shootspeed's 2018 VW GTI MK7.5 build

[shootspeed]

2018 VOLKSWAGEN GTI MK7.5 - SE, DSG, DEEP BLACK PEARL

Hello everyone, this is my first VW, coming from a 2005 Mazda 3 S hatchback. My dad owned a VW Rabbit that finally bit the dust and went with him to pickup his new 2018 Golf last year. Saw the GTI there and fell in love; ended up buying this one a few months later!

I'll be updating this thread as the build progresses (already have a few things done), so please enjoy the incoming photos!

7/19/2021

4/4/2020

12/26/2019

4/27/2019:

2/9/2019:

CURRENT MODIFICATIONS:

ENGINE / EXHAUST
Integrated Engineering Stage 1 Tune (High Torque)
Integrated Engineering DSG Tune
Integrated Engineering MQB Cold Air Intake System + Carbon Fiber Lid
Integrated Engineering Turbo Inlet Pipe
APR Turbo Muffler Delete

ECS Carbon Fiber Core Support Braces
034 Battery Cover
Premium Deutsch Carbon Fuse Box Cover
RacingLine Dipstick, Brake Fluid Cap, Oil Filler Cap,
Oil FIlter Housing, Washer Fluid Cap, Coolant Expansion Cap, Magnetic Sump Plug

APR MK7.5 GTI Catback Exhaust System (No Resonator, Diamond-Black Tips)

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SUSPENSION / WHEELS
H&R Street Performance Coilovers
H&R 24mm Rear Sway Bar
Moog Endlinks
034 Motorsports Rear Strut Mounts

BFI 5mm Spacers (All Around)
HRE 18x8.5 FF15 - Custom Anthracite Finish
Milestar MS932XP+ - 235/40/R18

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EXTERIOR
Suntek CIR 30 Ceramic Tint
Seibon Carbon Fiber Splitter
Seibon TM-Style Carbon Fiber Hood
Seibon Carbon Fiber Sideskirts (modifications required)
Seibon Carbon Fiber Rear Valance
Aerofabb Competition Series Rear Diffuser
Loiacono Engineering Carbon Fiber Spoiler
Badgeskins MK7.5 Headlight Eyelids, Smoked Rear Reflectors
Legit Speed Front License Plate Bracket
OEM VW Euro Tail Lights
OEM VW Euro Folding Mirrors
OSIR Design Carbon Fiber Mirror Caps
OSRAM Sequential Turn Signals
OEM VW Front Belly Pan (non-Kevlar version that covers oil pan)
OEM BMW Rear License Plate Bracket

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INTERIOR
Raceseng Ashiko DSG Shift Knob
RacingLine DSG Shift Paddle Blades
BFI Leather DSG Shift boot
BFI Leather E-Brake boot
ECS Center Console Storage
P3 Multi-Gauge
VW OEM Dome Light Assembly (Pre-2018 version)
VW OEM Euro Headlight Switch (For Rear Fog light)
VW OEM Euro Sun Visors (install pending)
VW OEM Euro Rear Headrests
RacingLine Carbon Fiber Rear Body Brace
WTAPS Air Freshener
JDM Tsurikawa Classic "Kuro" Black
deAutoLED Footwell Color Changing LED Conversion
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PLANNED MODS / CHANGES
Quik Latch Cerakote Hood Pins
Aerofabb Rear Track Diffuser

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PREVIOUS MODS
Burger Motorsports JB1
034 Motorsports Rear Sway Bar
034 Motorsports Rear End Links - Noisy, removed
SuperPro Rear End Links - One end link faulty, removed
Eurocode Rear Strut Chassis Brace - Replaced with RacingLine
Premium Deutsch Carbon Mirror Caps - Clips snapped, replaced with OSIR
EMK Sequential Turn Signals - Over the smoked look, replaced with OSRAM
VW Rabbit Edition Spoiler Lip - Replaced with Loiacono Engineering Carbon Fiber Spoiler
Oettinger Spoiler - Having trouble finding a good quality local automotive painter
Aggressiv Carbon Fiber Spoiler - Fitment was terrible, 1/4" gap on edge of OEM Spoiler

 

[shootspeed]

Shots of the APR exhaust and the 034 rear sway bar + end links.

