Supernaut's Cars - 323i / Megane

[Supernaut]

After a good 20 mile drive...

Aye, time to order a thermostat. It feels like almost every car I buy needs one.

[SiC]

17 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

It feels like almost every car I buy needs one.

It's my wife's joke that she asks everytime I buy a car, when am I replacing the thermostat?

Pretty much every car I've bought has needed one. From the E320 not getting up to temperature, to the GTI splitting it's housing and even my parents A4 that I bought off them didn't get to temperature either. 

I think it's one of those things people don't even realise is a problem. If the car isn't beeping at them or loosing power, they assume it's all okay. The fact that a gauge is not in the right place won't be something they realise. Especially as it's likely to drop gradually over time rather than a sudden change. 

[EyesWeldedShut]

5 minutes ago, SiC said:

The fact that a gauge is not in the right place

An awful lot of cars come without that little aide-memoire (looking at you Mr. Bini) so you never know it's running cool unless you plug in a reader. It has a 'bong' if it goes over but just a secret smile if it runs under.

[Supernaut]

The thing is, even with it running cool for a modern eco diesel it still somehow kicks decent heat out of the vents.

[Supernaut]

On 08/04/2024 at 20:08, artdjones said:

As yours is down as an Eco on car checking sites it's probably got a k9k 636 engine, which has a different stat housing. I'm fairly sure the working part can be swapped over, though.

This is the one off the 636

Having had a good look under the bonnet, it appears to have the standard thermostat housing.
One pipe in the back, one pipe out the front, and a sensor plugged into it right next to one of the pipes. Not the Eco style one with the sensor coming out the side there.

[artdjones]

16 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

Having had a good look under the bonnet, it appears to have the standard thermostat housing.
One pipe in the back, one pipe out the front, and a sensor plugged into it right next to one of the pipes. Not the Eco style one with the sensor coming out the side there.

You can tell which engine you've got, its stamped into the r/h side of the block as you look at the engine from the front. But hard to see as it's partly obscured by the plastic mouldings of the cylinder head cover.

I think the actual eco engine came with the small facelift that happened around later 2012. So your engine could be an 836. It doesn't make a huge difference, just a couple of mpg. And for some reason the 836 and 636 have a different timing belt, with the newer engine having 4 teeth less.

[Supernaut]

22 minutes ago, artdjones said:

You can tell which engine you've got, its stamped into the r/h side of the block as you look at the engine from the front. But hard to see as it's partly obscured by the plastic mouldings of the cylinder head cover.

I think the actual eco engine came with the small facelift that happened around later 2012. So your engine could be an 836. It doesn't make a huge difference, just a couple of mpg. And for some reason the 836 and 636 have a different timing belt, with the newer engine having 4 teeth less.

Fair enough! All useful info.

Like I said, I had a proper good nosey at it and it definitely looks like the earlier thermostat housing. I've already ordered one.

 

This has been an expensive morning, as I also ordered oil, an oil filter and an air filter for the Megane. Plus oil (all 7L of it) and an oil filter for the BMW. The air filter on it is spotless so can stay. That little lot topped 3 figures from Opie. However, most other places want £50-odd just for the 5L of oil for the Megane alone, before adding anything else!

[SiC]

In correct fettle, I'd be expecting 45+ mpg easy and usually 50-60mpg on these donks. The 1.5dci has always been really economical.

[bear-in-the-air]

On 09/04/2024 at 10:21, Supernaut said:

After a good 20 mile drive...

Aye, time to order a thermostat. It feels like almost every car I buy needs one.

the cooler the water temp, the more efficient the engine, right? Right?

[SiC]

21 minutes ago, bear-in-the-air said:

the cooler the water temp, the more efficient the engine, right? Right?

The less the emissions controls work and so more fuel it puts in to try heating the engine up quicker. 

[Split_Pin]

28 minutes ago, bear-in-the-air said:

the cooler the water temp, the more efficient the engine, right? Right?

Eh, a coolant tempsensor chucks more fuel in until its warmed up.....

[bear-in-the-air]

Sorry, that was meant to be a joke but I see it didn't land

[Lacquer Peel]

13 hours ago, bear-in-the-air said:

the cooler the water temp, the more efficient the engine, right? Right?

Thermal efficiency, that's right

[Supernaut]

Aye, just like a PC.

I'm gonna liquid nitrogen cool it, then overclock it.

[Supernaut]

That was about a medium amount of fuckery to do. Did some small plastic clips that hold hoses get launched into orbit? Maybe.

Did I pummel the plastic slam panel with my magnetic torch because seemingly the entire engine bay is plastic so I couldn't get the torch to stay anywhere? Once or twice.

I still need to pour some coolant in there, but it's lunchtime.

