My first German: Mk5 Golf GTI
Discussion
I haven't used winter tyres for the past couple of years, but during the first snowfall this year the Golf was an absolute chocolate fireguard so I thought I'd best invest in a set. I also wanted to get an extra set of wheels as it's just much easier that way since I can change them myself. The good thing about VAG cars is that there's loads of crossover with bolt sizes, patterns etc. so I wasn't limited to looking at VW wheels. I didn't really care about buying "correct" wheels; they're only winter scrubbers, as long as they look decent, are in good condition and fit properly I'll be happy.
For just £330 I managed to pick up some nearly new Michelin CrossClimate all-season tyres which came on great condition set of Mk2 Audi TT wheels; honestly, they look brand new. The price was a steal considering the tyres alone would have been about £420 new, plus having to buy a set of rims on top of that. The tyres have 6mm tread left and were only used for a few months last winter. They're not exactly the same size as my regular tyres; still 225 section, but are 17" with a 50% aspect ratio rather than the standard 225/18 40 tyre size. Overall they're less than an inch larger in diameter, so it looks absolutely fine and there's no rubbing whatsoever.
Yes I know there's an Audi logo in the centrecap...but the wheels look terrible without them in place. I may address them at some point but to be honest I probably won't bother.
And of course I was victim to the classic winter wheels sod's law. It was -2 degrees when I bought the wheels on Friday, -3 on Saturday when I picked them up, and then Sunday when I fitted them? +8 degrees. Brilliant. Oh well, at least they're on now. Plus they're all-season tyres so it's fine if the temperature creeps up a bit occasionally.
For just £330 I managed to pick up some nearly new Michelin CrossClimate all-season tyres which came on great condition set of Mk2 Audi TT wheels; honestly, they look brand new. The price was a steal considering the tyres alone would have been about £420 new, plus having to buy a set of rims on top of that. The tyres have 6mm tread left and were only used for a few months last winter. They're not exactly the same size as my regular tyres; still 225 section, but are 17" with a 50% aspect ratio rather than the standard 225/18 40 tyre size. Overall they're less than an inch larger in diameter, so it looks absolutely fine and there's no rubbing whatsoever.
Yes I know there's an Audi logo in the centrecap...but the wheels look terrible without them in place. I may address them at some point but to be honest I probably won't bother.
And of course I was victim to the classic winter wheels sod's law. It was -2 degrees when I bought the wheels on Friday, -3 on Saturday when I picked them up, and then Sunday when I fitted them? +8 degrees. Brilliant. Oh well, at least they're on now. Plus they're all-season tyres so it's fine if the temperature creeps up a bit occasionally.
Quick update - recent MOT passed with zero advisories! To say I'm pleased would be an understatement, given that the cost of the last MOT crept ominously close to four figures!
I feel like the car deserves a reward of some sort, but as of yet I'm undecided. Also I'm meant to be saving for a house deposit at the moment, and I doubt the OH would be best pleased if I spent hundreds on a new exhaust/remap like I've been considering...
I feel like the car deserves a reward of some sort, but as of yet I'm undecided. Also I'm meant to be saving for a house deposit at the moment, and I doubt the OH would be best pleased if I spent hundreds on a new exhaust/remap like I've been considering...
Some exploratory surgery today to try and find out why my passenger door doesn't want to unlock...couldn't find anything, and you can hear the mechanism working inside the door, it's just not actually unlocking the door. I may have to take it to VW....
While the door was apart I took the opportunity to refurb the door pulls; been meaning to do this for a while as they were pretty tatty
It's amazing how grubby door handles can actually get, as plastic is brilliant at absorbing all the dirt and oils from your hands. A proper scrub with soapy water and steel wool then sanding with wet/dry before priming and painting
Much better!
The floor mats were fit for the bin so I bought some snazzier replacements. Wasn't sure about them at first, I thought they were maybe a bit too unsubtle, but I really like them now
While the door was apart I took the opportunity to refurb the door pulls; been meaning to do this for a while as they were pretty tatty
It's amazing how grubby door handles can actually get, as plastic is brilliant at absorbing all the dirt and oils from your hands. A proper scrub with soapy water and steel wool then sanding with wet/dry before priming and painting
Much better!
