OneTime's Racing Blue 182

[OneTime_]

Bit of an update over the last few days.
I did buy some Carbon Washer blanks but decided against fitting them after seeing other RB's on here with colour coded blanks. So will be planning on getting some in the future and colour coding them.

Spent the majority of my time over the weekend sorting the Powerflex exhaust mounts on the car. The Scorpion RS192 cat back has washers on each of the hangers, as a result the Powerflex bushes couldn't slide on all the way, so much so that I could line the holes up when trying to put the bolts back in. After trying to snap the washers off, which were welded on some parts, I decided to take the back box off the car and attack them with some mole grips and a file.

Old mounts were pretty shagged:

Washers stopping me from fitting the Powerflex bushes:

Half way through trying to get them off the car while the back box was still on:

Back box off, washers filed down so the hangers were smooth and wouldn't eat the bushes, cleaned up the seals and resealed.

 

[OneTime_]

New bolts and washers fitted. Bushes fit on nicely now!

The right sits a little lower than the left. Gonna leave it for a couple of weeks and see if the left settles in the bush. Otherwise will take back off again and sort it.

Also half way through the debadge process at this point.
Took the Clio badge off yesterday and fitted the R.S. badge.

Also had Silvervisions arrive so fitted all round. Before Silvervisions above, after below. Looks a lot cleaner!

The sun doesn't help the angle here but you get the point from the right headlight.

Also treated myself to a few goodies to get the exhaust done as I've never really had my own tools, always borrowed my dad's or friends. So about time I bought my own.

Aiming to sort the reg plates next and get some Speedline Corse stickers for the 2118's.

 

[Jekyll]

Good stuff mate. Any progress is good progress. Silvervisions are a simple mod but make a big difference.

Can you not paint the carbon ones and seal them on? Or do you want to just get normal ones?

Your springs look like eibach sportlines too.

 

[RacingBeaut]

Think Scorpions just have crap fitment, I know mine does even though I’ve renewed the bushes and mounts.

 

[OneTime_]

Good stuff mate. Any progress is good progress. Silvervisions are a simple mod but make a big difference.

Can you not paint the carbon ones and seal them on? Or do you want to just get normal ones?

Your springs look like eibach sportlines too.

Yeah Silvervisions do look good! Got some Silvervision side indicator bulbs on the way to complete the job.

I wouldn't want to do that to Carbon blanks lol! I'm going to get some of the Mega Carbon fibreglass ones and pant them -https://www.megacarbon.co.uk/product-page/renault-clio-172-182-cup-fibre-glass-headlamp-washer-blanks
Are yours standard black plastic that you sprayed?

 

[Jekyll]

No bud. Looking at the website in the link, I think I have the same ones.

I didn't buy them new. When I got the car, the previous owner had these spare so I bought them afterwards. But they are the same looking at them.

 

[andy_coops]

Liking the wheel colour. Different but it works nicely 👌

 

[Coops Mk1]

Looking good

Tbh those carbon blanks look odd shape and bit bulbous anyway so I think sacking them off is right way to go

 

[frayz]

Lovely car and some great updates.
Nice job on starting your tool collection too. Good quality tools will last you a lifetime if you look after them and always really satisfying getting your own jobs done like this. 🙂👍🏼

 

[OneTime_]

Silvatec side indicator bulbs arrived this week to complete the de-tango of the car.

Before:

During:

After:

Gave her a quick clean and a polish today as well.

Been chatting to Snappy sorting a retrimmed steering wheel. He sent me a photo of it today before posting. Should be with me hopefully in the next week or two!

Planning to order new reg plates at some point this weekend

 

[Cads]

I’ve been messaging Snappy too and will post my wheel off next week. I’m going for the same but with Alcantara on the small bottom section.

It’s a lovely looking job mate!

 

[OneTime_]

Fitted the new re-trimmed steering wheel today

Need to give the interior a clean!

Some beading shots from the last couple of rainy days

Also started to tackle the front plate recess as I've got a 90mm plate on the way.
Currently rocking this with screw covers.

Took the plate off to reveal this absolute mess!

Trying to get it all off so I can fit velcro coins for easy off and on during cleaning.
Got all the tape off but struggling with the glue/adhesive blobs which are like solid rubber.
I've used Auto Smart Tardis, Sticky Stuff Remover and WD40 but still unable to shift the blobs.
They are on there quite thick so got some of it off using a hair dryer and plastic scraper tool. Struggling with the remaining bits on the surface. I've read petrol works so may have to give that a go. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

 

[Jekyll]

Wheel looks amazing. He does do good work.

