Clio 172, phase1, unseen ebay purchase...
Discussion
Many many years ago (17 years ago ish!) I had this:-
Despite being low mileage (27k when I bought it) and full Renault service history, it was an utter heap. Went through 2 gearboxes, shot a spark plug out the head, sheared inlet manifold bolts, the list goes on. So I sold it, quickly and left the Renault scene. Had a GTi-6 for many many years, then a load of dull company cars. Today I have a 2010 5 pot Focus ST (also in silver) with some bits and bobs on, making 270-280bhp ish, which is an absolute hoot and in 3+ years has been ultra reliable and acts as my company car. So obviously, what I need to go with it, is another phase 1 172...
So I've bought this:-
W916 SRH which I see has done some rounds on Cliosport.net, you may have seen it on ebay. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renault-Clio-172-PH1-/2...
I'd been watching a few recently but this one just creeped over what I wanted to pay. So I dropped the seller a message after the auction ended in the hope that the winning bidder was a time waster. Turned out I got lucky, seller had landed a timewaster so I made my offer, transferred a deposit and here we are.
I haven't actually got it yet, arrives Sunday. Hopefully it's as solid as it looks in the photo, as I've not seen or drove it
Want - Phase 1 wheel refurbishing (purchased separately)
Want - Original CAT
Despite being low mileage (27k when I bought it) and full Renault service history, it was an utter heap. Went through 2 gearboxes, shot a spark plug out the head, sheared inlet manifold bolts, the list goes on. So I sold it, quickly and left the Renault scene. Had a GTi-6 for many many years, then a load of dull company cars. Today I have a 2010 5 pot Focus ST (also in silver) with some bits and bobs on, making 270-280bhp ish, which is an absolute hoot and in 3+ years has been ultra reliable and acts as my company car. So obviously, what I need to go with it, is another phase 1 172...
So I've bought this:-
W916 SRH which I see has done some rounds on Cliosport.net, you may have seen it on ebay. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renault-Clio-172-PH1-/2...
I'd been watching a few recently but this one just creeped over what I wanted to pay. So I dropped the seller a message after the auction ended in the hope that the winning bidder was a time waster. Turned out I got lucky, seller had landed a timewaster so I made my offer, transferred a deposit and here we are.
I haven't actually got it yet, arrives Sunday. Hopefully it's as solid as it looks in the photo, as I've not seen or drove it
Want - Phase 1 wheel refurbishing (purchased separately)
Want - Original CAT
Cads said:
I was messaging the seller all week and was the next highest bidder after the time waster (he claimed he bid by accident!!) and was offered the car for my max bid. But I didn't reply quick enough as was at work that evening, and by the time I did the chap had taken, what turns out, was your deposit.
It looked decent and I wish you all the best with it. Bookmarked!!
Ha, sorry! What was your highest bid?? Glad I stuck a deposit down as soon as he accepted my offer.It looked decent and I wish you all the best with it. Bookmarked!!
Will keep this thread up to date with progress though, hopefully all good progress and nothing bad! Mate of mine sent me a video last night of his phase 1 172 weeing down the road due to a split radiator
Cads said:
I stopped at £1800 mate. Given it needs all the belts this year, that was all I was prepared to pay.
The seller sounded like a top bloke. When I didn’t reply to his message straight away I really didn’t expect it to be gone by the time I got home. Sounded like he wanted shot.
Without being vulgar, what did he accept in the end?
1600 quid is what I’ve paid, which to me seems about what it’s worth, like you say. The seller sounded like a top bloke. When I didn’t reply to his message straight away I really didn’t expect it to be gone by the time I got home. Sounded like he wanted shot.
Without being vulgar, what did he accept in the end?
So this arrived this morning, around 11am, delivered by a top bloke via Shiply, who text me photos of it loaded and updates en route.
Initially a little disappointing as central locking via the fob doesn't work, but does work pressing the dash button inside. Bodywork wise is pretty good, bar 2 small bits of rust, clearly from a cheap previous paint job. Air vent broken, it's loud and needs a CAT. However, it drives brilliantly with everything feeling tight, no knocks, brakes straight a true and feels "fizzy". Hard to explain, but the combination of cable throttle resulting in instant throttle response, together with sharp handling makes it feel, well, fizzy. It pulls strong to the limiter but it is loud and I have a 5 pot Focus ST with deres and sports cat, so I'm used to loud.
List of things to sort:-
Central locking via fob
Stereo with bluetooth, although a mates kindly donated me one
CAT
Battery terminal so I can remove the rag (already ordered a new one for 11 quid)
Belts need doing, booked in at a mates specialist in April
Paint put right
Correct steering wheel, of which I have but needs refurbing
Air vent broken
Photos
Looks mint right, but close up it has this, which are the only marks anywhere
So overall, pretty happy, will be happier once it's had belts, central locking fixed and a working stereo.