The sway bar ended up being a bit of a pain... 034 end links would always end up clunking a few days after being re-torqued down (on ramps, not jacks btw). Swapped with a SuperPro set but the thread end of one end link would spin so it couldn't be tightened properly.

It's since been replaced with the H&R rear sway bar and Moog end links, no more problems.

5/4/19:

 

[shootspeed]

Bought a set of HRE FF15s in a custom Anthracite finish in October. I was told they were going to discontinue these when I ordered. Had to wait another month for a set of tires to come in before the install, but finally managed to get it done by EMD auto. Highly recommended if you're in SoCal.

11/2/2019:

 

[shootspeed]

Also installed the Raceseng DSG Ashiko shift knob with the BFI shift and e-brake leather boot.

Install wasn't too bad until having to remove the OEM leather boot from the OEM shift knob. The black plastic ring wouldn't budge! Gave up on that and installed the BFI boot instead. Leather is way thicker than OEM so re-installing ended up being a tighter squeeze but had no other problems.

Knob is nice and heavy, no play whatsoever.

11/30/2019:

 

[jimlloyd40]

Nice and welcome to the forum. What are your plans for producing power if any?

 

[shootspeed]

Nice and welcome to the forum. What are your plans for producing power if any?

Thank you! Right now I have a JB1 installed, looking into a Stage 1 tune in the future but don't want to go too crazy just yet.

 

[jimlloyd40]

Thank you! Right now I have a JB1 installed, looking into a Stage 1 tune in the future but don't want to go too crazy just yet.

You've done a good job so far and your wise to learn before adding power.

 

[JerseyDrew77]

Nice so far. I would say your next mod should be an IC.

 

[shootspeed]

Nice so far. I would say your next mod should be an IC.

Thanks! Definitely considering something like an APR intercooler (or any other recommended alternatives) down the line. Luckily I know how to remove the bumper now from the splitter install, but those large plastic clips near the end of the IC removal sound like a pain...

 

[Navi]

Integrated Engineering Intercooler

 

[shootspeed]

Integrated Engineering Intercooler

I've been eyeing IE a little more since their intake airflow results on the mygolfmk7 site; I'll most likely replace the APR intake with it soon. Will have to look into the intercooler as well.

 

[hotbascosauce]

Great photos! Give us more! I have a black MK7.5 SE myself and I love the gunmetal on black look with your HRE wheels. I've also been eyeing that Raceseng DSG knob.

 

[shootspeed]

Great photos! Give us more! I have a black MK7.5 SE myself and I love the gunmetal on black look with your HRE wheels. I've also been eyeing that Raceseng DSG knob.

Definitely more to come soon! Doing a diffuser install most likely this weekend so hopefully I'll have some time to take photos too.

Almost went with the IPA finish (dark matte bronze) but I felt it'd clash with the chrome bits on the car. Happy with the results for sure.

Raceseng is legit, I say go for it!

 

[Crild]

any reviews on those coils?

 

[shootspeed]

any reviews on those coils?

I don't track it (not yet at least) or have any other coilovers to compare it to other than stock suspension so I can't really go into fine details, but it is one of the best upgrades you can do to the car imo.

Stock suspension just felt so bouncy on rough roads and bumps, now it feels nice and planted to the ground and has a better road feel. Looks great too, the GTI is lowered about 1.5".

I think the only thing to watch out for is that the H&R street performance coilovers aren't stainless steel, so they might not be a good idea if you deal with snow.

Almost went with KW or Bilstein but I did some research and each had their own issues at the time. I remember that Bilstein had a huge supply issue earlier this year so I couldn't get a set for the GTI at the time, not sure if that's going on still.