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Technical Seicento '02 1.1MPI few Q's

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Technical Seicento '02 1.1MPI few Q's

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TheAlkaline

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Hi guys,


I have bought my Seicento few months back and after doing fairly good bit of research I still have few questions that bother me. So I finally registered and I hope to find few answers here. (Please talk in a simple language, I'm not an expert in tuning/modifications)


1. Sticker on my Sei says "EL" model, I can't find the info about it anywhere. Is that an actual factory spec or someone just sticked it up?
2. Urgent - I'm looking to lower my Sei with lowering kit (shocks&springs). I mostly use Motorways but I live in Ireland and you get occasional speed bumps. The only kit in decent money I can find is either 70/50 or 40/40. Which one would be better? I don't mind stiff suspension, but let's be rational. It's my daily car so if I gotta slow down to 2km/h on every speed bump and avoid every pothole it would be pointless. So, would 70/50 be practical enough? And how would the situation look with the passengers then?
3. Centos are not the top notch cars in relation to safety, are there any way to improve this? Would bucket seats with 4 point harness do much help? I'm not looking for answers such as "Slow Down" as I can't take all responsibility for drivers jumping red or not looking around.
4. If I get bucket seats, can I get rid of my Cento steering wheel (it has airbag) and can I fit a sports wheel with homologation? Would that pass NCT or British MOT? I guess that if I have the harness the airbag probably wont do much anyway?
5. Anywhere to find custom headlights?
6. Id like to swap colour in my clocks, MPI version. All I need is just coloured LED's? What about the dash, if I want to go from red to blue?
7. I'm running steelies right now, would sporting alloys and 10mm spacers bring any difference to handling?
8. Is it much hassle to fit RPM clock to my Sei? Are there any custom ones?
9. MPI swap to 1.2 16v, is it worth doing it or no? I heard it's a pain in the heel compared to SPI models.


Any help would be greatly appreciated, keep it really simple guys. I'm really trying to learn a thing here.


Thanks! (Ill post pics up later).
 
I did but it does not satisfy me enough :( Maybe except the engine swap question.
 
Couple of easy questions i can answer without even thinking about it too hard....
EL = the UK version is badged as a SX (you'll also find the E model is the same as the UK S model).
Dash illumination colour- Read this.... https://www.fiatforum.com/cinquecento-seicento/344874-changing-leds-dash.html
Alloy/Steel wheels... what the wheels are made of has zero affect on the handling (unless they're made of cheese) it's mainly about wheel weight, offset, tyre choice, suspension stiffness, & set up/geometry.
& as for safety... you want to get rid of the airbag??? That doesn't make any sense whatsoever!
Following on from rallycinqs comment -never fit a roll cage without using bucket seat unless you're desperate to suffer brain damage in the event of an accident.

BTW: rallycinq is the FF equivalent of the venerable Bede (although he's probably older than Bede!) so his advice ought to be heeded.
 
Ouby said:
Alloy/Steel wheels... what the wheels are made of has zero affect on the handling (unless they're made of cheese) it's mainly about wheel weight, offset, tyre choice, suspension stiffness, & set up/geometry.
& as for safety... you want to get rid of the airbag??? That doesn't make any sense whatsoever!
Click to expand...

I meant in a way that sporting got wider tyres so if I put 10mm spacers to increase the wheel offset would that make a difference going from stock model to wider sporting alloys + spacers?

I knew it was a stupid question. I just assumed that the harness will keep you in place and not allow your body to move forward anyway. So airbag would be no use as you wouldn't make contact with it in case of a collision. So buckets are yay or nay?
 
TheAlkaline said:
I meant in a way that sporting got wider tyres so if I put 10mm spacers to increase the wheel offset would that make a difference going from stock model to wider sporting alloys + spacers? ....
Click to expand...
You're quite correct: :Sportings were fitted with wider wheels/tyres.
https://www.fiatforum.com/cinquecento-seicento/93890-alloys-tyres-offsets-pcd-all.html
I thought only the 14" wheel Abarth/Schumachers had spacers fitted (due to the wheel offset) -but i could be wrong.
The Sportings handle better due to a complete package : lowered, stiffer suspension, anti-roll bar etc.
Tyre choice is such a personal matter -manufacturers now list ratings for wet/dry grip etc & there are plenty of sites that give feedback on tyre performance http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre-Size/13-Inch-Tyres/
 
Can you tell me more about the anti roll bar in sporting? What is the difference in them. I'm definitely going for the uniroyal Rainexpert 3.

So sporting had spacers fitted from the factory to allow fitting in alloys or to increase handling capabilities? Were sporting's MPI or SPI?

(Phone doesn't allow me to post if I quote?)
 
Last edited:
dadandlad said:
Sportings had both SPI and MPI engines fitted
Click to expand...

I was just thinking that maybe it would be the best idea to get rid of my EL version and just get an SPI Sporting, it would be a good base for swap later on too.

By the way, EL supposed to be UK version of SX. But SX supposed to have Electric windows and my sei doesnt have it?:confused:
 
TheAlkaline said:
I was just thinking that maybe it would be the best idea to get rid of my EL version and just get an SPI Sporting, it would be a good base for swap later on too.

By the way, EL supposed to be UK version of SX. But SX supposed to have Electric windows and my sei doesnt have it?:confused:
Click to expand...
I stated "questions i can answer without even thinking about it too hard...."
Perhaps i should have thought about them :bang:
EL = S spec :eek:, it's the ELX that's the Irish badged SX model.
A SPI Sporting would be better, esp if you decide to go the 16v route.
 
Ouby said:
I stated "questions i can answer without even thinking about it too hard...."
Perhaps i should have thought about them :bang:
EL = S spec :eek:, it's the ELX that's the Irish badged SX model.
A SPI Sporting would be better, esp if you decide to go the 16v route.
Click to expand...

But then again, my one has colour coded bumpers and is 2002.
confused.gif

I think that I'll never find out..
 
Ouby said:
Yeah, there are certain anomalies i've never been able to work out about the EL being the equivalent of a UK S model & the ELX being a SX.
https://www.fiatforum.com/cinquecento-seicento/417108-what-does-el-mean.html
Click to expand...

Ok so that's sorted. Now again, after few thoughts I think that my Sei will only stay with me for the next few months till I gather enough cash and buy younger car due to insurance purposes (I pay 2,200e for TPI only:bang:)..

Now the main question is, What would be a better investment:

Lowering Kit? If yes, then again - 70/50 or 40/40? Id love to see the positive and negative side of both.

Or

New tires that will handle bad weather conditions better? (Current Chinese stuff ain't the best).

Body roll is huge in a stock Sei, like I mentioned before I travel mostly motorways to get to work and back. So low suspension shouldnt be much of an issue as long as its acceptable in the city. On the other hand, current tires are TERRIBLE in wet. I honestly never owned a car with worse traction in/after the rain, which in connection to motorway speeds and body roll does provide some adrenaline when you drive into a puddle.

One of my concerns is if the lowered car will not decrease that traction in wet even more? I understand that the weight is positioned lower so corner stability will increase, but stiffer suspension will not transfer the weight in the same way and will the car not suffer from feeling of being more skiddy?
 
Sorry for bumping but any thoughts on this? Payday is coming so is my order!
 
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