My cheap(ish) 172 Cup

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Driving to work and back yesterday it's noticeable the change in noise. The only thing I did was change the spring as it was the only thing I could see that I could do. A stronger spring may give a better result but it was a genuine Renault part I fitted, and this is the set up from the factory meaning that something else must be worn otherwise my car now would sound the same from new. I have not found anyone else having this issue so i'll say it's a combination of a worn part/s and me hearing every noise and wanting to solve it...not a good standpoint on a lightweight 22 year old French tin can! I was the same with my 205 GTi's though, always wanting them to be as tight as a Roller. I wonder what you guys hear from your gear changes/ pedal movements? Maybe similar but you don't notice it so much. I have to investigate this more but the gearbox was rebuilt recently and a new clutch pack fitted so i'm confident there is nothing terminal happening, just a Clio being Clioish.

Anyway, a new exhaust is to be fitted in the coming weeks, gearbox oil change to reduce the diff noise and my Mondial-Monaco bumper to be sorted. It never ends but it's all part of the fun!

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Today was the turn of my spoiler brake light to face the music. The lens is very difficult to get hold of now without paying a lot of money and as mine was cracked on the top left side I decided it would be better to repair it than replace it. I used one of the kits from eBay that uses a resin that responds and sets when exposed to UV light to fix the broken piece and left it for a few weeks. I then sanded and polished the whole of the lens. The edges are very flimsy so I was very careful not to put too much pressure on it. I did this by holding it in my hand whilst I polished it and when I come to give the car another full polish, I’ll have another go at it and get it even better. I didn’t take a photo of the piece that was broken, but this is almost an invisible repair now, if you didn’t know it was broken before. It looks much better than the photos show and the repair kit cost a fiver versus buying an intact spoiler for £120+.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Currently fixing the original splitter, that I had repaired but then caught on the garden gate and snapped in two.

The damage happened in the same place that I’d repaired before so I basically just have to redo everything I did a few months ago. This will be re-fitted when I do my second repair on the bumper. I’ve bought the paint and the colour match from Saint Helens Paints is really good. It will look way better than my Monaco effort a few weeks back. Hopefully the weather holds out when I do it.

 

[Colin-S]

James @JMRS do the brake light spoiler kits for under £27.99 - just ssen it's for the PCB only and not the outer light.- sorry

Cup Spoiler Brake Light

 

[Matt Cup]

James @JMRS do the brake light spoiler kits for under £27.99

Cup Spoiler Brake Light

That’s just the led pcb mate not the lens.

 

[Colin-S]

Yeah Just had a further look at it Matt...my bad.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

James @JMRS do the brake light spoiler kits for under £27.99 - just ssen it's for the PCB only and not the outer light.- sorry

Cup Spoiler Brake Light

Good to know as I'm sure the LED part will stop working now i've fixed the lens

 

[Matt Cup]

Good to know as I'm sure the LED part will stop working now i've fixed the lens

Make sure you test it before putting it all back together.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Make sure you test it before putting it all back together.

It just clipped in as per usual. I'll test it tomorrow night. No doubt it is now dead. And making a clunking noise!

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Totally forgot to check this....but I did last night in Asda's window and it's fine. Then my O/S headlight bulb went!

Car is booked in at Birchdown in a few weeks for a new Klarius exhaust to be fitted along with a new clamp and centre hanger. The rear hanger will get polybushed as it's totally gone after only a year. The handbrake will be checked as it bites at different positions of the lever when it should be the same every time. The gearbox oil will be changed as well.

In a few weeks i'm off work so i'll redo the front bumper and repair it (again!) but this time in Mondial Blue😊 I've also some fettling to do with the gear change linkage and a full machine polish. There is a little tidying up to do with the interior and also some underbody bits, but it's getting there.

 

[cat171]

Totally forgot to check this....but I did last night in Asda's window and it's fine. Then my O/S headlight bulb went!

Car is booked in at Birchdown in a few weeks for a new Klarius exhaust to be fitted along with a new clamp and centre hanger. The rear hanger will get polybushed as it's totally gone after only a year. The handbrake will be checked as it bites at different positions of the lever when it should be the same every time. The gearbox oil will be changed as well.

In a few weeks i'm off work so i'll redo the front bumper and repair it (again!) but this time in Mondial Blue😊 I've also some fettling to do with the gear change linkage and a full machine polish. There is a little tidying up to do with the interior and also some underbody bits, but it's getting there.

Please can you let me know some info about this exhaust? I've got a Phase 2 172 with pattern one on it and it's noisy, I want quieter like OE - I am considering Piper with both boxes but I'm interested in other options.

 

[Matt Cup]

Please can you let me know some info about this exhaust? I've got a Phase 2 172 with pattern one on it and it's noisy, I want quieter like OE - I am considering Piper with both boxes but I'm interested in other options.

Ktec stealth with res is relatively quiet in my experience.

 

[cat171]

Ktec stealth with res is relatively quiet in my experience.

Thanks mate, I know of them, made by Janspeed iirc? But I think they're on back order or something?

 

[Matt Cup]

Thanks mate, I know of them, made by Janspeed iirc? But I think they're on back order or something?

