GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk8 => Topic started by: Beebopper on 09 February 2025, 14:33
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Fitted a Racingline bonnet strut today, very simple and very effective.
Just need a 10mm deep socket or a 10mm spanner, pliers, some lithium grease and 10mins spare.
I greased the ball nut and thread to avoid seizing plus the ball ends at the top and bottom. Pliers needed to release and rotate the coolant hose 45deg to avoid that rubbing on the strut.
(https://i.postimg.cc/T3XQzDTW/IMG-4110.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4mBztn7J)
(https://i.postimg.cc/fy9jFwFK/IMG-4111.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/wR9mRd9y)
(https://i.postimg.cc/zDskhgbP/IMG-4112.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fkvXnkvx)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Fs0VVH0F/IMG-4113.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/VdLtY172)
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Good job, This is the first thing I did to my 8.5, bought it before I even collected the car.
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so these don't come standard ? any reason why lol ?
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Good job, This is the first thing I did to my 8.5, bought it before I even collected the car.
Thanks, it’s one of those mods you have to do I think! BTW, I like your car history list: I nearly had an AX GT myself but ended up with an Uno Turbo, both fun rapid cars!
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so these don't come standard ? any reason why lol ?
I can’t see it’s cost cutting, the parts for a bonnet stay are probably the same. Maybe it’s an NCAP crash thing, it’s a bar directly in front of the driver.
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Much better than the standard fit. I have gradually replaced most of under bonnet items with Racing Line products. Not only for the atheistic appearance, for the better construction {billet metal} as opposed to cheap plastic. As with most items we as conscientious owners fit, its up to the individual. I know that APR produce an engine cover but I'm waiting to see if RL will before deciding. Its a shame that VW didn't at least fit a better looking cover to the Mk 8/8.5 GTI/R range as it rolls down the Wolfsburg production line.
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I know that APR produce an engine cover but I'm waiting to see if RL will before deciding. Its a shame that VW didn't at least fit a better looking cover to the Mk 8/8.5 GTI/R range as it rolls down the Wolfsburg production line.
I was all for this until I looked it up. Two options. Carbon fibre twill, and forged carbon fibre. £475 and £585 respectively. I'm all for making my engine look nice, but that's a bit rich for my blood!
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I was tempted to do this and then I remembered I only open my bonnet about twice a year for 2 mins.
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Good job, This is the first thing I did to my 8.5, bought it before I even collected the car.
Thanks, it’s one of those mods you have to do I think! BTW, I like your car history list: I nearly had an AX GT myself but ended up with an Uno Turbo, both fun rapid cars!
Thanks! There wasn’t really much material used in the production of either the AX or the Uno, both barley weighed anything, and were quick little cars for their day, a mate of mine had an Uno Turbo, it was pretty quick as I remember, the build ‘quality’ was terrible on both, but boy they were fun.
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Much better than the standard fit. I have gradually replaced most of under bonnet items with Racing Line products. Not only for the atheistic appearance, for the better construction {billet metal} as opposed to cheap plastic. As with most items we as conscientious owners fit, its up to the individual. I know that APR produce an engine cover but I'm waiting to see if RL will before deciding. Its a shame that VW didn't at least fit a better looking cover to the Mk 8/8.5 GTI/R range as it rolls down the Wolfsburg production line.
I quite like the brand and products from RL, I think a good looking value offering for a replacement engine cover would be very popular. The one on the car at the moment looks the same as the ones on base models!
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I was tempted to do this and then I remembered I only open my bonnet about twice a year for 2 mins.
Same here! :grin:
The Moonstone in the pics almost looks blue.
What do you guys do around declaring the strut to your insurance?
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There are a few options for engine covers. Decided to have a look around for fun.
APR Forged Carbon Fibre - £587
APR Carbon Fibre Twill - £475
do88 engine cover (https://www.do88.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=11005) - £527
Paramount Performance (https://paramount-performance.com/mk8-golf-r-engine-cover) (listed as for Golf R) - £375
Diversion Automotive (https://diversionstores.co.uk/products/volkswagen-vw-golf-mk8-gti-carbon-fibre-engine-cover-2021-models) - £296
Aliexpress (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007128824601.html) - £195
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Told them to Strut off
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so these don't come standard ? any reason why lol ?
I can’t see it’s cost cutting, the parts for a bonnet stay are probably the same. Maybe it’s an NCAP crash thing, it’s a bar directly in front of the driver.
Read the first and last post on this thread...
https://www.vwroc.com/forums/topic/40823-euro-ncap/
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The golf R thread linked above is nonsense in my opinion! The response from VW is standard ass covering, the new Audi A3 has a bonnet strut in EXACTLY the same position.
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Well all interesting reading, well most of that thread anyway before it went off topic about tinnitus !
I tell my insurers about all mods, however, where do you draw the line. E.g the Golf GTi came with Goodyear Eagle F1's from factory, if I fit Michelin pilot 5's then is that then classed as a mod?!
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As a (now nearly retired) insurance broker I can categorically state replacing with a different make of tyre but same spec of tyre will never breach the rules.
