2007 Renaultsport Megane 230 F1 Team R26
Discussion
Aye, am getting it booked in at SJM Automotives now, a Renault Sport specialist near Glastonbury. Comes very well recommended and is near enough for me to make the trip!
Anyways, I finally got round to giving her a bath this afternoon, once it had cooled down a bit.
Like I said in the original post, I'm not really into cleaning / detailing, but after about 30 mins I started to get into it a bit..... over 2 hours later and I decided I'd done
Think it looks pretty good, even if I do say so myself..
I do need to work on my glass cleaning though, damn streaks!
6 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
Arms are knackered now, still able to lift a pint though of course
Anyways, I finally got round to giving her a bath this afternoon, once it had cooled down a bit.
Like I said in the original post, I'm not really into cleaning / detailing, but after about 30 mins I started to get into it a bit..... over 2 hours later and I decided I'd done
Think it looks pretty good, even if I do say so myself..
I do need to work on my glass cleaning though, damn streaks!
6 by the northern monkey, on FlickrArms are knackered now, still able to lift a pint though of course
Edited by North3rn Monk3y on Friday 11th August 20:23
Cheers all, its definitely keeping the grins coming, still loving it!
Can't stop taking pictures either... she has a big butt..
7 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
Booked in for the timing belt change and service in weeks, can't wait to have that done for piece of mind.
Then its the tyres. Getting used to the feel of the car now so pushing it a little harder, the chassis is absolutely amazing. It corners so flat and controlled compared to anything else I've driven, the front end grip and turn in (even with the budgets) is confidence inspiring!
Can't stop taking pictures either... she has a big butt..
7 by the northern monkey, on FlickrBooked in for the timing belt change and service in weeks, can't wait to have that done for piece of mind.
Then its the tyres. Getting used to the feel of the car now so pushing it a little harder, the chassis is absolutely amazing. It corners so flat and controlled compared to anything else I've driven, the front end grip and turn in (even with the budgets) is confidence inspiring!
Edited by North3rn Monk3y on Friday 11th August 20:23
Quick update:
Had a bit of water ingress over last week on the passenger footwell and steaming up windows. Panicked slightly as I was hoping it wasn't the heater matrix, which fortunately it isn't.
After a bit of reading, it seems the gutter under the scuttle panel has a habit of getting clogged and then leak water into the footwell.
Cue a lot of swearing and a bit of prodding followed by the sound of about 1l of water gushing out under the car. Think its sorted the issue, but will check again this weekend. Wondering if I can manipulate a bit of mesh to cover the drain holes as they're about the size of a 10p piece.... am not surprised they get clogged!
2nd job has been to find the cabin filter. Thank lordy for the interwebs, I'd never have guessed it was behind the clutch pedal!
Should smell a bit nicer now...
8 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
I also have a K+N panel filter on the way to get her breathing clean, I'm just waiting for it to turn up.
Booked in at SJM Automotives on Tuesday for timing belt and a service ( http://www.sjmautomotive.co.uk ). Never been down that way, but is about 15 min walk from the centre of Glastonbury - any one recommend a decent place for lunch and a coffee?
Oh and for those that do know me, you'll know I enjoy searching for a bit of a bargain... I picked up this lot from a Renault parts specialist on eBay for £32 posted. Will hang on to it for now as SJM will swap out the oil while its in for a service, but I couldn't let it go at that price.
9 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
Had a bit of water ingress over last week on the passenger footwell and steaming up windows. Panicked slightly as I was hoping it wasn't the heater matrix, which fortunately it isn't.
After a bit of reading, it seems the gutter under the scuttle panel has a habit of getting clogged and then leak water into the footwell.
Cue a lot of swearing and a bit of prodding followed by the sound of about 1l of water gushing out under the car. Think its sorted the issue, but will check again this weekend. Wondering if I can manipulate a bit of mesh to cover the drain holes as they're about the size of a 10p piece.... am not surprised they get clogged!
2nd job has been to find the cabin filter. Thank lordy for the interwebs, I'd never have guessed it was behind the clutch pedal!
Should smell a bit nicer now...
8 by the northern monkey, on FlickrI also have a K+N panel filter on the way to get her breathing clean, I'm just waiting for it to turn up.
Booked in at SJM Automotives on Tuesday for timing belt and a service ( http://www.sjmautomotive.co.uk ). Never been down that way, but is about 15 min walk from the centre of Glastonbury - any one recommend a decent place for lunch and a coffee?
Oh and for those that do know me, you'll know I enjoy searching for a bit of a bargain... I picked up this lot from a Renault parts specialist on eBay for £32 posted. Will hang on to it for now as SJM will swap out the oil while its in for a service, but I couldn't let it go at that price.
