2003 Clio Billabong 1.2 16v

[Alastair.]

Another thread. This time its a little Clio billabong 1.2 16v thats been in the family since 2004.

Originally my mothers car which i learned to drive in way back in 2005. And then subsequently thrashed the life out of it when i passed until i got my own Clio.

My mum owned it up until 2018 until it was passed onto my sister to run to work and back in to keep the miles down on her 182. She used the car up until late 2021 and its been parked up at my grans house ever since.

With my daughter turning 17 next year i thought this would be perfect for her to learn in, just like i did all those years ago.

Last week week i decided to get the Clio back to my house for some tlc

Spec wise its pretty good being a billabong, has climate control and an electric sunroof which doesn’t leak.

Its currently on 74,931 miles so still pretty low.

I knew it had a couple of snapped springs so i ordered a set of AMAX 35mm lowering springs which were only £69 for all for brand new on ebay.

I will be updating this thread on works that i will be doing over the coming months.

 

[Alastair.]

First job was to sort the headlights, god knows how many Clio headlights Ive done over the years.

 

[Alastair.]

Onto replacing the springs, ended up finding 3 broken 😂

Probably should’ve replaced the shocks and top mounts but it will be fine for now, no play in the mounts and no leaks from the shocks.

 

[Alastair.]

Sitting nicely now!

 

[Jaeclio]

Looks clean @Alastair, headlights came out great.. mind me asking what process & steps you used to clean em up? Inspired me to do mine!

 

[Crybert]

Not expired March 2023. Looks in great condition, shouldn’t take much at all to get a ticket on it

 

[imprezaworks]

That's a great story.

 

[Alastair.]

Looks clean @Alastair, headlights came out great.. mind me asking what process & steps you used to clean em up? Inspired me to do mine!

Wet sand 2500 then machine polish with compound 👍

 

[Jaeclio]

Wet sand 2500 then machine polish with compound 👍

Legend, thanks brother

 

[vtec-e]

Looks in excellent condition for its age, especially underneath. Nice one

 

[Alastair.]

Another little job done, wanted to clear out the centre drain under the scuttle panel so got that sorted.

Whilst i was there i noticed the wiper linkage was all floppy, circlip holding it together had almost disintegrated so i replaced it with a new one and greased everything up.

Before, under the scuttle.

After a clean and unblocking the centre drain.

Wiper linkage circlip and then the new one fitted.

 

[Bluebeard]

Love an Ali Bailey 88 resto thread. 👌🏽

 

[Alastair.]

Few more bits done today.

Clay bar then a blast over with the DA polisher, nothing intense, just wanted to remove a few marks and brighten it up.

Boot cleaned out inc spare wheel etc.

New gear knob insert.

 

[Rob]

Love an Ali Bailey 88 resto thread. 👌🏽

I’m with this man, it’s taken me back 10 years. At least.

 

[Martin_172]

as is usually the case with all the clean non RS threads, interested if it comes up for sale lol!


Good work mate, ive got those springs on my RSI, surprisingly good ride quality! i think its better than standard!

 

[Brigsy]

Looks clean. Most non sport are hanging these days!

 

[Bluebeard]

Billabong with a climate pack! (Climate control and electric sunroof) that’s probably one of the rarest Clios around. They were brand new for £179 deposit and £179pm. We weren’t allowed to discount them and only got paid £35 per deal as they literally flew out the door. Nobody paid extra for options. They all wanted the £179/179 that was advertised so they all took a standard car. I was signing off the orders back then and I remember thinking at the time “the market will be flooded with these. As long as they’re as good as/better than the ph1, these things will will be everywhere. It’s too cheap!” 😂 Oh how wrong I was. Now there’s probably only a handful left. And yours is obviously the nicest by a country mile. And it’s got a mega rare option.
This car excites me Alastair. Far more than it should.

 

[Alastair.]

as is usually the case with all the clean non RS threads, interested if it comes up for sale lol!


Good work mate, ive got those springs on my RSI, surprisingly good ride quality! i think its better than standard!

Been in the family 20 years so i very much doubt it will ever get sold tbh 👍