Initially a little disappointing as central locking via the fob doesn't work, but does work pressing the dash button inside. Bodywork wise is pretty good, bar 2 small bits of rust, clearly from a cheap previous paint job. Air vent broken, it's loud and needs a CAT. However, it drives brilliantly with everything feeling tight, no knocks, brakes straight a true and feels "fizzy". Hard to explain, but the combination of cable throttle resulting in instant throttle response, together with sharp handling makes it feel, well, fizzy. It pulls strong to the limiter but it is loud and I have a 5 pot Focus ST with deres and sports cat, so I'm used to loud.
List of things to sort:-
Central locking via fob
Stereo with bluetooth, although a mates kindly donated me one
CAT
Battery terminal so I can remove the rag (already ordered a new one for 11 quid)
Belts need doing, booked in at a mates specialist in April
Paint put right
Correct steering wheel, of which I have but needs refurbing
Air vent broken
Photos
Looks mint right, but close up it has this, which are the only marks anywhere
So overall, pretty happy, will be happier once it's had belts, central locking fixed and a working stereo.
Edited by zedx19 on Sunday 1st March 22:19
Boot floor is straight and entirely rust and damage free.
Sills are rusty though, despite me specifically asking their condition. I'm going to get the door cards out when I get chance and see what the inside is like, then coat in waxoyl.
Developed a slight misfire at 1200rpm under load, suspected injector.
Had my first proper flat out blast in it though and it is a riot. I'm torn on whether to keep it though in all honesty as it's needing a bit more than I have time to do myself. I estimate it needs around 800-900 quid spending on it which is as below:-
Belts £450
Sill repair and paint £350
Injector £30
Central locking (sent spare key off for repair though, so should be fixed)
Battery terminal (Already ordered and on its way)
Stereo (One from a mate on it's way)
Phase 1 steering (One in boot just needs refurbing)
Broken air vent (Scouring ebay for one)
This would make it absolutely mint though and I'm very picky about my cars. Just with a high pressure job that takes up a lot of time, my own business I run in an evening, together with 4 kids, leaves me little time to sort it! Dunno whether the nostalgia of it caught me up and I've took on more than I wanted. 50/50 at the moment whether to sink some time into it, or sell it on for what it owes me, which is 1850 quid so far.
Sills are rusty though, despite me specifically asking their condition. I'm going to get the door cards out when I get chance and see what the inside is like, then coat in waxoyl.
Developed a slight misfire at 1200rpm under load, suspected injector.
Had my first proper flat out blast in it though and it is a riot. I'm torn on whether to keep it though in all honesty as it's needing a bit more than I have time to do myself. I estimate it needs around 800-900 quid spending on it which is as below:-
Belts £450
Sill repair and paint £350
Injector £30
Central locking (sent spare key off for repair though, so should be fixed)
Battery terminal (Already ordered and on its way)
Stereo (One from a mate on it's way)
Phase 1 steering (One in boot just needs refurbing)
Broken air vent (Scouring ebay for one)
This would make it absolutely mint though and I'm very picky about my cars. Just with a high pressure job that takes up a lot of time, my own business I run in an evening, together with 4 kids, leaves me little time to sort it! Dunno whether the nostalgia of it caught me up and I've took on more than I wanted. 50/50 at the moment whether to sink some time into it, or sell it on for what it owes me, which is 1850 quid so far.
So I dropped it off at a mates, who has numerous Clios, phase 1 172, 182, mk1 valver turbo. Thought he'd be able to give me a good idea on what the car needs and how it feels. Verdict is, drives very well, goes very well, feels solid but has niggles, all of which I've mentioned above. This has made me feel better about it now, just awaiting his verdict on rust as he's going to take the door cards off. I've someone I know who can weld it up if needs be, someone who can do the belts and the niggles I've already started sorting.
So unless it's absolutely rotten to the core behind the door cards, I plan on spending a bit of cash getting it up to a high standard.
So unless it's absolutely rotten to the core behind the door cards, I plan on spending a bit of cash getting it up to a high standard.
So after leaving it with a mate, the verdict is, "It's a keeper" although it does have it's issues, mostly minor. He's managed to fix the misfire, which was just a loose connection. He's fixed the battery terminal and he's said it runs mint and pulls well. Now for the bad news... rust!
So I've decided to use send it for some welding at somewhere a mate has recommended, who welded up his 5 GTT and Williams.
