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General => Cosmetic and bodywork matters => Topic started by: d-dubz on 05 February 2007, 11:10

Title: increasing size of arches on mk33 golf!
Post by: d-dubz on 05 February 2007, 11:10: Hi , i want to possibly cut in to my arches on mk3 golf so i can get 19" wheels on there? does anyone know of specialists which can do this good and respray properly??? please help.
Title: Re: increasing size of arches on mk33 golf!
Post by: Len on 05 February 2007, 15:26: You dont need to cut into them. You will need to find a good panel beater to "roll" them.
Basically ease them out therefore enlarging the radius. Its also sometimes referred to as radiusing, although I think thats a bit different.
Find a good body specialist in your area.
Title: Re: increasing size of arches on mk33 golf!
Post by: d-dubz on 06 February 2007, 11:51: Hi mate, thanx 4 replying to my post, i just want to be sure if it can actually be done and how much it would roughly cost? i want to ideally put 19" wheels on there with medium profile tyres, can this be done , basically i dont want the car going heavy on bumps in the road, i want a smoothe drive??? also i was wondering if you would know that if a Audi S3 front bumper will fit my golf mk3?? please get back to me asap. :huh:
Title: Re: increasing size of arches on mk33 golf!
Post by: Len on 06 February 2007, 12:59: Basically anything can be done, it just costs more!

19's with say 45 profile tyres (you said medium) will increase the rolling radius so you realise that your speedo will be useless!
Also it may mean losing the inner plastic arches. Plus you will have to check all the clearances.

As for cost, well think of a number! As you will be doing all 4 arches and that means 4 panels to respray at least, so I'd say anything from Ãƒâ€šÃ‚£500 to Ãƒâ€šÃ‚£1000.

Why cant you make do with 17's like the majority? Being different is a good thing but this seems to be taking it to extremes.

As for the Audi bumper you will have to check measure one or get some dimensions. If its narrower forget it! If its wider then it will have to be cut and joined in the middle and also new mounting points created.
Seems a lot of work when there are loads of body kits out there!
Title: Re: increasing size of arches on mk33 golf!
Post by: patch900 on 07 February 2007, 17:14: I was thinking about rolling my arches but seems to be costly, can be about Ãƒâ€šÃ‚£200 for the work but they cannot guarantee that you wont need respraying afterword which as Len says can mean a lot (say 100 / 200 a panel depending on who does it).

The limit appears to be 17" but some people say you can get an 18" on them - you have a couple of choices:

1. Have the arches trimmed, basically they will trim the inside giving more clearance AND you keep you keep the inner plastic arches

2. AND / OR stretch the tyres. A guy told me put lower profiles on and stretch them. Instead of say a 215 put a 205 or 195 on. The reduction in profile will obviously help your clearance
Title: Re: increasing size of arches on mk33 golf!
Post by: d-dubz on 07 February 2007, 19:59: Ok guys, ive read what you lot have replied and am very thankful, but, now ive come up with a decision that im going to roll the arches enough for 18" wheels as ive been told by wheel experts this would be the maximum and most sensible decision! however im just worried that if it would definitely work with the tyres going on and wont get any troublleeee :kiss:
Title: Re: increasing size of arches on mk33 golf!
Post by: HARDCOR3 on 07 February 2007, 20:03: i'll make em fit for Ãƒâ€šÃ‚£250 a corner.... :smug:
Title: Re: increasing size of arches on mk33 golf!
Post by: d-dubz on 07 February 2007, 21:08: Hey Hardcore, can you fit them? and what do you mean by Ãƒâ€šÃ‚£250 corner :huh:
Title: Re: increasing size of arches on mk33 golf!
Post by: HARDCOR3 on 07 February 2007, 23:53: Quote from: d-dubz on 07 February 2007, 21:08
Hey Hardcore, can you fit them? and what do you mean by Ãƒâ€šÃ‚£250 corner :huh:

Ãƒâ€šÃ‚£250 per arch and yeah i could make em fit..... :smug:
Title: Re: increasing size of arches on mk33 golf!
Post by: d-dubz on 08 February 2007, 09:52: ill give you Ãƒâ€šÃ‚£100 per arch and its a dunn deal, im a full time student and only got a tite budget, plz help
Title: Re: increasing size of arches on mk33 golf!
Post by: patch900 on 08 February 2007, 12:04: Ãƒâ€šÃ‚£250 a corner is reasonable, especially if the paint is OK after.

Cheapest you might get is about Ãƒâ€šÃ‚£150-200 maybe.

Trimming your arches is Ãƒâ€šÃ‚£50 a corner.
Title: Re: increasing size of arches on mk33 golf!
Post by: Len on 13 February 2007, 16:10: Just a recap.

If you eventually do decide on 18's then you have to go 30 or 35 profile depending on the width to keep original rolling radius, keeping your speedo readings the same.
Title: Re: increasing size of arches on mk33 golf!
Post by: patch900 on 13 February 2007, 16:51: I have decided not to roll my arches, will put some 17" on mine instead with 215 40 tyres.

Will save my money for a Mk4 instead maybe :tongue: get a collection going
Title: Re: increasing size of arches on mk33 golf!
Post by: d-dubz on 13 February 2007, 21:47: Yeh i have jus bought some 17" chrome wheels as i thought it was too much job gettin the arches rolled! im gna save for a mk4 aswell :wink: but i wanna keep my mk3 for a project car.
Title: Re: increasing size of arches on mk33 golf!
Post by: patch900 on 22 February 2007, 14:20: A couple of questions relating to this, I just want to know for future reference:

1. do you need to roll the arches to have wider alloys as well ? at a guess I would say you need the arched rolling otherwise when the car bumps they could rub as they will be slightly out of the arch.
2. is 7" the max on a Mk3 without arch work ?

Its just I have seen some nice alloys in 35 offset but they are 8" or 8.5".

There are some nice 9" ones as well but the PCD is 114.3 (they are for jap cars) and cant find any adapters for them out there at all.