Monaco progress thread

midlandsmonaco · Apr 23, 2014

Hi and welcome to my Monaco progress. I picked up the car a few weeks ago and love it. It needs a few things doing to get it right, but all in all ok.

The Clio is my third car that I have owned, and definitely the fastest.

My first car was a 1965 Mini. Gutted to have sold it, awesome car!

My second car was a 1987 Volvo 240 estate. Great fun, expensive to run...

And here is my Clio.

midlandsmonaco · Apr 23, 2014

The first job was to polish the headlights which were pretty foggy. I used the Meguiar's headlight restore kit from Halfrauds.

As you can see they were pretty bad..

So I went straight to wet and dry paper... Supplied are 4 Pads working from 1800 grit to 2800, some polish and a mopping wheel

I then moved on to polish them with the mop...

They came up well, however not as much as I would have liked, so I bought some more 1200 and 1500 grit wet and dry and repeated the process, with much better results

Pictures to follow...

Nick_Leeds · Apr 23, 2014

Good progress.

Why on earth did you sell that mini? It looked epic.

midlandsmonaco · Apr 23, 2014

Ahh I know, I had to go to Uni, so it had to go unfortunately!

Addicted · Apr 23, 2014

Weirdly awesome car list so far, what made you go from the Mini to the Lolvo?

I presume RWD?

midlandsmonaco · Apr 23, 2014

It was great fun having a RWD car, however, it was only £300 quid and that's the reason why I bought it. I did nothing to it repairs/maintenance wise, and it soldiered on until I accidentally overfilled it with oil and blew an oil seal. I then sold it on for £250 to a banger racer, so not too bad for 18 months motoring!

midlandsmonaco · Apr 26, 2014

New wheels today. Went down to Surrey to go and collect them, and a standard exhaust. The KTR stealth exhaust will be up for sale shortly...

Going to refurb the wheels, thinking an anthracite/titanium colour. I am also looking to lower it and put some spacers on.

djspt · Apr 26, 2014

Looks a clean example, good job with the headlights.

Joe Hryszko · Apr 26, 2014

wesson124 said:
New wheels today. Went down to Surrey to go and collect them, and a standard exhaust. The KTR stealth exhaust will be up for sale shortly...

Going to refurb the wheels, thinking an anthracite/titanium colour. I am also looking to lower it and put some spacers on.

Anthracite and lowered on those wheels would look insane!

midlandsmonaco · Apr 30, 2014

All plain sailing until yesterday. Driving home and passed a car in the lane at low speed, put it into first and nothing. no drive. Still unsure if im going to have to take the gear box off. Some advice would be great! Definetly a new Drive shaft. I thing the box also may be a JC5 130, but still unsure.

midlandsmonaco · May 19, 2014

It has been an expensive month. After fitting the new drive shaft, the car was still leaking oil. on closer inspection, it appeared to have cracked the gearbox casing when the joint exploded. So I have fitted another gearbox, and it is back on the road.

A few smaller updates aswell.

A clio 200 badge

A new number plate light

and some plates from fancy plates

I also painted the front grille satin black

and changed the top mounts and did an oil change

and replaced the KTEC supersport Stealth exhaust for a OEM one.

The Ktec is now up for sale.

midlandsmonaco · May 19, 2014

midlandsmonaco · May 21, 2014

Gave the car a wash today, needs a good polish soon!

midlandsmonaco · May 28, 2014

A few small updates again...

Painted the calipers silver to neaten them up a bit

And also painted a few bits in the engine bay, only temporary but brightens it up a bit

Matthew · May 28, 2014

I can't help think anthracite wheels would look a million times better.

midlandsmonaco · May 28, 2014

Oh yes they will be powder coated when I get the chance, still not quite decided on anthracite or silver. Its also in need of lowering badly. Pay day is soon ha!

PFD172 · May 28, 2014

Hi mate did you sell exhaust???

welshname · May 28, 2014

Silver.

midlandsmonaco · May 28, 2014

Tonight I fitted new ball joints and track rod ends.

And then had the wheels aligned at Chemix in Stourbridge

Before:

After:

Bit rainy at the moment, but im sure it will be handling much better!

midlandsmonaco · May 28, 2014

PFD172 Nope still got the exhaust, and coming down to southampton on friday if you're about?

PFD172 · May 28, 2014

wesson124 said:
@PFD172 Nope still got the exhaust, and coming down to southampton on friday if you're about?

Just pm'd

midlandsmonaco · May 28, 2014

welshname I am tempted by silver as I feel anthracite has been a bit overdone in this colour/wheels

welshname · May 28, 2014

Agreed, I don't think I've seen silver 2118's on a monaco. Silver is slowly becoming the new anth to be honest but it's just so much fresher. Really makes the best of the Monaco colour. The car can look a little dull with anth wheels

Matthew · May 28, 2014

If you are going to powdercoat them, 100% go for bright silver.

Will look 'fresh'. Init.

Big Tomm · May 28, 2014

wesson124 said:
My first car was a 1965 Mini. Gutted to have sold it, awesome car!

I recognise this car so much from somewhere but I don't know where or why. I also own a mini (1967 Mk2 Cooper) and I know these exact photos from somewhere.

We're you active on any mini forums/owners clubs?

All the best with the clio.

midlandsmonaco · May 28, 2014

Yea mate on theminiforum and a bit on mk1froum

midlandsmonaco · Jun 3, 2014

Small updates, added a cup spoiler over the weekend

Nick_Leeds · Jun 3, 2014

Looking good. I really like the gold 2118's, with a little more drop it'd look perfect.

midlandsmonaco · Jun 3, 2014

Yeah trying to get some springs and spacers sorted soonish

Matthew · Jun 3, 2014

Cup spoiler is a great 'mod'.

midlandsmonaco · Jun 11, 2014

Got some Eibach sportlines fitted yesterday. Nice little drop, expecting it to settle a little over the next week...

before:

After:

midlandsmonaco · Jun 18, 2014

The springs have now settled down a bit, its crying out for some spacers, but I will be making some this week...

MonacoDan · Jun 18, 2014

Looks great, any more plans?

welshname · Jun 18, 2014

Really like the wheels but really glad I fitted the spacers and the springs at the same time. Makes the tuck look even worse.

midlandsmonaco · Jun 19, 2014

Yeah I agree with the tuck, how big did you go with spacers, im thinking of making 20mm rear and 25mm front? these wheels are et43 i think so needs to be quite alot...

Plans are:

Interior trim parts painted anthracite
Clio 197/200 steering wheel
New Rs mats
Change gear knob to an alloy version.
Matched inlets
Engine cover sprayed a custom colour
Whiteline ARB
RS tuner Ron 98
Full detail with a DA polisher
New Coolant bottle
Ds2500 pads
Top mount covers
Battery cover
Recessed Ktec exhaust
Poly bushed all round

welshname · Jun 19, 2014

No idea what ET the standard alyum wheels are but I'm running 15mm on the rear and 25mm on the front. The fronts I needed to remove the part of the arch liner that sticks down to allow access to the arch/bumper bolt.

This bit here: