Gandalf's Evolution

[ApertureS]

31 minutes ago, JR RS said:

 

I got the wheel without the airbag.

So I simply remove the airbag off old wheel, and put in other wheel.

Straight fit.

 

As I mentioned before, I got it secondhand, for $200 AUD.

 

 

That is very cheap! Good bargain there!

 

Im looking at getting a flat bottom heated dsg wheel for mine and selling my flat bottom one. Will be looking at about £450 second hand i believe. 

[JR RS]

Gandalf needed braces, so today I put a front strut top brace 😁

It's a Hardrace Suspension strut brace - SKU 8949.

Fitting was a bit more challenging than I was expecting as I needed to loosen the black firewall plates in order to slide the brace under it, so it would sit flush against the strut tower.

 

Do I need it - no.

Do I want it - yes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 2 June, 2022 by JR RS

[JR RS]

8 minutes ago, ApertureS said:

That is very cheap! Good bargain there!

 

Im looking at getting a flat bottom heated dsg wheel for mine and selling my flat bottom one. Will be looking at about £450 second hand i believe. 

 

A bargain indeed.

 

Keep in mind that when u go from non-heated to heated steering wheel, u'll need to change the clock spring too. This means more $$$.

I also think, a very big think, that the airbag might b different in addition.

[ApertureS]

26 minutes ago, JR RS said:

I also think, a very big think, that the airbag might b different in addition.

Clockspring can be had off a passat fairly cheap, cheap as in £100  

 

Regarding the airbag - it all depends what wheel you go for, theres 2 kinds of airbag, and sadly no list of yes/no what fits what. The difference i believe is the top of the airbag is a slightly different shape. I dont think heated makes a difference to the airbag but to be fair, im not sure 100% what decides what

 

[JR RS]

Had a crack at vinyl wrapping the chrome surround on the front grille.

Some slight imperfections on one side, but otherwise looks good.

$20 for gloss black vinyl vs. $200 to buy the black trim alone!

Winning 😁

 

 

[J.R.]

Thanks for the inspiration, I had to repair slight accident damage on mine so I took the opportunity to spray it black, I don't think I could have done any more than I did to prevent the paint lifting but it was for nothing.

 

I used a scotchbrite buffing wheel on my bench grinder to really key the chrome then wet n dry, then 2 pack black paint and 2 pack aérosol, despite all that there is as much chrome showing now as black it doesn't help that I use a car was with the rotary brushes.

 

I wish that I had thought of vinyl wrap, it would have been easy to remove had it started looking naff.

 

Did you use a specific wrapping vinyl perhaps with a specific semi-gloss finish?

 

I have some black domestic vinyl (Fablon type) in stock but don't know if it is suitable.

[Awesam]

8 hours ago, J.R. said:

Thanks for the inspiration, I had to repair slight accident damage on mine so I took the opportunity to spray it black, I don't think I could have done any more than I did to prevent the paint lifting but it was for nothing.

 

I used a scotchbrite buffing wheel on my bench grinder to really key the chrome then wet n dry, then 2 pack black paint and 2 pack aérosol, despite all that there is as much chrome showing now as black it doesn't help that I use a car was with the rotary brushes.

 

I wish that I had thought of vinyl wrap, it would have been easy to remove had it started looking naff.

 

Did you use a specific wrapping vinyl perhaps with a specific semi-gloss finish?

 

I have some black domestic vinyl (Fablon type) in stock but don't know if it is suitable.

Have you tried Plastidip paint?

10 hours ago, JR RS said:

Had a crack at vinyl wrapping the chrome surround on the front grille.

Some slight imperfections on one side, but otherwise looks good.

$20 for gloss black vinyl vs. $200 to buy the black trim alone!

Winning 😁

 

 

We need a tutorial on how to apply the vinyl!!

 

Also are you going to do the window trim aswell?

 

Edited 18 June, 2022 by Awesam

[JR RS]

On 18/06/2022 at 18:00, J.R. said:

 

I wish that I had thought of vinyl wrap, it would have been easy to remove had it started looking naff.

 

Did you use a specific wrapping vinyl perhaps with a specific semi-gloss finish?

 

I have some black domestic vinyl (Fablon type) in stock but don't know if it is suitable.

 

I used just regular gloss black vinyl wrap.

Air release, and a heat gun.

It's very easy to remove afterwards.

 

This is the specific one I got:-

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/224645540428?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0&ssspo=1TXFXzlIRjG&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=lD_jGR-4Tj6&var=523481421659&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

[JR RS]

17 hours ago, Awesam said:

Have you tried Plastidip paint?

We need a tutorial on how to apply the vinyl!!

 

Also are you going to do the window trim aswell?

 

 

Yes, I tried plasti-dip first, ages ago - was not working for me.

I kept finishing with bubbles and a texture finish that was not nice.

 

I had done the lower grille chrome trims before, with plasti-dip, ages ago.  This time round, no luck.

 

No, not doing the window trims.

[Awesam]

I will attempt the Grill surround first, If I can master it then I will tackle the window trims and then the roof rails!

[JR RS]

34 minutes ago, Awesam said:

I will attempt the Grill surround first, If I can master it then I will tackle the window trims and then the roof rails!

