Hi guys!
I thought I’d start off my project thread since the car is actually in running order now after being off the road since around late 2006.First off a bit of background on the car,Purchased back in 2001 (from first owner) as a ex-motorway muncher with 71k on purchase but looked/felt as new.Anyhows my parents drove the car around for 5 years trouble until the cambelt let go at 130k! (it had one cambelt service done at 58k but not the 2nd)Should have been done again though , still a bit unlucky for my paps.He gave it to a local engine rebuild specialist on rebuilding the top part I believe the bottom end let go as well so car had a complete engine rebuild, £1500 later the car was finished. But due to the engine cutting out problem after they finished and the garage never been able to resolve it and refusing to help, My dad being the laid back/mellow guy ( the complete opposite to myself I might add!)decided to shelf the poor old GTI on the drive and buy a 2003 TDI PD passat.I always said I’d take it off him and sort it but never had time, I’ve owned a string of cars before this E36 316I,2x 318IS,Z4 3.0,MK2 GTI 16v,Various road bikes/off roaders etc. Now I’ve sold my last car which I’ve need a car/new project to begin!
So the first thing on the list was to obviously get the car to Running and Road legal, The first Job was actually get the car out the drive and towable ,it was basically stuck/sunk into the ground with 4 flat tyres (gravel driveway) and 4 of us couldn't push it out, So a bit of towing and a bit of pushing and she was out down to the mechanics and left there to be worked on, 2 months goes by and no results until I got in contact with a guy called Chris who’s VW Crazy building some crazy conversion and knows his VW’s inside out. After just a few days with car he had it running again and problems diagnosed! All this time is was the throttle body/idle valve sensor also damp had worked its way into some electrics and the car wasn't even registering on diagnostics at first, Few other bits obviously all the petrol was drained out.The engine rebuilders couldn’t figure this out after the having the car months at a time he figured it out a few days!
Next thing was to give the car a full service which Chris heavily recommend due to how long it had been standing of course I went ahead with this so the had the Sparks/oil filter/air filter/pollen filter/fuel filter/Full Syn Silkolene/Gearbox Oil/etc changed.Wiper motor was seized up/also replaced. Tyres where worse for wear was going to replace them but the 16's looked kind of pants so picked up some bargain alloys with good tyres as my first official mod!!
( pics to come soon).
So this all happened on Saturday, I was driving the car around all Sunday and even drove it into work today just for the fun of it. Engines running perfectly, she pulls nice and smooth and drives great! Before any performance mods go there are a few bits that need doing to the car. Front lower arm bushes could do with a change as well as rear axle bushes, Also exhaust has bit of rust (to be changed soon)so these are on my to do list when funds allow. But for now I’m just enjoying having it on the road.
12/03/10:Car’s back on the road!after 5-6 years/New Wiper Motor/New Throttle Body/Few other bits/FULL Service Carried Out.First official fit fitted
17 inch Genuine S3 Alloys.
13/03/10:Give the car a DEEP first clean inside and out. Nothing perfect just de-grease years of grime.5Hrs Later the car looked OK but far from as clean as want it needs full detail!