As for the plate recess, use a coffee wheel on a drill. Makes light work. Just make sure you keep moving and doing let it get roo hot on one area. Also see if you can get some panel wipe/degreaser as that will soften it up.

 

[Jekyll]

*toffee, not coffee!

*And don't let it get too hot!

Stupid autocorect 🤦‍♂️ (just re-read my post!)

 

[NicJ5]

Car looks amazing mate. Not looking forward to you showing me up at Pub Club and the breakfast runs when this is all over haha

Bit of petrol on a microfiber will take that adhesive off without any problem. Used it to remove the adhesive I was left with when I changed my RS badge

 

[NicJ5]

You need an aluminium footrest too. Think @Mbeau has one!

 

[OneTime_]

Finally sorted the reg plates after an absolute saga.
Order a set from Pro Plates, 90mm front plate and a regular sized rear plate. They arrived but both had defects. It looked as if peices of dust had got stuck inbetween the acrylic and the reflective backing tape while being made. So much so that they had raised the reflective backing tape with the trapped air bubble and as so little dots on the plate weren't reflective anyone. Got in touch with them and they agreed to have another set made, checked and sent out to me.
Waited a few days for the replacements to arrive and once they did checked them over and the same issue, however this time it was even more obvious with the front plate having a blister right in the middle of one of the letters and the rear plate having cracks around one of the letters. I don't know how they've managed to ruin four plates but after another couple of emails I was offered a full refund if I send the plates back to them or a partial refund of £15 (Cost me £25 with the free shipping discount code). I went back and asked if they had a free post label to return, no reply, chased again, no reply. Been 2 weeks now. So I'm going to print off the email where they offer me the full refund and send it back to them with the plates, signed for so I know they get it. Hopefully I'll get a full refund! Imagine it will cost a fiver to ship them but oh well.

Anyways, ordered a set from Fancy Plates. Arrived in perfect condition. They even included 2 sets of sticky pads and screws with colour matched tabs. Granted they were a fiver more expensive but the difference in quality and the extras they include made it worth it!

Front plate before:

During:

After:

Rear before and after:

A lot cleaner without the screws and advertising.

Popped into Costco and while shopping I spotted a bagain; a pack of 4 wash mitts for £7!

A quick clean followed and I took some photos while doing the weekly shop:

 

[Jekyll]

So annoyong about the plates mate.

Oddly, I had issues with mine from fancy plates. Not the same issues as you, but issues regardless and I git my emails ignored. I'm sure some companies just hope you go away.

But for now, at least you have new clean plates. Hopefully you'll get your refund sorted.

 

[jamesbeaumont]

Big improvement with the new plates. Have you used the Velcro discs before? I find they tend to tear off when I try to remove plates that are stuck on with them?


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[Amos91]

Big improvement with the new plates. Have you used the Velcro discs before? I find they tend to tear off when I try to remove plates that are stuck on with them?


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Had this type on my car for years and I take the plates off most times to clean it, never fallen off -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00186Q5WW/?tag=cliospnet01-21

 

[jamesbeaumont]

Had this type on my car for years and I take the plates off most times to clean it, never fallen off -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00186Q5WW/?tag=cliospnet01-21

Interesting. Same as me but I have had them peel off. Will try again!


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[OneTime_]

These stick on pretty good. I imagine they'll need replacing in a few years but do the job for now.
I read up about sticking the velcro side on the car and then the soft fabric on the plate, so the fabric side doesn't get wet when you wash the car as you take the plates off. Only problem with this is the Velcro catches on the wash mitt and any drying towels so you gotta be careful.

 

[jamesbeaumont]

These stick on pretty good. I imagine they'll need replacing in a few years but do the job for now.
I read up about sticking the velcro side on the car and then the soft fabric on the plate, so the fabric side doesn't get wet when you wash the car as you take the plates off. Only problem with this is the Velcro catches on the wash mitt and any drying towels so you gotta be careful.

Good advice. I think I’d installed them the other way round in the past

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[OneTime_]

Good advice. I think I’d installed them the other way round in the past View attachment 1474991


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Ah right fair enough. Loving the LY!

 

[Amos91]

I’ve had about four or five sets of plates from ProPlates, all of them have some kind of defect, the latest one being a line across the plate from one end to the other. So would say stick to Fancyplates or similar to be honest.

 

[Louis]

Proplates were fine originally, but appear they've gone downhill of late. Maybe they have a wookie making the number plates and he's moulting.

@Pro Plates

 

[deanoE30M3]

Little clean today!