The thermostat housing even has a wee cap like a tyre valve on the side. I assume for bleeding the coolant through. Very thoughtful of them.

[Supernaut]

I did run it briefly after filling it with coolant earlier. Just to move it back to its hiding spot in the corner of a paddock.

 

I got distracted by going out in the Kia Sorento with the trailer on the back to get half a tonne of compost. As you do.

 

Anyway, the Megane doesn't seem to be leaking or anything. I'll leave the heater set at full when I next drive it. Until it gets up to temperature anyway!

[Supernaut]

That's what we want to see!

It was only showing the first block on the temperature gauge before.

The car came with fuck all service history, so it's a bit of timing belt roulette. The mileage suggests it's about 40% through its second belt. I had a look under the timing belt cover. It's rubbery and belty, with no cracks or signs of perishing. It can stay.

I just put some fresh 5w30 fully synth in it too, plus an air filter. The new oil filter I got was 10mm too narrow! The filter on there seemed fairly recent and in good condition. Good enough for the girls we date, as Derek says.

The air filter I took out wasn't even too bad, but I had a new one anyway.

It then got the obligatory Opie Oils strong as fuck air freshener hung from the mirror.

 

I should really get hold of a drill brush and give the seats a good going over.

Perhaps I should investigate the light rattle from the front suspension too. Sounds like a drop link. One of those rattles you only hear but can't feel.

[loserone]

Have I dibbsed this yet?

[Supernaut]

2 minutes ago, loserone said:

Have I dibbsed this yet?

You have indeed.

[Supernaut]

"I'm ready for my oil change now..."

I thought about cropping out the wheelie bin, but this is Autoshite!

[320touring]

1 hour ago, Supernaut said:

"I'm ready for my oil change now..."

I thought about cropping out the wheelie bin, but this is Autoshite!

Cannae call it a wheelie bin as it's had welding so not mainly plastic on the sills noo😂

 

Looking well!

[Supernaut]

The fact I dumped the BMW in the shed yesterday and I'm too lazy to move it, and the fact it's raining are both reducing the possibility of much car shenanigans today.

However I had a wee look at the Megane. First, I attacked the front seats with some interior cleaner again. This time with more generous amounts of cleaner, plus the use of a horse brush. I wanted a compact, stiff-bristled brush. What do I have an abundance of here? Horse brushes! I rinsed it off afterwards, but the horses may benefit from some car upholstery cleaner too...

I also found out how easy it is to access the mirrors. The cap on the inside of the door just unclips, and there are 3 bolts holding the mirror on. I unplugged the wiring from the passenger side mirror and the temperature gauge on the dash went out completely. Good. A replacement sensor can be obtained for under £10 and simply requires soldering on. I may order one.

I also found out I can get a pair of front drop links for about £20. I'll attempt to confirm those are the source of the rattle before ordering though.

The joys of having a relatively ubiquitous (at least parts-wise) modern car, eh?

 

Admittedly, E36s also have really good parts support to this day as well.

 

 

 

As for what I'll do with the Megane's horrible bare steelies... Well, I have some drill-mounted wire brushes and very wide masking tape coming tomorrow (via a friend who works at Screwfix) and I have already obtained two big tins of wheel silver. Mwuhaha. I suppose the BMW will actually have to go back outside for all that.

[Supernaut]

I'm bored, it's raining, and I have a 50mm prime lens. With the aperture all the way open at F2.8 it looks good.

Think of it as a better attempt at the photo from yesterday.

[Supernaut]

Fuckity bye!

[loserone]

Gone for scrap?

[Supernaut]

2 hours ago, loserone said:

Gone for scrap?

Yup!

Nobody else seemed to want it, and it was showing all the signs of the ECU going loopy. Don't worry, the good floor mats from it are in the Megane now.

 

Talking of; just done a 40 mile roundtrip not driving remotely economically and the average mpg over fuck knows how long is already up 10% with the new thermostat. TBH I was in a bit of a rush and was keeping it on boost the entire time. Still that noticeable mpg bump!

[loserone]

3 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

Don't worry, the good floor mats from it are in the Megane now.

Thanks man, future me really appreciates that.

[Supernaut]

Hurr.

[Supernaut]

Three things arrived for the Megane today.

The V5, and a pair of front drop links.

[cort1977]

On 18/04/2024 at 16:33, Supernaut said:

I'm bored, it's raining, and I have a 50mm prime lens. With the aperture all the way open at F2.8 it looks good.

Think of it as a better attempt at the photo from yesterday.

 

Still great looking cars.  Not sure how successful the side skirts look now though...

I just found a couple of 3 series books if you want them? Haynes and some kind of enthusiasts companion book about the model.