Hello.
I thought I'd post a "build thread" just because I've never had a thread before for any of my cars and maybe get a some guidance or opinions (criticism) along the way from fellow members. I'll try not to bore anyone to death with a long winded essay.
The car is a 2017 GTI 6MT 2 door no PP and no LP. Just a base model GTI in carbon steel metallic
I figured I'd drive it as a fun car to cruise around and do a few basic mods to make it more enjoyable. I have had MK2's for years and I never thought I'd enjoy a new VW without all the nostalgia (rickety feeling) but I was wrong. Let the midlife crisis begin, from 43 and beyond ........
The day I picked it up.
I purchased the car in 2017 not knowing much about the MK7 platform but I did a lot of reading and decided on a Neuspeed power module and Eibach pro kit springs because I didn't want to lose my warranty.
The very next day.
I will state that unlike many of you I didn't do any of the work on my car. I have limited time being self employed so having the time to work on the car myself isn't possible in a timely manner. All the work was done by a good friend of mine Phil at Almost Racing in Markham, Ontario. This guy leaves me with all the confidence in the world when I drop my car off or even discussing future modifications.
After a long and tedious process trying to decide which wheel I wanted I bought a set of VMR V710's in flat black 18 x 8.5 et45 and wrapped them in Falken Azenis FK510 tires, not a bad low budget tire in my opinion. I was happy with the car.
So I drove it for the summer last year and enjoyed it ...... until my clutch started to slip at 20,000km (12,000mi) which really pissed me off. I wasn't nice to it but I didn't beat on it either so I went to the dealer and asked about warranty. They basically told me to go f--k my hat so I left. I parked the car in October and it sat until I figured out what I wanted to do.
In February of this year I figured out what to do with my car ...... build it. I needed a clutch and after having read reviews for weeks on end on just about everthing I was ready to go shopping but first the dyno. For a couple of bucks let's see what the car is making stock and if the Neuspeed power module actually does anything. The results were interesting and what was left of the clutch was now completely gone. Not bad .....
So now to the shopping. I ordered:
BFI stage 3 clutch kit
Wavetrac differential
CTS turbo downpipe w/cat
AWE track exhaust w/ black
CTS turbo dog bone insert
Injen evolution intake
ARP bolt kit
CTS turbo inlet pipe
CTS turbo intercooler
Leyo turbomuffler delete
Forge blow off valve
Dieselgeek short shifter
IS38 turbo
Burger motor sports JB4 w/bluetooth
BMS water/meth kit
BMS catch can
Prosport boost gauge
Neuspeed boost tap
ECS vent gauge pod
OEM skid plate with brakets/fasteners
KW Variant 1 coilovers
APR IS38 tune with pops and bangs
I may have missed a few items but that was the major stuff. My reasoning was it could all be done at once while the car is up on the hoist, but then it snowballed into a few more items. The clutch delay valve got removed as did the soundaktor.
It kinda looked like this.
I got the car back at the end of April and holy shit what a difference, it's like a whole new car. I didn't look any different but I can honestly say I have never driven anything this fast. It just keeps pulling. I thought at some point in my life I'd grow up but that can wait for another day.
So after being a complete tool for 2 months I had a few issues I really needed to address:
1. Traction
2. Engine mounts.
3. Optics
4. Brakes
Being a front wheel drive car traction is always an issue. So I got the biggest tire that I figured would fit under my fender, the Bridgestone Potenza RE71R in a 245/40/18 ..... it didn't fit. So shopping it was .....
VWR camber plates
Swift springs
ECS engine mount kit
JOM headlights
Acexxon rear reflector inserts
I didn't get to the brakes yet or the smaller suspension items but I'm happier with it. With the engine mounts it feels like a MK2.
With my wife's MK7.5 Golf TSI
All work was done by Phil at Almost Racing Inc. in Markham, Ontario, Canada. He's a great guy and without him I'd still be staring at a bone stock car.
I don't really know what else to post about it other than it's still a work in progress and I think my warranty is gone. There are numerous items I'd like to address and possibly a proper tune just to get the most out of what I have. I'll keep adding to this because I missed a pile of stuff and I'm still missing a new dyno sheet.
Comments? Input? Questions?
Thanks for reading.