But.. if you replace 225 section with 235 section as some do, it definitely breaches the “no modifications to factory spec” rule.
However, if that’s the only change then I would almost guarantee no garage or insurance claims inspection would even notice. They are just too busy and most frequently don’t even turn up to the premises. The repairer sends the insurer a video of the damaged area and authorisation is given.
On struts, I think I read the Skoda Octavia has a proper strut (as a former vRS owner I always reckoned a vRS had more wee touches and goodies than an equivalent Golf. They just seemed to try harder as a brand.
And, logically if all the Golfs up to 7.5 had a telescopic strut, how did they pass the NCAP testing?
No…..I’m certain this is more VW Scroogery like the unpainted underbonnet and the standard awful engine cover. Really not good enough at 40k plus.
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And finally….I would not declare the strut. It will never be noticed and has zero effect on the car.
A bit like my TCR lip spoiler so subtle it’s almost invisible. If I tell an insurer I have added a spoiler they go nuts.
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A lot of common sense posted there by P6GTD imo. :smiley:
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The lady who lives opposite my house works in insurance, has done all her life and is around my age, and a word she often uses is “liability”.
As a former serial modder of cars and with 20 odd years working in transport management (HGV’s) the thing that stopped me getting a bonnet strut 4 years ago when I had my first mk8 was “liability”
Now, I will confess to being a little economical with what was declared to insurers on some of my cars in the dim and distant past, not for glaringly obvious things but little trim parts that might not be noticed; but something as apparently innocuous as a bonnet strut that’s gas pressurised could actually make for an interesting discussion if a personal injury claim went in following a collision with the front of a Golf with a non standard undeclared part fitted.
Where is the relevance of HGV’s in this? Well, these trucks cover a LOT of miles and we have lots of them. There’s barely a single day where one of our trucks isn’t delayed because of an accident somewhere closing a road. That adds up to a lot of accidents therefore insurers don’t like paying out money if they don’t have to, especially for injury claims, and if you’re ever caught being economical with the truth your details will be on the insurers shared database.
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There are a few options for engine covers. Decided to have a look around for fun.
APR Forged Carbon Fibre - £587
APR Carbon Fibre Twill - £475
do88 engine cover (https://www.do88.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=11005) - £527
Paramount Performance (https://paramount-performance.com/mk8-golf-r-engine-cover) (listed as for Golf R) - £375
Diversion Automotive (https://diversionstores.co.uk/products/volkswagen-vw-golf-mk8-gti-carbon-fibre-engine-cover-2021-models) - £296
Aliexpress (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007128824601.html) - £195
That’s good work finding those, some are eye watering price wise. I’m not sure I like the all carbon effect, the car needs something but maybe a bit more subtle. Maybe a section with a badge or noting the car is GTi etc.
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There are a few options for engine covers. Decided to have a look around for fun.
APR Forged Carbon Fibre - £587
APR Carbon Fibre Twill - £475
do88 engine cover (https://www.do88.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=11005) - £527
Paramount Performance (https://paramount-performance.com/mk8-golf-r-engine-cover) (listed as for Golf R) - £375
Diversion Automotive (https://diversionstores.co.uk/products/volkswagen-vw-golf-mk8-gti-carbon-fibre-engine-cover-2021-models) - £296
Aliexpress (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007128824601.html) - £195
Putting aside I don't see the point of carbon fibre under your bonnet where you will never see it. Who here could tell the difference between the expensive one and the cheap one?
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And…if you don’t tell your insurance then when the new cover catches fire and the car is destroyed you won’t get your claim paid.
This said partly in jest!
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Putting aside I don't see the point of carbon fibre under your bonnet where you will never see it. Who here could tell the difference between the expensive one and the cheap one?
That would be my view too. However, I accept we’re all individuals so like different things and put different priorities on what’s important and what’s not, so we won’t all have the same opinion.
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If I may comment further as a Mk7 “guest”.
Everytime I open my bonnet and enjoy the smooth lift of the standard strut I enjoy the view of the engine.
So much so that my car washing routine always extends to wiping surfaces and pipes in the bay. That way, the engine surfaces are as clean as they were 6 years ago and give me great satisfaction.
Whenever I have looked at used cars in the past, I have popped open the bonnet within the first 5 minutes which gives me an impression as most garages valet the outside and inside but ignore under the bonnet.
Of course I mean no insult to those who seldom lift the bonnet and never clean the bay but some of us certainly do. I wonder if it’s more of an “outright ownership” thing as well? Just saying….
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Putting aside I don't see the point of carbon fibre under your bonnet where you will never see it. Who here could tell the difference between the expensive one and the cheap one?
You get home from work 20 seconds quicker on a Friday night with a CF cover!
It’s not my thing but it appeals to some people. I guess if you do car shows or just like admiring it yourself then it’s a nice thing to have. They sell in decent numbers so people obviously want them. A lad I used to work with is heavily into JDM stuff and some of the imports he buys are full of underbonnet CF dress up stuff, they must spend a fortune on it in Japan. Not just really sporty cars either stuff like mid range Civics and CRX’s.
