Clio 172 - Turd Polishing Thread!

[recalcitrant]

Hi all,
As I've alluded to elsewhere on the forum I've purchased a 172, mk2 ph2 to be exact.

I'll post up the eBay photographs!

Now the guy I bought it from was a solid sort of fella, he looked like he'd stand his round and was more than happy for me to prod and poke away at the car, I looked at the little Clio and thought "oh, what the hell!" One bidding session later and a couple of hours I headed down to collect the car.

The car needs a bit of love, it's not a bad car by any stretch of the imagination but it does need some love, now this is one thing I'm used to currently owning a 26 year old MX5 and have a history of many and varied car projects. I worked for a while in the motortrade and am happy to spanner weild when required, however this time I'm planning to pass on anything but cursory spanner-chucking to my brother-in-law, he's got a two-poster and a roller cab after all.
As it stands I need to attend to the following, in order of urgency;

- ABS kicks in constantly during service braking, I'm almost certain this is a broken recluctor ring.
- The headlamps need restoring as they've gone pretty manky!
- There is a "tick-tick-tick" coming from what I think is the CD player on start up.
- The bump strip needs refinishing, I'm hoping they're easy to remove on these!
- The wheel need refinishing!
- There is a minor electrical issue, the fog-lamp tell-tale glows dimly occasionally.

Watch this space!

 

[Mar172]

Looks ok just a bit of tlc when wwe the belts last changed

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

All are reletivly(sp) easy fixes and should leave you with a tidy car

I'm hoping to pick up something similar and do the same, once I've sold my impreza

 

[recalcitrant]

Looks ok just a bit of tlc when wwe the belts last changed

Belts were changed in early 2014 according to the history, might do it again just to ensure as it's only a stamp and no receipt.

 

[recalcitrant]

I see I'm not the only member in Bedfordshire then!

This was the latest invoice (with card ticket) for work carried out in December 2014....

 

[Mar172]

Belts were changed in early 2014 according to the history, might do it again just to ensure as it's only a stamp and no receipt.

Is it a garage stamp ? If so give them a call

 

[PP200t]

It looks really nice in the pics. As said relatively easy/cheap fixes.
I echo giving the garage a call, looks to have had lots of money spent anyway. Especially with new brakes front and rear

 

[recalcitrant]

Started work today, I'll write a full guide later, but I'll let the pictures speak for themselves!

65 minutes later;

 

[recalcitrant]

Finished, and treated to a new registration plate!

 

[PP200t]

I wonder if you'd notice if I swapped mine for your headlights?

 

[recalcitrant]

I wonder if you'd notice if I swapped mine for your headlights?

I don't know mate, but it's a bit of a tedious job, don't want to do it again in a hurry!

 

[PP200t]

I joke. I keep saying I'll do mine and one day, one year I probably will. The difference they make when polished is unreal! Well done on them.

 

[recalcitrant]

Spent a bit more time fiddling with it today (as well as saying a goodbye to my dear old MX5 )

Not a lot of pictures but I've got some ABS rings to go on, I found the screw for the centre cap;

I love this little car, it's not the fastest/best handling/slidey/most comfortable/lightest/heaviest but bloody hell it's a good compromise!

 

[recalcitrant]

Well for the second time the MX5 has had a stay of execution and is still sitting on the driveway....Don't ask!

Things I've found now I've driven it a bit more;

a) A/C Doesn't work
b) Desperately needs a "dogbone"
c) Event tyres are rubbish!

 

[dann2707]

Headlights look brilliant mate.

 

[recalcitrant]

So, it's been quite a while, been rather tied up with other things. The Clio went straight through an MOT at the start of April and has covered about fifteen miles since.

Yesterday afternoon though, I decided enough was enough, it was time to at least show the car a touch of respect!
Firstly, I took the rear wiper arm off, then couldn't make my mind up which I preferred, and still can't.

I've also tried a light smoke tint (have yards of the stuff knocking about) just as a trial (not a great fitting) again I'm not sure about this yet, I've taken this off now.

The bump strip needed removal and a touch of love to bring it back to scratch (if you can forgive the awful pun) after I finally worked out how to remove it, I set to work rubbing it down and priming it.

This has been a great source of irritation since I've owned the car, it was finally time to act (also, rather serendipitously the young lad from up the road dropped round a copy of a the local rag as if on cue)

More to follow later!