Koleos Hints, Tips, Problems

Thanks for the prompt response Breitie - you are ahead of the curve!

Just dropped by bunnings and installed the gutter guard, and like you chose the soft one with black ties (they are UV coated, not sure about white ones). May consider the more fancy ones when I need to pull the bumper off.

How does the camera work - does it hook into the sat nav or output to the rear view mirror? Agree slimline plates look better!

Just had the 10k service and still have the rattle so may go to Nissan and pickup their filter and try to swap out and hope I don't lose too much oil as an experiment. I do prefer Nissan service as coming from a dualis. Hope the filter is accessible!

Definitely interested in swapping notes since we are close, especially if I feel brave and go for DIY sill plates like u :)

People have no idea what a koleos is - get curious looks all the time but strangely from guys. Women are too into VW and mazdas CX5 - the insurance lady had no clue. Almost went for a CRV or runnout Kuga but got a great deal on this. Wished it had folding mirrors.
 
Agree Dave - I would prefer factory black as looks like classy compression molded trim instead off risky paint job. Not sure if dealer will helpout. Maybe a vinyl skin?

Last resort will be the dash mat but that's so 90s...
 
Agree with the 90's look.
However.....getting in the car after parking it outside all day in the sun, that dash is like a 2400Watt bar radiator...
Used to take at least 10 mins to cool down the cabin.
Definately lowers re-radiation, so I accept the daggy look.

Hate to think what it is going to cost to get the dash re-skinned.

David
 
Rear view camera: simply plugs into the accessory sockets, front and back. You can get different cameras and monitors, mine hooks on the number plate at the back, and clips over the standard mirror in front. Can get dash mounted monitors also if you prefer.
Oil filter: no need to go to Nissan as the one supplied by Renault dealer (Bryan Byrt) is branded Nissan but comes in a Renault box. So, either supplier gets you the same item. Also, filters for X-Trails are readily available from all automotive spares suppliers but may be RYCO or similar. Beware of the "did not use genuine parts" argument if something goes awry! You have a Nissan dealer handy in Cleveland anyway. Oil filter lives behind the right front wheel. Remove wheel, remove cheap plastic shield by pulling out panel pins, and there it is. Should be just "hand tightened" and normally not require a spanner. Easy!
I will try to source a proper dash mat as my daggy towel solution "is so twenties"! (but it does the job!)
Shiny trim on dash: later models, including mine do not have that anymore. Someone must have taken notice.
Folding mirrors: you don't have them? That is curious. Or do you mean "powered" folding mirrors?
 
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85Fuego said:
Agree with the 90's look.
However.....getting in the car after parking it outside all day in the sun, that dash is like a 2400Watt bar radiator...
Used to take at least 10 mins to cool down the cabin.
Definately lowers re-radiation, so I accept the daggy look.

Hate to think what it is going to cost to get the dash re-skinned.

David
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Yeah I think I agree that mats will be how it plays out..hoping to just reskin the shiny trim, which I think can be easily removed. See this link

http://www.autoradioforum.com/showthread.php?3278-Installation-Instruction-for-Renault-koleos

Ever hopeful...that's the beauty with DIY mods, you can take your time.
 
Breitie said:
Rear view camera: simply plugs into the accessory sockets, front and back. You can get different cameras and monitors, mine hooks on the number plate at the back, and clips over the standard mirror in front. Can get dash mounted monitors also if you prefer.
Oil filter: no need to go to Nissan as the one supplied by Renault dealer (Bryan Byrt) is branded Nissan but comes in a Renault box. So, either supplier gets you the same item. Also, filters for X-Trails are readily available from all automotive spares suppliers but may be RYCO or similar. Beware of the "did not use genuine parts" argument if something goes awry! You have a Nissan dealer handy in Cleveland anyway. Oil filter lives behind the right front wheel. Remove wheel, remove cheap plastic shield by pulling out panel pins, and there it is. Should be just "hand tightened" and normally not require a spanner. Easy!
I will try to source a proper dash mat as my daggy towel solution "is so twenties"! (but it does the job!)
Shiny trim on dash: later models, including mine do not have that anymore. Someone must have taken notice.
Folding mirrors: you don't have them? That is curious. Or do you mean "powered" folding mirrors?
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Thanks again pal. Yup powered folding mirrors..this beast is a little big for my garage. It's bigger and taller than expected actually.

