My 50 shades of black 172

Joe1337 · Jun 4, 2016

Hi all, relatively new here and this is my 7th car now! A little about the car, it's a 172, with STACKS of history it has currently fitted:

Team Oreca exhaust system
Pop and bang remap
Some air filter
Lowering springs

My aim with the car is to enjoy it, tidy it up a little it's got a few battle scars so I just want to look after it, it's a mechanically great example but there's some things from the body that let it down a bit,

Got it today and began by polishing amd waxing it :smile:

182_steve · Jun 5, 2016

Welcome aboard :up::up:
Car looks really smart in the pics, black always looks great when clean, it's just keeping it clean thats the issue lol!

Joe1337 · Jun 5, 2016

182_steve said:
Welcome aboard :up::up:
Car looks really smart in the pics, black always looks great when clean, it's just keeping it clean thats the issue lol!

Yeah it came up nice, when I got it it was covered in gash stickers, I still want to take the front ones off but I don't know what the difference in the paint will be like so I'll have to see. The body isnt the best it photos well, it's a bit like one of them fair birds that takes pics at nice angles and then when you meet them at the restaurant you're like "ahhh crap"

I think I might have to get the dent Guy at work to see what he can do

182_steve · Jun 5, 2016

Joe1337 said:
The body isnt the best it photos well, it's a bit like one of them fair birds that takes pics at nice angles and then when you meet them at the restaurant you're like "ahhh crap"

😂😂

Whats the map like that's been put on the car? Is it quite loud etc?

Joe1337 · Jun 5, 2016

182_steve said:
Whats the map like that's been put on the car? Is it quite loud etc?

Savage, like, fully savage if you're on the overrun over 4k it's like flames everywhere, especially with the oreca.

I like it thought, our lass is... less of a fan.

Apparently we actually have to be "friends" with the neighbors

LeeRS · Jun 5, 2016

I would get rid of the pops and bangs mate. Especially if your not running a decat. From past threads on here it is said to cause damage.

Joe1337 · Jun 5, 2016

LeeRS said:
I would get rid of the pops and bangs mate. Especially if your not running a decat. From past threads on here it is said to cause damage.

Its running a decat, I've had no trouble with it yet, neither did the previous owner and the maps been on since November.

LeeRS · Jun 5, 2016

Suit yourself

Joe1337 · Jun 5, 2016

LeeRS said:
Suit yourself :smile:

Not being nasty, i can't see any reason why it could cause terminal damage, it's only blowing a bit of fuel into the exhaust

LeeRS · Jun 5, 2016

Joe1337 · Jun 6, 2016

So today I swapped out a stereo with a mate at work for this kenwood one thay fits the gap so much better (not hanging out) and also work mint, mech less one for the weight saving!
I got home from work and thought I'd bang on the splitter the guy left in the boot for me when I got the car, it's a little scruffy but looks mint, sets the front end off nicely :smile:

I want to get a set of number plate I've seen a few guys running the shorter plates that first the gap better does anyone know where I can get them from? Also wondering who does coloured badges (rather not paint them myself)

Louis · Jun 6, 2016

Looks mint buddy! Although yeah lose that front sticker. Was it done on rs tuner for that map I presume?
And the company is proplates.co.uk. Email them asking for 520 x 85 plate. Can't remember what the smaller plate on its own cost but for a standard rear and smaller front it was 23 posted for me.

Joe1337 · Jun 6, 2016

Louis' said:
Looks mint buddy! Although yeah lose that front sticker. Was it done on rs tuner for that map I presume?
And the company is proplates.co.uk. Email them asking for 520 x 85 plate. Can't remember what the smaller plate on its own cost but for a standard rear and smaller front it was 23 posted for me.

Thanks for the link pal appreciated! The map was live mapped I was told, it was done by tech-1 or something! Sounds good tho

Joe1337 · Jun 7, 2016

So got some new plates made up at work today, it's something I always do with every new car I get, the plates we use at work are a really nice quality metal plate, I think I prefer these than the previous idea of the stubby plate! I always think a set of number plates really set a car off tbh
Also had them customised a little bit

representing!

