EpicTech's 2017 GTI Build

[EpicTech]

Howdy folks, after some persuasion I have decided to do a build thread. First off, I did not intend on doing this, so I have no photos of some of the things I did, or what a shop may have done. I will however include everything I have and share the knowledge I have gained.

Special thanks:
Diggs - tune ( I almost bailed on the car because of this and couldn'wt afford another solution at the time)
Zero815 - lighting help
Navi- for making expensive Recaros look so good that I didnt care what they cost
GTIFan99 - Macan brake swap info
* and everyone else that has fueled inspiration and helped with knowledge in an effort to create what I know my GTI can be once I get everything in my brain sorted and onto the car.

GOAL: GTI that can go to a road course track, yet still be comfortable enough to daily, and occasionally embarrass cars that it should not be able to beat. I already have a long list.

Current mods:

Engine
Upgraded IS38 Turbo
Tuned via Open Source Simos Tools ( Thanks Diggs)
Unitronic Catted Downpipe
ACT Stage 3 carbon kevlar clutch
ACT single mass flywheel
AWE Track Edition Exhaust
Cobb SF full air intake system
Cobb turbo blanket
Cobb brake module heat shield
Cobb carbon fiber engine cover
Mishimoto Intercooler
Mishimoto charge pipes
Forge Turbo Muffler delete
CTS turbo elbow
Turbosmart Raceport blow off valve
NGK Ruthenium spark plugs

Exterior
Seibon Carbon Fiber Hood
Seibon Carbon Fiber Wide fenders
Strafe design rear diffuser (Changing to ECS gloss black diffuser- possible install this weekend?)
Mugen style window visors
Maxton Clubsport Style Rear Spoiler - installing this weekend
CF front grille insert -installing this weekend
CF headlight eyelids - installing this weekend

Wheels
Rays Gram Lights 57FXZ Overseas

Suspension
BC Racing 16 way adjustable coilovers

Tires
Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 Sport 02 Plus

Brakes
Porsche Macan/Cayman OEM spec calipers
Audi S3 stainless braided lines
Stoptech Cryo treated slotted rotors
Hawk HPS brake pads front/rear

Interior
Recaro Sportster CS Seats
Recaro seat brackets
Recaro seat sliders
ZenCarbon carbon fiber steering wheel
Prosport Boost gauge - (process of being changed)
Prosport Battery volts gauge - (process of being changed)
BFI alcantara shift & e-brake boots
Schroth driver side harness - possible install this weekend
Cobb shift knob
ECS short shift kit
ECS clutch bleeder block
ECS clutch stop
VW OEM upgraded 8”inch media glass screen
Rennline Fire Extinguisher and mount
RGB LED interior lights
Ceramic window tint

Some back story:
I traded my 2017 F250 in on my GTI, after only having it for 6 months. It was a "hard-load XLT" which means it had a LOT of options on it. The truck was a long term purchase and was ordered by me with specific options. I had wanted a truck like this ever since high school. My marriage to my now ex- went south right after the truck was bought, and we did an initial trip to Idaho to go see my mom and sisters. After that trip driving back home she was very different. Anyway, my ex left and I was stuck with a stupid expensive truck that I had no need for. I knew with my ex's income leaving I would not be able to afford the truck, so I had to make a move. At the time I had no "fun" car and I was looking to get into a platform that I knew would have potential. My last built car was a MK3 Supra, and originally I was gearing to purchase a Mk4 Supra. I am vastly educated with that platform but the market still had these cars at six figures, so that was out. I turned instead to my roots and started researching the current model VW Golf, my first car being a Mk1 Rabbit. I quickly saw that the current MK7 platform held huge potential to build a car I would be happy with, and a few minutes on Google told me I was right, as the GTI had as I suspected, great aftermarket following. Digging a little more I landed on the red badge GTI model, with performance pack and lighting package options. With that narrowed down, the dealer search was on for a white or a silver. It was fall of 2017 and with dealers offering huge discounts to clear allocation for 2018's already hitting lots, I was seeing 2017's at 5-7k discount off MSRP. I could not however find one spec'd like I wanted, and I didnt want to settle for something I would not be happy with. The following day, I found a dealer in the Dallas area with ONE remaining red-badge, 6 speed, silver GTI. I couldn't believe it and as I widened my search out to see if there was maybe a white one or another silver that had Navigation, I soon learned it was the LAST 2017 red badge GTI available for sale in Texas. The next nearest one in like Kansas. This one was good, had the PP and LP packages and was one of my preferred colors, so I called the dealer. After the typical lingo from the sales rep who got my call, I was getting frustrated with him because he wouldnt tell me a selling price out the door. He kept saying crap like, I'll have to check on that and there might be somebody else buying it by the time you can get here... blah blah. I finally got the sales manager who apologized for the new sales guy. I told him what I had for trade and what I wanted and somehow magically I ended up in a face time call with him so that he could see my truck, get the VIN and pictures etc, and so we could then talk numbers after he had trade info. We did the whole deal over the phone, he even swapped the camera view so that I could see him type numbers into VW credit. I liked his no BS approach and it was clear to me he wasn't going to miss my business. I caught him on a crappy "document" fee and some kind of paint protection fee??, he omitted those immediately and carried on with typing up rest of the deal. After looking over numbers, I agreed and he set a time with me for the following day to come pick up the car and he promised it would be ready by 2pm. It was, sort of... when I got there he had already had ceramic window tint applied to the car, apparently while it was still in the showroom? I thought that was quite odd and I asked the manager why the hell is the car still in the showroom. He laughed and said because nobody here can drive a stick, the porter that drove it into the showroom is not here. I thought that was quite funny and just laughed. The manager tossed me the keys and said "back it out so our guy can get temp tags on and go over his delivery inspection with you. I was happy to oblige.

