Leon R's Leon R
Discussion
Figured I might as well put up my car on here.
Last car was a Mk1 focus
Changed for one of these in 2010 if I remember correctly.
Quickly got some Matts
And replaced the bulbs and fitted a silicone T.I.P. (Headlights are still easily the weakest part of the car and I still haven't found a solution).
Decided the back looked better with black badges and made a heat shield ready for an intake.
Changed the T.I.P for a larger diameter one, replaced the recirc valve and had it mapped.
Managed to get a MK1 TT strut brace from EBAY
Had to grind part of it down to get it to fit.
Managed to source a custom rear brace.
Got it in and it's quick release too which I thought would be helpful should I have to load the car up but I think I have removed it once in six years I also got an uprated dog bone mount which you can see in the boot which helped get the power down post remap.
Then this happened so I got rid of the LEON badge.
Tried to keep it clean.
Found some of the optional recaros on the BAY so got them in. I almost got the rear bench too but that changes the car to a four seater so decided against it.
Two of my friends got Hot Hatches too so we had some good drives.
These two spent a lot of time together. After the map I get fresh oil every 5,000 miles.
Kept up to date with servicing and consumables.
Poly bushed it.
Carried out the N249 bypass and replaced the charge pipe and got a new recirc valve.
Got a 28mm anti roll bar for the rear (front already has a 25mm one but I forgot pics)
Had the front splitter painted and apparently lost interest in blurring my number plate.
Got a new flat bottom steering wheel and fitted it.
Swapped to coil packs from the 2.0 TFSI.
Slightly longer so need spacers.
And that is it really other than just keeping it running I haven't done anything else to it. I got it on 33,000 miles and it is now on 89,500 and to be honest the car has been very good to me over the six years and only a few things have gone wrong which I have listed below.
The coolant temp sensor has failed twice which I have replaced at the cost of approx £30.00
The cam position sensor failed which was about £60.00 to fix.
I have had to remove and clean the throttle body and intake temp sensor to fix an occasional stuttering start, cost was some carb cleaner and Q-tips.
The brake light switch failed and I nice chap notified me at a roundabout that I had no brake lights on the way home from work! Luckily the Mrs works right next to a VW so she grabbed the part and go it to me that afternoon, by the time she arrived I had access and it was a quick and easy replacement.
Other than that it has just been routine servicing and it still runs absolutely fine, I have saved a bit of cash up which could go on an E92 M3 which I have been considering for the best part of a year but this has been such a great car I will really struggle to say good bye.
Last car was a Mk1 focus
Changed for one of these in 2010 if I remember correctly.
Quickly got some Matts
And replaced the bulbs and fitted a silicone T.I.P. (Headlights are still easily the weakest part of the car and I still haven't found a solution).
Decided the back looked better with black badges and made a heat shield ready for an intake.
Changed the T.I.P for a larger diameter one, replaced the recirc valve and had it mapped.
Managed to get a MK1 TT strut brace from EBAY
Had to grind part of it down to get it to fit.
Managed to source a custom rear brace.
Got it in and it's quick release too which I thought would be helpful should I have to load the car up but I think I have removed it once in six years I also got an uprated dog bone mount which you can see in the boot which helped get the power down post remap.
Then this happened so I got rid of the LEON badge.
Tried to keep it clean.
Found some of the optional recaros on the BAY so got them in. I almost got the rear bench too but that changes the car to a four seater so decided against it.
Two of my friends got Hot Hatches too so we had some good drives.
These two spent a lot of time together. After the map I get fresh oil every 5,000 miles.
Kept up to date with servicing and consumables.
Poly bushed it.
Carried out the N249 bypass and replaced the charge pipe and got a new recirc valve.
Got a 28mm anti roll bar for the rear (front already has a 25mm one but I forgot pics)
Had the front splitter painted and apparently lost interest in blurring my number plate.
Got a new flat bottom steering wheel and fitted it.
Swapped to coil packs from the 2.0 TFSI.
Slightly longer so need spacers.
And that is it really other than just keeping it running I haven't done anything else to it. I got it on 33,000 miles and it is now on 89,500 and to be honest the car has been very good to me over the six years and only a few things have gone wrong which I have listed below.
The coolant temp sensor has failed twice which I have replaced at the cost of approx £30.00
The cam position sensor failed which was about £60.00 to fix.
I have had to remove and clean the throttle body and intake temp sensor to fix an occasional stuttering start, cost was some carb cleaner and Q-tips.
The brake light switch failed and I nice chap notified me at a roundabout that I had no brake lights on the way home from work! Luckily the Mrs works right next to a VW so she grabbed the part and go it to me that afternoon, by the time she arrived I had access and it was a quick and easy replacement.
