Finally got one - 182 FF

[illmonkey]

After a hot discussion and viewing 4 or 5 over the last few months , I finally put a deposit down on a 182 FF in titanium silver, to collect in a week. I'm planning my first track day the following week, as a bit of a shakedown and see what might be a weak point. Car will become my 'daily' (I don't drive to work), for usual trips out and the odd track day, saving the Z4M for more special occasions.

Agreed that it'd get serviced, cam belt done and the SERV & airbag light sorted before collection. Brakes and tyres (Michelin) all in good condition, already has a SS exhaust too. Body very straight, a few scuffs, but generally very good. Paid £1600 for it. Drove really well, pulled through the revs and sat at the right temp. Anyway, photos!

 

[imprezaworks]

Who's doing the belts, the said garage?

Car looks nice mate

 

[illmonkey]

Yes, they said they'd get it done. They get an external (probably owned by the same person!) garage to do it. So I'll have a full receipt etc.

 

[imprezaworks]

Cool. Have they done one before? Only ask as you read stories about garages messing the timing.

 

[illmonkey]

He actually mentioned they had, and gave me a price (done a deal in total for the car). So I'm sure they are ok doing it.
If it's messing it up, surely as soon as I start it, I'm going to notice?!

 

[imprezaworks]

Wouldn't say straight away. Aslong as it drives aswell as it did I'm sure it will be fine. Are they doing the dephaser and water pump too?

 

[illmonkey]

I've done a belt on a car, got the timing wrong and it sure was noticeable!
No, is it something to do at the same time? Maybe I can get them to do it...

 

[imprezaworks]

Definitely worth doing. You don't want the dephaser to rattle its brains a few months down the line. Dephaser is about £100 I think.

 

[imprezaworks]

I'm not trying to piss on your chips btw

 

[illmonkey]

Cool, I'll ping them tomorrow and get a price for them to do it!

edit: You've done that already No, it's helpful, if it's £100 now to save me £200 later on...

 

[MarkCup]

I've done a belt on a car, got the timing wrong and it sure was noticeable!

These engines are a little different. they can start just fine, idle just fine, drive just fine, feel just fine, but it'll be putting out 150bhp instead of 180bhp because someone who's done cambelts on other cars said "I'll do it, I've done loads before, how hard can it be"?

 

[20vKarlos]

The car looks lovely bud.

if it's £100 now to save me £200 later on...

£100 now will save you £600 later... they're not cheap to do

 

[illmonkey]

I've asked for costings, £270 for the dephaser to be changed, I also asked about the water pump (assumed it was on the cam belt) and £130 for that. I'll leave the pump as I can do it independently, but £270 for the depasher when the cam belt is being done seems steep. He's only charging me £200 for the belt though.

Side note, it seems they know what they are doing with 182's, comments about noisy depahser has confirmed it.

 

[imprezaworks]

A noisy dephaser doesnt fill me 'they know what their doing' tbh.

Hope it goes well and rather than go on about costing etc i think you should do what you feel is best etc. But lol at £230 for swapping the dephaser.

 

[illmonkey]

I'd say it implies they've done work on them before.
Go on about it? It's a pretty big part of it! If it was free, I'd tell them go ahead! I take it you think thats a rip off? How much would it be to do later down the line?

 

[Stay Puft]

If the dephaser goes in a week, you have to do the cambelt again (I think), so worth doing it. If I were you id knock the cost off and take it to a local specialist for cambelt, dephaser, waterpump, aux. Normally looking at £5-600 all in.

 

[JB21]

If I where you mate I'd say leave the belts and get the car for £1400 and get the belts done by a reputable Renault specialist, which will be around £500-600 all in with belts, water pump, dephaser, coolant and ancillaries, that way you have a nice fully sorted FF for £2000 without the worry of "have these belts been done properly, and is that the dephaser I hear!"...

 

[imprezaworks]

Have the belts ever been done?

 

[illmonkey]

Yes, it was done 30k ago, but 5 years, so asked for it to be done. let me see if I can get it cancelled.

 

[Stay Puft]

Where are you based @illmonkey

 

[illmonkey]

based in Oxford. Have asked them to stop the belt, and I'll get the car for £1400.

 

[Stay Puft]

Not too far from @Mike@Rentech then in Portsmouth. Does a top job looking after my car.

 

[illmonkey]

200 mile round trip! Anywhere closer?

 

[Stay Puft]

Ouch! Didn't realise oxford was that far away! Erm.. Beaniesport in Milton Keynes?

 

[illmonkey]

Better, 80miles round trip. But MK is bad to get to!
Is there a list I can find a gooden on? Might be one near a mate I can visit etc.

 

[imprezaworks]

Good call with the belts mate. I saw visions of pain.

 

[illmonkey]

Good call with the belts mate. I saw visions of pain.

For what reason though? You asked if they'd ever been done.

 

[imprezaworks]

With the garage doing them and potentially messing it up.

 

[General Dave]

200 mile round trip! Anywhere closer?

If my memory serves me correctly I think Rentech does an oil change on them when he does the belts as well ?? So that's an added bonus.

Sorry if I'm wrong @Mike@Rentech :smile:

 

[illmonkey]

Fair enough. Had a good chat with Chris at Beaniesport, very helpful chap. £550 for both belts, dephaser and pump. So, I'll probably get it booked in with him shortly. Ultimately, it's the right way to do it.

 

[imprezaworks]

Yep.

 

[Gus]

200 mile round trip! Anywhere closer?

Barrie Plant and sons in Bicester. - search for them on here, they are great. Ask for Neil when phoning.

 

[illmonkey]

Nothing on this site, doesn't even look like a specialist...

 

[Stay Puft]

http://www.cliosport.net/threads/renault-garage-in-oxofrdshire-for-service.230275/

 

[illmonkey]

thanks, search came up with nothing.

 

[Stay Puft]

Yeah Im not a fan of the search. Just search google with 'cliosport' on the end

 

[leeds_182]

Welcome to the world of CS cambelt paranoia.

Make sure you get it booked in again to have it changed in three months.

'Just in case'.

 

[JB21]

I purchased my titty FF exactly a year ago with no receipt of belts being done and put a video up of an engine bay noise which sounded doggy, got all the usual defo dephaser, water pump, belts, get them done immediately, don't drive it, it sounds knackered etc.. car has done 5 full track days and around 2k road miles and still sounds no different, lol.

 

[imprezaworks]

And others the belt will just go. Luck of the draw.

 

[JB21]

And others the belt will just go. Luck of the draw.

I'm just gonna take a chance on mine and if it goes wait for an engine to come up on here from a car being broken with belts done and have someone like Carl fit it or attempt it myself, same with the gearbox. They seem throw away units these days, lol.