Megane Doms 225 Inferno PH1 Ringtool/Trackday Type Thing

[Dom225]

Apologies the first section is shamelessly ripped from RSMEGANE,

sept '18

I never set out to purchase a Megane however a deal on a vehicle I was selling meant that the opportunity arose.

I’ve ended up with a 225 in inferno with fsh and belt and pump done 18k ago.

The deal was struck with no prior knowledge of these so bare with me.
Current knowledge is that it’s a stock ph1 with a cone filter and no other mods.

What’s the plan? I miss my old track day saxo vts and this already avoids one of that’s short comings and that was power down the straights.
So, this will be transformed in the coming months into my ideal fast road and trackday toy.
This isn’t my daily but I also don’t want to go too wild that it becomes a dedicated track car.

I’ve a ring Trip with friends booked for end of October so I had better get cracking.

 

[Dom225]

So stage one of the cars new look. The car came on stock wheels with track tyres of which the tyres weren’t included in the previous owners deal.

Decided on these running 235/40/18 federal rsr not my first pick but they will survive me getting used to the chassis. They also made sense at the cost.

 

[Dom225]

Much better than poorly sprayed stock wheels. Having now taken this out for some “spirited driving” its exposed some weakness’.
Number one being brakes number seating flying all over
This is the premise for my next mods

 

[Dom225]

The next step came as a byproduct of the wheels. The same guy had some KTec Seats for sale which are rebranded Gp Race. I’ve always run buckets in anything I’ve had track orientated as side movement annoys me when trying to concentrate and there's a fair bit of me to stop flying around

 

[Dom225]

no idea why its double posting pics?


The next addition was a Ktec induction kit and heat shield and a zaustworx centre box delete borrowed Dave in the unit next doors ramp to do it saved a stack of time

 

[Dom225]

She sounded better, a bit boy racer but my inner child was loving the whoosh noises and pops and bangs and the previous k&n was horrific..

Went on a blast round the peaks with my mate in his track prepped c2.. great fun but some spirited fun with a Porsche highlighted two things, brakes and diff...

 

[Dom225]

So with a ring trip looming, I had no spare cash for a diff but brakes were an emergency,,,

Next job on the car was to address the frankly pathetic brakes. Nipped to my mates to nick his ramp..

Parts Fitted

• Goodridge Hoses all round
• Full flush and bleed with ATE typ200
• New Brembo High Carbon front Discs
• Performance Friction Z Rated Pads

This has made for a drastic improvement to pedal feel and confidence in the brakes which now actually work and not catch fire.

 

[Dom225]

So post Peaks trip she had developed a misfire and what felt like play in the suspension.

Got it up in the air and couldn't find play anywhere...damn it

Decided to see if it was alignment so took it to my mates work for a check found the issue... 3 degrees toe out one side and 1 degree in the other....ah

 

[Dom225]

Next up.... Bloody misfire.....

The cars got full service history but only specs when its had belt the rest just say service not what. So picked up a full compliment of elf oils and ngk plugs.

Took her to my unit to do a service and scan it came up cylinder 2 so swapped the coil pack but once plugs were pulled misfires were pretty self explanatory don't think they've been swapped in a while...

 

[Dom225]

At this point she was driving the best she has in my ownership so took her for some road miles with minime to break in the brakes.

I was starting to fall in love with the thing.. I have more fun in this than many of my previous toys (rs4 spec b5 S4, Subarus, evo4, 400bhp Skyline etc etc).

So packed her for me and my mates eurotrip...amazing the boot space. Ive kept the rear bench and shelf because of this. Its due to be removed on our return.

 

[Dom225]

So lads trip time... Obligatory ferry shot onto the continent..

First stop was Amsterdam for some.. "culture"

 

[Dom225]

Day two we took a morning run to Den Haag to the Louwman Museum.. well worth the trip if you get chance or are in the area. Its a private collection of over 250 ridiculously rare cars in beautiful settings.




In the afternoon we headed to Zandvoort. Sadly we got there too late in the day to pay for some laps but the track itself looks pretty cool with an insane mixture of cars out.

 

[Dom225]

next stop.... NORDSCHLEIFE! My favourite place in the world, above is one of my most frequent holiday pics.. in a petrol station.



The car behaved impeccably despite me forgetting the track on Sunday.. the only dry day. Put in a 9:21, car had much more in it but doesn't help when the monkey behind the wheel forgot where he was going. Apologies on the watermarked pics post pay day ill be buying more of them to put in frames at home.

 

[andybond]

Great posts fella. Your car is really starting to take shape.

 

[Dom225]

She's now home and parked up for a bit as I'm working away a lot this month, may try take it Cadwell on the weekend but just to watch. Back to driving the daily boooo Post ring plenty of plans over the coming months mainly chassis and drivetrain. Sorry power guys but at the moment these are where it feels lacking. She's also due a spanner check post ring when I get chance to get her to my unit.

 

[Dom225]

Been quiet for a while mainly because I’ve been crazy busy at work. Got her to the unit and did a spanner check. And fitted some of the bits that have been arriving.



Fitted some forge clamps undecided if these are useful or not but at £20 they were a nice birthday present from my old man.

 

[Dom225]

I’ve never been happy with the ride height of the car (tarting I know) so on Black Friday purchased some GRAMS springs as at the moment I’m halfway sold on what final suspension to run.

Finally got around to fitting them Friday. Ended up stripping all the suspension despite my mates protest that you can leave the hub on. Inspected all the swivels and bearings anyway. All good.

Handy that the unit next door lent me his ramp. Shout out Dave for that.

 

[Dom225]

Up to about December 2018 here, Gave her a bath, fitted a sunstrip and some stickers (15seconds off btg for the 20832 sticker) and took a ride out to caffeine and machine at Stratford. 3 1/2 round trip over various roads. At present I’m yet to make my mind up on the set up. I’ll post my thoughts after further driving.

 

[Dom225]

After here we had the new year rush at work and I didn't have much time for the year. I also decided to acquire a Mk1 Clio 16v id been working on for my mate who'd decided it was no longer for him. Also purchased some evol mounts and a steering boss still to fit these.. Its march now doh!

Ive registered for the NSCC sprint and hillclimb championship but work schedules now made this look unlikely but a MAY ring trip is definitely on the cards..

I've also got other bits I want to fit but at the moment I've not really done much bar take it for the odd blast up to my dads, a couple track days and down the lanes.

I did however fit my Christmas present from my old man of adaptor and quaife knob. A small mod which kept me feeling like my hand was in.

 

[Dom225]

Great posts fella. Your car is really starting to take shape.

Thanks mate. Hopefully get the diff done finally in the coming months and some other bits but sadly the valver stole my attention a bit and work schedule has nailed me a bit.