182/Trophy Reliability?

[Jamie]

I did complain, but, it wasn't going to end up with any more. BG obviously also had my dampers, so, without a car to drive, life is pretty difficult.

I think they're a bunch of cowboys with the way they run their business. They also said and I'm not just saying this - but, the seals failing was a common issue they have had with some of their work at the time. Which I thought was alarming. In the 2nd rebuild I need new everything, guides, pistons etc.

 

[Beef-Mc]

No wonder everyones switched to the other refurbisher, cheaper price and a better customer service by all accounts.

 

[Chip-mk1]

No wonder everyones switched to the other refurbisher, cheaper price and a better customer service by all accounts.

Cornering force are fantastic, you are in really good hands with Simon et al.

 

[Gally]

Nah - none of the Trophy's are worth that much any more. Mines on 59k, 3 owners - pretty reasonable. I'd want £4,750 for it with the plate and the Yozza - but, I'd got to £4.5k to sell it. (It's standard other than the exhaust)

As for the Sach's being free - haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I know most ppl like those guys at BG, but, I don't. They did do an element for free but it still cost me about £300.

I would certainly be interested chap. Belts and Sachs dates?

 

[Jamie]

Yeah, belts done (both) - what would be 2 years ago (done by NWP) - no doubt some won't like that.
Sach's date, well, hah - 3 months ago or something.

Negative points about my car are, interior bulb needs replacing, one of the wheels (Turini) has a brand new but budget tyre (Because I'm actually running on winter wheels & tyres), stone chips etc - no real dings or scuffs or marks though. Wheels are pretty good, steering wheel is good. Paint is swirly but secretly I'm sure you'd love to polish it.

I'm going to have to type up a for sale add over the next few days, but you're welcome to look at the car.

 

[leeroybrown]

I would say I've had no real reliability problems - but, the suspension can be hard work having to get the dampers refurbed etc. I've just had mine done for the 2nd time as the seals failed first time round after only 8k.

I find it a bit of a chore to drive too, it's quite noisey with all the rattles etc and with the firm suspension and michi's the ride isn't pleasureable - but, I rarely ever drive it for more than commuting tbh.

I would like to get rid of mine tbh.

Firm suspension can be easily sorted with a few clicks on the suspension unit, got mine to a lush setting less harsh then standard, kinda glides over bumps instead of banging over them

 

[Jamie]

Yeah - it did handle better when on the Mark Fish suspension - but since having the MF stuff removed and 2nd rebuild, I've just left it as standard setting.

 

[leeroybrown]

Yeah - it did handle better when on the Mark Fish suspension - but since having the MF stuff removed and 2nd rebuild, I've just left it as standard setting.

Sounds like your running out of love for it Jamie :-(

 

[jenic]

Regarding the Sachs, I think I was one of the first trophy guys to use Cornering force for the dampers. The service isn't as fast as BG but it's reasonably priced for some seals and a bit of oil. You're mostly paying for labour, and since BG turn them around in a day it shows how much they are over charging.

Mine failed about a year after BG rebuilt them, it was cheaper to send them to CF than the deal BG offered to fix them! And also regarding the Sachs, I bought my trophy as the Sachs had recently been done and they still failed soon after, so it's an expense I would budget for regardless of them being done before. Infact if you can get a trophy that hasn't been refurbished but whose Sachs haven't yet failed it might be a better buy as you can haggle it into the price, they never seem to last as long after a refurb.

 

[Gally]

Cheers Mike. BG really did corner the market. Strange they were the only people doing it at the time. Unavoidable servicing.

How do you know they're goosed? Oh and did you put the car off the road or just fit the cup shocks for short time?

 

[Jamie]

Tbh, the dampers are either working ok, or f**ked. No real middle ground from my experience. If they're f**ked it doesn't handle well and if you bounce the car it will be noticeable that there is limited damping.

