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Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: threadders on 14 March 2006, 10:21

Title: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: threadders on 14 March 2006, 10:21

Does anyone know what the difference is between the Golf mk4's with GTI in silver and the GTI with the red I ?

Someone has told me it is to do with BHP ie 130 or 150 with the turbo

and someone else says its to do with the extra.

anyone confirm for me ?

Jon
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: Neaty on 14 March 2006, 10:44
I used to always think that the ones with the red "I" where the 1.8 turbo's but i dnt think there is any consistency with what badges they put on, just what they had there at the time of putting them on. I have even seen top spec GT TDI's badged as GTI's before.
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: topher on 14 March 2006, 10:48
its sod all to do with anything mate :grin: they stuck on whatever they felt like/had in their hand at the time. a vw tech tried to tell me my mk4 wasnt a turbo once, because it didn't have a red 'I'. then again that was the same tech who took my car for a spin and said it hadnt lost any power, and the screaming from the turbo was normal. (the impellors had been completely destroyed by a nut that had been dropped into the inlet, hooray for competent mechanics)

if you want to know what engine is in it, look at the 3 digit code stamped on the tag sticking out of the head.
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: Say bye bye on 14 March 2006, 12:04
These days people just badge/de-badge cars themselves... i seen what looked like an r32 an kept up2 it in my 1.8t
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: BigDaveC on 14 March 2006, 12:09
I thought that the red i meant that it had a turbo.
Gti's that are silver are the 115bhp version.

In GT TDI's GTI is possibly the trim level.
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: richandhazel on 14 March 2006, 12:16
Must admit, with the TDI's, I used to think that the more red letters, the higher the spec. Mine has been debadged but the engine cover shows a red I. I thought most of the PD's would have the T and I in red but having been to the auctions and looked at a few, that doesn't appear to follow either. So now I'm confused. Guess its just pot luck.
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: GazB on 14 March 2006, 16:44
Like is said, in the end the badges were just stuck on randomly
If they are badged correctly tho:

GTI all silver = non turbo
GTI red i = Turbo
TDI red i = 110bhp
TDI red di = 130bhp
TDI all red 150bhp

off the top of my head :undecided:

But don't go by the badges if your buying, as there are so many with the wrong badges on, although most TDi's seem to be correct
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: Ivor Mk4 Turbo on 14 March 2006, 20:15
Never knew that about the TDI badges, but as the others say, the colour of the 'i' on the petrols doesn't mean jack.  My 2000 turbo's is all silver. My mates 99 had a red i.  From behind, another, (but not definite) way of telling a 1.8T from a 1.8/2.0, is the fact that the T's had centre rear headrests fitted as standard.
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: GazB on 14 March 2006, 22:16
From behind, another, (but not definite) way of telling a 1.8T from a 1.8/2.0, is the fact that the T's had centre rear headrests fitted as standard.

Oh no they didnt, it was part of a safety pack on earlier ones :smug: :grin: :grin:
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: BigDaveC on 14 March 2006, 22:22
Hmmm...VW quality control seemed to have slipped badly after 1998, when they bought seat & skoda ! :angry:
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: Ivor Mk4 Turbo on 14 March 2006, 23:26
Yeah, I can just see it now on the production floor.....

- 'Hey, Heinz, vot culla i's shall ve put on ze Golfs, today?'
- 'Votever, Hairflick..... Scnell !!!  :grin:
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: Ivor Mk4 Turbo on 14 March 2006, 23:43
From behind, another, (but not definite) way of telling a 1.8T from a 1.8/2.0, is the fact that the T's had centre rear headrests fitted as standard.

Oh no they didnt, it was part of a safety pack on earlier ones :smug: :grin: :grin:

So 90% of turbo's have them then??? :tongue: :wink: :grin:
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: BenjiC on 15 March 2006, 03:14
Red i's should in theory mean it's a 1.8t, however I think if the car is an import, that ain't necessarily the case. Mine's an import and has all silver GTI on the back but is a 1.8t.