Well I just got it serviced by Renault, so filter should be Nissan, so that means I should just check that it's the proper filter, dump the elf stuff and pour in the Shell Ultra, and probably at the Cleveland Nissan dealership, which is where we serice our nissan anyway.

P.s. whats with the lack of DIY servicing det in the manual? Doesn't even tell u the oil spe or drain plug!
 
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BTW does anyone notice bad camber on the Koleos? I get pull to the left pretty bad, and went to get wheel alignment and was told I need a camber bolt kit as Koleos not setup for our roads in euro spec. They adjusted it so not as bad now but still difficult to drive straight ahead.
 
Free888 said:
BTW does anyone notice bad camber on the Koleos? ..... They adjusted it so not as bad now but still difficult to drive straight ahead.
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Mine is fine, tyres still ok after 85k.

X-trails have oodles of complaints about pull to the left.
There are offset bushes available for them, see here should fit us as well.

The T-30's (x-trail Mk1) have replacent arms available with polyurethane bushes from the same crowd.
They are developing replacements for T-31's (xtrail Mk 2/Koleos) but have not got them on the market yet.

My LH rear front control arm bush has gone, doing the legwork about bush replacents as we speak.
The word is the life of the bush is about the life of the ball joint.

Plenty of Koleos/x-trail T-31 front control arms on sale on ebay uk, but of what quality?
Would rather better/longer life replacents hence the above search.

Will post details when search complete/work done.

David
 
Thanks David. At first I thought it was some damage I was unaware of, but now I thinks the car wasn't designed for our roads. I have -1 degree camber on my front right which cant be adjusted further,and just worried about the toe settings used to dial out some of that left pull could lead to uneven tire wear. Those continentals are expensive!

Generally I prefer factory bushes as I used poly bushes before and found that factory rubber bushes give a better ride.
 
Great thread everyone. Useful stuff. I'll share my experiences here. I have a 2009 Dynamique Diesel 4wd Sports Auto. 121000-ish on the clock and she's never (touch wood) skipped a beat. I've noticed the odd 'popping' noise (as best as I can describe it) from the rear suspension over bumpy terrain every now and then but Renault service guys could never find anything wrong. Anyway, I'd like to start (maybe) servicing it myself (I do my mower and tractor so maybe this is possible). Is anyone else doing this? I'd leave brakes/suspension/etc to the pros, but oil and filter changes are straight forward enough surely...Any feedback? Thanks.
 
Peejay said:
Great thread everyone. Useful stuff. I'll share my experiences here. I have a 2009 Dynamique Diesel 4wd Sports Auto. 121000-ish on the clock and she's never (touch wood) skipped a beat. I've noticed the odd 'popping' noise (as best as I can describe it) from the rear suspension over bumpy terrain every now and then but Renault service guys could never find anything wrong. Anyway, I'd like to start (maybe) servicing it myself (I do my mower and tractor so maybe this is possible). Is anyone else doing this? I'd leave brakes/suspension/etc to the pros, but oil and filter changes are straight forward enough surely...Any feedback? Thanks.
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Well I had a look at the filter for the petrol engine, its in the drivers side footwell, and my filter is blue and says genuine Renault part on it - part 15208, which seems to also be the same filter/part number as the nissan filter. No idea where the oil plug is yet. Aren't diesels a bit trickier?

Please dispose of your oil environmentally :)
 
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Peejay said:
...oil and filter changes are straight forward enough surely...Any feedback? Thanks.
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Diesel oil filter up front, underneath. Have to take plastic cover off bottom - has tork screws.

Oil filter details see here

Remember 7.5L - buy 3 x 5L and do 2 oil changes.

Oil is RN 0720 (or C4) standard (Penrite sells an equivalent as well as ELF)

David
 
Well folks, I have a phase II Koleos, and I wanted to install DRLs like this:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/LED-dayt...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item257d1b3784

I asked the seller if you need to take the bumper off to install and he said no, which of course is B.S. as its really tight to get at the chrome trim since they are attached to screws BEHIND the bumper, especially on the passenger side which I think is impossible. Bumper needs to come off, and I think you need to hook up to the battery, otherwise running off fog lights looks weird. Looks like you still need to splice into the low beam blue wire to turn them off at night.

