Midlife crisis + understanding wife = New Toy

[Cads]

Evening,

I signed up a month ago while looking for 182. After seeing a a pup, I travelled on a one way ticket to see this.

It’s not perfect, with the bodywork needing some attention in time.
But it’s covered the 3hr drive home perfectly, and seems mechanically straight, although my ears are still ringing.
In the short term, it needs an MOT and enjoying. Longer term I’ll get around to fixing the faults and sorting the bodywork.

 

[Kosy]

Looks great! Never has a midlife crisis been so enjoyable!

 

[leeds_182]

This one from Grimsby way? Looked a decent motor.

 

[frayz]

That looks like a bloody lovely crisis to have. Enjoy. 🙂

 

[Cads]

Cheers Frayz, it was reading your thread on PH which spawned my need for a 182!

And yeah it was Grimsby way. Not perfect but hopefully I’m not too deep financially, if I decide to get out. But long term plan is to keep it.

 

[frayz]

Cheers Frayz, it was reading your thread on PH which spawned my need for a 182!

And yeah it was Grimsby way. Not perfect but hopefully I’m not too deep financially, if I decide to get out. But long term plan is to keep it.

Ha!
Well if that’s true, I’m glad to help inspire you. I hope that little car gives you as much enjoyment as mine has me. I absolutely love mine and seemingly know no bounds as to what it costs me to keep. Crazy lol.
Wishing you all the very best with it. 😎👍🏼

 

[Darren S]

Nice - just in time for the decent weather coming in!

Hope you have some decent A-roads near you to exploit it properly.

 

[Clio182mike]

Wow that looks so nice. Welcome

 

[youngarthur]

I admit to a mid life crisis, at nearly 80 years old, its about time I grew up, but only after I have spent two days at Spa in May!.

 

[youngarthur]

Evening,
Lovely car, fix/get mot/enjoy.
I signed up a month ago while looking for 182. After seeing a a pup, I travelled on a one way ticket to see this.View attachment 1458983
It’s not perfect, with the bodywork needing some attention in time.
But it’s covered the 3hr drive home perfectly, and seems mechanically straight, although my ears are still ringing.
In the short term, it needs an MOT and enjoying. Longer term I’ll get around to fixing the faults and sorting the bodywork.

 

[Coops Mk1]

welcome, car looks lovely. Can't beat RB

 

[Tonyclio]

I admit to a mid life crisis, at nearly 80 years old, its about time I grew up, but only after I have spent two days at Spa in May!.View attachment 1459046

Nah!! As long as you can push the pedals and steer keep going!

 

[George@RTR_Parts]

welcome along mate

 

[Cads]

welcome along mate

Thanks mate, every chance I’ll be in touch over the coming months!!

 

[MiseryStreak]

Welcome Cads, I think you've got a good'un there, it certainly looks like it's been well looked after. George up there ^ will sort you out with the parts you need.
I'm not sure who the best supplier is for the auxiliary belt, but someone can recommend a decent specialist in Bedfordshire area I'm sure.

 

[Cads]

Cheers all.
I’ll a build thread over on PH which I’ll try and keep updated.

There’s Armstrong Autos in Luton. They are a Renault specialist. Anyone used them??

 

[Amos91]

Cheers all.
I’ll a build thread over on PH which I’ll try and keep updated.

There’s Armstrong Autos in Luton. They are a Renault specialist. Anyone used them??

Few people do, most popular in the region is Beaniesport in Milton Keynes.

 

[Clio182mike]

Short lived ownership?? It's on eBay now?

 

[Cads]

Haha. I did message the seller and said it was odd seeing my car for sale. He’s trying to avoid eBay fees and letting it run its course.
I’ve most certainly still got it. Just MOT’d it with the one advisory. I’m very happy!!

 

[Kev@KAM]

Great car. I think the mk2 got some fantastic colour options through the years
This is most certainly one of them. Glad it has not got the optional stripes. I wasnt a fan..

Few people do, most popular in the region is Beaniesport in Milton Keynes.

