VW Golf MK4 - V5 OEM+ Project

[NateS2]

This is our Golf MK4 V5 which was bought in 2017 with around 70,000 miles on it, its a 2003 V5 AQN 3 door in reflex silver, "Mid-Line". It was a okay spec with Climatronic, destroyed sports seats, Votex rear spoiler and CD changer. It also had it chains done by VW at about 30,000 miles. It's an OEM+ plus project, somewhat in the style of @mwstewart "Quick Project" Golf from years ago. Obviously quite a few things have been done already but I have a collection of pictures that I'm going to upload of the process and more details of the work I've done, including part numbers etc.

The following things were broken when we got it, the crossed out ones have been fixed :

• Randomly switched off - New Bosch Cam position sensors, new fuel filter, air filter, cleaned intank pump
• Suspension thrashed - Fitted with 40 mm lowering HR springs and Koni sports dampers, R32 big bushes
• Brakes - Original red calipers cleaned up and painted, new Brembo Max slotted discs and @EBC Brakes UK Green stuff pads along with HEL braided hoses and new OEM steel lines
• Rocker cover leaking everywhere - Have new Elring and Victor Reinz parts, yet to fit
• Small weep from cam chain area of head gasket - This has stopped
• HORRENDOUS driving, jerky horribleness - Still and issue, got 5 genuine coil packs to put in, and need to check for vacuum leaks

Mods so far

• VW Polo short DAB aerial - Wires routed as OEM and connected to new Alpine DAB+ Head unit
• Cruise Control Retrofitted
• Full Leather, Heated sports seat - Fitted and wired using Kufatec loom
• Original door cards converted to leather and reinforce with Fibre glass
• "Soft Felt" style black centre arm rest
• Dash + Interior plastic swap for good used replacements
• Bora R aluminium Gear knob
• VR6 Rear Valance fitted with custom non-resonated exhaust
• OEM parking sensors fitted and fully wired, including K-line
• W8 interior light - Wiring including rear view mirror dip defeat
• Half FIS needle sweep, etc.
• Boot Cigarette lighter
• 3 Button key fob
• Window up with remote

Future plans

• Full FIS/DIS - Just sourced this for a bargain price, going to convert it petrol
• Audi A3 bulb warning retrofit
• Hella Styling front fogs
• New wheels (BBS RC I think, or OZ Aristo)
• OEM Xenon's with auto levelling (for the right price)
• New front valance
• OEM Style auto lights - Most likely using a A4 auto light switch, relays (my favourite) and a interface board to the Climatronic light sensor
• Audi TT/S3 front running gear conversion
• Glovebox vent (Trying to source the correct hose is impossible)
• Remap - Any recommendations?
• Heated washer jets - Thanks Martin

I'll update this with more pictures and details, if there is anything people are particularly interested in then let me know

Edited by NateS2 on Thursday 4th March 13:59

[spaceship]

Definitely interested in this. Although the mk4 got a lot of flack I still miss mine and was the one car I should have kept. Nearly bought a V6 4motion last year but was worried I’d regret it.

Mine was a TDi 150 and had full votex kit (rare then, mega-rare now). Lots of your mods are similar to what I did to mine. Check out BBS CH’s. That’s what mine had and really suited it.

Looking forward to the updates.

[crofty1984]

spaceship said:

Definitely interested in this. Although the mk4 got a lot of flack I still miss mine and was the one car I should have kept. Nearly bought a V6 4motion last year but was worried I’d regret it.

Mine was a TDi 150 and had full votex kit (rare then, mega-rare now). Lots of your mods are similar to what I did to mine. Check out BBS CH’s. That’s what mine had and really suited it.

Looking forward to the updates.

My wife has a Mk4 130 Tdi and she loves it. Just had it resprayed.

[JakeT]

This is a nice project. I had an early 1.8T with the winter pack, and climatronic years ago. It felt very grown up, but did break a lot. I retrofitted an arm-rest and the first owners had a really nice stereo setup installed professionally.

I still miss the seats. Really liked them.

[martin mrt]

I’m looking forward to watching this, I’ve recently bought back a TDI 150 I owned in 2012-13 and plan to do a mini resto/refresh on it too

OEM xenons, retrofitted them to most Mk4s too I like your thoughts

[NateS2]

Thanks all! Yeah the BBS CH are another option too, bit cheaper as well, sort of torn between the 3...