I had a go at pulling the bumper off and it was pretty easy: basically star screws at top and star screws at the bottom, and one phillips screw at each adjoining corner hidden under the plastic lining. No need to hoist the car, and it is a one man job, as you can leave the bumper connected to the bottom guards so it doesnt completely come off, and so easier to put back on. Its also very light.

Pulling at the lining to get at the phillips screw joining the fender to the bumper was the trickiest part - its 30-40min job to remove and install. I'm gonna bite the bullet and order the kit, as well as the OEM looking bottom grill and install both at the same time. Will post pics, but they take weeks to deliver.
 
Here is the word on oil change intervals from Renault Australia. If you bought a petrol Koleos in 2013, it is 15k service, but prior to 2013 it's 10k intervals. Weird.

Also the oil spec for Elf SXR 5w-40 is internally RN 0710 spec, which Shell Helix Ultra API-SM spec qualifies for. Supercheap has the SJ-spec which is older. I had a look at my oil at 9k and it was still like honey, but had used a bit of oil (one bar on the computer) so I would watch for consumption at longer intervals.

Interesting that Renault chose 5w-40 oil while xtrail uses 5w-30 oil, so a more conservative choice.
 
Wow! This thread is really beginning to show some traction with more owners contributing. Good stuff!
I finally learned what DRL's are! (hate acronyms!) Looks like they replace those cute silver 'eyebrows'?
I bought a dashboard mat for the Koleos from SUNPROTEC in Perth for $44 plus postage. Improvement on the towel!
Also splashed out on a K&N air filter ( Renault/Nissan part 16546-30P00, K$N equivalent 33-2031-2).
If the maker's claims are to be believed it should help the engine to breath more freely, give it a little more zest (although it has quite enough 'zest' for my requirements already) and perhaps improve fuel consumption slightly, and of course last for the life of the vehicle although that is neither here nor there, because original air filters cost less than $30.
 
Breitie you don't mess around pal! I just CANNOT buy the fugly dash mat .. its too much for me .. (p.s., does it exactly match all the vents and stuff?). I got the dealer to quote me on the Bose trim - $800!! Or he can paint it for $100. The vinyl trim guy wants to charge me an arm and a leg as well...uuurg..over that stupid silver trim. Looks like another DIY.

Still contemplating doing the illuminated door sills myself - was it much work to pull the trim? Any clips break? Dealer says 1 hour job or $160.

Also, I "resolved" my alignment issue - my front driver camber was -1.03deg, and they said it was within factory tolerance of -1deg15m and +0deg15min, which happens to be exactly the factory tolerance for a T31 xtrail. So I reckon xtrail factory settings should be good for us, as all my stats from the alignment specialist pretty much coincide for xtrail factory settings except for the driver camber and the offsetting toe values to neutralize the left pull. Now I need them to rotate the wheels like they're supposed - dealers are all talk.
 
Free888 said:
...I got the dealer to quote me on the Bose trim - $800!!...
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And the myth that "Renaults are expensive" continues with these yo-yo's at the helm.
For something that would cost tops $25 to make?

Did you manage to get a part number?

David
 
Fuel consumption (diesel) update

85Fuego said:
.... Last fill was just under 55L for just over 700k's.....
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Return from Adelaide.
784k 55.1L = 7L/100k.
Not bad for vehicle with such a large frontal area.

David
 
85Fuego said:
And the myth that "Renaults are expensive" continues with these yo-yo's at the helm.
For something that would cost tops $25 to make?

Did you manage to get a part number?

David
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Sorry .. I was too stunned by the number to ask.

The Koleos is a great economy cruiser, especially at highway speed. I'm continuously surprised how smooth and powerful it can be. At low speeds its not as economical as my Nissan Dualis becos of its higher weight, but once rolling, its nice. The CVT is awesome, dont know why everyone complains of the "slip" sound/feeling, but its great to hear the engine sing and keep on singing ..
 
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