Other than that it has just been routine servicing and it still runs absolutely fine, I have saved a bit of cash up which could go on an E92 M3 which I have been considering for the best part of a year but this has been such a great car I will really struggle to say good bye.
irf said:
Under rated car imo, looks well looked after.
Not sure about the steering wheel being absolutely honest, I went for a refurbed one in alcantara from royal steering wheels.
Yeah a few people don't like it, it is alcantara to but not where you grip it as the car is a DD and alcantara goes weird and shiny if you handle it a lot, I think if it does get sold who ever buys it will appreciate that they can keep it or swap back to the mint OEM wheel as I kept it.Not sure about the steering wheel being absolutely honest, I went for a refurbed one in alcantara from royal steering wheels.
8bit said:
Lovely, I had a red one for a number of years, still miss it sometimes.
I remember yours I think, do you still have your XKR?Brilliant cars these. I sold mine a couple of years ago (to Irf as it happens 
) and still miss it. Great bunch in cupra.net if you aren't already signed up. I imagine you are.
Fun fact of the day: a red 'R' denoted the 225ps BAM engined cars, while a black 'R' denoted the 210bhp AMK engines.
) and still miss it. Great bunch in cupra.net if you aren't already signed up. I imagine you are. Fun fact of the day: a red 'R' denoted the 225ps BAM engined cars, while a black 'R' denoted the 210bhp AMK engines.
Lovely car OP, and obviously really well cared for! 
I had an X-plate Cupra back in 2003 for a couple of years and loved it, but had to go diesel for business mile reasons sadly!
Love the look of those Recaro seats - still mine did have the optional leather with electric adjustment and memory so it wasn't all bad!
Keep enjoying it, and good luck with the E92 M3 plan!
I had an X-plate Cupra back in 2003 for a couple of years and loved it, but had to go diesel for business mile reasons sadly!
Love the look of those Recaro seats - still mine did have the optional leather with electric adjustment and memory so it wasn't all bad!
Keep enjoying it, and good luck with the E92 M3 plan!
Thanks for the kind words all, when I finally get in to my new place and if the Leon goes I will make sure to let the guys who asked know.
I had to sort the calipers out recently as they were so faded, luckily I could get access to a spray bay for this so it was fairly painless.
Before
After
The bay is normally used for something a bit bigger.
I had to sort the calipers out recently as they were so faded, luckily I could get access to a spray bay for this so it was fairly painless.
Before
After
The bay is normally used for something a bit bigger.
Cupramax said:
Alias218 said:
Fun fact of the day: a red 'R' denoted the 225ps BAM engined cars, while a black 'R' denoted the 210bhp AMK engines.
No it didnt, mine was one of the first 210's and had a red R...Way to ruin my fun fact...
Edit: http://www.evo.co.uk/seat/leon/6246/seat-leon-cupr...
Part way down, black 'R' to red 'R'. But then it is EVO so who knows?
My old 210 had a red 'R' but only because I put it on there due to the old (black) 'R' looking shabby.
Edited by Alias218 on Wednesday 9th November 14:15
Alias218 said:
Brilliant cars these. I sold mine a couple of years ago (to Irf as it happens ) and still miss it.
I think it'll be 4 years in February ) and still miss it. 
Don't think I ever told you but in the first week after buying it from you first the drivers side electric window went down and wouldn't come up and then the coil packs went. Not a big problem but being the first week had me thinking "uh oh". Been brilliant since then it has to be said.
In my case I needed an all rounder, something my wife could drive and not complain that it's too big, 4 doors and 5 seats to fit the family in and something I could play around with which I have.
Gratuitous pic of mine.
Alias218 said:
I may have been misinformed then, in which case I stand corrected.
Way to ruin my fun fact...
Edit: http://www.evo.co.uk/seat/leon/6246/seat-leon-cupr...
Part way down, black 'R' to red 'R'. But then it is EVO so who knows?
My old 210 had a red 'R' but only because I put it on there due to the old (black) 'R' looking shabby.
It was the Cupra badge that was colour coded, if Cupra was black it was a 210, if Cupra was red it was a 225, along with the mirrors, 225 had teardrop style where as 210 were squarer. Way to ruin my fun fact...
Edit: http://www.evo.co.uk/seat/leon/6246/seat-leon-cupr...
Part way down, black 'R' to red 'R'. But then it is EVO so who knows?
My old 210 had a red 'R' but only because I put it on there due to the old (black) 'R' looking shabby.
Edited by Alias218 on Wednesday 9th November 14:15
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