UR Meg R26 Lux

[MG cup]

Well I thought I'd start a little progress thread to document the ongoings of my newly acquired R26 prior to its sale.

I got the car just over a month ago in a swap deal for my old ITB'd cup. I never/don't plan/ed to keep the car myself although I would like to bring the service history up to spec and give it a bit of TLC while in my ownership and get the use of it prior to sale.

The car has some history on here already and having spoke to the old owner I new it would need some work which doesn't bother me. It will be getting a full engine service including the all important timing belt, WP and aux kit. good quality tyres and new brakes all around plus the interior will be getting a tidy up.

The car is a nice example but it needs some TLC to make it a lovely car. The front and back bumpers need re hung which I'm told is a common on the Megs, then all the parts listed above and a set of new mats, reg plates and some of the silver interior highlights wrapped in piano black as I think its more suiting to the whole car.

When I got the car.

While away with work I collected most of the parts to get the car complete. I started by fitting some new Renault sport mats yesterday.

I have yet to get the chance to do the other bits and pieces but I have received most ready to be done in the next week or two.

Genuine Renault service parts. Engine filter and oil, cabin filter and also spark plugs.

Genuine drilled rear discs and pads. The front discs are being sent for blasting/skimming and I'll get the yellow stuff pads fitted with a full fluid flush of ATE super blue.

Some stainless steel CV boot clips to stop the common problem of the boots popping off. Bumper and engine cover clip's to remount/position everything as it should be. Also some hamerite to do all the mounting faces on the discs before fitting.

A set of fresh plates with the front being slightly smaller to fit the recess better.

3m wrap for carrying the black highlight theme into the interior.

.

I got the chance yesterday to give the car a quick wash and a wipe over with quick dealer. It came up well although the paint will be getting a full correction detail and the wheels will be getting touched up, polished and sealed.

The cars booked in tomorrow for getting its full set of 235/40 Nankang NS-2r and then I'll get the rest of the bits done over the coming weeks and the belt at months end. It will then get a years test on it too.

The car will be for sale after all the work is done, if your interested you can drop me a PM.

 

[Stay Puft]

Looks lovely, you haven't hung around tidying it up!

 

[lemonnobby]

Oh dear motrio oil. Lol I would not use that in a lawn mower

 

[docp]

How many miles has it got?

 

[Chi]

Lovely work mate. Just sold mine and will definitely be missed.

 

[Feirny]

Looks good, not sure on the black combo. Think I prefer mine.

Forgot how bare they look without the .R spoiler.

 

[MG cup]

Looks lovely, you haven't hung around tidying it up!

Cheers, still to do most of it though.

Oh dear motrio oil. Lol I would not use that in a lawn mower

Nothing the mater with it as it meets the SAE/ACEA standards. I'm not saying I would put it in my track car or use it as long service oil but its a fully synthetic oil and more than up to the job.
For ref I usually use ester based oils but this was 1p and will do for 6,000 or 6 months just fine, even when abused.

How many miles has it got?

Its on 57,000

Lovely work mate. Just sold mine and will definitely be missed.

Yeah they're alright things. I would like a shot around on track with the diff, they pull nicely out of the corners.

Looks good, not sure on the black combo. Think I prefer mine.

Forgot how bare they look without the .R spoiler.

Its the way it came mate but yeah if I was keeping it myself I would do the side strips red and wheels in a dark anthracite, and the .R spoiler.

I have still to establish if its one of the few that were specced from factory with the black highlights, all the paint looks oem finish.

 

[MG cup]

I started doing some of the jobs today with the parts I have.

I removed the awful reg plates that were on and swapped them out for some custom fancy plates. I polished behind the recesses in preparation for its detail later in the week.

Rear

Front

Looking much fresher already.

Before stripping the brakes I washed and detailed the arches.

I got the rear calipers touched up and then re lacquered. Painted the new disc centres to stop rust and then bolted everything back together. I then flushed through the system with some ATE super blue.

new vs old, about due I would say, eh Liam

I washed and polished the wheels, came up okay although a refurb would better to suit my OCD.

Touched up any marks on the wheels and got some tyre slick on the new Nankang NS2-R's that were fitted yesterday. Looking good.

Tomorrow I'll be doing the same on the front and re hanging the front and back bumpers. The exhaust seems to sit on the piss too so I'll look into that.

 

[MG cup]

Started the day off like this, I checked all the ball joints, drop links, torque links, inner and outer track rods and everything seems to be good so that's a bonus.

I then removed the pads finally after having some trouble with the pins.

The pins finally came out a bit worse for wear.

The calipers were in a bit of a mess.

After some elbow grease, g101 and a stuff brush they were looking better.

I removed the track rod ends to check the hub bearings, again in perfect condition . I nipped up the existing CV boot clamps and gave everything a quick jet wash as the grease seems to have been from another clamp failure.

I then built everything back up with this after cleaning up the discs and painting the centres with hamerite.

To be left with this after touching up the callipers and re lacquering. Looking pretty good if I don't say so myself.

I then cleaned and detailed the front arches.

Finally for the wheels I polished the remaining two and refitted to seal tomorrow.

