Renaultsport Megane 2.0dci 175

[chukka64]

Hi all

Just picked up this cheeky little number in renaultsport blue and early indications are good. I've heard a vicious rumour that the engine in these is a nissan unit but more importantly, the timing is chain driven rather than cambelt. Is anyone able to verify this? It was a bit of an impulse buy if I'm really honest so if there are any other things that I need to look out for then please fill in the gaps.
The positives are that the engine feels strong and pulls very well, it goes where I point it and the brakes feel good. All the electrical bits seem to have current to them which is a bonus, other than needing a couple of psi in the front left tyre it could be the start of a beautiful relationship.

Any info or pointers would be appreciated because as I said. it was an impulse buy and I did absolutely diddly squat in the way of research!

[Rs2oo]

Post a pic. Does it look like the petrol version ?

[loose cannon]

It's an m9r chain driven engine it's was developed jointly by Renault and Nissan,

[jimtech]

the timing is done via a chain, and the covers can leak oil, which requires engine removal. A bullet proof engine really apart from a few big end shells turn, but that is quite rare. Other than that, a good car. Also make sure the caliper pins on the brembo brakes are free and the pads not seized as the pins are very expensive (about 50 + vat).

[chukka64]

Rs2oo said:

Post a pic. Does it look like the petrol version ?

Will do, visually it's identical to the petrol version, other than the engine cover (and note) there are no diesel giveaways.

Thanks for the replies guys, it's a good laugh to drive, really enjoying it.

[eastlmark]

the rear spoiler is missing a small lip when compared to the petrol version, that is the only give away to the petrol version, aside from the superior 50-70 times. Sometimes I wish it did say Diesel on the back as i am sure other cars assume they have been passed by a 225.( I noticed a Diesel Panamera the other day has the word Diesel in large enough to read as it passes you letters on the side doors) I have 5 door version as our family runabout, a lovely drive and probably the fastest A-B road car in my collection. Fuel consumtion never did get anywhere near the promised numbers though, but cheap tax make up for it.

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

Chukka - what sort of mpg are you getting out of it?

And others - what are your experiences? Be interested to know - I had a dci 80bhp back in '04 (slow but i liked the car) and now I'm back doing epic mileage - this is on my list to consider for my next car.

Thanks

Oi_Oi

[chukka64]

Oi_Oi_Savaloy said:

Chukka - what sort of mpg are you getting out of it?

And others - what are your experiences? Be interested to know - I had a dci 80bhp back in '04 (slow but i liked the car) and now I'm back doing epic mileage - this is on my list to consider for my next car.

Thanks

Oi_Oi

I'll give you a further update when I've had it a little longer, I have a long journey to do tomorrow so will reset before I leave. Currently my daily commute is about 40 miles round trip, a mix of 'B' and 'A' roads and a little bit of town centre traffic. The computer is currently showing 43.4mpg. As I say, tomorrow will be a longer journey that will also take in some motorway work and a bit of cruise control so I'll see what that produces.

[chukka64]

chukka64 said:

I'll give you a further update when I've had it a little longer, I have a long journey to do tomorrow so will reset before I leave. Currently my daily commute is about 40 miles round trip, a mix of 'B' and 'A' roads and a little bit of town centre traffic. The computer is currently showing 43.4mpg. As I say, tomorrow will be a longer journey that will also take in some motorway work and a bit of cruise control so I'll see what that produces.

As promised, reset the computer today before driving from Suffolk to Hertfordshire and back. A mixture of 'A' roads and motorway (M11 & M25) using cruise control and at sensible speeds (due in part to having a slightly sore head from the works do last night) produced an average of just short of 50mpg. The purpose of the journey was to pick the other half's pug 206 gti 180 up. We 'may' have been hooning around slightly on the way back and doing our own top gear challenge. Even so, the whole journey which was somewhere in the region of 160miles gave an average of 47mpg. I'm sure if I had my really sensible head on this could be improved but similary if I was really exploiting the car it would have dropped abit as well.

As an allrounder, I can't fault it. It's well equipped, handles well, comfortable if a little firm and goes really well. It's also the first car I've owned since the days of the Lotus Carlton and HSV gts supercharged that puts a grin on my face before I even get in it and causes plenty of giggles when driving.

You could do a lot worse!

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

Chukka; that's a very useful update, thanks. I really like the whole package (and I bet they respond to a cheeky fettling too!)

Happy xmas fella and good luck for 2012.