This!! We work with Chris all the time. Great work ethic and will take care of the car whilst he does any work

I have aux belt kits if required!

 

[Cads]

Mine used to have the stripes according to an old thread on here. Certainly looks better without though.
The Aux belt is the next job. Due in Nov this year by the 3 year rule.
I’d take a drive over to Beaniesport in different times. That’ll have to wait for now.

 

[Krarl]

I admit to a mid life crisis, at nearly 80 years old, its about time I grew up, but only after I have spent two days at Spa in May!.View attachment 1459046

Growing up is for old people my grandad says😂

He still lives like a 19 year old at 64 haha

 

[Kev@KAM]

Heres a link for the better times

Renault OE Auxiliary Belt Kit - Renault Clio Mk2 RS 172 / 182 *Air Con*

Renault Part number 7701477519 is the auxiliary belt for Renault Clio 172 and 182 models with air conditioning as standard.

www.kamracing.co.uk

What suspension is on it at the moment. Looks a decent ride height.
As for the loud exhaust - mid silencers do wonders...

 

[Cads]

It’s got Spax springs at the minute. It’s hard, but as a second car I’ve no issue with that.
Same goes for the exhaust note to be fair. I don’t mind it as a second car. It’s not an immediate issue.
As @YorkshireKyle rightly says, growing ups for old folk. I’m 40 sat and am loving my youth again!

Cheers for the link mate.

 

[Danith]

It’s got Spax springs at the minute. It’s hard, but as a second car I’ve no issue with that.
Same goes for the exhaust note to be fair. I don’t mind it as a second car. It’s not an immediate issue.
As @YorkshireKyle rightly says, growing ups for old folk. I’m 40 sat and am loving my youth again!

Cheers for the link mate.

That's not old!

 

[Iain C]

40 isnt old dude. Well i hope not. Im +2 on you.
Car looks great

 

[Jekyll]

Welcome mate.

Car does look a nice base to start with. Dont think you can go wrong with RB either. Dont know anybody that doesnt like it.

And who cares about midlife crisis. If you enjoy it, then game on! Why should we stop having fun with things we like just because were getting older. Take @youngarthur for instance, the bloke is nearly 80 and hooning about in a bright yellow clio 👍😎

What system does it have on at the moment?

Keep this thread updated. Plenty of people on here to give advice and tips 👍

 

[Cads]

Cheers boys. To be fair I feel older stuck in the house with 2 kids under my feet 24/7!!

It’s running a full Miltek system at present.

I’ve a thread running on PH which I’ll try and keep updated as I tinker with it. But yeah, it’s a decent base to start with.
I only got it mid March. Would I have bought it post lockdown and the uncertainty it’s brought?? Probably not.
But god I did!!

 

[BaileyWolves]

I am 45 mate and still love messing with cars , I don’t drink or smoke or get wrecked every weekend so we have to have hobbies and interests I will still be like it at 60 😂

 

[Cads]

No I get that mate. I’ve few vices and promised myself another toy when I had to sell this some 5 years ago. Two kids later and here we are!!

 

[Cads]

Small job today in between WFH and kids etc.
A previous owner saw fit to paint the oil filler cap black and very badly.

Five mins with a kitchen pan scrubber and sharp knife.

Much better.

 

[Cads]

Spent 4 happy hours tinkering today and crossing off a few little jobs.
Ordered a used but perfect N/S scuttle panel as this had irked me since purchase.

Swapped it out for this with a liberal coating of back to black after a good scrub.

While the scuttle was accessible I made up a new alarm cover from a fabric softener bottle. The original has yellowed and was brittle and broken and likely letting water onto the alarm siren.

Then I wanted get the bullets off. A previous owner had sprayed them black. And I wasn’t too keen on them.

While keying the surface it was clear they’d been blue at some point as well. I quite liked this look as it goes.

Anyway, a few light coats of grey and I’m much happier with them.

I’ve bought new number plates and while the rear was ok, I like new plates.
Removing the old revealed a right mess.

