Resurrecting my RenaultSport Megane 225
Discussion
There's a bit of a story behind this one, I'm pretty sure there is a thread somewhere on here but I thought I'd start afresh.
This is my 2006 RenaultSport Megane 225 which I bought new back when I was 23. The colour is, 'inferno' and I had it spec'd with climate control and Xenon headlights. I believe the xenons were a rare option on these at the time.
Now here's the slightly odd bit, I've ended up creating a self inflicted 'barn find' albeit not intentionally. I use the car fairly regularly in it's first 3-4 years, then with buying a house, kids, work etc. It ended up stored in my garage, covered up, battery removed where it has sat for the last 10 years. It only has ~3,200 miles on the clock.
I literally haven't even opened the garage to look at it in that time as you can tell by the state of this.
There is a reason why the bonnet is propped up. The only physical keyhole on these cars is on the passenger side. To enable me to get in and out of the car that side is about 6" from the garage wall. So I cannot afford to not be able to get power to the central locking! haha
I really didn't know what to expect to be honest and how many things had made their home in it! Well something definitely did in the engine bay. The carpet under the bonnet had been munched up and made into a nest, now thankfully empty. Evidence of mice scattered round and it seems that sound deadening was the only casualty.
Their entrance and exit I assume as this was the dirtiest part.
I do like things clean so I whipped out the APC.
And got to work on the entire engine bay, after a much needed vacuum that is and under the engine cover.
Bit of plastic dressing and that's the engine bay at least looking good.
I had limited access to the interior but there were two things I noticed, one was some mould that had formed under the floor mats but nothing major and secondly the California Scents airfreshner had plenty of scent!!
So far I've vacuumed the floors and the white mould is gone. I will look to give the carpets a good once over with some carpet shampoo when the car makes it out of the garage. The rest of the interior looks exactly how I left it.
Still love those orange seatbelts!
So here we are so far. The next steps will be to get a battery fitted, get an oil and oil filter change etc. I don't have an intention to get it MOT'd yet, it's still on it's original tyres and would need a second cambelt as had the first done at 5 years.
You may ask why I didn't just sell the car, well there's a couple of reasons. The main one being, back in 2005 I lost my dad, I ordered this a month or so afterwards. It took three or four months to arrive but at the time, it was something to look forward to and I guess having that helped me through it it a bit. Plus the number plate was a 21st birthday present from both my parents. So it has sentimentality.
Once we move it'll have a nice new home alongside my Twingo 133 and I might just get it roadworthy! More pics to come.
This is my 2006 RenaultSport Megane 225 which I bought new back when I was 23. The colour is, 'inferno' and I had it spec'd with climate control and Xenon headlights. I believe the xenons were a rare option on these at the time.
Now here's the slightly odd bit, I've ended up creating a self inflicted 'barn find' albeit not intentionally. I use the car fairly regularly in it's first 3-4 years, then with buying a house, kids, work etc. It ended up stored in my garage, covered up, battery removed where it has sat for the last 10 years. It only has ~3,200 miles on the clock.
I literally haven't even opened the garage to look at it in that time as you can tell by the state of this.
There is a reason why the bonnet is propped up. The only physical keyhole on these cars is on the passenger side. To enable me to get in and out of the car that side is about 6" from the garage wall. So I cannot afford to not be able to get power to the central locking! haha
I really didn't know what to expect to be honest and how many things had made their home in it! Well something definitely did in the engine bay. The carpet under the bonnet had been munched up and made into a nest, now thankfully empty. Evidence of mice scattered round and it seems that sound deadening was the only casualty.
Their entrance and exit I assume as this was the dirtiest part.
I do like things clean so I whipped out the APC.
And got to work on the entire engine bay, after a much needed vacuum that is and under the engine cover.
Bit of plastic dressing and that's the engine bay at least looking good.
I had limited access to the interior but there were two things I noticed, one was some mould that had formed under the floor mats but nothing major and secondly the California Scents airfreshner had plenty of scent!!
So far I've vacuumed the floors and the white mould is gone. I will look to give the carpets a good once over with some carpet shampoo when the car makes it out of the garage. The rest of the interior looks exactly how I left it.
Still love those orange seatbelts!
So here we are so far. The next steps will be to get a battery fitted, get an oil and oil filter change etc. I don't have an intention to get it MOT'd yet, it's still on it's original tyres and would need a second cambelt as had the first done at 5 years.
You may ask why I didn't just sell the car, well there's a couple of reasons. The main one being, back in 2005 I lost my dad, I ordered this a month or so afterwards. It took three or four months to arrive but at the time, it was something to look forward to and I guess having that helped me through it it a bit. Plus the number plate was a 21st birthday present from both my parents. So it has sentimentality.
