Off to Blink for a week!

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Discussion

GibsonSG

Original Poster:

276 posts

111 months

Saturday 2nd December 2017
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My Mk1 has been dropped off at Blink Motorsport for all bushes/ARB's/drop links to be fitted - I've gone for Mazda OEM parts rather than polybush or their Superpro as it's a road car. I'm going for MeisterR CRD's in the hope of achieving a compliant ride on fresh OEM bushes with more modern damping control. Suffice to say, the car will not be slammed to a super low ride height. My daily is a Meg 275 Cup S, so I doubt if it can match it's blend of suppleness and control but I'm going to try smile

Really looking forward to getting it back and seeing how noticeable the changes. Exciting stuff!



drgoatboy

1,625 posts

207 months

Tuesday 5th December 2017
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Sounds good, are you getting all the wishbone bushes changed?
Nice yo hear someone doing a full job rather than just slapping on some coilovers and hoping for the best

GibsonSG

Original Poster:

276 posts

111 months

Tuesday 5th December 2017
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Yes, all wishbone bushes, ARB’s and drop links. I really like the car, it’s behaved impeccably since I’ve owned it and holds its own against my daily cars so I thought it deserved a proper job!

GibsonSG

Original Poster:

276 posts

111 months

Tuesday 5th December 2017
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I noticed Antony Ingram’s Eunos from Evo’s Fast Fleet was there for some work when I turned up, should be interesting to hear what he’s had done

JeremyH5

1,584 posts

135 months

Tuesday 5th December 2017
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Sounds like a good plan. What spring rates will you have with the meisters?

GibsonSG

Original Poster:

276 posts

111 months

Wednesday 6th December 2017
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I am mildly embarrassed to say that I explained to Blink in detail how I wanted it to drive and feel and left that to them

I’ll ask them when I collect it!

JeremyH5

1,584 posts

135 months

Wednesday 6th December 2017
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Sensible plan, they know what they're doing.
Why have a dog and bark yourself?
We have a Mk3 with meisters and relatively soft springs that gives a nice compliant but controlled road ride.
We also have a Mk1 on GAZ with race springs used on trackdays only and it's not really possible to drive on the road!

GibsonSG

Original Poster:

276 posts

111 months

Wednesday 6th December 2017
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That is precisely what I’m looking for. I’m too old to have my teeth shaken out (says the man who also has a Fiesta ST.....)

Darryl247W

564 posts

123 months

Wednesday 6th December 2017
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Have fun. I put Meisters on our NC and they were the best thing I ever did to the car. So much better body control and predictability.

T0M

707 posts

177 months

Wednesday 6th December 2017
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How funny, I also currently own a MK1 mx5 and until earlier this year also dailied a 275 cup-s. Great combo!

GibsonSG

Original Poster:

276 posts

111 months

Wednesday 6th December 2017
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Ha ha, great stuff! What did you replace the 275 with then? I’m loving mine, very charismatic car,

T0M

707 posts

177 months

Wednesday 6th December 2017
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GibsonSG said:
Ha ha, great stuff! What did you replace the 275 with then? I’m loving mine, very charismatic car,
E46 M3. It's such a different car. One of the biggest realisations is just how fantastic the meg is out the box, especially the chassis. M3 feels like a lazy barge in comparison. I'm sure I'll own another one at some point.

Have you seen the Davefab intake arrangement for the mk1? Supposed to be the nuts! Bit pricey though

GibsonSG

Original Poster:

276 posts

111 months

Wednesday 6th December 2017
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Bloody hell, I did a drift day which ended up in a E46 M3. I loved it, really great car. Good call on that, I’d have one in a heartbeat if I wasn’t doing so many miles in my daily.

Not heard of that intake but will check it out. I’m planning for Blink’s big valve head to n the near future so that might be a good partner.

Mind you, I’d like to get the Meg mapped, to go with the K Tec exhaust. So many car mods, so little time......

GibsonSG

Original Poster:

276 posts

111 months

Wednesday 6th December 2017
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Just checked out that intake. It’s a beauty!

T0M

707 posts

177 months

Thursday 7th December 2017
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GibsonSG said:
Bloody hell, I did a drift day which ended up in a E46 M3. I loved it, really great car. Good call on that, I’d have one in a heartbeat if I wasn’t doing so many miles in my daily.

Not heard of that intake but will check it out. I’m planning for Blink’s big valve head to n the near future so that might be a good partner.

Mind you, I’d like to get the Meg mapped, to go with the K Tec exhaust. So many car mods, so little time......
I recently saw that RSTuning were doing their 20% off mapping recently, might still be on. Few pals have got theirs mapped there and are very happy with the drive-ability afterwards.

I had the mid silencer chopped out on mine which seemed to make the world of difference to the standard exhaust.

It's a slippery slope isn't it ?!

GibsonSG

Original Poster:

276 posts

111 months

Thursday 7th December 2017
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T0M, you’re a bad influence! Just looked at the RS Tuning site and they are indeed extending the offer. I....must....resist.......

At least until the suspension is paid for on the MX!

Blink have just told me that the MeisterR’s have been delayed so I might not get the car back until 16th now. Boo hoo!




DanGPR

988 posts

171 months

Monday 11th December 2017
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I have CRD's on my NC, nothing but positive things to say about them.

At their price point I'd say they are the best coilovers I'm aware of, I'd be interested to try the Ohlins but at double the price is hard to justify!

GibsonSG

Original Poster:

276 posts

111 months

Saturday 16th December 2017
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Well it's finally back, after an aborted journey last week due to heavy snow.

Blink have done a great job, the car feels completely transformed. It's a curious (but welcome) mix of far better damping control, with a really decent ride and much more secure cornering.

Cornering at speed before, especially in the wet, was a bit of a "ooh ahh ooh ahh" affair from a mix of slack body control and a bit of edginess at the limit, Now I feel more confident into and through corners, and I'm in control of the car's attitude. Not sure if this due to the geometry, although I thought it was well set up by AK Automotive before, or the fresh bushes, damper and springs. Probably a bit of both in reality.

Refreshingly, the work came in below budget as the bushes proved to be easier to fit than initially thought, so as the car was there for an extra week I had a full service and new front pads and discs too to bring it up to the original value. Good on Blink for that, I'm sure many would have stuck with their first quote and complained what a hard job it was.

The only problem is that the car feels ready for a bit more power now, and their head and cam package looks remarkably tempting. Best save some pennies up then, and try not to spend too much on the Meg 275 in the meantime smile

JeremyH5

1,584 posts

135 months

Saturday 16th December 2017
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smiledriving

5er

4,438 posts

175 months

Monday 18th December 2017
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Good stuff OP.

Blink fitted my CRDs (albeit I've got a mk3) and I've got to say, the chaps there are superb. I had a small issue after the fitting (actually unrelated to anything they'd done) and they went above and beyond to sort it for me. Can't praise Richard and Fraser enough.

I'm in the same boat now - my car drives brilliantly with the fast-road alignment but I now feel it needs more grunt. Deciding which route to go is the question, but the boys at Blink will definitely be doing it.