I then removed the front bumper to change the oil and filter and all the grilles so I can polish properly.

I think the oil was due.

Changed the plugs and removed all the engine covers so they can be detailed tomorrow.

I removed the rear wiper and cover, lights, grilles, side strips, b pillar covers, mirrors, spats, indicators and window seals so everything can be polished properly and quickly tomorrow. The amount of old polish hanging about under everything is nuts.

Split the mirrors and that's it ready to get a polished up tomorrow, I might even get the front seats out and give the interior a once over too.

Can anyone suggest a good trim restorer that's readily available (not aerospace as it will take a few days to arrive) and that can be sprayed on and left for the most part.

 

[jamie crookston]

AF Revive is good. How easy is it to split the caps off the mirrors?

 

[MG cup]

Cheers Jamie, anywhere mainstream where I could pick that up tomorrow? Or is any of the meguires stuff good that I could pick up from halfrauds.

The mirror caps are fiddly, if you pop of the mirror glass with a screwdriver then use a pick to pop all the 5 clips beginning with the one closest to the car so you can get your finger in to pull.

 

[_Tom]

Good work. Love them in red.

 

[MG cup]

Cheers. Yeah they suit red with the callipers and rear lights etc. Its been far too long since I had a red car, its nice to polish them as your hard work really shows up.

 

[LiamR172]

Fancy a swap for an old clio?

 

[Chi]

Brilliant as usual mate.

 

[MG cup]

Fancy a swap for an old clio?

Aye sure, send the 3k to my Cayman island account and deliver the car Monday

Brilliant as usual mate.

Cheers Chi, I see you have sold and bought another. Trading up for more power?

 

[craigy2703]

How much you looking for out of interest ?

 

[jamie crookston]

Cheers Jamie, anywhere mainstream where I could pick that up tomorrow? Or is any of the meguires stuff good that I could pick up from halfrauds.

The mirror caps are fiddly, if you pop of the mirror glass with a screwdriver then use a pick to pop all the 5 clips beginning with the one closest to the car so you can get your finger in to pull.

Yeah any of the Megs stuff or autoglym stuff will do the trick and you can get that from halfords. I don't know of anywhere that you can buy AF apart from online i'm afraid.

 

[MG cup]

Yeah any of the Megs stuff or autoglym stuff will do the trick and you can get that from halfords. I don't know of anywhere that you can buy AF apart from online i'm afraid.

I already have some Megs trim restore its just the time it takes to rub on all the cross hatch grilles and then buff off where as aerospace 303 is simply spray on then leave and its brilliant, I was hoping for something similar that's easily available.

 

[MG cup]

How much you looking for out of interest ?

How much do you think its worth?

 

[craigy2703]

I'll give ya 5k aha

 

[MG cup]

I'll give ya 5k aha

I'll politely show you the back side of my two favourite fingers :nono:

Im looking for a lot more than that, it will be one of the cleaner ones I have seen by the time I'm finished plus it will want for absolutely nothing, timing belt will be done properly, full service, brakes all round, tyres all round, new radiator, recent paint on front and side and just a generally a tidy car.

 

[JaredHasNoBrain]

Really like this!
C4 is good at restoring too btw
Makes me want to pay attention to my engine bay on my car.... But that'd hard work. So it'll be fine as it is haha!

 

[MG cup]

Really like this!
C4 is good at restoring too btw
Makes me want to pay attention to my engine bay on my car.... But that'd hard work. So it'll be fine as it is haha!

Is c5 any good for that, I just remembered I have some left over from a previous project.

Buy aerospace 303, quick jet wash avoiding most of the electrics, run the engine until its drying then lather on the aerospace 303 and allow to dry with the bonnet closed and engine running. You'll never do anything different again.

 

[JaredHasNoBrain]

Is c5 any good for that, I just remembered I have some left over from a previous project.

Buy aerospace 303, quick jet wash avoiding most of the electrics, run the engine until its drying then lather on the aerospace 303 and allow to dry with the bonnet closed and engine running. You'll never do anything different again.

C5 is wheel stuff I think, C4 is the trim one

Ah cool, I'll have a look at aerospace 303 now. Last time I washed my engine bay was my clio. Even covering everything up I still ended up with my coilpack lol
So I'd rather do stuff by hand, and will need a de-greaser

 

[MG cup]

C5 is wheel stuff I think, C4 is the trim one

Ah cool, I'll have a look at aerospace 303 now. Last time I washed my engine bay was my clio. Even covering everything up I still ended up with my coilpack lol
So I'd rather do stuff by hand, and will need a de-greaser

Yeah it says wheel on the tub although I have never used it yet.

Get the car running and engine hot, depending wether the filter is an open type or not then leave the engine running while you jet wash. Jet wash avoiding fuse boxes and anything of importance and you'll be grand. Start engine straight away depending on if you left it running and let it dry everything off with the bonnet closed.

