Recaro'd Arctic Blue 182FF

[pete_rawli]

Thought it was about time I made a project thread following the purchase of this in July last year!

Brief bit of history first. Owned a pearl black 1.2 at the age of 17 that I slowly modified over time, including spraying the alloys, badges, lowering on Eibach Sportlines, and fitting a sport grill and rear bumper from a 172.

Then as the insurance began to decrease as I built up no claims and I got more driving experience with age, I began to look for a 182. Knew I wanted an Arctic Blue FF with relatively low mileage and full service history, and that is when this came up on the classifieds:

http://www.cliosport.net/threads/20...-with-recaros-68k-£3600.749604/#post-10353138

It had been on the forum for a number of years, and owned by a number of people on there, and had been extremely well looked after. Brief spec:
2005 Clio 182 FF
68,000 Miles
FSH by Renault & Renault Specialist
Recaro Trendlines
Ktec Janspeed Exhaust System
Both Cup Packs

I put down a deposit almost immediately, and made the 8 hour round trip to Wales to pick it up! Pics taken from advert - hope @DanGill doesn't mind!

And the best bit:

See previous project thread:
http://www.cliosport.net/threads/dangills-arctic-blue-182.718423/

Almost immediately I then purchased some Cooksports:

Before:

After - although it has settled a bit more since then so looks lower now!

Following the drive home I noticed there was a slight squeak coming from what I originally thought was behind the dashboard but turned out to be the wipers which hadn't been mounted properly, so took them off and put them back on properly and squeak was gone.

The cam cover was also leaking slightly, so I cleaned it up and resealed the bolts, which sorted that - see pictures if anyone else is having the same problem!
http://www.cliosport.net/threads/oil-leak-around-cam-cover.772556/

Also replaced the windscreen washer pump and exhaust mounts, before getting it serviced last month and getting the auxiliary belt changed (as it had reached 72,000 miles). Couple of advisories:
- Exhaust heat shield loose - fixed with new washers
- Track rod ends worn - will be replacing ASAP

Quick picture on drive after a clean:

Love driving it, such a difference to the 1.2, puts a smile on my face every time. As for the future, I don't want to change too much apart from maybe Turinis, but other then that servicing it regularly and keeping it clean!

Apologies for the pic heavy thread, comments welcome.

 

[mak2503]

Love the barn picture. Wish I had your Recaro's in mine. It looks a really clean example.

 

[pete_rawli]

Love the barn picture. Wish I had your Recaro's in mine. It looks a really clean example.

Thanks - can't take credit for it as it was taken by the previous owner - but probably still my favourite picture of it too!

 

[T12]

Lovely car mate. Good choice keeping it clean and regularly serviced, much better than ruining it with silly mods and stickers.

 

[Mr Plums]

Thats a beautiful example mate, perfect for a standard car imo.

 

[1hpclio]

Love the recaro

 

[pete_rawli]

Update:
And quite a major one at that! I purchased these off Steve at @R-Sport Cars LTD back in January, but wanted to wait till the worst of the weather was out of the way before fitting them.

And 3 months later and following a thorough clean, I finally got round to fitting them yesterday - and it was worth the wait:

Really happy with how it looks now, can't think of any other modifications I want to make.

 

[Mar172]

Maybe some springs to lower by 40mm

 

[GeorgeH]

Looks great on cooksports and turinis mate!

 

[Daz...]

Looks spot on that.

 

[R-Sport.]

Nice pete

I just bought a full spec trophy BG 182 today ready for CSS
Convoy!!

 

[GavC]

Fantastic 182! Enjoy it and keep us updated :smiley:

Nice pete

I just bought a full spec trophy BG 182 today ready for CSS
Convoy!!

Media thread required please :blush:

 

[leeds2592]

That looks spot on. Maybe some blanks for the front headlight washers?

 

[dann2707]

That looks so good man! Agree with Leeds though, blanks!

 

[pete_rawli]

Maybe some springs to lower by 40mm

It's already on cooksports!

That looks spot on. Maybe some blanks for the front headlight washers?

That looks so good man! Agree with Leeds though, blanks!

Thanks guys. They're definitely something to consider, if only they weren't so expensive!

Always keep an eye on your project thread Dan, your videos really make me want to take mine on track!

 

[Stefan.]

Nice pete

I just bought a full spec trophy BG 182 today ready for CSS
Convoy!!

Ashs old one??

 

[R-Sport.]

Probably - one on trophy forum-
Will just go up in the spare garage -

 

[Stay Puft]

Ash sold it for like 7k didn't he? Would be interesting to know what you sell it for!

 

[Stay Puft]

OT - this car is properly nice. Turinis set it off lovely, and made me look for recaros..

 

[dann2707]

It's already on cooksports!





Thanks guys. They're definitely something to consider, if only they weren't so expensive!

Always keep an eye on your project thread Dan, your videos really make me want to take mine on track!

You should buddy! Are you coming to csf 16?

 

[jamesycc]

looks awesome. Want recaros but sell for way too much cash for my budget... Looks like a cup now:wink:

 

[pete_rawli]

OT - this car is properly nice. Turinis set it off lovely, and made me look for recaros..

Thanks mate, appreciated! Yeah I was extremely lucky to get one with them factory fitted!