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Putting aside I don't see the point of carbon fibre under your bonnet where you will never see it. Who here could tell the difference between the expensive one and the cheap one?
That would be my view too. However, I accept we’re all individuals so like different things and put different priorities on what’s important and what’s not, so we won’t all have the same opinion.
That's my view, each to their own. Have to admit to spending money on some car things when younger when there was no point, but i'd made me happy.
If I may comment further as a Mk7 “guest”.
Everytime I open my bonnet and enjoy the smooth lift of the standard strut I enjoy the view of the engine.
So much so that my car washing routine always extends to wiping surfaces and pipes in the bay. That way, the engine surfaces are as clean as they were 6 years ago and give me great satisfaction.
Whenever I have looked at used cars in the past, I have popped open the bonnet within the first 5 minutes which gives me an impression as most garages valet the outside and inside but ignore under the bonnet.
Of course I mean no insult to those who seldom lift the bonnet and never clean the bay but some of us certainly do. I wonder if it’s more of an “outright ownership” thing as well? Just saying….
I love a clean car, I just don't have the space to do a proper job so generally don't bother unless I can do it properly. I do draw the line and cleaning the engine bay though and i'm also suspicious of any used car that has a clean engine bay... my thoughts are what are they trying to hide... but has said above we are all different.
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Putting aside I don't see the point of carbon fibre under your bonnet where you will never see it. Who here could tell the difference between the expensive one and the cheap one?
You get home from work 20 seconds quicker on a Friday night with a CF cover!
It’s not my thing but it appeals to some people. I guess if you do car shows or just like admiring it yourself then it’s a nice thing to have. They sell in decent numbers so people obviously want them. A lad I used to work with is heavily into JDM stuff and some of the imports he buys are full of underbonnet CF dress up stuff, they must spend a fortune on it in Japan. Not just really sporty cars either stuff like mid range Civics and CRX’s.
I have carbon fibre vinyl on my key, my door opens 0.2 seconds quicker :cool:
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Of course I mean no insult to those who seldom lift the bonnet and never clean the bay but some of us certainly do. I wonder if it’s more of an “outright ownership” thing as well? Just saying….
You’d be surprised how many people can afford to chuck £60k cash at a mk8 without breaking into a sweat.
A few hundred quid of carbon fibre to them is small change but I doubt many bother.
It’s just what level of enthusiasm you have.
The lack of a gas strut irks me as I do like to clean under the bonnet from time to time but I couldn’t be bothered with a CF engine cover.
:grin: @WelshGolf! Case proven!
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so these don't come standard ? any reason why lol ?
I can’t see it’s cost cutting, the parts for a bonnet stay are probably the same. Maybe it’s an NCAP crash thing, it’s a bar directly in front of the driver.
You did a nice job, but this DIY approach really shouldn't be necessary in a £40k car.
I think it definitely is cost saving as the Euro NCAP rating for the mk8 GTI is the same as the mk7. Both got the maximum 5 stars. The loss of the gas strut is an example of what an old ex-work colleague of mine would have called "spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar". Someone in VW marketing will have pointed out that "most drivers only lift the bonnet a few times a year so why do we bother fitting an "expensive" gas strut"? Of course, this sort of missed the point as it is now the first thing that people point to when citing evidence of ill-advised VW cost cutting.
The damage to VW's (slipping) reputation for high quality build etc. will have far outweighed the small £ amount saved per car. Or they should have just increased the price of the car by a tiny amount as drivers of £40k cars expect this sort of 'extra' anyway.
It's amazing how quality engineering and attention to detail can make a big impression on you. I was recently 'killing time' in the local Mercedes dealership waiting for my my son-in-law's car to be brought round after its service. They had a beautiful CLA 35 AMG in the showroom so I had a look around. The way the boot opened and closed was an absolute thing of beauty. You could initiate the (purely mechanical) closure with one finger and MB had left the huge chrome-plated springs exposed so you could actually see the mechanism working. I was transfixed! VW could learn a lot from this sort of thing.
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so these don't come standard ? any reason why lol ?
I can’t see it’s cost cutting, the parts for a bonnet stay are probably the same. Maybe it’s an NCAP crash thing, it’s a bar directly in front of the driver.
You did a nice job, but this DIY approach really shouldn't be necessary in a £40k car.
I would agree but, I read a review a few days ago on a Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 hybrid. Not really anywhere the same league as a GTI with double the power and a great driving experience. Yet the Corsa was £30k and I think there was plenty of scope for adding more. On that basis, as much as I like a gas strut, does it really matter?
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Yet the Corsa was £30k and I think there was plenty of scope for adding more. On that basis, as much as I like a gas strut, does it really matter?
I hear what you say but that is a slippery slope. Would it really matter if the floor mats didn't fit perfectly or if there was a slight judder to the action of windscreen wipers. All small things in themselves but they have a way of adding up. Before you know where you are, the quality has completely gone.