Once we move it'll have a nice new home alongside my Twingo 133 and I might just get it roadworthy! More pics to come.
Thanks both!
I'll certainly keep the thread updated. I think the next steps will be minor, new battery and an oil change to get it moving under it's own steam. It'll be transported to our new house where I have a much nicer and bigger garage for it.
At some point hopefully next year I'll be able to spend some money on it. One of the things that I suspect didn't help these when they bottomed in value was the cambelt changes. I was quoted £1,400 from a dealership do do the belt and water pump. The first time I had it done, I used a dealer through a mate who go it done for £900!
I'll just be glad to get it out into daylight, give it a good bath, see if the stereo still works. It has a 2,000 watt set up in the boot. Let's not forget I was young when I first bought this so first thing to do was fit a new hi-fi! haha
I'll certainly keep the thread updated. I think the next steps will be minor, new battery and an oil change to get it moving under it's own steam. It'll be transported to our new house where I have a much nicer and bigger garage for it.
At some point hopefully next year I'll be able to spend some money on it. One of the things that I suspect didn't help these when they bottomed in value was the cambelt changes. I was quoted £1,400 from a dealership do do the belt and water pump. The first time I had it done, I used a dealer through a mate who go it done for £900!
I'll just be glad to get it out into daylight, give it a good bath, see if the stereo still works. It has a 2,000 watt set up in the boot. Let's not forget I was young when I first bought this so first thing to do was fit a new hi-fi! haha
This is very cool, if I were you I’d definitely keep it and use it.
One tip, having had a very similar situation with a relatives car you may want to drain and replace the petrol before starting, as it can damage the fuel pump which then needed replacement (his car has also sat for 10 years in a garage)
Enjoy!
One tip, having had a very similar situation with a relatives car you may want to drain and replace the petrol before starting, as it can damage the fuel pump which then needed replacement (his car has also sat for 10 years in a garage)
Enjoy!
Lovely car. Some things I can hardly believe 1) I can’t believe anyone aged 23 could afford a new car! 2) I can’t believe you would then cover it up and leave it unused for 10+ years!
I think I vaguely remember reading about this before so yes you probably did have a thread. I would also get the coolant flushed and changed when you do get it up and running.
I think I vaguely remember reading about this before so yes you probably did have a thread. I would also get the coolant flushed and changed when you do get it up and running.
Thanks for all the comments and advice, definitely some notes taken! 
I also bought it via a broker so where this would have been £20,500, I ordered it and then bought it pre-registered for £16,500. Hefty saving at the time. Also mad to think the latest RS Megane is easily double that amount.
CoolHands said:
Lovely car. Some things I can hardly believe 1) I can’t believe anyone aged 23 could afford a new car! 2) I can’t believe you would then cover it up and leave it unused for 10+ years!
I think I vaguely remember reading about this before so yes you probably did have a thread. I would also get the coolant flushed and changed when you do get it up and running.
Well the whole reason I bought the car was that I had a Clio 172 which I loved but lusted after the RS Megane when it came out. I then ended up taking a new job, up in London working for a law firm and got a £10k pay rise. A hefty amount back in 2005. It enabled me to sell the Clio, deposit and finance on the Megane and simply paid it off. I think I vaguely remember reading about this before so yes you probably did have a thread. I would also get the coolant flushed and changed when you do get it up and running.
I also bought it via a broker so where this would have been £20,500, I ordered it and then bought it pre-registered for £16,500. Hefty saving at the time. Also mad to think the latest RS Megane is easily double that amount.
MrGTI6 said:
These are such underrated cars. I really miss my old one.
I always felt they were even thought at the time these weren't the hot hatch of the day. I remember the Focus ST always received a lot of praise and yet when I drove one almost back to back with the Megane it felt softer, less urgent and less sharp. Also remember the Fiesta ST (150bhp) received more praise at the time than the Clio 182. Times have changed hahaWillber said:
Cool! Look forward to the updates. Don't you have a CLS63 amg too, or have I imagined that?!
Good memory, yes I do still have the CLS63. That's stored at the same place as my Twingo 133! haha EdmondDantes said:
That’s a great read Alex! Still looks in an amazing condition.
So far it looks tidy, once I roll it into daylight I'll be able to see how it's faired. I think cosmetically it'll be fine though. Mechanically it'll be ok, it should roll out ok at least. Other than the cambelt everything on the car is original, tyres, brakes etc.
ATM said:
Alex_225 said:
Once we move it'll have a nice new home alongside my Twingo 133 and I might just get it roadworthy!
How do you rate the Twingo?SteveR1979 said:
I remember you getting this.
Nice to see the street modified sticker in the back window!
Haha were you part of the group mate? Yep, still on there from a show from about 2007 or 2008 I think! haha Nice to see the street modified sticker in the back window!
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