Clio 172, phase1, unseen ebay purchase...
Discussion
Great little cars - I bought a 182 back in 2015 unseen off ebay for a whole £817! With a years MOT and having had belts done fairly recently. Mine was tatty and had a variety of electrical issues and suspension was tired. But really liked it and boy do they shift for a little old Clio.
I'd have kept it but it really needed more money and attention than I had to give. If it had been a mint one would deffo have kept, they are a lot of fun. Enjoy!
I'd have kept it but it really needed more money and attention than I had to give. If it had been a mint one would deffo have kept, they are a lot of fun. Enjoy!
Been using this for 2 weeks now, everyday for nipping about and the odd trip to the office down B roads. Only problem I've had is the horn randomly coming on, then the steering wheel catching fire!! Turns out there was a loose connection on the steering wheel button, which eventually must have fell off and short circuited, with resulting smoke coming from the wheel. Luckily, this happened at home and I was able to whip the battery off quick and prevent any damage bar a knackered steering wheel. So it now has a poverty spec wheel back on while I try and find a replacement one.
In other news, sick of the awful aftermarket exhaust which sounds dreadful, so I've purchased a cheap Klarius cat back system for 120 quid delivered. Appreciate it's unlikely to be the highest of quality but it's got to be better than what's on at the moment. Also purchased a new centre bracket, new back box bracket and new clamp to ensure it sits better and doesn't knock when going over speed bumps.
Also have 2 new front speakers on the way, as one front speaker has blown.
Sold some bits I took off it.
Entered everything into my spreadsheet and surprised how much I've spent on it! So no more spending but it doesn't need anything now, other than keeping an eye on the sills. It drives way way better than you'd think a 125k 20 year old french tin can would drive. Gearbox is tight, suspension feels tight, clutch feels solid, goes well and feels so light and nimble to chuck around. Still not taxed my 5 pot ST as I'm having too much fun in the Clio!
In other news, sick of the awful aftermarket exhaust which sounds dreadful, so I've purchased a cheap Klarius cat back system for 120 quid delivered. Appreciate it's unlikely to be the highest of quality but it's got to be better than what's on at the moment. Also purchased a new centre bracket, new back box bracket and new clamp to ensure it sits better and doesn't knock when going over speed bumps.
Also have 2 new front speakers on the way, as one front speaker has blown.
Sold some bits I took off it.
Entered everything into my spreadsheet and surprised how much I've spent on it! So no more spending but it doesn't need anything now, other than keeping an eye on the sills. It drives way way better than you'd think a 125k 20 year old french tin can would drive. Gearbox is tight, suspension feels tight, clutch feels solid, goes well and feels so light and nimble to chuck around. Still not taxed my 5 pot ST as I'm having too much fun in the Clio!
Heap, scrap it 
Only joking, looking forward to Mick finishing faffing with mine so we can go for some social distancing spins out and photos.
Overall decent example this with just the usual rust letting it down that many of the earlier mk2 Clio's are now starting to show. On the plus side it's nowhere near as rotten as one of my mk1's, or Dunc's Williams
Only joking, looking forward to Mick finishing faffing with mine so we can go for some social distancing spins out and photos.
Overall decent example this with just the usual rust letting it down that many of the earlier mk2 Clio's are now starting to show. On the plus side it's nowhere near as rotten as one of my mk1's, or Dunc's Williams
Forgot to update this with recent stuff, more for a diary for me as much as anyone else interested.
New speakers fitted, now have tunes and can hear people on calls, bonus.
The exhaust wasn't quite so simple. I'd ordered a Klarius centre section and backbox from an online supplier, who after 5 days, said they couldn't get hold of it anymore. So I tried somewhere else listing it as in stock, same thing happened. Tried somewhere else and managed to get a backbox but no centre section. In the end I got in touch with Klarius and asked, who were very helpful and pointed me in the direction of a few places who could supply it. So Thursday last week I finally got a centre section and backbox on and what a transformation! Good fitment, very quiet when pottering and induction roar with a bit of exhaust when caining, a vast, gigantic leap over the old exhaust which was split in many places.
Only issue I have with the car now is a rattle from the drivers window, which goes when the windows down. Will take the door card off and have a look.
Done around 350 mile in it the past week and really enjoying it.
New speakers fitted, now have tunes and can hear people on calls, bonus.
The exhaust wasn't quite so simple. I'd ordered a Klarius centre section and backbox from an online supplier, who after 5 days, said they couldn't get hold of it anymore. So I tried somewhere else listing it as in stock, same thing happened. Tried somewhere else and managed to get a backbox but no centre section. In the end I got in touch with Klarius and asked, who were very helpful and pointed me in the direction of a few places who could supply it. So Thursday last week I finally got a centre section and backbox on and what a transformation! Good fitment, very quiet when pottering and induction roar with a bit of exhaust when caining, a vast, gigantic leap over the old exhaust which was split in many places.
