Help/Advice

[drc12369]

Location: bath

Newbie Help/Advice please

»Hi. Ive recently bought a 97 mk3 2.o gti 8v 5dr. Its done 147k and the last service was at 134. Ive got £300 to spend on it and im wondering whats the best way to go. It seems to run fine, ive done 300 plus miles in it with no problems so far. Ive put the tyres to 30/28 filled the powersteering fluid and jammed up the faulty rear window with a spare wiper blade. I know theres a brake inbalance  from the last mot advisory and a rattle when u accelerate hard from the engine(doesnt seem to be exhaust related. A full service, brake service n cambelt change would be ideal but as i said i only have £300. Any ideas or advice would be welcomed. Cheers. Dave

[leigh_harty]

I'd obviously start on the brakes, standard items are cheap enough. New pads & discs

[drc12369]

I reckon the brake lines could do with replacing aswell. The breaks feel fine in use butonce or twice ive heard a clunk from the left side when breaking and turning at the same time. Caliper issues maybe?

[Xtrhardcore]

clunking sounds more like a bush to be honest, check the lower arms

[itavaltalainen]

I would do good basic service (as thats overdue) and some high risk items like cam belt.

Cambelt parts (buy brand parts only, Gates, INA, etc) and both aux belts are 50£ (if you're not confident doing this that would be approx £100 labour in a reputable garage with receipt!)

Oil, oil filter, new sump plug washer, air filters, spark plugs and oil drainer are 60£ (this you can do on your own drive without even jacking it up unless car's lowered)
brakes should be around 100-150£ for front ones, branded parts (don't buy china stuff for the front pls) if you don't have two left hands you can do yourself (buy haynes for some guidance but mk3 brakes are straight forward)

would also advise changing brake fluid (10£ for a litre and 10£ for an Eezibleed) and coolant (15£ for 5 liter).
Perhaps also replace gearbox oil if jerky.

all together parts would be less then 300£ if you can do something yourself. if you haven't done cambelt before and not sure about brakes better get them done.

rattle from engine could be a number of things .... normally would say heat shield

[drc12369]

Cheerz but i dont have the skill or experience to do most of the required jobs so its trusty garages im afraid. Unless theres a gti ninja in bath who works for cider? Going for the kwik fit free brake and exhaust check i reckon first to see whats up. Then maybe their full service as thet include spark plugs unlike other garages ive checked with.

[itavaltalainen]

Personally I stay away from chains (no matter what their name is). Would look for a small german car specialist garage - they know better what they are doing.
Unless you got two left hands you can do practically whole service except cambelt and brakes yourself.

Filters, oil, sparks and coolant are so simple that even a first timer will very easily do this within an afternoon
Don't even need many tools tbh. for things i've mentioned that'd only be a 19mm socket or spanner, water pipe pliers (for taking off radiator bottom hose clip), spark plug socket, maybe a haynes manual.

[whileoceanasleeps]

like itavaltalainen says you should try a few small jobs yourself to begin with, there are how tos for just about everything you could want to do if you search the net for them..

you can change your HT leads (ignition) and distributor and distributor cab without any tools..  basic service is really easy man

[Stewy12]

Cheerz but i dont have the skill or experience to do most of the required jobs so its trusty garages im afraid. Unless theres a gti ninja in bath who works for cider? Going for the kwik fit free brake and exhaust check i reckon first to see whats up. Then maybe their full service as thet include spark plugs unlike other garages ive checked with.

I aint no ninja but i live just the other side of bath if u wanna pop over i can check it out for you and even plug it to vag com i can even get oem parts on the cheap from my sources....

[VW BUSH]

If its got a current MOT and the brakes feel ok, I would drive it round a bit more to find out all its faults...
ABS, stalling, Low MPG, 5.5k RPM, gearbox, seized rear calipers
Once you have a good idea of what's wrong then i would spend the £300 accordingly.

If its got bent jacking points then get the sill covers off asap, most Mk3 GTI's I come across now have rotten sills and brown crispy jacking points, this costs a lot to put right.
Rust is the biggest enemy of a Mk3, mechanical/electrical stuff can be bought for pennies and fitted easily but body work is always expensive and requires a pro.