come up with a good idea to do something that allows me to find out if it's definitely the rod that makes the noise. If it is it's something inside the gearbox that is loose or broken. I'll do this on Monday when I have the driveway free and hopefully I get a result.

Polynesian · Jan 31, 2026

NickReilly063 said:
A little bit of a sale on at the moment on badges -

Monogramme arrière RENAULT SPORT Clio II R.S.

Monogramme arrière RENAULT SPORT Clio II R.S. Monogramme arrière R.S. d'origine pour Renault Clio II R.S.

shop.renaultsport.com

Thanks for posting this. Unfortunately still not that far off of the price of my Alpina badges, and I just can’t bring myself to do it for Renault ones! I know I will eventually. Do each of the three rear badges need the little clips?

Polynesian · Jan 31, 2026

ex-Chinese Dave said:
I still have the slight knocking sound that i'm convinced is coming from the gear selector rod under the car. I've got some small springs which I'm going to try and fit in such a way that it dampens any movement but still allows the gear change without hindrance. There really isn't much to fit the springs to so I'm going to have to come up with a good idea to do something that allows me to find out if it's definitely the rod that makes the noise. If it is it's something inside the gearbox that is loose or broken. I'll do this on Monday when I have the driveway free and hopefully I get a result.

Do you think there was any damage to the selector rod? See anything at all? It just sounds weird… I guess you might know more on Monday. Hope you can see an obvious fix (and not a gearbox internals issue).

ex-Chinese Dave · Jan 31, 2026

Polynesian said:
Do you think there was any damage to the selector rod? See anything at all? It just sounds weird… I guess you might know more on Monday. Hope you can see an obvious fix (and not a gearbox internals issue).

I don't think so. The gearbox was rebuilt by Mark and fitted by Birchdown and I've 100% trust in them. It's got to be something stupid or something that has just broken. I doesn't affect how the car drives but it's annoying. Matt Cup has sat in and heard it so it's not just me.

NickReilly063 · Jan 31, 2026

Polynesian said:
Thanks for posting this. Unfortunately still not that far off of the price of my Alpina badges, and I just can’t bring myself to do it for Renault ones! I know I will eventually. Do each of the three rear badges need the little clips?

As far as I can remember it’s only the Clio badge that has any lugs on the back -

Polynesian · Jan 31, 2026

NickReilly063 said:
As far as I can remember it’s only the Clio badge that has any lugs on the back -

View attachment 1775740 View attachment 1775741

Thanks, Nick. Also, that looks very shiny

ex-Chinese Dave · 2026-02-07T11:39:48+0000

Boring update to follow...

So I've not made any progress on finding the cause of the clunking noise (not the one from the suspension). This noise really ruins the driving experience because everything else is perfect when driving. I'm sure if I have the geometry done correctly that will make it drive even better but it's a joy to drive. I was convinced a few days ago that it was clutch related, but driving home last night when cold I couldn't hear the noise so well until the car was warmed up. This is making me think that it is the gear selector because when the gearbox oil is cold it probably damps the movement a little but when warm whatever rattles is free to move. Makes sense? Also, the only thing loose under the car is the gear selector rod because it's supposed to move, obviously. Anyway, on Tuesday I have the driveway so i'll get on and under the front end and push, pull, knock and rattle every single f***ing part to make sure there's nothing i've missed. If I find a rogue 17mm spanner under there i'm going to throw a party !!

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My cheap(ish) 172 Cup

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Monogramme arrière RENAULT SPORT Clio II R.S.

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Monogramme arrière RENAULT SPORT Clio II R.S.

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