Just bought my first ever GTI!

[simonfa]

Hey guys, im new to the site as ive just bought my very first GTI, its a J plate 91 MK2 16V in Oak Green and is the car ive wanted for over 10 years! Im so in love with her already and ive only had her since Sunday evening and already done 300 miles!

Thing is im new to it all and as ive bought one at the moderate to low pricing bracket it does need some work doing so thought i would seek the help of you guys.

First thing i would like to get sorted is the clucth, its done 172000 miles and its slipping quite annoyingly from time to time when trying to get the power down. Ive had quotes in the region of £220-£350 for a clutch replacment from local garages with the clutch kits coming from German and Swedish, was wondering if this is really the way i should go and what you thought on the quotes!

Secondly i would love to get the BBS alloys refurbished but have no idea where to look and what sort of price range i would be looking at paying, they arnt in terrible condition but there is some slight surface rusting coming through and they are beginning to look a little 'rusty orangey' in certain places.

The rest of the car seems pretty good so far and its only really cosmetic items i would like to work on like a new rear parecel shelf as i would like to try and keep it original as best as i can, (previous owner added some 6*9s to the shelf) I will probably try and attend some VW meets to pick up such items from trade stalls in the near future. Also the instrument panel doesnt light up, any ideas? could it be a mojor problem or is it more than likley just the bulbs?

Anyway guys any help for a noob would be highly appriciated. 

[Ben Lessani]

Clutch is about £60 in parts and would take a good few hours to do yourself. You'd need to remove the driveshafts from the differential, support the weight of the engine, unbolt the mounts off the gearbox, disconnect the gear linkage, unbolt the gearbox from the block, withdraw the box and then fit clutch.

The amount of time it will take will be dependant on the condition of the driveshaft diff bolts and how strong you are (mentally and physically).

Refurbing your wheels, you can either DIY or pay for it. Expect to pay around £25+ per wheel for a refurb. If you DIY, you need a big tub of nitromoors, to strip the paint off the face and a lot of patience. I think I'd rather pick up some extra shifts at work and pay someone else for their time! Some wheel refurb companies are poop though - so make you check out their work first, and don't just go with the cheapest, or you'll be repeating the procedure in 12 months time.

Dash illumination could be a few things, its driven off a variable resistor in the headlight switch - these contacts could become a little corroded and explain why you have nothing. You can bridge the pins to double check that its not just the bulbs.

[simonfa]

Clutch is about £60 in parts and would take a good few hours to do yourself. You'd need to remove the driveshafts from the differential, support the weight of the engine, unbolt the mounts off the gearbox, disconnect the gear linkage, unbolt the gearbox from the block, withdraw the box and then fit clutch.

The amount of time it will take will be dependant on the condition of the driveshaft diff bolts and how strong you are (mentally and physically).

Refurbing your wheels, you can either DIY or pay for it. Expect to pay around £25+ per wheel for a refurb. If you DIY, you need a big tub of nitromoors, to strip the paint off the face and a lot of patience. I think I'd rather pick up some extra shifts at work and pay someone else for their time! Some wheel refurb companies are poop though - so make you check out their work first, and don't just go with the cheapest, or you'll be repeating the procedure in 12 months time.

Dash illumination could be a few things, its driven off a variable resistor in the headlight switch - these contacts could become a little corroded and explain why you have nothing. You can bridge the pins to double check that its not just the bulbs.

Thanks for the heads up Ben, like you i would rather pay for the work to be done myself, i have no way of being able to do the clutch myself although im no novice under the bonnet i have none of the equip needed. As for the wheels £25 seems pretty reasonable and i will have to do some searching for refurb companies unless there are users who could recommend some decent companies for me that they have used themselves. Will have to get behind the clocks tonight and have a look at the state of affairs, thanks again for the reply.

[JC]

heelo and welcome 

[dan_apps]

Hey Welcome

where abouts are you in the world would help when recommending places to get wheels done! 

[simonfa]

Hey Welcome

where abouts are you in the world would help when recommending places to get wheels done! 

Sorry mate, im just outside Northampton in Daventry. 

[Skiing]

With the clutch, it's worth checking the clutch cable first - my old 8v used to slip and a new cable at about 14£ fixed it no problem. My dash lights also don't work - do the lights for the heater panel come on at all? if it's just the clocks, it could be bulbs that have gone (see search function for how to replace) - if all the lights are off, it's probably the aforementioned headlight switch with the dimmer switch part not working properly... Also check the earth cable that grounds on the rocker cover of the engine (the earth wire bolts to the corner facing the bulkhead - cleaning the contacts up with some sand paper sometimes sorts it out...

[Conker]

Welcome to the gang!

[ReDBull]

I found this book useful
http://www.haynes.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=29501&langId=-1

[simonfa]

Thanks for all the replies and help guys. Skiing, it is all the lights on the dash, think i will get it out and have a look behind the headlight switch as mentioned. Thanks again.

Thought i would post a quick pic of my lady.