The day I got her:

 

[EpicTech]

My GTI is named Samantha- or "Sam" for short, which is usually my reference to her.

So, literally the next day is a Cars & Coffee, oddly being all excited and what-not, I was the first one there??

 

[EpicTech]

It snows in Southern Texas ??

 

[EpicTech]

First mod: Wheels!

These were Rotiform KPS in 18 x 8.5 ET+35. They DID NOT fit well.. at all. Yes I researched the size and fitment before ordering..

 

[EpicTech]

A few days later the Rotiforms were stolen , the very next day, the locking lugs I ordered showed up.

 

[EpicTech]

Back to OEM wheels and to drown my sorrows while I waited on insurance claim for stolen wheels, I had H&R sport springs installed.

Not even gonna say that aint a sexy lookin' whip. I got my first thumbs up that day on the way home from the shop that did the springs.

 

[EpicTech]

Insurance check came in, decided on a different model Rotiform.

This is where I noticed I had a little reverse rake going on. More on that later...

 

[19birel]

Glad to see you posted! Couldn't imagine my wheels getting stolen, that had to be a heck of a surprise to walk out to... Can't wait to see more of Sam's evolution!

 

[MonkeyMD]

A few days later the Rotiforms were stolen , the very next day, the locking lugs I ordered showed up.
View attachment 310394

Perfect timing on the locks. I guess they didn't fit great so at least you got your money back.

 

[EpicTech]

The thieves did me a favor, I knew who it was too and so did my security camera.

 

[EpicTech]

So moving along in the progression of Sam, at this point I had somewhere around 1000 miles on her, and I had been searching tunes and comparing. Weighing who had what vs availability and learning I needed a dp for a stage 2, I looked for a shop that could sell me what I needed and install. At the time I had an apartment with strict rules of no car work, so I had no choice but to find an all inclusive shop that could sell and install. I landed on a shop in Houston that is a Unitronic dealer and so I called and verified they had a Uni dp and could do the tune. I set an appointment for the next Saturday and waited anxiously.

Saturday came and I arrived right when they opened. They showed me the dp and I was really impressed with the craftsmanship (sorry no photo). They went to work and before I knew it, the dp was installed and so was the tune. I was skeptical at reading Unitronics advertised hp/tq numbers, but again I chose them due to research and at the time, had no knowledge of what I know now. Leaving the shop to head home, I pulled out onto the street easily, taking the shops advice to "get used to it first" warning. Easing away in first I went to second and gave her a little throttle because traffic was moving pretty quick. I was instantly surprised at how my GTI suddenly just woke up and easily pulled to speed limit of 65. What the actual hell I thought... this is WAY different. I knew it would be better, but holy shit lol. I had the shop enable the burble mode so I spent the rest of the 1 hour drive home learning the powerband and just simply being amused at the power and then I was thinking about all the money that I was going to end up pouring into this car. It was during that drive home that I knew I would be keeping this car for a long time. I did wonder about what kind of power it was actually making, so I texted my buddy that has a dyno shop and he informed me of an upcoming dyno day event. More on that later.

 

[EpicTech]

Some of the upcoming mods/photos may not be in exact chronological order., so just a heads up. It will be close though lol.

This pic was taken a few weeks after I was tuned and I had just installed Lamin-X film on my foglights. Naturally I was aiming for that more euro look, and the end result was way better than the oem "driving light" white.

 

[EpicTech]

With wheels figured out, lowering springs in, loving the way the car looked, it was time to tackle the next project... EXHAUST. Now, I already had the UNi dp and while you could tell the exhaust was not completely stock, my GTI was ready to get that certain sound I was wanting. I am very picky when it comes to exhaust, so obviously I spent lots of time on youtube and this forum researching what was good and what wasn't. After hearing sound clips and a few more car show events, I heard one car that was close to the sound I was looking for. It was a GTI fitted with a different brand DP than my Unitronic, I think the guy said it was MAP knockoff or something. His exhaust however was an AWE touring edition, and it sounded pretty sweet. I listened to him give it a few revs and thought, man this could be it. I decided on the AWE track version of this exhaust system, as I like more sound and I knew it would have a better wail at higher rpm. Boy was I right. Even to this day, I can't even go down the street without getting a thumbs up. This includes random cops, older people, young kids, my neighbor.. lol. I'm going to try to add a sound clip here, to go with a couple pics of the exhaust. Word to the wise though, the clip does it no justice, my GTI sounds WAY better in person.

Sound Clip:
AWE Track exhaust

 

[19birel]

That AWE sounds sweet, a buddy of mine has a Uni DP and AWE combo on his GLI and it sounds sooooo good in person. The only thing holding me back from getting an AWE of my own is the attention it may draw if I'm driving in a spirited manor on some backroads haha...wouldn't want to alert a member of the local constabulary

 

[EpicTech]

That AWE sounds sweet, a buddy of mine has a Uni DP and AWE combo on his GLI and it sounds sooooo good in person. The only thing holding me back from getting an AWE of my own is the attention it may draw if I'm driving in a spirited manor on some backroads haha...wouldn't want to alert a member of the local constabulary

Sweet ! So he has my same setup! Thats so cool and I think you should just get it. Obviously Im biased but like I said I did a lot of research achieving a setup that had good sound. You have heard it so you know. If I want to drive spirited I just turn the pops n bangs off. I have never had trouble with the law about my exhaust and I live in a town where they pull you over for not using a blinker. If you think about, a new coyote Mustang with modified exhaust is way louder, or even a stock Corvette is louder.