I have only ever flooded one cars spark plugs in the hundreds I have done. I used to do it after every engine job I did at work. Its not witchcraft like some would have you think

 

[JaredHasNoBrain]

You've got me watching Engine detailing videos now! haha looks like i've got something to do tomorrow
Well then I got a busy day tomorrow! Engine bay clean up and then out on the bike getting burnt to a crisp. Good times

 

[Turbo tic]

Is this car from inverness??

 

[LiamR172]

Yes it is Turbo tic

 

[Chi]

Wasn't planned mate, traded a few of mine and then a Meg I'd seen and loved came up so I made an offer. Oh and something else too.. plan was to lose a few but didn't quite pan out.

 

[LiamR172]

Sorry if i missed it but what are you using on the arches Morgan?

 

[MG cup]

Is this car from inverness??

Yeah as Liam says.

Wasn't planned mate, traded a few of mine and then a Meg I'd seen and loved came up so I made an offer. Oh and something else too.. plan was to lose a few but didn't quite pan out.

Have you uploaded some pics yet? No skirts this time I hope

Sorry if i missed it but what are you using on the arches Morgan?

Nah you never, its some cheap rubbish in a spray can that the wind would blow off. I am going to pic something up today to properly treat/seal them.

 

[Chi]

No pics or threads. I'm sure everyone's bored of my car buying antics lol

 

[LiamR172]

Looks decent in the photos, must be because its fresh on though.

Also, i forgot to mention this but have you noticed something sliding/ratteling about undet the carpet when you accelorate/brake?

 

[MG cup]

No pics or threads. I'm sure everyone's bored of my car buying antics lol

Haha you can't get bored of good cars.

Looks decent in the photos, must be because its fresh on though.

Also, i forgot to mention this but have you noticed something sliding/ratteling about undet the carpet when you accelorate/brake?

Yeah it looks alright and actually stood up quite well to the power washer today but I re covered it in Poorboys trim restorer which I'm well impressed with. A little goes a long way.

I have noticed something rattle but I keep thinking its the seat, I haven't payed a greats deal of attention though as tomorrow I'll strip out the interior for a good clean and I'll find a few things haha.

 

[LiamR172]

It was there when i got it and ive had a look under the seat runners etc, never went to the extent of taking bits out but if you find a bag full of cash then its 100% mine ok!

 

[MG cup]

Its not a bag of money I can guarantee that

 

[LiamR172]

Haha, let me know what you find, sounds like something metal anyways.

Clio is still going fine btw, no more smoke or whatever it was.
Got a new plug for the rear light so im going to get that wired up tomorrow, one of the connectors is dodgey.

 

[MG cup]

I started the day by nipping round to my mates who gave me free choice on his detailing gear and his buff . I then started taking off a few more bits of trim so they can be restored and make the polishing easier.

I tapped up and bagged any wiring or holes.

My wash steps were.


Rinse down, sprayed and agitated g101 around all the nooks and crannies, prewash of g101/acti mousse XL in the snow lance, rinse and then another hit, used lambs wool mitt to clean.

A wipe down with Tardis a panel at a time and washing behind it, I started to clay but there was nothing coming so I went straight to the enhancement. I decided on PB black hole as my mate suggested that it would have a better cut than the meguires stuff I planned to use by hand.

Next I concentrated on all the plastics while the car was drying.

G101 sprayed and agitated then left to dwell until almost dry and then washed down. I leftist all to air dry and then I started to apply Poorboys trim restorer. I'm well impressed with this stuff and I'll be buying some for my own kit, it smells awesome too. 50/50 shows just how good it is and you only need to give it a quick wipe to remove excess.

After the car had dried I applied some tape and then got cracking with the buff.

After some polishing and the side strips re fitted to get a buff up.

Some reflections. I never spent to long engraving as the paint had a nice glow after a few passes.

I applied two coats of Jeffs carnuba glos (nice and easy to apply) before refitting all the grilsl to the front and back bumper. I set about trying to get them both sitting better and they turned out okay although not perfect, o not have a bolt at where the bumpers meet the wings is stupid.

Before

After

The exhaust polished which still needs some alignment.

The bumper and all the covers were secured with all new clips, plastics dressed and now the only thing letting the bay down is the rubbed down engine cover.

I then removed the sticker from where the car was bought. I think I'll remove the elf one tomorrow and add a small gtechniq badge.

I then set about dealing the wheels, C5 is great and the instant gloss and depth it gives is brilliant considering you don't have to work the product in.

After one coat.

I refitted the wheels, slapped on some Megs tyre dressing and went to bed in the new brakes. I managed to get a poor pic before the sun went down when out.

Tomorrow is the interiors turn, nothing major to be done other than a few marks on the head liner. Hen I get a chance I'll be wrapping a few bits in piano black.

Get your offers in as I'm growing quite attached to this thing now.

 

[MG cup]

Haha, let me know what you find, sounds like something metal anyways.

Clio is still going fine btw, no more smoke or whatever it was.
Got a new plug for the rear light so im going to get that wired up tomorrow, one of the connectors is dodgey.

.

Will do (not if its money)

Nice one, I didn't think it would be anything. As said, with the single silencer you will see more steam/vapour than usual.

Have you tried some electrical cleaner and some lithium grease in the plug, it would be a shame to chop up a perfectly good loom.