182_steve · Jun 7, 2016

Nice :up: pretty much the first thing I did on my clio too!

Joe1337 · Jun 7, 2016

182_steve said:
Nice :up: pretty much the first thing I did on my clio too!

Got bored whilst having a ciggie and took off those horrid stickers on the front, it looks so much smarter now, it's lost the boy racery effect on the front

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Joe1337 · Jun 9, 2016

Took the front stickers off and it looks so tidy!

Made a nice collage

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Joe1337 · Jun 11, 2016

Not much of an update really just been enjoying the car this week driving to work. It's more of a 500 mile update

I've been really enjoying this car and taking any reason to give it a run, couple of lads at work who used to be renault mater techs had a look under the car with me and we noticed the front discs are getting a bit lipped but the pads are fine so I can get away with the brakes for a little bit, I've been looking at mintex discs and pad combo, with groved discs, and pads, not looking for something too aggressive as this is primarily a car to go to work in lol! The calipers have been painted red which I hate so much! I think I'll be painting them yellow or a nice blue, I'm swaying towards blue, been considering braided lines too.

Really love the way the pedals sit it's so easy to heel toe in this car too.

Another thing is the shafts are a little scruffy with a couple of pin holes in the cv boots, I think I'll get a set of shafts for it because it saves time and I hate cv grease!

Another thing I've been looking at is possibly a steering wheel, been eyeing up an oreca deep dish wheel because it matches the exhaust lol!

Also been looking at getting a sunstrip and I've been considering wrapping some of the dash parts in carbon fibre, they're a little scruffy and it will tie everything in.

Can anyone get a diagram for the steering wheel buttons so I can make some buttons for the cruise control etc!

I've also noticed a stray plug in front of the right hand stalk, what is supposed to go there?

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Joe1337 · Jun 18, 2016

So had the car in at work today, changed sidelight bulbs for led, did a brake fluid flush and checked why my Airton was cold, it has a leak somewhere (I have FGAS) so used to mach8ne to detect the leak

State of that brake fluid!!!

Then gave the car a quick wash and polished the oreca back up to a nice shine

Then last pic is at my mum and dads house as I went to fetch my small tool box for my new house as I now have a garage

This car is like a little van!!!

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Joe1337 · Jun 24, 2016

More things have happened!!!

I went to halfords and got a pair of wiper blades cause mine where pants, alot better in the rain which can strike at any time!

Bumped into a mate whilst I was looking at headlight Polish kits and he offered to do them for me! What a lad!

Then right one has been done

And both done! Looks mint! He's a painter by trade so knows what he's doing with stuff like this whereas me and a cordless drill would have made a right c**k up!

Not sure what to do next, I got some coilover spring rings so gonna have a toy about at work tomorrow!

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Joe1337 · Jun 28, 2016

So I have ordered some bits and bobs,

- Takata tow strap (not gonna lie it's purely for the looks)

- carbon fibre wrap for the dashboard trim panels

- yellow fog light tint

And the all important club membership, it's renewal time next month so it's pretty good timing as it seems I can get a discount!

Hoping to get the club pack so I can put the sticker in the back window, I've done all the sticker bombing lark before but don't feel like peppering this car with stickers is any good.

I kinda want to be more grown up if that makes any sense, detract myself from the 1.2 cherry bomb crew you see at Macs

I do get the odd corsa Driver try it on though due to the oreca but I'm not bothered, what's the point if you know you're faster?