While this was a little pointless as only I’ll ever know it’s now clean under here. It took ages and a combination of sticky stuff remover and an old clay bar but finally at a point where I’m happy and have enough clean paint to stick a new plate too.

Last job was the headlights.

I couldn’t actually get into Halfrauds the other day and had to ask staff to fetch bits and bobs. They didn’t have the 3M kit I wanted but had a Meguiars kit which didn’t require a drill.

I’m happy with the improvement but may have another go tomorrow.

I had planned to wash and clay the car today but time ran away from me. That’s tomorrow’s plan.

 

[Cads]

Managed to get the Clio’s first wash under my ownership. And the first time I’ve had the chance to really get a good look at the paintwork.
I used the 2 bucket method, followed by a Meguiars clay bar then a Meguiars Ultimate Compound applied with a DA polisher.
The below shows the clay after one pass on half the roof!

After the wash the panels actually felt light sandpaper. I don’t think the bodywork has seen much love over the years.
After some attention it was shining like a diamond in a goats ass, to coin a phrase.
The bad news being the car has seen more paint than the Forth Road Bridge and not all that well.
The masking lines are obvious on the wing mirrors.

The sills.

And both bumpers. The sill shot also shows the worst of the arches, along with the sill the other side.

I was pushing my luck time wise so didn’t get to do much inside other than windows, which made me realise how scratched the tints are. Removing these is now on my to do list.
I did scrub the gear knob, handbrake and pedals. I don’t mind filth, just prefer my own!

And after a quick scrub.

All in not a bad weekends work.

The bullets look a lot better in the sun. They can stay like this for a bit.

 

[Cub.]

I’m moving this into the project threads old bean.

If you want the title changed, let me or another mod know

 

[Cads]

No worries mate. Saves me starting a project thread. 👍

 

[Cads]

Had a delivery of trim clips today. Cue a 30 second job to button down the scuttle panel.

Sometimes it’s the little details.

Last week I thought I’d got lucky with a bargain front bumper, seller accepted an offer of £30 with £7.90 postage.
Understandably I was very happy. Monday seller gets in touch and says he’s messed up and postage will cost nearer £30 and he’s had to cancel the sale.
The hunt goes on.

 

[OneTime_]

Looking good! I like the bullets.

 

[Cads]

Looking good! I like the bullets.

Cheers, yeah I’m happy enough with them to be fair. Certainly better than poorly painted black!

 

[Cads]

Cheers mate, I agree and that’s the one I’ve gone for.
I’ve fitted it but as it’s backed onto the drive I’m not moving it to take a photo.
Looks decent though.

The dash trim panels arrived yesterday so another 30 second job ticked off.

The DIY black spray job wasn’t actually that offensive, but OEM certainly looks better. I get these are the earlier 172 inserts. But I like the, and there were no plain silver in decent nick available.

And drivers side.

 

[Cads]

Another small update. I’d have hoped being locked away at home would have given me more free time, but alas kids and work have seen to that.
Anyway I placed a small order with Renault Parts Direct which included a new rear number plate light.

It’s a small change at a small price, but looks so much better.

I had no paperwork for a cabin filter so thought I’d replace that.

Seems it was a sound decision.

I had a few minutes left so decided to drill out the old glove box hinge rivets.
This was how it looked closed.

And this was open.

Once drilled out, I found some suitable bolts, washers and lock nuts and put the replacement one back on.
It now sits how Renault intended.

I’ve kept the broken lid, because I get a feeling the replacement won’t last forever. The plastic hinge is a design flaw for which I’m sure I can better with some thought and time.

Lastly, I’ve been in touch with Snappy, a steering wheel re-trimmer whose work is top notch. The wheel isn’t in bad shape and I hadn’t intended to get it done so soon, but with lockdown all other jobs are on the back burner for now.
I ordered a T50 Torx bit in the week and it arrived today, so whipped the wheel off.

I also found this sales brochure on eBay. I like having one in the service file. I’m not 100% sure it’s the one the original buyer may have thumbed. And have my eye on the one which followed.