 

Window trim surrounds will b way easier than the front grille - much easier.

[J.R.]

Does air release mean that any trapped air can (eventually) migrate through the film?

[JR RS]

8 hours ago, J.R. said:

Does air release mean that any trapped air can (eventually) migrate through the film?

 

I don't know if that would b the case.

I just made sure I had no trapped air by using a squeegee, and stretching the vinyl as I laid it down.

[JR RS]

Gandalf went in for the 75k service today - clean bill of health. 👍🏽

Car has done 64k km.  

Plenty of life left in the factory rotors + pads. Guess I'll b holding off for a lot longer for those dba T2 rotors and pads.

Brake fluid flushed and replaced.

Tyres good (replaced last year).

Battery good (replaced last year under warranty).

Factory wipers still in good condition.

My 5 yr warranty has come to an end. Here's to another 5 yrs 🍻

 

[Colin170CR]

3 hours ago, JR RS said:

Gandalf went in for the 75k service today - clean bill of health. 👍🏽

Car has done 64k km.  

Plenty of life left in the factory rotors + pads. Guess I'll b holding off for a lot longer for those dba T2 rotors and pads.

Brake fluid flushed and replaced.

Tyres good (replaced last year).

Battery good (replaced last year under warranty).

Factory wipers still in good condition.

My 5 yr warranty has come to an end. Here's to another 5 yrs 🍻

 

Mine's in for it's 53k "inspection" service tomorrow. Hopefully just an oil change. The air filter is washable now (with a big sticker on it not to replace it) & I replaced the pollen filter earlier this year. DSG & Haldex was done at 43k so should be OK for a bit. No doubt they will find something else but the indie garage I take it to are pretty honest & realistic in terms of what needs doing & what can wait.

[Colin170CR]

19 hours ago, Colin170CR said:

Mine's in for it's 53k "inspection" service tomorrow. Hopefully just an oil change. The air filter is washable now (with a big sticker on it not to replace it) & I replaced the pollen filter earlier this year. DSG & Haldex was done at 43k so should be OK for a bit. No doubt they will find something else but the indie garage I take it to are pretty honest & realistic in terms of what needs doing & what can wait.

Famous last words ☹️.

Just had the garage on the blower. New water pump needed (had to top up the coolant a few months ago so this is the reason), rear pads at 90% worn & discs not great & new plugs needed. Looks like it's going to be an expensive one.!

 

 

[JR RS]

21 minutes ago, Colin170CR said:

Famous last words ☹️.

Just had the garage on the blower. New water pump needed (had to top up the coolant a few months ago so this is the reason), rear pads at 90% worn & discs not great & new plugs needed. Looks like it's going to be an expensive one.!

 

 

 

Oh bugger!!!

U did call it though.

[JR RS]

And that's a wrap....
....gloss black vinyl wrap that is, on the chrome bits on badge edge and grille surround.

Was a test run, being vinyl I could easily remove it.

I like it, cause it follows the Grey-Black-Chrome theme I have going on Gandalf - so I'm going to get the proper gloss black trims and make it permanent 🙂

 

 

Edited 25 July, 2022 by JR RS

[JR RS]

Fitted Leyo Paddle shifters (PSD001S) after the dealer knocked off my previous stick on AliExpress shifters during the 75k service back in July!!

These ones r screwed on.
Awesome quality, finish and fit.

Much longer, easier to reach and solid clicks.

 

 

 

[JR RS]

Some pics of Gandalf before I wash him again after 3 months!!

 

 

[JR RS]

Well, after two years from the first post in this thread - the future is here!!

 

I say I'm "done", but that would b a big fat lie!!!

 

Getting the DSG tune.....

 

The Racingline R600 intake....

 

 

 

Edited 1 December, 2022 by JR RS

[Bap33]

Well, 2-3 other housings still to install on the left and it's almost looking like an AMG engine bay...  

 

Nice anyway! Do you feel a real difference? 😃

Edited 1 December, 2022 by Bap33

[JR RS]

5 hours ago, Bap33 said:

Well, 2-3 other housings still to install on the left and it's almost looking like an AMG engine bay...  

 

Nice anyway! Do you feel a real difference? 😃

 

lol, more covers and engine bling to jazz it up

 

the DSG tune is good - shifts r quicker, car feels more aggressive and feels more comfortable when pushing it.

the Intake is not a big step up from my previous setup as i already had an aftermarket filter in the airbox, and additional open air ducts behind the grill.  it does however sound a bit more gruntier, and seems to feel effortless when putting the foot down.
the OCD in me is just making my eye twitch though when i look at the intake and notice its a "different black" to the rest of the engine bay covers!!!   arrghhhhhh

[Donweather]

On 01/12/2022 at 21:30, JR RS said:

Well, after two years from the first post in this thread - the future is here!!

 

I say I'm "done", but that would b a big fat lie!!!

 

Getting the DSG tune.....

 

The Racingline R600 intake....

 

 

 

Which DSG tune did you get?  Do they also adjust clamping pressure?

[JR RS]

9 hours ago, Donweather said:

Which DSG tune did you get?  Do they also adjust clamping pressure?

 

I got the APR TCU tune.

 

https://www.goapr.com/products/software/tcu_upgrade/parts/TCU-DQ250-MQB