You should buddy! Are you coming to csf 16?

Not sure yet, I haven't been before but feel like I can/should now ha

looks awesome. Want recaros but sell for way too much cash for my budget... Looks like a cup now:wink:

Yeah must admit it does a little, got the best of both worlds now though right?!

 

[pete_rawli]

Update 27/02/17:

It's been a while! I'm still the proud owner, and have just been enjoying looking after and driving her. Since my last post it's been across the channel to Bruges, which was great fun.

However, earlier this month, the alternator went, which resulted in a flat battery and a tow truck home.

Fortunately, it was already due a new cambelt and service in May this year, so I decided to bring that forward and get the alternator replaced at the same time.

So, I booked it in the very reputable Ren7oaks, who I'd used in the past. Strangely enough, it was also here that the cambelt had last been changed in 2012, under previous ownership.

I dropped it off yesterday, and picked it up this evening. A new cambelt, aux belt, dephaser, service, and alternator later, and so far, so good.

I'm just approaching the 78,000 mile mark, which means I've done less than 10,000 miles in almost three years since buying. Apart from being absolutely filthy and needing a good clean, not bad for a 12 year old car!

 

[pete_rawli]

Following on from my previous post, I decided to do a couple of jobs this weekend which I'd been meaning to do for a while, but just hadn't got round to.

It only had one advisory at the most recent service, and that was that the upper brake light wasn't working. So, I removed it to check the connectors were working fine, which they were, so I've ordered a replacement which I'll put in when it arrives later this week.

Secondly, the headlights were badly in need of a restoration - see pictures below:

So, I spent a couple of hours doing that - pretty happy with the results:

I'd also been meaning to switch the side lights for some LED ones to match the xenons, and I'd seen a couple of people had recommended these - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251442847277 - although they have gone up in price since I bought them. They are a pretty good match, see below (apologies for the terrible picture!):

Lastly I gave gave the car a thorough clean just before it started raining, so no pictures unfortunately.

 

[pete_rawli]

Update 26/03/17:

I'd bought an RS Tuner off someone on here a while ago with the intention of installing the 98RON map, but just hadn't got round to it. So, I decided to do that today, I'd done a search on here for a guide and by far the best instructions I found were as follows:

This is what I did on mine at the weekend:

1. Download RS Tuner software from Fastchips website
2. Connect RS Tuner to Laptop and click the RS logo to find out code needed for unlocking (for second hand RS Tuners)
3. Order unlock code from Fast Chips website and include the unique number from step 2 in the order.
4. When unlock code arrives from Fast Chips plug in RS tuner to laptop & car, click on the RS logo and insert unlock code.
5. Click Read ECU - This backs up your current ECU settings (Takes around 20mins)
6. Click Read CAL - This backs up your current map settings (Takes around 5mins)
7. Click write ECU and select your NEW .RST file supplied by Fast Chips (Takes around 20mins)
8. Click write CAL and select your NEW desired map 98RON, Pops & Chav Bangs etc (Takes around 5mins)
9. Take car out for a drive and enjoy...

I already had the new ECU and CAL files so didn't require any from Fast Chips. You can buy these from their website (or ask a friendly CS member :wink

I took it out for a quick drive but yet to test it properly, but thought I'd re-share these instructions for others to follow - it is a very straightforward process if you just follow this guide!

 

[182_steve]

From one arctic owner to another, that looks a great example and the factory fitted Recaro's and Turini's are the icing on the cake :up:

 

[pete_rawli]

Thought I'd post some up to date photos of my Arctic Blue 182 as it stands. I recently bought a Sabelt off @R-Sport. , which I'm really happy with. With the sticker he supplied, it's pretty much identical to the original.

Sabelt by Peter Rawlins, on Flickr

And here are some of the car from earlier this summer:

Front by Peter Rawlins, on Flickr

Rear by Peter Rawlins, on Flickr

Side by Peter Rawlins, on Flickr

Recaros by Peter Rawlins, on Flickr

Re-trimmed rear seats to match the Recaros:

Back by Peter Rawlins, on Flickr

 

[imprezaworks]

Very nice

 

[Jekyll]

Looks very clean.

Love a new sabelt, they look so good clean. Considering the wheel is a genuine on and it's been discontinued now from Renault, a good sticker is the only difference from the mild etching, which you have. Limited numbers from Steve too.

 

[David Stuart]

Very nice. Every time a see one like this I think of buying recaros and keeping it a road car.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jamesycc]

Nice. Turinis just work with these cars. Rear bench is a nice touch..

Sabelt looks sexy

 

[leeds_182]

Fresh.

 

[182_steve]

That looks lovely and always good to see another Arctic!

The re-trimmed rear seats however, now that is a very nice touch

 

[shiftspark]

Nice.

 

[R-Sport.]

Steering wheel looks perfect
The sticker is a perfect match for the original embossed logo!

 

[Mr Plums]

That looks bloody good! A proper perfect example!

 

[Cookson]

Such a lovely colour when it's clean.

Really resisting clicking onto autotrader/pistonheads now

 

[leeds2592]

I proper love this, it's kind of like the Arctic version of mine!

 

[mossyv6]

Really nice motor loving the stance

 

[Cerrone]

Looks really nice bud! The rear seats look spot on, very original!