9 by the northern monkey, on FlickrEdited by North3rn Monk3y on Friday 11th August 20:24
Brilliant thanks... I might go get a breakfast in a cafe somewhere, have a ponder around Glastonbury / Abbey and make my way over to Street once I get bored (I'd never of known about the shopping centre, cheers for the heads up!).
Will see if anythings happening at Colin Whites, seems they have a lot of 4x4's in the carpark!
Will see if anythings happening at Colin Whites, seems they have a lot of 4x4's in the carpark!
North3rn Monk3y said:
Brilliant thanks... I might go get a breakfast in a cafe somewhere, have a ponder around Glastonbury / Abbey and make my way over to Street once I get bored (I'd never of known about the shopping centre, cheers for the heads up!).
Will see if anythings happening at Colin Whites, seems they have a lot of 4x4's in the carpark!
That's partly what he does, also makes bin lorries, his race trucks parked round the back.Will see if anythings happening at Colin Whites, seems they have a lot of 4x4's in the carpark!
Life Lesson of Motoring #1 - always call the garage the day before to make sure they are expecting you, especially if its a 200 mile round trip 
Bit of a disaster due to miscommunication by both parties, but all sorted so won't go into detail... Dan was great and really really apologetic, will be going back next Wednesday
Anyway, it turned into a 200 mile round trip for a McDonalds breakfast wrap and a coffee. But what a trip it was!
Satnav decided to take me off at junction 22 of the M5, so I ended up driving the B roads al the way to Glasonbury. Zero traffic that early in the morning and the ridiculously straight "Butt Lake Road" was very fun.
10 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
Anyway, after chatting with Dan for a while, I popped over to McDonalds to review a route home - I mean, I'd come all this way so I wanted to make something of it at least!
So I drove from Glastonbuy up to Wells, past Wookey Hole and up to Cheddar Gorge where I stopped for a few mins to look around.
11 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
12 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
I then went up Cheddar Gorge, across the Mendip Hills and ended up at Burrington. Then went up past Bristol Airport on the A38 to Bedminster and eventually joined the M5 at junction 18.
A positive day, as I got to bond with the R26.... maybe not the desired outcome, but that will be sorted soon!
Bit of a disaster due to miscommunication by both parties, but all sorted so won't go into detail... Dan was great and really really apologetic, will be going back next Wednesday
Anyway, it turned into a 200 mile round trip for a McDonalds breakfast wrap and a coffee. But what a trip it was!
Satnav decided to take me off at junction 22 of the M5, so I ended up driving the B roads al the way to Glasonbury. Zero traffic that early in the morning and the ridiculously straight "Butt Lake Road" was very fun.
10 by the northern monkey, on FlickrAnyway, after chatting with Dan for a while, I popped over to McDonalds to review a route home - I mean, I'd come all this way so I wanted to make something of it at least!
So I drove from Glastonbuy up to Wells, past Wookey Hole and up to Cheddar Gorge where I stopped for a few mins to look around.
11 by the northern monkey, on Flickr12 by the northern monkey, on FlickrI then went up Cheddar Gorge, across the Mendip Hills and ended up at Burrington. Then went up past Bristol Airport on the A38 to Bedminster and eventually joined the M5 at junction 18.
A positive day, as I got to bond with the R26.... maybe not the desired outcome, but that will be sorted soon!
Edited by North3rn Monk3y on Friday 11th August 20:24
More cleaning this weekend, before the rain hit today (dammit, I need a garage).
Tried a Farecla G3 Body Prep Clay Mitt after squareflops not shutting up about the damn thing
haha.
I've clayed cars before, but find it to be such a pita. Especially as I have problems with my hands and griping the clay gets difficult for me.
Loved the results though, paintwork feels like glass and with some wax and sealant its gleaming again!
Apologies in advance for my ugly mug, but I'm kinda enjoying this cleaning malarkey.
13 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
14 by the northern monkey, on Flickr
I really need to get rid of the "roadsail" tyres... thats next on the list once the timing belt is done.
Tried a Farecla G3 Body Prep Clay Mitt after squareflops not shutting up about the damn thing
haha.I've clayed cars before, but find it to be such a pita. Especially as I have problems with my hands and griping the clay gets difficult for me.
Loved the results though, paintwork feels like glass and with some wax and sealant its gleaming again!
Apologies in advance for my ugly mug, but I'm kinda enjoying this cleaning malarkey.