I guess if in doubt look at the engine!
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: topher on 15 March 2006, 09:05
From behind, another, (but not definite) way of telling a 1.8T from a 1.8/2.0, is the fact that the T's had centre rear headrests fitted as standard.

Oh no they didnt, it was part of a safety pack on earlier ones :smug: :grin: :grin:

So 90% of turbo's have them then??? :tongue: :wink: :grin:

there's no optional safety pack on mine. as far as i know you could ask for a drivers armrest instead of the headrest.. if  you didnt ask they just stuck the 3rd headrest in.
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: HandsyBoy on 15 March 2006, 09:29
When the cars were first imported in to this country, they were not badged, due to the fact of import rules of some sort on gti cars. When the cars were delivered to the dealerships they had to fit the badges on there. The problem was that VW kept changing the design of the badge, hence why some are different, especially on the TDI's. I worked at BMW mini, and threre was a strict policy on badges, as i used to fit them. Some people never had badges on to detere theves, as the top spec cars are more desierable to nik, so the dealerships took them off. The dealerships are mostly to blame i think.

Dan  :cool:
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: welshgar on 15 March 2006, 19:20
mines a GT  TDi, and the 'i' is RED
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: welshgar on 15 March 2006, 19:21
mines a GT  TDi, and the 'i' is RED

its a 110 bhp btw  :undecided:

so its badged right then  :smiley:
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: JonnoGti on 15 March 2006, 20:44
With all the badges on ebay its hard to tell these days yeah! But the official badging is GTI silver is 2.0i 8v and the Red 'i' is supposed to be a turbo. But i know someone with a T-reg TDI with GTi with red 'i' on for the badging but its clearly a diesel as u can hear the engine.
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: GTI-T on 19 March 2006, 18:56
it is hard to tell cos mine is a T reg turbo with silver badge and the bloke i got it from brought it new with that badge
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: threadders on 19 March 2006, 22:02
it is hard to tell cos mine is a T reg turbo with silver badge and the bloke i got it from brought it new with that badge

Well I just picked up my 1999 1.8 Turbo and is has a silver badge.

Think i'm going to buy a badge with a red (i)
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: VWmaindealer on 19 March 2006, 22:16
Bit of boring info but the 2.0 mark 4 GTI came into the country badged as a 2.0, we then slapped a silver badge on at the dealership. Generally speaking, the more red on the badge, the more horsepower but as engines have evolved over time it has become increasingly difficult to tell whats what. General rule (certainly the rule I use, is ignore the badge altogether).

Incidentally, on the Golf GT TDI 150ps, they were all badged as GTIs. Only the 150ps bora and 100/130ps Polo TDIs had all red TDI badges, oh and some Sharans but they dont really count. The quick way of telling a 150TDI and a 150Petrol Golf apart is the lower section on the front bumper. The oil burners have two extra air intakes in the outer lower corners. :nerd:

VWmaindealer with a red I)
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: kingturbo on 19 March 2006, 22:38
theres a tdi round the corner from me with a gti badge on the back
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: GTI-T on 20 March 2006, 18:47
it is hard to tell cos mine is a T reg turbo with silver badge and the bloke i got it from brought it new with that badge

Well I just picked up my 1999 1.8 Turbo and is has a silver badge.

Think I'm going to buy a badge with a red (i)

Yeah think i may have to join you with that one had a couple of people ask me if it is a turbo
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: GazB on 20 March 2006, 18:59
Just take all the badges off like me and keep em guessing :evil:
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: >>Mart<< on 20 March 2006, 21:24
im gonna bore u all now

the badges denominate the type of oil / service intervals that that perticular type of gti is
on the early gti's they were all silver and that ment that the car did not have a service meter/indicator
like mine
on the later ones the red i ment that it used a service meter
it is something to do with the oil used in the car also eg semi syn long drain oil

sorry friend from vw told me this  :laugh: :laugh:
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: GolfGL on 20 March 2006, 21:31
How do you get them off just a hot air gun and a screwdriver or is there a better method?
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: Ivor Mk4 Turbo on 20 March 2006, 22:44
im gonna bore u all now

the badges denominate the type of oil / service intervals that that perticular type of gti is
on the early gti's they were all silver and that ment that the car did not have a service meter/indicator
like mine
on the later ones the red i ment that it used a service meter
it is something to do with the oil used in the car also eg semi syn long drain oil

sorry friend from vw told me this :laugh: :laugh:

Mmmmm, my mates 99 AGU had a red i!