I bought mine second hand, no idea on new availability. But I wouldn’t be buying anything from Ktec with their current issues.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Please can you let me know some info about this exhaust? I've got a Phase 2 172 with pattern one on it and it's noisy, I want quieter like OE - I am considering Piper with both boxes but I'm interested in other options.

I’m at work now so I’ll send details later.
The one coming off will be for sale. Matt has heard it so you can ask his opinion. NorthloopCup said it was a bit loud. Chris at EFI said said it sounded OEM. A real mixed bag of opinions and I think it’s a little boomy on the Mway.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Please can you let me know some info about this exhaust? I've got a Phase 2 172 with pattern one on it and it's noisy, I want quieter like OE - I am considering Piper with both boxes but I'm interested in other options.

I ordered this from Arnold Clarke as they gave the best price and I couldn't find a link to order direct from Klarius. I got some info from this thread on here...

172 exhaust

I have a ECP pattern centre and rear section and they’re both past it. Rattle a lot and back box doesn’t sit right - never has. I don’t want to spend a fortune and even the pattern parts seem to have rocketed. Before I “have to” bite the bullet on a PMS or Ktec, or even something custom made...

cliosport.net

Here is the info from Klarius...

 

[Matt Cup]

How visible is the back box from the rear of the car on the Klarius? I’d hate to see the box or tip dangling in view of the back bumper.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

How visible is the back box from the rear of the car on the Klarius? I’d hate to see the box or tip dangling in view of the back bumper.

This is from the link I sent. I don't think you see much and I prefer OEM style rather than seeing any tailpipe at all.

 

[Matt Cup]

Not the best angle tbf. Will be interesting to see what yours looks like fitted. Also is it stainless or mild steel?

But here’s my ktec, as the back box is oval it made it quite easy to get it tucked right up behind the bumper.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Not SS at that price, I'm sure.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Today the car was at Birchdown for one or two jobs. Firstly, just for once I got very lucky. When I was leaving the hotel this morning the wiper water pump stopped working. What timing! Usually something like this happens the day after I’ve left Birchdown. So, they fitted a new motor and the wipers are working perfectly. The other job was to check why the handbrake was not operating correctly and they found that one of the refurbished calipers they had fitted recently had failed. That was replaced under warranty. They have added a gearbox oil additive to quieten the diff and it has made a difference. I can still hear the diff, but it’s not as bad as it was. They also fitted a small poly bush to the gear selector, the one with the small circlip . This was easy for them as they were replacing the exhaust and had it up on the ramp.

The main reason for going was for them to fit the new exhaust. Everything is new from the CAT back including a new poly bush to the rear exhaust mount. What a difference it has made. Driving back on the motorway it is so much quieter than before. I am absolutely sure that the car accelerates better with this new system fitted as the engine just seems to breathe a lot easier. If the car has only gained a few BHP there’s no way I would feel that but overall it just feels to pick up a lot quicker.I’m really glad I’ve changed it.

 

[bowen86]

This is a great update as I'm looking for an OEM'ish exhaust that's quieter than what I have now.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

It's so much better than before. My parents didn't hear me coming from a mile away when I visited today and the car is so much better to drive.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

So, I’m a week into the new exhaust and I can say it’s the best anti-mod I’ve ever made. It’s so much nicer to drive and throttle response seems better. Got the bumper to sort next week (again!) and a few other bits. No doubt it’ll throw a piston by weekend!

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Decided to polish up my rear lights today. They were not too bad so have them a quick rub down with 2000 grit wet and dry and then polish with a light cut polish followed by a finishing polish. Not a massive difference but they look better to the naked eye.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

And then I decided to do the number plate light and ……. oh.

 

[Colin-S]

The previous owner has just cut the wires and plug off and crimped some connectors on.

Pic of original connector

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

The connections do work but the unit is just loose in the bumper hole. I’ve got one sort now.

 

[Gaz_]

Love this mate - proper dedication

Good work on the exhaust too - nothing worse than a loud droney thing

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

More work today…. First off was cleaning up the rear plate lamp that Matt sorted out for me. It cleaned up great.

Next up was to remove the bumper and try and align the N/S headlight as the car has clearly had an impact on that side in the past. I’ve done my best to get the distance the same around the bonnet compared to the other side. I’ve had to use a bit of ingenuity as one bolt hole for the headlight bolt is nowhere near in line. It not had major damage but I’ve tried to use a jack to push things straight and there was no chance to get it right. It would have to be jigged but it’s not worth the cost as it’s now not noticeable.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

I found that my RENAULT and SPORT badges were about to fall off so I removed them and now I’m waiting for the correct tape to refit them.
The rear bumper had two marks in it from an impact so I’ve done my best to repair them with touch up paint, wet n dry and my polisher. They are way better now but you can see the difference between original paint and the touch up. The paint has also flexed from an impact and it’s impossible to repair. Only a respray will solve it but it’s not that noticeable unless you’re looking for it. It looks terrible on the photo but I’m not too bothered. I was going to get the car into a body shop where my brothers works, but he’s just left there to become a driving instructor. How rude!

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

I’ve got the bumper off and started to repair it but ran out of light. I’ve got all the paint etc to get it done and I’ll make a spray booth under the carport to keep dust off. I’ve also got 2K lacquer for it. I was tempted to paint the grill and other dark bits but I’ve decided to keep everything original.