13 by the northern monkey, on Flickr14 by the northern monkey, on FlickrI really need to get rid of the "roadsail" tyres... thats next on the list once the timing belt is done.
Edited by North3rn Monk3y on Friday 11th August 20:25
Finally got the dates correct to see Dan at SJM Automotive ( https://www.facebook.com/SjmAutomotiveLtd ) for the timing belt, water pump, aux belt and an oil / filter change.
Dan is a fountain of knowledge on RenaultSport bits and pieces and a top bloke, gratefully he had a look over the car while it was in so he could give me a summary of anything than needed looking at / monitoring - the list is quite short which is great news from my POV!
1) The clutch release bearing is rattling slightly, so its time to start saving for a clutch kit. Quite an expensive job on the Megane (OEM parts are £600+) so wouldn't see much change from £900 -£1k. Fortunately it doesn't seem imminent (I guess you never know with these things), but is something to prepare for in case it starts to get worse.
2) Drivers side CV boot clip is no longer there. It went through its MOT less than a month ago so must have been there then (insecure CV boot is an MOT fail IIRC). Its an easy job and can be done without removing the driveshaft I think, so I've got the parts on order and will do it myself - cost me about £20 including the tool to crimp the CV clip and some CV grease.
3) This isn't an issue, but just something that is going to piss me off massively, to the point that I'll probably have to sort it in the future. Basically, one of the reasons for buying the R26 is the diff. However, it seems that at some point, the gearbox has been changed to a non-diff version... grrrrr
Having said that, I've obviously not noticed I have no diff, which I guess makes it a slightly moot point.
But having an R26 without a diff is like having 2 slices of bread and no bacon!
In other news, my K+N filter should be here tomorrow. Also, after having in depth whatsap conversations with squareflops over tyres (I have budget "roadsails" remember), I think a set of 4 Pilot Sport 3's are on the cards.
Dan is a fountain of knowledge on RenaultSport bits and pieces and a top bloke, gratefully he had a look over the car while it was in so he could give me a summary of anything than needed looking at / monitoring - the list is quite short which is great news from my POV!
1) The clutch release bearing is rattling slightly, so its time to start saving for a clutch kit. Quite an expensive job on the Megane (OEM parts are £600+) so wouldn't see much change from £900 -£1k. Fortunately it doesn't seem imminent (I guess you never know with these things), but is something to prepare for in case it starts to get worse.
2) Drivers side CV boot clip is no longer there. It went through its MOT less than a month ago so must have been there then (insecure CV boot is an MOT fail IIRC). Its an easy job and can be done without removing the driveshaft I think, so I've got the parts on order and will do it myself - cost me about £20 including the tool to crimp the CV clip and some CV grease.
3) This isn't an issue, but just something that is going to piss me off massively, to the point that I'll probably have to sort it in the future. Basically, one of the reasons for buying the R26 is the diff. However, it seems that at some point, the gearbox has been changed to a non-diff version... grrrrr
Having said that, I've obviously not noticed I have no diff, which I guess makes it a slightly moot point.
But having an R26 without a diff is like having 2 slices of bread and no bacon!
In other news, my K+N filter should be here tomorrow. Also, after having in depth whatsap conversations with squareflops over tyres (I have budget "roadsails" remember), I think a set of 4 Pilot Sport 3's are on the cards.
Edited by North3rn Monk3y on Friday 11th August 20:25
Interesting trip!
mix of
news and 
very odd about the diff but as I said it will allow me to mercilessly taunt you at will 
So decided on the PS3s good choice! I'm still contemplating my choices as I'm now joining the 18"s club
Successful trip today though, peace of mind the belt etc is done, give it death now and get that inside wheel spinning up
mix of
news and very odd about the diff but as I said it will allow me to mercilessly taunt you at will So decided on the PS3s good choice! I'm still contemplating my choices as I'm now joining the 18"s club
Successful trip today though, peace of mind the belt etc is done, give it death now and get that inside wheel spinning up
I didn't, although I did manage to go into a cafe (Hundred Monkeys) that specialised in vegan food and ask for a bacon roll
It was a bloody good bacon roll though, home made rustic barm!
Went around Glastonbury Abbey for a bit, then got the bus to Street - seriously, thanks for the heads up on that one...
Made a terrible coffee last about 2 hours before heading back to SJM.
Think I need to find somewhere with wifi next time!
It was a bloody good bacon roll though, home made rustic barm!
Went around Glastonbury Abbey for a bit, then got the bus to Street - seriously, thanks for the heads up on that one...
Made a terrible coffee last about 2 hours before heading back to SJM.
Think I need to find somewhere with wifi next time!
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