Golf GTI Edition 35
Discussion
Long time lurker and reader but never posted too much so thought that it was about time I changed that.
My car history is mostly VW including a fair few MK5 Gti's and a couple of ED30's but decided it was time to get into something newer and a little rarer. The ED30 is a great car, but after owning a T5.1 for 18 months the interior just felt too dated imo so it had to be an ED35.
Spec wise its a 3dr, DSG car with 55k on the clock. It also benefits from DCC and Rear View Camera which are two lovely options. The DCC in particular is a superb option and would now really miss it if I didn't have it. The comfort setting it very comfy, even with 19's.
No real plans with the car so far, just to drive it an enjoy it. For me, it would be a shame to do anything to it as it would take away the limited aspect of the car. An exhaust will likely happen but not until spring at the earliest.
My car history is mostly VW including a fair few MK5 Gti's and a couple of ED30's but decided it was time to get into something newer and a little rarer. The ED30 is a great car, but after owning a T5.1 for 18 months the interior just felt too dated imo so it had to be an ED35.
Spec wise its a 3dr, DSG car with 55k on the clock. It also benefits from DCC and Rear View Camera which are two lovely options. The DCC in particular is a superb option and would now really miss it if I didn't have it. The comfort setting it very comfy, even with 19's.
No real plans with the car so far, just to drive it an enjoy it. For me, it would be a shame to do anything to it as it would take away the limited aspect of the car. An exhaust will likely happen but not until spring at the earliest.
I love these, I'd have one in a heart beat. Does it have the red seat belts? A lot of people don't realise (although I'm sure the OP does) that these had the older, gruffer mk5 gti tfsi engine rather than the newer and at the time more unreliable mk6 gti tsi engine. Probably going to be simpler and cheaper to look after as it gets older as a result (belt rather than chain being one major reason!).
Lovely. I was going to plump for the mk6 (had gti’s in mk1, mk2 and mk4) but went for an S3. Which was brilliant.
How handy are you with the spanners? I have posted this a thousand times but it’s just fact. These engines need some specific preventative maintenance. Specifically the cam follower and if it’s not the latest revision, cam cam chain and tensioner.
It will also need the sump dropping and the pick up cleaning out. It was gunged up on the mk4. It was gunged up on the S3 that had very low mileage and oil every year.
NGK coils and plugs can be had for £100 and got me back better mpg and a smoother idle. All but 1 plug was as old as the car.
Just as cheap were new DV and PCV valves which got the car boosting earlier, later and harder.
Spend a few quid now and it will serve you well.
If you were looking to tune it I would just look at the pre-cat mod. There’s a restrictive pre cat before the main cat that is restrictive. Take it out and it will spin the turbo quicker and reduce temps a bit.
For a remap, R-tech are still the best. With that and a Quaife I’d imagine it would be all the car you would really ever need.
How handy are you with the spanners? I have posted this a thousand times but it’s just fact. These engines need some specific preventative maintenance. Specifically the cam follower and if it’s not the latest revision, cam cam chain and tensioner.
It will also need the sump dropping and the pick up cleaning out. It was gunged up on the mk4. It was gunged up on the S3 that had very low mileage and oil every year.
NGK coils and plugs can be had for £100 and got me back better mpg and a smoother idle. All but 1 plug was as old as the car.
Just as cheap were new DV and PCV valves which got the car boosting earlier, later and harder.
Spend a few quid now and it will serve you well.
If you were looking to tune it I would just look at the pre-cat mod. There’s a restrictive pre cat before the main cat that is restrictive. Take it out and it will spin the turbo quicker and reduce temps a bit.
For a remap, R-tech are still the best. With that and a Quaife I’d imagine it would be all the car you would really ever need.
Thanks all for you kind words and advice. I do really love the car.
Cam follower and PCV have already been tackled and will go through everything else little by little as I’m not adverse to the common issues with this engine.
Same engine as the ED30 so good tuning potential for the future too.
Cam follower and PCV have already been tackled and will go through everything else little by little as I’m not adverse to the common issues with this engine.
Same engine as the ED30 so good tuning potential for the future too.
I had a 5 door Mk6 GTTDi and it handled very well. I sorted out the long throw with a short shift from an S3 and fitted some solid bushes. Was a great car and somehow felt a little special with the fake alcantara on the seats. The engine started making some horrible noises and I was worried it was the Hex drive for the oil pump. Then I got the S3.
The modern GTI’s really are demanding strong money. You do a keeper there, and something quite rare!
With 2030 coming I need to decide what car to live petrol out with. I can’t get over the mk7 GTI PP or 8v S3.
The modern GTI’s really are demanding strong money. You do a keeper there, and something quite rare!
With 2030 coming I need to decide what car to live petrol out with. I can’t get over the mk7 GTI PP or 8v S3.
So nothing else to note over the past few weeks other than giving the car a good clean both inside and out.
I spent some time a couple of months back detailing the car and protecting with Auto Finesse Ceramics kit and all i've done since is to wash the car, and then finish with Auto Finesse Lavish. The lavish is superb as it adds protection and gloss at the same time.
Just a couple of photos to add to the collection.
I spent some time a couple of months back detailing the car and protecting with Auto Finesse Ceramics kit and all i've done since is to wash the car, and then finish with Auto Finesse Lavish. The lavish is superb as it adds protection and gloss at the same time.
Just a couple of photos to add to the collection.
paultownsend said:
Lovely. I was going to plump for the mk6 (had gti’s in mk1, mk2 and mk4) but went for an S3. Which was brilliant.
How handy are you with the spanners? I have posted this a thousand times but it’s just fact. These engines need some specific preventative maintenance. Specifically the cam follower and if it’s not the latest revision, cam cam chain and tensioner.
Correct me if I am wrong but I thought these had a different engine to the standard MK6 gti and therefore did not suffer with the above issues?How handy are you with the spanners? I have posted this a thousand times but it’s just fact. These engines need some specific preventative maintenance. Specifically the cam follower and if it’s not the latest revision, cam cam chain and tensioner.
The tensioner is still an issue. There is a great FAQ in the 8P section of the Audisport forum.
On the S3/Edition 30/35 engine they are main belt drive with a chain and tensioner in the head for the cams. This is what fails.
In the later engines it’s full chain drive. It’s everything that fails!
On the S3/Edition 30/35 engine they are main belt drive with a chain and tensioner in the head for the cams. This is what fails.
In the later engines it’s full chain drive. It’s everything that fails!
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