Another one! (But it’s a 197 this time)

[colesy]

I’ve bought another Clio, as having a cup turbo and 182 wasn’t enough.
I’ve fancied a 197 or 200 for a while but didn’t want to commit to selling one of the current ones to potentially find I didn’t like it.
A friend of mine actually bought a 197 a couple of weeks ago and once he told me I set to eBay to see what was about 😆

To my surprise I found a 2007 nimbus silver for sale 5 miles from where I live.
Went to view and bought it.
MOT until November
Cambelt due in November but something I can do.
Normal wear on steering wheel gear knob and drivers bolster.
It’s never had a gearbox rebuild apparently 🤔 but doesn’t crunch into gear.
Few other little niggles that I can sort but I only paid £2250 for it which I was happy with.
Pick it up tomorrow evening, and I can’t wait!

 

[gez 172]

These are utter bargains for that price now.

 

[Bluebeard]

Nimbus 197…… ooooosh! My favourite.

Hit me up when you sell it!

 

[colesy]

Nimbus 197…… ooooosh! My favourite.

Hit me up when you sell it!

Will do 🙏🏻 knowing me that’ll be in about 3 months

 

[Daz.]

I adore Nimbus, I miss my Megane because of that colour.

If it wasn't LY I'd have my mk4 painted Nimbus!

 

[Martin_172]

I remember going to see a nimbus 197 cup on black speedlines when they were new in the dealers showroom, I was only 18 at the time and I remember thinking it was the coolest thing I've ever seen! They have aged well!

 

[colesy]

I picked it up Thursday but still haven’t taken any pictures!
The previous owner also sorn’d it the day I picked it up so I wasn’t able to tax it yet.

I’ve already given a service a though. Underneath is pretty clean, brake pipes and suspension all good. The wheels are in desperate need of a refurb, as they’ve corroded underneath the paint. It’s also got 4 different coil packs fitted but while they’re working they’ll stay like that.

Aiming to do an evening at brands I think to get a good feel for the car, I’ll just put the RC8 out of the 172 brembos in it for evening!

 

[Martin_172]

Its also got 4 different coil packs fitted but while they’re working they’ll stay like that.

The OE ones are made by Beru and available from Autodoc for about £20 each, loads of us running them on here and they are spot on 😎

 

[colesy]

The OE ones are made by Beru and available from Autodoc for about £20 each, loads of us running them on here and they are spot on 😎

Nice one, cheers for that. Will get some ordered! I had visions of them being £50-60 each or something daft.

 

[colesy]

Driven it a couple of days to work now, I can see why they’re so popular. Although I think I do still prefer a 182!

Couple of questions though:
Is this a normal place for the temp gauge to sit? I feel like it’s higher than it should be but could be wrong!

Are 197’s prone to have noisy a/c pumps? As mine is super loud!

 

[Martin_172]

Yeah that's the normal location for the needle to sit.

Mine has a noisy AC compressor too. AC worked lovely after a regas but it's died and I've got the dye over the bottom of the compressor so I assume it's leaking/dead

 

[colesy]

Yeah that's the normal location for the needle to sit.

Mine has a noisy AC compressor too. AC worked lovely after a regas but it's died and I've got the dye over the bottom of the compressor so I assume it's leaking/dead

Ah that’s good to know, thank you! I did read they can get quieter after a regas so I may try that.

Also last week the rad fan gave up, think the motor seized and then subsequently overheated.
Thanks to @Chode Lint though, new (used) fan fitted and we’re back on the road. I definitely prefer working on 1x2’s but maybe that’s because I know them well now.

I’m still not sold on the car though to be honest, I can see why so many get Megane conversions and equally why people go back to 182’s.
So my next plan is;
Braided hoses
Decent pads
Decent fluid
Track day probably an evening at brands or day at Bedford.

I’m hoping that’ll make me fall in love with it.

 

[Martin_172]

My rad fan is on its way out too, sounds like it's about to shear off and exit thru the bonnet.

My AC compressor got quiet after a regas for a few days then back to noisy again, they get noisy when they are low on gas

 

[colesy]

I’m lucky it didn’t do the rad as well, it made some deep marks on it but still seems water tight!

 

[colesy]

Fixed the blower motor tonight, had melted the second pin as seems pretty common. New plug and and pin and it’s working on all 4 again 👌🏻
Now I just need to get into the boot, the previous owner said it was dodgy but knew the knack of getting in, I don’t know how he did it yet!!

 

[Krarl]

Fixed the blower motor tonight, had melted the second pin as seems pretty common. New plug and and pin and it’s working on all 4 again 👌🏻
Now I just need to get into the boot, the previous owner said it was dodgy but knew the knack of getting in, I don’t know how he did it yet!!

You should have said, I've got a new plug with tails here too. You could have had it 😂

 

[colesy]

You should have said, I've got a new plug with tails here too. You could have had it 😂

😂 typical, was only a tenner of eBay. No doubt it’ll melt again at some point but probably not in my ownership 😂

 

[Martin_172]

Now I just need to get into the boot, the previous owner said it was dodgy but knew the knack of getting in, I don’t know how he did it yet!!

Will be the boot button that's faulty, very common (a trend going on here with common faults )

 

[colesy]

I did think that would be the case 😂 I’ll get one ordered!