Golf GTi Mk5 2005
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MARLBOROLITES

Original Poster:

163 posts

99 months

Friday 17th February 2023
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Having more or less finished the restoration of the family's Mk1 TT my son and I decided to look for another challenge. The TT is being kept in the 'stable' as my son has set his sights on it becoming his first car....he has assured me the insurance is very respectable and less in fact than a 2009 Kia Rio which was his intended first car. I will check this out for myself rest assured...... So on to the purpose of this thread.

I asked my son what he fancied suggesting a respectable budget of £1500. He's always liked Mk4 Golf R32s which made us consider picking up a cheap Mk4 - there are loads about hence plenty of choice - with the intention of making it into a replica R32. There are loads about, but at the cheaper end of the market we found they're mostly thrashed or abused or indeed both. Whilst trawling through the good old Book of Face Market Place looking at Mk4's which were Dignitas candidates in the human world I happened across a Mk5 Golf Gti which was well in budget as it was being sold with a chain tensioner rattle, in need of 2 wings, a slight tear in the fabric on the driver seat, and needing a bloody good clean inside and out. It was a 5 door DSG, had full dealer and specialist service history, an MoT to Jan 24, that lovely tartan interior paying homage to earlier Golf GTis and finished in Reflex Silver. I had previously owned both a Mk1 and Mk2 Golf GTi with both finished in silver. The temptation was too great evoking all manner of memories from days gone by. A deal was done.

The car is currently with my mechanic whilst he attends to the chain and belt and also undertakes a DSG service. When that's done our work starts. We plan on getting it back to its finest original condition and then use it sparingly. I think the market is starting to recognise a desirability with these early Mk5s so we are hoping for some depreciation free motoring. I've no photos yet as the car went straight to the garage. But I'll document the improvements on here when she arrives.

Is it me or does every Mk5 Golf in silver that's being broken have rusty wings? I thought it's be easy to find a good pair...no such luck yet. My quest continues......

FNG

4,530 posts

240 months

Friday 17th February 2023
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No, they rusted years ago. Mine were replaced by VW under warranty and are going again despite the "fix" being applied to stop it repeating.

You'll be damn lucky to find any originals that aren't suffering similarly, but you might find some that are more recent warranty replacements?

Cambs_Stuart

3,311 posts

100 months

Friday 17th February 2023
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I think it's every VW of that era that has rusty wings!

Limpet

6,596 posts

177 months

Friday 17th February 2023
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Cambs_Stuart said:
I think it's every VW of that era that has rusty wings!
Yep it was a problem on the mk4 as well.

It's only 00s VWs and 70s-80s Austin Rover stuff that I've ever known to have front wings go rotten. Oh, and Merc W210s.

Dough Boy

16 posts

47 months

Friday 17th February 2023
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MARLBOROLITES said:
My son has set his sights on it becoming his first car....he has assured me the insurance is very respectable and less in fact than a 2009 Kia Rio which was his intended first car. I will check this out for myself rest assured......
My first car at 19, which was quite a few years ago now, was a 225 TT. It was cheaper to insure than the Ford Fiesta I had bought to learn in. Don’t get me wrong it wasn’t cheap to insure by any stretch of the imagination, but it was cheaper to insure than a 1.6 fiesta.

I’ll be cheering him on for sure!

MDMA .

9,656 posts

117 months

Friday 17th February 2023
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There’s a sound deadening/foam block in between the inner and outer wing. It traps and absorbs water, causing the rust. A lot were replaced and covered under warranty. They aren’t that dear for a pair anyway. Part numbers below.

1K6821021A / 1K6821022A

Edited by MDMA . on Friday 17th February 18:47

FNG

4,530 posts

240 months

Friday 17th February 2023
quotequote all
Limpet said:
Yep it was a problem on the mk4 as well.

It's only 00s VWs and 70s-80s Austin Rover stuff that I've ever known to have front wings go rotten. Oh, and Merc W210s.
Mk1 Astra too.

bigandclever

14,064 posts

254 months

Friday 17th February 2023
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I'm biased, having also got one, but it still seems faintly odd that I've got a nigh-on 18 year old car on the drive that's worth not very much at all and I still look at it and think 'I don't really feel any urge to replace it' smile

TheBALDpuma

5,890 posts

184 months

Saturday 18th February 2023
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Re: rust, as has already been mentioned, they do all do that. I replaced mine about 4 years ago I think with one I found on eBay. I did spend maybe 6 months waiting to find two good ones. I had them treated, and the sound deadening removed. There might the first signs of it starting again on the left hand side but I'm hoping it's my imagination hehe

I think the brand for pattern parts everyone uses Lothian on eBay. They're supposed to be a good match colour wise and a decent fit, but I preferred to go genuine and second hand.

I've had mine for 7 years ish now I think and have covered 100k miles, and don't have any desire to change it. Great cars!