Mechanically the car is very good, so I think it warrants a bit money on getting it solid, then getting belts done, then sorting the little niggles. I could have have the same rust with any 172/182, they all rot in the same place, so I think I'm making the right decision getting this one fixed up, seen as the rest of the car is decent.
Looked good next to my mates though, his is on 153k now.
So I've decided to use send it for some welding at somewhere a mate has recommended, who welded up his 5 GTT and Williams.
Mechanically the car is very good, so I think it warrants a bit money on getting it solid, then getting belts done, then sorting the little niggles. I could have have the same rust with any 172/182, they all rot in the same place, so I think I'm making the right decision getting this one fixed up, seen as the rest of the car is decent.
Looked good next to my mates though, his is on 153k now.
clio007 said:
Looks like a bodge job done on the paint by the seller to get it sold.
I guess they must have looked alot worse before he resprayed them
Yeah agreed, it was cheap though. Think I'm going to be around 3k all in including purchase price, which will make it solid, belts done and niggles sorted, so basically mint. 3k for a fun little french hot hatch, doesn't sound like a lot to me. They'll get rarer and rarer as more rot away so I'm hopeful that in a few years, it'll be worth the 3k I've invested. I guess they must have looked alot worse before he resprayed them
Managed to get the central locking working, in a rather bizarre fashion. Sent the spare key off to Fobfix, who did a cracking job, fixed and sent back within 48 hours. Re-paired the key to car and voila, remote locking now works! However, what I didn't realise was that key wouldn't disarm the immobiliser so the car wouldn't start. Bizarrely though, the other then randomly started working and would unlock/lock the car remotely!?! So the fixed key must have reset the remote locking somehow, which then allowed the other, unfixed key to work!
Central locking ticked off the fix list though.
Central locking ticked off the fix list though.
So thought I'd update this as it's been a while. Just before lockdown, I noticed a strange noise coming from the engine bay, together with horrendous fuel consumption, found the fuel hoses had jumped the clips and snagged on something, splitting one of them. As this is an early phase 1, it has a separate feed and return pipe, which is rare as hens teeth to find. The pandemic was just kicking off so I parked it up undercover and left it there while decided what to do. I had contemplated converting it to a later phase 1 which just has a single fuel pipe, but this would require pump and likely ECU. Mate who owns a Renault specialist though came good, managed to find some second hand pipes so I had it recovered to him last week, where it had:-
Fuel lines replaced
Cambelt kit including waterpump and dephaser
Aux belt kit
CAT put on
Oil and filter
Fresh coolant
Handbrake cables
Standard gear shift
Collected Saturday and mechanically it's spot on now, drives brilliant. Had a poke round while it was on the ramps and 2 jack points on 1 sill are bent and rusty, which is the same side as the worse of the inner arch rust. Other sill is sold, generally good condition, as is the inner arch.
So when I got it back home, I set to work on some other bits.
Original phase 1 172 steering wheel fitted
Interior out, wire brush inner arch, waxyol like mad every inside and along the sill seam outside
Interior back in
Sport badge on
New plates on
Good clean
Here are some progress photos from the weekend. It's now my daily as my ST is still SORN, so I'm using it for the limited pottering I need to do, which occasional trips to the office and sorting office. Pretty happy with it for the time being, bar the cat back exhaust is still a bit naff. Rust on 1 side is a worry, but I'm just going to enjoy it for time being now. There aren't any holes visible from the outside and the sills aren't crumbling, so I suspect it's MOT fine. Afterall, it'll been like this for time and not mentioned as an advisory on any previous MOT.
Fuel lines replaced
Cambelt kit including waterpump and dephaser
Aux belt kit
CAT put on
Oil and filter
Fresh coolant
Handbrake cables
Standard gear shift
Collected Saturday and mechanically it's spot on now, drives brilliant. Had a poke round while it was on the ramps and 2 jack points on 1 sill are bent and rusty, which is the same side as the worse of the inner arch rust. Other sill is sold, generally good condition, as is the inner arch.
So when I got it back home, I set to work on some other bits.
Original phase 1 172 steering wheel fitted
Interior out, wire brush inner arch, waxyol like mad every inside and along the sill seam outside
Interior back in
Sport badge on
New plates on
Good clean
Here are some progress photos from the weekend. It's now my daily as my ST is still SORN, so I'm using it for the limited pottering I need to do, which occasional trips to the office and sorting office. Pretty happy with it for the time being, bar the cat back exhaust is still a bit naff. Rust on 1 side is a worry, but I'm just going to enjoy it for time being now. There aren't any holes visible from the outside and the sills aren't crumbling, so I suspect it's MOT fine. Afterall, it'll been like this for time and not mentioned as an advisory on any previous MOT.
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!
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.
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