The floor mats were fit for the bin so I bought some snazzier replacements. Wasn't sure about them at first, I thought they were maybe a bit too unsubtle, but I really like them now
I do love it when this sort of thing happens on readers car threads! Yeah it's being well looked after and it's proving every bit as enjoyable as I expected it would be. I bought it in late 2016, presumably from the chap that you sold it to, and he'd only put about 1,500 miles on it in over a year. I've done rather more than that and it's sitting on 139,000 now. Still running strong!
Door lock appears to have fixed itself...for the time being at least. I suspect it will go again soon, but it's working just now so I'll deal with it more permanently when it breaks again!
Weather was finally looking good enough to swap the wheels back over, so I did this at the weekend....then I read that there's more snow on the way. Spiffing. Again, something to deal with if it happens but I cannot be arsed changing the wheels again, may just work from home for a few says!
Weather was finally looking good enough to swap the wheels back over, so I did this at the weekend....then I read that there's more snow on the way. Spiffing. Again, something to deal with if it happens but I cannot be arsed changing the wheels again, may just work from home for a few says!
Small update time; I know previously I'd said I wasn't going to replace the front grill/central fascia, but I decided I would after all. Apart from the small holes from the old number plate surround, it was fairly scratched and pretty sun faded. the rear valance was even worse, so I bit the bullet and bought new parts. So glad I did, it's made a massive difference in the overall appearance of the car.
New front grill fascia on ; looks so cool with no front plate! You can see how dull the lower grill is compared to the new upper part - I've now replaced the lower part too so it matches.
Look at the state of the old rear valance; scratched, stained, faded and a little bit bent. It's a huge area and really brings down the look of the car's rear end.
Difference between old and new
New one fitted! So chuffed with how it looks
Good excuse to give the car a really thorough clean. Would you believe this thing recently hit 140,000 miles?
Always amazes me how many different flecks of colour are in this "grey" paint. Looks fantastic in the sun
New front grill fascia on ; looks so cool with no front plate! You can see how dull the lower grill is compared to the new upper part - I've now replaced the lower part too so it matches.
Look at the state of the old rear valance; scratched, stained, faded and a little bit bent. It's a huge area and really brings down the look of the car's rear end.
Difference between old and new
New one fitted! So chuffed with how it looks
Good excuse to give the car a really thorough clean. Would you believe this thing recently hit 140,000 miles?
Always amazes me how many different flecks of colour are in this "grey" paint. Looks fantastic in the sun
MDMA . said:
Did you buy new oem front? Looking for a new one myself but they seem to have doubled in price the last 5 years. About £194 + vat at the dealers now.
I only bought the two grill pieces for that very reason, front bumpers for these are pretty expensive and I didn't think it was worth it. Was about £45 for the upper grill since it includes the gloss black section. Lower grill was only £11Edited by MDMA . on Sunday 24th June 22:25
Gilhooligan said:
Great thread OP, those pics look they’re the back roads around Gladhouse reservoir? I used to drive/ cycle round there a lot when I lived in Edinburgh. Lovely part of the countryside.
Yeah that's the place, I live just outside Edinburgh - so many brilliant roads nearbygofasterrosssco said:
Nice OP. I've been on the look out for a similar spec mk5 GTi (but with much less miles) in Scotland for a few weeks now with no real success ever since my M135i was nicked.
There seemed quite a few about a couple of years ago (last time I looked, then bought the BMW), but those currently about look like fairly used and abused examples..
Sorry to hear that, a shame cars like that are always a target for thieves. There seemed quite a few about a couple of years ago (last time I looked, then bought the BMW), but those currently about look like fairly used and abused examples..
It's true, good condition non-abused MK5s are really getting pretty thin on the ground; plus the huge number that have been ruined by the modding scene. Hopefully they're doing me a favour by making original-spec, looked after ones like mine a little more valuable!
There are good ones out there though and they're worth finding - keep looking!
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