Only issue I have with the car now is a rattle from the drivers window, which goes when the windows down. Will take the door card off and have a look.
Done around 350 mile in it the past week and really enjoying it.
Little tasks completed this weekend:
- Sorted drivers side window rattle. Dunno what it was, took door card off again, checked everything, pulled and pushed at clips, windows mechanisms, checked bolts, couldn't find anything! Put it all back together, seems fixed.
- One of the rear calipers was binding slightly, not noticeable other than more brake dust on one wheel. So took rear wheels off, pads out, greased up the sliders and piston, wound the piston in and out a few times. Put it all back together.
- While the wheels were off, thoroughly cleaned out the inner arch lip, then sprayed waxyol all around.
- Managed to get hold of an RSI wheel to fashion a phase 1 172 wheel from. Took the wiring, airbag and horn buttons from the RSI wheel, which are the same as a 172 and put them in my 172 wheel which had knackered buttons. Now I have a phase 1 172 steering wheel on, all good.
- Sorted drivers side window rattle. Dunno what it was, took door card off again, checked everything, pulled and pushed at clips, windows mechanisms, checked bolts, couldn't find anything! Put it all back together, seems fixed.
- One of the rear calipers was binding slightly, not noticeable other than more brake dust on one wheel. So took rear wheels off, pads out, greased up the sliders and piston, wound the piston in and out a few times. Put it all back together.
- While the wheels were off, thoroughly cleaned out the inner arch lip, then sprayed waxyol all around.
- Managed to get hold of an RSI wheel to fashion a phase 1 172 wheel from. Took the wiring, airbag and horn buttons from the RSI wheel, which are the same as a 172 and put them in my 172 wheel which had knackered buttons. Now I have a phase 1 172 steering wheel on, all good.
More progress:-
Binned the old mats that had holes in, purchased the below. Not sure about them, the piping isn't as bright in real life and with a bit of dirt on them, should be fine.
Had a sticking rear caliper, so stripped them both off, cleaned up, greased and refitted, all fixed.
Went out for a drive with one of my lads, he adores this car for some reason!
Last night went to a local Classic Car Meet with some friends.
My "just needs" list is gradually decreasing. The front brakes are poor and fade quickly, so they need replacing. The interior door handles are the wrong colour, but impossible to find the correct ones. Trying to source front arch liners and an undertray as well. That's about it, skirts along nicely down a B road. Winter time I plan to ship it off to a mate to have any rot chopped out.
Binned the old mats that had holes in, purchased the below. Not sure about them, the piping isn't as bright in real life and with a bit of dirt on them, should be fine.
Had a sticking rear caliper, so stripped them both off, cleaned up, greased and refitted, all fixed.
Went out for a drive with one of my lads, he adores this car for some reason!
Last night went to a local Classic Car Meet with some friends.
My "just needs" list is gradually decreasing. The front brakes are poor and fade quickly, so they need replacing. The interior door handles are the wrong colour, but impossible to find the correct ones. Trying to source front arch liners and an undertray as well. That's about it, skirts along nicely down a B road. Winter time I plan to ship it off to a mate to have any rot chopped out.
More progress:-
Door card off again to try and trace the final rattle, comes from the top right of the door, tight next to your ear. Checked everything, found a couple of loose things which I've sorted, still a very faint rattle over rough roads. 90% of the time it's rattle free though.
Changed the door handles from poverty spec ones to phase 2 172 ones. Still trying to source some original phase 1 172 handles though.
Before
After
Cleaned up the centre dash trim
Before
After
Cleaned and treated the leather, looks a lot better in the flesh, feels a lot softer as well
Before
After
Door card off again to try and trace the final rattle, comes from the top right of the door, tight next to your ear. Checked everything, found a couple of loose things which I've sorted, still a very faint rattle over rough roads. 90% of the time it's rattle free though.
Changed the door handles from poverty spec ones to phase 2 172 ones. Still trying to source some original phase 1 172 handles though.
Before
After
Cleaned up the centre dash trim
Before
After
Cleaned and treated the leather, looks a lot better in the flesh, feels a lot softer as well
Before
After
Been using it everyday still, covered some business miles in it, been faultless although there's an occasional, faint suspension knock I need to investigate, suspect ball joint.
Fitted a stereo harness so now the display works and stalk remote control works, makes it nicer to use everyday.
Chucked a bucket over it today.
Also find it remarkable how good these little things can be on fuel. The below was a trip from Belper to Stoke, including traffic. Was up to 51mpg at one point, but then I hit typical Stoke traffic.
Fitted a stereo harness so now the display works and stalk remote control works, makes it nicer to use everyday.
Chucked a bucket over it today.
Also find it remarkable how good these little things can be on fuel. The below was a trip from Belper to Stoke, including traffic. Was up to 51mpg at one point, but then I hit typical Stoke traffic.
More progress this weekend, a lot of these phase 1's suffer from wonky front bumpers for whatever reason and mine was the same and annoying me. So me and my youngest whipped the bumper off, bent the mounts, offered up the bumper, repeated until level. Vast improvement for an hours work. I've also sourced a new grill with unbroken clips, just needs sanding and spraying.
MOT time in 2 weeks.
MOT time in 2 weeks.
So further update, yesterday decided to travel 270 mile in it, for a meeting I had in London. Dunno why I thought it'd be a good idea, in 30 degree heat, without working aircon but tbf, my other car has been lent to a mate so I had no choice. Was a bit nervous taking a 20 year old french tin can, on 127k, on such a trek, would it break down, would it break me in the heat. Car was fine though, even stuck in traffic it wasn't fazed and I didn't come out feeling tired or achy. Surprised how comfy it was considering I'm 6ft 2. Car also returned 50mpg average over 270 mile, which is frankly crazy.
MOT time today, which I thought it'd fail on and... it did. Tester said it's mechanically sound, no play in any suspension, nothing particularly worn. Brake discs have some surface corrosion and pads are low, but that's it mechanically. Structurally, again he said for its age, it's solid everywhere bar 2 specific spots. Both jack points on the offside have corrosion behind, due to some idiot jacking it up wrong many, many years ago. Rear point has resulted in corrosion around the rear beam connection, which is a fail and which is the only thing it failed on, bar head light adjustment which he sorted. Front jack point isn't a fail but does need welding, so I'm currently trying to find someone to weld up this one sill. Other sill and the rest of the car is structurally solid, so it's worth welding up. Garage said I'd be looking at 300 quid ish for welding, which seems worthwhile spending in my eyes.
So it's soon to be welded, then retested and kept for another 12 months. Need to get my Focus ST back for daily duties while I get the 172 welded.
TBC once its sorted.
MOT time today, which I thought it'd fail on and... it did. Tester said it's mechanically sound, no play in any suspension, nothing particularly worn. Brake discs have some surface corrosion and pads are low, but that's it mechanically. Structurally, again he said for its age, it's solid everywhere bar 2 specific spots. Both jack points on the offside have corrosion behind, due to some idiot jacking it up wrong many, many years ago. Rear point has resulted in corrosion around the rear beam connection, which is a fail and which is the only thing it failed on, bar head light adjustment which he sorted. Front jack point isn't a fail but does need welding, so I'm currently trying to find someone to weld up this one sill. Other sill and the rest of the car is structurally solid, so it's worth welding up. Garage said I'd be looking at 300 quid ish for welding, which seems worthwhile spending in my eyes.
So it's soon to be welded, then retested and kept for another 12 months. Need to get my Focus ST back for daily duties while I get the 172 welded.
TBC once its sorted.
What a lovely example your car is, and a great thread covering it! I just picked up a 129,000 mile 172 in black a few weeks back and I'm amazed how usable it is as a daily. Mine is a little more track orientated with some money thrown at the suspension, but even with that it comfortably covered the 300 mile trip from Tumbridge Wells back up to Cumbria without breaking a sweat. Here' a pic of mine!
Further update, so as I suspected, it failed its MOT on rot although the garage claimed the cars actually good and worth saving, nothing mechanically of concern and the rot not that bad. The rot was behind both offside jack points, where someone had bent the sills many years ago, caused water ingress and rot. It needed a couple hundred quids worth for the MOT, which just affected the rear inner arch which was near the rear beam mount. The rest of sill isn't classed as within a prescribed area, so I could have left it. However, while it was in bits having the rear welded, decided to get the entire sill and front floor sorted, which results in all the rot being gone now.
So 4 and half days in for welding, fuel tank off, interior out, skirts off and any rot chopped out.
So it's gone from this crusty mess
To this non crusty, solid metal
Now has an MOT with advisories for corrosion on discs (due to be stood) and pads wearing low which I knew about and have some ready to go on when I get chance.
Plan is to get a few track days done now.
So 4 and half days in for welding, fuel tank off, interior out, skirts off and any rot chopped out.
So it's gone from this crusty mess
To this non crusty, solid metal
Now has an MOT with advisories for corrosion on discs (due to be stood) and pads wearing low which I knew about and have some ready to go on when I get chance.
Plan is to get a few track days done now.
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