And very nice, I've seen a couple of Votex kits go recently in terrible shape for silly money. Not sure whether to go with the VR6 front valence and keep them black, or go anniversary and colour code it. You can tell its very heavy at the front when you drive it, but for motorway cruising its a pleasure.

Very nice, what did the Winter Pack include out of interest? Like those seats too. Yeah the stereo/speakers are a major let down in the standard car for me, had a Fabia MK1 and standard speakers in that totally blow the golf ones out of the water. Would fit the DSP system but I like having DAB so its a bit limited.

Ahh cool that's still around and you've got it back! I wish I had a TDI sometimes for the economy, but where's the fun in that?? I've actually seen a set of Hella Celis come up and I'm temped by those, they sort of have the look of the Xenon's but with DRL's and halogen. Plus they're about 50% cheaper

[martin mrt]

That’s my TDI, even has leather Recaros from the factory. Not common on a TDI at all



The winter pack gave you heated seats, washer jets and headlight washers from memory

I’ll be doing a mild resto on it this year and fitting some Santa Monica alloys, keeping it totally OEM.

[Ian-8bdsj]

Love the sound of these 5 cylinder VWs.

[97BlackC5]

I had a 'Jazz Blue' V5 from new, one of a number of Golfs I have owned in my time. Must admit was a lovely drive very smooth but drank petrol.

[NateS2]

Looks really clean, santa monica's will suit it!

Ahh thanks, heated washer jets are another one I'll had then, just in time for summer

Yes they do suit nice! Even the standard car has a nice rasp to it. The exhaust is a bit loud for me so going to swap to a valved system at some point, either vacuum actuated R32 style or using a OEM style switch hidden below the climate control, not decided which yet

[NateS2]

Yeah the fuel economy is the only gripe, can get it into the 30's if you verryyyyy careful on the Motorway, but anything other than that is terrible

[ST270]

Love this project... we had a 2001 V5 (170 bhp) - 3 door in black with Santa Monicas which we had diamond cut. Totally standard car and it looked just right - the proportions were spot on! It drove well - gutsy torque but tailed off a bit at the top end, never that fast but solid even at 120k.

The 5 cyl warble was fantasic though and made the car for me!

Good luck with the project

Pic isn't my car but idential to it...

[hungryjoey]

I ran a 2003 Toledo V5 170 (AQN) for a couple of years. Sold it on with 170k and the new owner swapped the engine out for a 1.8T as he started to report low power (Timing related IIRC). A real pity but these engines sound glorious and pull really well for 170hp.

[stichill99]

Love a 3 door mk4! I had a dutch import highline 110 tdi and loved that car. Fitted Bilstein/Eibach and 9 spoke TT alloys and could get high 40's mpg all day long going at a decent lick!

[NateS2]

Again really like those wheels! Hoping to rectify the tailing off at the top with a remap, along with fixing the slightly jerky throttle response.

And totally agree, not as powerful as the VR6 but the sound makes it!

Ahh that’s a shame, if/when the chain stretch on this they’ll be getting replaced by myself, I’ll do a post shortly about checking them with VCDS

[Superchickenn]

I’ve currently got 6 mk4 platform cars in my fleet..

Love them, parts are cheap and plentiful. Great reliable runners and still look good in my opinion.

[jamesson]

My wife had a five door V5 in silver a few years ago. Other than a dodgy MAF sensor, it was very reliable in the years she had it and we both liked it very much. Lovely creamy smooth engine but oh so slow!

[anonymous-user]

The Mk4 doesn’t get much love on here, I really like them. V5 or the 1.8 GTI are lovely looking cars. I had a Jazz Blue TDi in 2001, loved it.

[shalmaneser]

Echoing others who have said the same - there is one of these cars tooling around near me an it sounds just great. I love a 5 cylinder.

I'm sure the handling can be tightened up nicely with some TT bits.

[NateS2]

Thanks all! Nice to not to here people saying "Why didn't you just get a V6"

Simple little mod today, the car comes with normal black pedals, and these have been swapped for some aftermarket "TT style" ones for a while now.


Decided I wanted a bit of a change so got a set of grotty, but genuine, Seat Leon Cupra R / Anniversary pedals. Split them apart and gave a good cleaning:


Wurth Rubber fit applied...


Final product, much better: (These are just some cheap winter mats, I have the genuine new Votex summer mats to go in)