I'm more inclined to believe VW main dealers's story. :undecided:
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: GTI-T on 21 March 2006, 18:27
Just take all the badges off like me and keep em guessing :evil:
This could be the best thing to do keep them guessing sounds fun :grin: Whats the best way to do it mate :undecided:
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: GazB on 21 March 2006, 19:56
I just kept pouring boiling water on mine and wiggling the letters about, do this until the boiling water lifts the glue and hey presto :cool:
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: GolfGL on 21 March 2006, 21:04
GazB thats a good plan as i dont think screwdriver scratches would look to good on my new mk4
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: GazB on 21 March 2006, 21:09
They don;t come off as easy as I may make it sound, but with a bit of paitence they will come off and your paintwork will be scratch free :cool:
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: VWmaindealer on 21 March 2006, 22:22
im gonna bore u all now

the badges denominate the type of oil / service intervals that that perticular type of gti is
on the early gti's they were all silver and that ment that the car did not have a service meter/indicator
like mine
on the later ones the red i ment that it used a service meter
it is something to do with the oil used in the car also eg semi syn long drain oil

sorry friend from vw told me this  :laugh: :laugh:

 :huh: :huh: :huh:

Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: VWmaindealer on 21 March 2006, 22:26
BTW, the way I get badges off is to use a Tesco clubcard (or any other store loyalty card :grin:) wrapped up in a soft polishing cloth and just gently prise and run card behind the edge of the badge. You'll either get lucky and it will come off clean as a whistle or more likely it will leave a load of GTI shaped sticky sh!t on the boot lid. Then lots of tar and glue remover or hot soapy water and let it really absorb in before rubbin glike hell and wishing you'd never started.... :grin:

VWmd
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: JonnoGti on 22 March 2006, 12:38
Someone said about the silver GTi's not having a service indicator....... I had a 2001 Y-Reg 2.0 GTI a while back and that had a service indicator warning, dont know if thats what you meant?
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: Ivor Mk4 Turbo on 22 March 2006, 13:56
Yeah, my silver badged 2000 'V' has a service indicator, so am not sure what that other guy was on about! :tongue:
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: >>Mart<< on 22 March 2006, 17:59
it is something to do with the service indicator apparently
i think it was pre 2000 cars that had no service indicator
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: GTI-T on 22 March 2006, 18:37
They don;t come off as easy as I may make it sound, but with a bit of paitence they will come off and your paintwork will be scratch free :cool:
i will give it a go the weekend hope it works don't want to end up polishing the whole car just to hide it  :cry:
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: richandhazel on 22 March 2006, 19:07
it is something to do with the service indicator apparently
i think it was pre 2000 cars that had no service indicator

Mine is 1999 and I definately have a service indicator :undecided:
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: JonnoGti on 22 March 2006, 19:58
Well thats a few 2000 and before model owners who have the service indicator so no offence to whoever suggested it, it seems u were wrong or maybe just misinformed. Chin up tho!!!!  :smiley:

Dont know if ne one has suggested this but when I had my 206 I had a haines manual and it sad that the best thing to do is heat it up with a hair dryer and then use a credit card to remove the badge. I dont know if it works or not tho!!
Title: Re: GTI Badge with red I ???
Post by: threadders on 22 March 2006, 20:13
Well thats a few 2000 and before model owners who have the service indicator so no offence to whoever suggested it, it seems u were wrong or maybe just misinformed. Chin up tho!!!!  :smiley:

Dont know if ne one has suggested this but when I had my 206 I had a haines manual and it sad that the best thing to do is heat it up with a hair dryer and then use a credit card to remove the badge. I dont know if it works or not tho!!

The car I have just bought is a 1999 turbo silver badge and it has the service indicator.

I know because it is now flashing for about the first 20 secs my car is turned on...