I thought I'd post a "build thread" just because I've never had a thread before for any of my cars and maybe get a some guidance or opinions (criticism) along the way from fellow members. I'll try not to bore anyone to death with a long winded essay.
The car is a 2017 GTI 6MT 2 door no PP and no LP. Just a base model GTI in carbon steel metallic
I figured I'd drive it as a fun car to cruise around and do a few basic mods to make it more enjoyable. I have had MK2's for years and I never thought I'd enjoy a new VW without all the nostalgia (rickety feeling) but I was wrong. Let the midlife crisis begin, from 43 and beyond ........
The day I picked it up.
I purchased the car in 2017 not knowing much about the MK7 platform but I did a lot of reading and decided on a Neuspeed power module and Eibach pro kit springs because I didn't want to lose my warranty.
The very next day.
I will state that unlike many of you I didn't do any of the work on my car. I have limited time being self employed so having the time to work on the car myself isn't possible in a timely manner. All the work was done by a good friend of mine Phil at Almost Racing in Markham, Ontario. This guy leaves me with all the confidence in the world when I drop my car off or even discussing future modifications.
After a long and tedious process trying to decide which wheel I wanted I bought a set of VMR V710's in flat black 18 x 8.5 et45 and wrapped them in Falken Azenis FK510 tires, not a bad low budget tire in my opinion. I was happy with the car.
So I drove it for the summer last year and enjoyed it ...... until my clutch started to slip at 20,000km (12,000mi) which really pissed me off. I wasn't nice to it but I didn't beat on it either so I went to the dealer and asked about warranty. They basically told me to go f--k my hat so I left. I parked the car in October and it sat until I figured out what I wanted to do.
In February of this year I figured out what to do with my car ...... build it. I needed a clutch and after having read reviews for weeks on end on just about everthing I was ready to go shopping but first the dyno. For a couple of bucks let's see what the car is making stock and if the Neuspeed power module actually does anything. The results were interesting and what was left of the clutch was now completely gone. Not bad .....
So now to the shopping. I ordered:
BFI stage 3 clutch kit
Wavetrac differential
CTS turbo downpipe w/cat
AWE track exhaust w/ black
CTS turbo dog bone insert
Injen evolution intake
ARP bolt kit
CTS turbo inlet pipe
CTS turbo intercooler
Leyo turbomuffler delete
Forge blow off valve
Dieselgeek short shifter
IS38 turbo
Burger motor sports JB4 w/bluetooth
BMS water/meth kit
BMS catch can
Prosport boost gauge
Neuspeed boost tap
ECS vent gauge pod
OEM skid plate with brakets/fasteners
KW Variant 1 coilovers
APR IS38 tune with pops and bangs
I may have missed a few items but that was the major stuff. My reasoning was it could all be done at once while the car is up on the hoist, but then it snowballed into a few more items. The clutch delay valve got removed as did the soundaktor.
It kinda looked like this.
I got the car back at the end of April and holy shit what a difference, it's like a whole new car. I didn't look any different but I can honestly say I have never driven anything this fast. It just keeps pulling. I thought at some point in my life I'd grow up but that can wait for another day.
So after being a complete tool for 2 months I had a few issues I really needed to address:
1. Traction
2. Engine mounts.
3. Optics
4. Brakes
Being a front wheel drive car traction is always an issue. So I got the biggest tire that I figured would fit under my fender, the Bridgestone Potenza RE71R in a 245/40/18 ..... it didn't fit. So shopping it was .....
VWR camber plates
Swift springs
ECS engine mount kit
JOM headlights
Acexxon rear reflector inserts
I didn't get to the brakes yet or the smaller suspension items but I'm happier with it. With the engine mounts it feels like a MK2.
With my wife's MK7.5 Golf TSI
All work was done by Phil at Almost Racing Inc. in Markham, Ontario, Canada. He's a great guy and without him I'd still be staring at a bone stock car.
I don't really know what else to post about it other than it's still a work in progress and I think my warranty is gone. There are numerous items I'd like to address and possibly a proper tune just to get the most out of what I have. I'll keep adding to this because I missed a pile of stuff and I'm still missing a new dyno sheet.
Comments? Input? Questions?
Thanks for reading.
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