Anyway enough willy waving! I've actually learned to adult and have started saving money aside! I'd like to actually save up money towards parts, don't mind spending bits and bobs here and there but it's nice to actually save, I'd love a set of turinis in future

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*edit*

I also bought some satin black I'm going to spray the upper grille at the weekend as I'm not massive on the off grey loom it has going on

Tobz_mw · Jun 28, 2016

Good to see you have a thread going mate!! Looks like your making good progress your self! I know what you mean when you say about typical corsa drivers trying it on! I just don't bother entertaining them!! 😅😅

Joe1337 · Jun 29, 2016

Tobz_mw said:
Good to see you have a thread going mate!! Looks like your making good progress your self! I know what you mean when you say about typical corsa drivers trying it on! I just don't bother entertaining them!! 😅😅

Thanks dude much appreciated! It photographs well but is actually a bit of a nail lol needs a dent Guy

Took some photos of some beading tho this morning when I came out to it lol

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Joe1337 · Jun 30, 2016

Got the takata tow strap fitted on my lunch at work, very happy with it

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imprezaworks · Jun 30, 2016

Depending on the look/personal preference the tow straps look crap. You would only need one person to say. 'That for a trackday mate?'. Would be off instantly. Imo of course

Joe1337 · Jun 30, 2016

Totally understand and it is just for looks, serves no purpose for towing at all, I personally think they look mint

As you said it's down to personal preference! I owned a few dubs before this and it's doing stuff I've never done on cars before, including actually driving them hard.

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Joe1337 · Jul 3, 2016

Reasonable update today!

Gave the car a wash, very happy with how it looks on the outside right now

Then I gave the carbon wrap a try and very happy with how it came out

Just waiting on the yellow fog light tint to come and I'll be happy with how the car looks outside wise apart from a few dents amd scratches that I aim to sort out later on.

It needs a set of spacer on it though probably going to have 15 or 20mm on the front and 10 or 15 on the rear

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imprezaworks · Jul 3, 2016

Are you leaving the tintz? I reckon it would look 87.457% better without them

Joe1337 · Jul 3, 2016

imprezaworks said:
Are you leaving the tintz? I reckon it would look 87.457% better without them

Yeah I'm considering removing the tints, especially as they are only on the rear windows but not the back window

I'll have to spend a weekend doing it though as I'd have to remove the trims around the glass lol

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imprezaworks · Jul 3, 2016

Would look better dude

Joe1337 · Jul 3, 2016

imprezaworks said:
Would look better dude

Yeah I'd like to get round to doing it maybe next weekend

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imprezaworks · Jul 3, 2016

Good stuff look forward to the pics

Mr Plums · Jul 3, 2016

Yea i would remove the tints mate and the wind deflectors, these cars look much better without clutter.

Its looking nice tho, I would also change the front splitter to a fabia one and maybe get some turinis/182 wheels and a cup pack spoiler would finish it off lovely.

Joe1337 · Jul 3, 2016

Christ Almighty said:
Yea i would remove the tints mate and the wind deflectors, these cars look much better without clutter.

Its looking nice tho, I would also change the front splitter to a fabia one and maybe get some turinis/182 wheels and a cup pack spoiler would finish it off lovely.

I quite like the wind deflectors, but I do want to remove the tints

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Joe1337 · Jul 9, 2016

Had a go at de bobbling the seat, needs a little more time with a suede brush but generally it's come out alot better!!

And after

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Joe1337 · Jul 9, 2016

Can't leave this car alone!!!

Been busy again today and got the grille painted up, really hated the faded grey to the grille so got it sprayed up, came out fantastic

Started out by rubbing it back gently with a scotch pad just to take the top layer off and gently key the surface, then put a couple of light coats of a decent 2k etch primer, so it looked like this:

Then go for a fag or whatever and let it cure for an hour or two.

Give it a couple of nice and light coats of satin black (I hate matte) be careful not to go on too thick as there's so many places the paint can run, keep your wrist straight as you pass over it and only spray over the grille and take your finger off the nozzle and restart when you move about an inch lower, a few nice coats of that making sure you don't miss anything, in the meantime I cleaned up the engine bay a little and wrapped the badge in carbon:

Let it dry, make sure it drys nice and even, I was happy with how it ended up cause I have a garage that's well ventilated and dust free, so I didn't bother rubbing it back and putting a couple more coats, you could add a coat or two of lacquer to give either a gloss or a harder satin coat but I left it as it is so I can take it off and touch it up with a coat or two if it gets stone chipped