They do appear a slight lottery - they have come down in price as a new unit now, if you wanted to "mint the car up" or knew you needed a refurb down the line, I may consider buying them new and selling the old ones 2nd hand. Should cover a fair proportion of the cost and reduce the actual outlay. Plus, from Renault you should get a better warranty period.

Mike is right, they (BG) complete the work in a day - for the price they charge it's incredible. However, I guess they're not really doing that many of them. Despite the low mileage, they (my dampers) did take near enough 2 years for the seal to fail which is slightly better than saying they failed after only 8k.

I think Aberdeen is fairly hard on certain components of cars up here - the roads are awful quality and the significant temperature swings deffo take its toll on rubber (and seals alike).

I'd love to trade mine in, but, no doubt I'll be offered about 50p.

*I'm moaning quite considerably here, but, aside from the suspension considerations I've found mine to be a really solid car. Engine's on them all seem pretty good, gear box isn't exactly tight, but, unless you're a bit of a clown or unlucky I don't think you'll have too many problems.

 

[Aluco]

Just put cup shocks on it? :rasp:

 

[Gally]

Sounds fair. Very comparable to the Frp at points which helps.

I would have to make a few gearing mods bit like Keith's Trophy. It's a shame as the Mk2 deserved a much better gearbox.

 

[Chip-mk1]

Just put cup shocks on it? :rasp:

If its only going to be a road car that actually makes PERFECT sense.

Keep the sachs in a box for if you ever sell it on.

 

[Chip-mk1]

Sounds fair. Very comparable to the Frp at points which helps.

I would have to make a few gearing mods bit like Keith's Trophy. It's a shame as the Mk2 deserved a much better gearbox.

Gearing mods? What are you referring to mate?

There isnt a lot of choice with what to do with these boxes, although for a pure road car swapping in a ph1 box isnt a bad way to go, better mpg as its a bit taller ratio diff.

 

[Lal B3N]

Gearing mods? What are you referring to mate?

There isnt a lot of choice with what to do with these boxes, although for a pure road car swapping in a ph1 box isnt a bad way to go, better mpg as its a bit taller ratio diff.

I assume he means things like dogbone power flex mount and yanoo stiff shift kit.

 

[Chip-mk1]

I assume he means things like dogbone power flex mount and yanoo stiff shift kit.

Ah right, sorry I thought he meant internal changes.

Yeah they are both worthwhile mods.

 

[SharkyUK]

Interesting hearing opinions about BG and the damper refurb. I was left with a very sour taste in my mouth so will in future be making use of Cornering Force. They eventually did a good job (i.e. it's handling beautifully at the moment) but it was a pain getting to that point.

 

[Aluco]

If its only going to be a road car that actually makes PERFECT sense.

Keep the sachs in a box for if you ever sell it on.

Exactly, it's not like cup shocks offer bad handling, they're still epic cars with the cup setup. I'd keep sachs in a box if I had a trophy. Genuinely.

 

[sbridgey]

Exactly, it's not like cup shocks offer bad handling, they're still epic cars with the cup setup. I'd keep sachs in a box if I had a trophy. Genuinely.

If your gonna do that why spend the extra £2k on a trophy, just get a 182 cup surely?

 

[Aluco]

If your gonna do that why spend the extra £2k on a trophy, just get a 182 cup surely?

Might want a special car, love how they look, the fact there is only a limited number, the seats etc. It's not like you need the advantage the sachs give you on english roads really.

But I see you point, which is why I own a cupped 182.

 

[Gally]

No i'd want the Sachs. They're special. Set of Eibachs or whatever is recommended. I'd want it set up less than harsh though i'm not some B road warrior.

Yeah I would enquire about those gear mods. They are a must as is a Sabelt wheel although I thought I seen they did a Red top one, think Iain had one on his Mars V6 from memory. Very strange.

 

[Gally]

It's just a Red 182 cup with some seats then?

I jest of course. It's just nice to drive the car the way it's meant to be. No doubt the cup shocks would actually suit me better (softer).