View attachment 1463298View attachment 1463299View attachment 1463300

looks super clean in these photos. what wax you using on it?
Much better on the new wheels..

 

[OneTime_]

looks super clean in these photos. what wax you using on it?
Much better on the new wheels..

Thanks, it's Autoglym HD Wax. Also use Autoglym Super Resin Polish.
Planning to machine polish it either once this is all over so I can borrow @Davyy 's or once the Menzerna kit on Clean Your Car is back in stock. It's so swirly

DAS-6 v2 Dual Action Polisher - Menzerna Kit

DAS-6 v2 Dual Action Polisher - Menzerna Kit The Menzerna kit is the ideal kit for tackling all harder paints, but thats not to say it doesn't work wonders on softer paints as well. This kit is so popular because it contains such a range of pads and polish. This means it's possible to find the co

www.cleanyourcar.co.uk

 

[OneTime_]

Since getting the 2118's on the car they needed balancing and the tracking done so this week went and got them all balanced and then popped into the Wheel Alignment Specialist in Southampton for the tracking to be sorted.

Nick is a top bloke and from reviews he's very good at what he does. Car feels a lot better now!
While he was sorting the tracking I spent about 10mins just looking at all the photos on the walls. Some serious motors have gone through his doors!

Also picked up a few more cleaning bits this week.
Been using standard buckets without any grit guards for a long time and thought it was about time I went and got myself a proper rinse and wash bucket set with grit guards.

Ran out of AG Fast Glass recently and didn't feel like spending another £8 on a 500ml bottle so after some research on Detailing World found that Nilco Nilglass has good reviews. At £4.54 for a 1L bottle I thought I'd give it a go!

Picked up a new Meguiars tyre gel applicator as mine was past it's best.

In terms of plans not much. I'm on the look out for a new drying towel as the one I've got is just not doing the same job anymore. Heard great things about the Klin Duo large drying towel but they are out of stock everywhere!
So will be keeping a look out for one of those and also need to sort the front grille as it's faded a lot.
Undecided whether to respray black or try Gtechniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer, so will do some research on that.

 

[Jekyll]

Drying towel, I use purestar duplex. Its great.

Purestar - Duplex Drying Towel

Purestar Duplex Microfibre Drying Towel The Purestar Duplex microfiber drying towel we believe is currently the best drying towel available anywhere in the world. This microfibre drying is manufactured in Korea using the very latest microfibre technology. This is a twist pile microfibre drying

www.cleanyourcar.co.uk

Where did you buy the glass cleaner from?

 

[OneTime_]

Drying towel, I use purestar duplex. Its great.

Purestar - Duplex Drying Towel

Purestar Duplex Microfibre Drying Towel The Purestar Duplex microfiber drying towel we believe is currently the best drying towel available anywhere in the world. This microfibre drying is manufactured in Korea using the very latest microfibre technology. This is a twist pile microfibre drying

www.cleanyourcar.co.uk

Where did you buy the glass cleaner from?

Thanks, I'll check it out!
B&Q for the glass cleaner. Or Amazon do the 5L version but wanted to give it a go so opted for the 1L version for £4.54.

 

[Jekyll]

Nice one. For that price, its worth the punt of recommendations are good.

 

[OneTime_]

Sprayed the front grille a couple of weekends ago when the weather was decent.
Figured it was easier to get it off with taking the bumper off. Also considered doing the lower grill and fog light surrounds but saving that for another day.

 

[OneTime_]

3 coats of plastic primer and 3 coats of Halfords black plastic paint

Before:

After:

 

[OneTime_]

As some of you may have seen the RB was sold at the end of August due to a career change and needing something a bit more comfy that can do some miles.

I decided I'd like an BMW E92 (Coupe) LCI (Facelift) 3 Series M Sport. After reading up about the 2.0 litre engines and the timing chain issues I was after a 3.0 litre. I test drove a black 320d m sport manual which confirmed it had to be the 3.0 litre and with the auto box. I then test drove a 325d m sport auto and after seeing the difference in mpg and power versus the 330d I decided a 330d was the one to go for. 335d would have been fun but it's just another turbo to worry about if it all goes wrong lol.

So after some searching I ended up picking up this Space Grey Metallic 330d M sport with all the options I wanted including heated black leather seats, 19 inch style 313 alloys, auto with paddles and iDrive with Pro Nav and Bluetooth. The previous owner also got rid of the chrome kidney grills and stuck a splitter on. Other than that it's standard and in pretty good condition.

It's a lovely place to be and commutting to work is pretty effortless now.