Court_S

14,345 posts

193 months

Sunday 19th February 2023
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Looking forward to seeing how you get on with this.

Shane they suffer from crusty wings. We looked at a few back in 2013 and they all had the first signs of corrosion.

sam.rog

1,128 posts

94 months

Sunday 19th February 2023
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Not just rusting wings but sills as well. Needs removal of skirts to see the rot. I’ve seen a few MOT failures and a couple for sale with them bodged to pass.

MARLBOROLITES

Original Poster:

163 posts

99 months

Monday 20th February 2023
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So the car remains with the mechanic attending to the jobs I can't but in the meantime I've been busy in my quest for non-rusty, right colour, wings. I messaged so many people the length and breadth of the UK and eventually found a pair in a local dismantlers just 3 miles away from me. I'm glad I resisted the temptation to commit to 6 hour round trips to travel much further afield! I've also sourced a replacement rear boot badge and a fog light to replace the current cracked one.

The wings are completely rust and blemish free. A bargain at £100 I think. Before I fit them I'll coat the inside probably with stone chip, especially around the arch rim. I'd like them to last a few years if possible.

I keep seeing well priced 18" Monzas and am tempted to upgrade from my 17s. But I noticed the ride is much harsher in the TT following a similar 'upgrade'. At least with the 17s there's a bit more sidewall to absorb pot hole strikes! The 17s are a much easier proposition to keep looking decent too without the diamond cut finish of the 18s. I'll probably refinish the 17s in a graphite colour so there's some contrast with the Reflex silver bodywork.

Here are some pics:







Beneath the dirt and grime I can see a gem of a car waiting to shine. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the belt and chain work reveals no hidden dramas.....

MDMA .

9,656 posts

117 months

Monday 20th February 2023
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Before refitting them, remove the foam block and cut a notch in the liner where it touches.

Tony_T

859 posts

97 months

Monday 20th February 2023
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Can recommend the mk5 gti forum if you're not already on there, lots of people with great knowledge on these. Btw they absolutely fly with a remap.

Court_S

14,345 posts

193 months

Tuesday 21st February 2023
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That’s a good result on finding some local wings at sensible money.

I think these look really good on the Monza alloys but the diamond cut finish is rubbish. I’ve never driven on with 17’s on but the ones I drove with 18’s all rode well enough. I guess it’ll browns what the local area is like; my car rides fine in 19’s where we are but I went through Newark the other week and the roads there were terrible and suddenly my car didn’t feel like it rode so well!

dunc69

802 posts

263 months

Tuesday 21st February 2023
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Great buy! I had a grey one of these, 2005 DSG on 18s.

The wheels were prone to corrosion, but the car was a gem. Quick, comfy and just looked so right!

Good luck with the sprucing up! I’m sure it will look fantastic!

MARLBOROLITES

Original Poster:

163 posts

99 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2023
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Dough Boy said:
My first car at 19, which was quite a few years ago now, was a 225 TT. It was cheaper to insure than the Ford Fiesta I had bought to learn in. Don’t get me wrong it wasn’t cheap to insure by any stretch of the imagination, but it was cheaper to insure than a 1.6 fiesta.

I’ll be cheering him on for sure!
Nice one! Much better than a 3 cylinder starter car. A black box will put an end to any dreams he might hold of imitating any GTA type manoeuvres and behaviours. And at least in a TT he'll only be able to ferry around one friend at a time.....unless one's 4ft tall.

MARLBOROLITES

Original Poster:

163 posts

99 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2023
quotequote all
MDMA . said:
Before refitting them, remove the foam block and cut a notch in the liner where it touches.
Absolutely....what a daft design! I'll be performing major rust prevention work on the underside as I won't fair quite so lucky if I need to replace them in the future.

PistonTim

618 posts

155 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2023
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Looks like reflex silver? Its the 'sound proofing' foam in the wings that VW install as standard thats the problem as it absorbs all the water.

Also make sure you pull the arch liners on all four corners and remove leaves and debris inside and under the scuttle panel on the passenger side particularly as these areas are easily blocked and can damage the ECU as a result.

Lothian car parts on eBay do new (pattern) wings sprayed in your colour and have a good rep on the owners club.

(Former 2008 MK5 GT TDI owner)

MARLBOROLITES

Original Poster:

163 posts

99 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2023
quotequote all
Tony_T said:
Can recommend the mk5 gti forum if you're not already on there, lots of people with great knowledge on these. Btw they absolutely fly with a remap.
Thanks for the recommendation....I'm checking it out as we speak ha! The remap is very tempting.........she's much quicker than our 225 TT as it is though. Maybe once the prodigal son has got some miles under his belt I'll consider one. My Corrado VR6 is fast enough for me though. It's an auto so makes all the right sounds for least amount of effort.