 

[Sir_Dave]

A set of Sportlines improve the ride no end Gally, standards/MF ones are too hard imho.

Re: BG, they are the sole UK importer for Sachs products and up intil Cornering Force started doing the refurbs, all the other suspension specialists suddenly had their Sachs supply lines cut when they started doing lots of Trophy's iirc ... CF would closely with BG on other things, do it hasnt happened to them. Yet lol

 

[leeroybrown]

MF ones aint hard if the Sachs have been adjusted from 22 clicks to 15

 

[.Stevo.C.]

A set of Sportlines improve the ride no end Gally, standards/MF ones are too hard imho.

Re: BG, they are the sole UK importer for Sachs products and up intil Cornering Force started doing the refurbs, all the other suspension specialists suddenly had their Sachs supply lines cut when they started doing lots of Trophy's iirc ... CF would closely with BG on other things, do it hasnt happened to them. Yet lol

Totally agree about the MF springs. I took them off my trophy and went back to standard as they were far to firm for road use.

 

[leeroybrown]

Then you obviously aint got them set up right, I complained to Mark himself and he told me the best setting which I've done, rides way bettter then my mates standard one.

 

[.Stevo.C.]

Then you obviously aint got them set up right, I complained to Mark himself and he told me the best setting which I've done, rides way bettter then my mates standard one.

Nah they were in the standard setting at 22 clicks and I couldn't adjust them as they were still pinned and the previous owner never had the shocks de pinned when they were with BG.

 

[Gally]

A set of Sportlines improve the ride no end Gally, standards/MF ones are too hard imho.

Re: BG, they are the sole UK importer for Sachs products and up intil Cornering Force started doing the refurbs, all the other suspension specialists suddenly had their Sachs supply lines cut when they started doing lots of Trophy's iirc ... CF would closely with BG on other things, do it hasnt happened to them. Yet lol

Cheers Dave. You can always trust Eibach. That's one thing I like.

Nice to hear someone else doing them. Beats £1000 rrp for Frp suspension.

Wasn't someone selling of Sachs sets cheap last year?

 

[leeroybrown]

Nah they were in the standard setting at 22 clicks and I couldn't adjust them as they were still pinned and the previous owner never had the shocks de pinned when they were with BG.

Yeah different to me mines adjustable all round

 

[Richyy182]

I've had mine 5 years and if you ignore the fact I fecked the engine. It's now absolutely brilliant to run and I never had any issues the 4 years previous. I will probably sell one day but to be honest it means more to me than what I'll get for it. Think it'll just be part of my life now. Will give it to my son one day I'd imagine!!!
Not got one yet though

 

[.Stevo.C.]

Yeah different to me mines adjustable all round

Koni's on the rear? Had them fitted too lol

 

[leeroybrown]

Koni's on the rear? Had them fitted too lol

Yeah but they've been set up as well, its a nice ride then my old 182 cup with had HR's on it

 

[Gally]

Nice learning experience this thread!

 

[aucky]

Koni's on the rear? Had them fitted too lol

Iirc the Konis are rebound adjustable, not damping.

 

[Gally]

Does the Trophy run standard cup shocks on the back with stiffer springs?

 

[Budgie]

Nope, they're Trophy specific also. Made by Sachs. No remote reservoir like the fronts though..

 

[Fletcher]

Yeah I would enquire about those gear mods. They are a must as is a Sabelt wheel although I thought I seen they did a Red top one, think Iain had one on his Mars V6 from memory. Very strange.

The sabelt cup racer steering wheels only come in blue and black. IIRC Iain had his wheel dyed red.

 

[Hixle]

The sabelt cup racer steering wheels only come in blue and black. IIRC Iain had his wheel dyed red.

Yep, Mike (Jenic) also had one re-stitched in red too.

 

[Gally]

Yeah Mike's was Leather. Nice though.

Ohhh dyed sounds quite clever. If not covering the Blue bit wouldn't be a hassle, I know the guy who runs Transcal up here for anything like that.