The ECS dogbone arrived yesterday. Made an appointment to have it fitted at a local independent garage specialized in tuning of VAG cars. Although installing the dogbone looks simple, I have no place to raise the car and work in peace.
However next sunday I will be attending a Dutch Golf V GTI meet at a VW dealer. There're supposed to be 34 GTI's showing up! I might be able to raise the car there and install the dogbone myself. I believe it's quite easy?
The organizer also told me that the dealer will probably offer some nice discounts on Ed30/R32 smokes taillights so probably pick those up as well.
Furthermore I visited a Seat dealership close by which has a very positive attitude towards tuning. The offer remaps from JD Engineering (a well known Dutch VAG tuner), Eibach suspension, Milltek, Forge DV's and brake upgrades. They actually offer special versions of the Leon FR and Cupra from the dealership fitted with all these tuning parts.
I asked some information about brake upgrades, seeing as that is a weak point of the GTI in my opinion. They suggested as the most cost-effective upgrade changing the discs for cross drilled Brembo or National discs, and the pads to Ferrodo DS2000 or DS2500. As my company lease contract will only replace for OEM parts, they can arrrange that they charge the costs of OEM discs and pads to the lease contract, and I will only have to pay the extra for the better discs and pads. This will amount to 200 EUR or so.
As I only have 30K km on the car, I better do some spirited driving now to accelerate the need for a pads and discs change
Than again, I saw a set of Golf V R32 front brakes going for 350 EUR on eBay the other day, that looks tempting as well... and is more or less keeping it OEM so little issues with the lease company.
