Hi everyone,

So i'm wondering if it is possible to swap out the 2 litre petrol engine to the one used in the golf R or even possibly Audi's 2.5 five cylinder.

Good idea or no?

Thanks

On 05/05/2025 at 11:40, Supermikey said:

Hi everyone,

So i'm wondering if it is possible to swap out the 2 litre petrol engine to the one used in the golf R or even possibly Audi's 2.5 five cylinder.

Good idea or no?

Thanks

Not a good idea because all the firmware and sensors will be for the original engine. It is not as simple as just swapping the mechanical bits these days.

Even if it is possible you will have to declare it on your insurance (expensive and even more so if caught without telling them) and then there is type approval for the MOT.... Will a garage give you an MOT on it?

Edited 26 May26 May by chills

Theres a fellow on you tube put the rs3 engine and 4 wheel drive into a mk3 octavia vrs .

19 minutes ago, Mickvrs220 said:

Theres a fellow on you tube put the rs3 engine and 4 wheel drive into a mk3 octavia vrs .

I am sure there is, but.... this will require firmware changes on some of the computers. Also did he tell the insurance company, and what were the new premiums like? How did the MOT test go?

Modern cars are mechanically quite simple but are controlled by complex software and about 150 to 200 computers. This is the more difficult side. Any mismatch in firmware (software) can cause serious problems.

MOT,s, DVLA Inspections & IVA,s if needed are not an issue.

If you do not know what is needed, then others do.

1 minute ago, Ootohere said:

MOT,s, DVLA Inspections & IVA,s if needed are not an issue.

They are going to be......

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/226003-the-twins-and-yeti-rs/page/118

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/243854-citigo-a citigo-with-more-go/page/87

Yeti with a TT RS engine.

Edited 26 May26 May by Ootohere

@chills Are you talking from the actual experience of doing engine swaps in the UK, or even Radical Modifications?

27 minutes ago, chills said:

I am sure there is, but.... this will require firmware changes on some of the computers. Also did he tell the insurance company, and what were the new premiums like? How did the MOT test go?

Modern cars are mechanically quite simple but are controlled by complex software and about 150 to 200 computers. This is the more difficult side. Any mismatch in firmware (software) can cause serious problems.

I never said it would not require lots of electrical changes ,ive no idea if he told insurance i assume he did as cars are his business ,as for mot i suppose it went like any other mot ,what needed checking will have been checked ,people have been swapping engines etc for years and its not a proplem to get cars mot ,if you have the skill know how and equipment anything is doable.

Edited 26 May26 May by Mickvrs220

5 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

@chills Are you talking from the actual experience of doing engine swaps in the UK, or even Radical Modifications?

No, I am talking from many decades' knowledge of automotive firmware and the legislation that is on the way.
Until last year, I was a member of this https://aesin.org.uk/ since it started.

@chills Thankfully there are those that do, and not all with the knowledge that tut tut.

When the legislation gets going let us know please.

Plenty threads on that over the past years.

Edited 26 May26 May by Ootohere

30 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

When the legislation gets going let us know please.

I am now retired, so I have lost visibility. I do miss the conferences as apart from the formal presentations there was a lot of informal chat. Thus, you got to know where things were going in 5 years time. At least the directions. Hydrogen power will be major. Interestingly, the Intelligence Services had an interest in this group. Hacking vehicles at all levels is a problem.

I recall one scenario was extending a known vulnerability that could be used to remotely stop the vehicles. The original attack was to stop one vehicle, which worked. It was in the industry news and I think made it to some niche care and technology programs on TV. The people who did it did a presentation to one of the conferences. The extension, not described by the time that did the hack but someone else with extensive, knowledge of it, was that the hack was not car specific. Therefore, you could do it to all the cars connected to one server. IE city or metropolitan area in the USA. The US cites are on a rigid grid system in the centre's.

Therefore, if you triggered it to get all the cars of that make to stop on a 4 way intersection having just turned right(?) it would block the intersection if done at 08:30 or 09:00 local. It was estimated that there would be 1500 of that make in the city in the rush hour. This would grid lock all the roads in the city centre. If you do this in the summer when it is hot, there is a serious problem. The city in question only has about 12 hours food and water in it at any one time. It would take more than 12 hours to clear the 1500 cars that were stationary with the brakes on. Can you imagine a city like LA in grid lock with temperatures and temper rising out of food and water (but not short on guns).... The good news is that since the start of this year the chance of doing it has reduced by 40% :-)

One of the things being discussed was that an MOT will check the version numbers of ALL the firmware in the car. This was discussed at length. Input from car companies, the Tier ones and the government. This is an extension of the MOT by plugging into the OBD with interrogation SW to get the firmware versions. The suggestion was that any SW that was critical and not up to date (or subject to a recall) would fail the MOT.

It was also discussed that the MOT station could do the firmware updates. Pro's and cons to this and, obviously, it probably would not be free. That was, depending on who you asked. Some thought it could be done automatically by the MOT station, but then you have time and access problems... Discussions were on going last time I checked, but it wasn't going away.

There was some discussion as to what happened to chipped cars and cars running unauthorized software and parts.... The car companies liked this as it would root out unauthorized (fake/counterfeit) parts, as did the insurance companies. It means that if you fitted something unapproved and had a crash, they don't pay out. The police also like this as a way of "keeping the roads safer"....

Something else that had been discussed years previously was if the airbags went off in an accident, the car would "phone home" automatically" that was also though far-fetched when it was first proposed but is standard now. BTW, if the EU decides to do it all the car companies will fall in line, and it will happen in the UK because all the car companies and tier 1's are pan-European. Though, HMG were in favour of the checking the software anyway.

BTW, if anyone remembers the Toyota Unintended Acceleration debacle in the USA in 2014 that was blamed on the in car software, as was the VW emissions scandal recently. Unfortunately, NDA's will stop the reality of both coming out. As I am not going to the US any time soon, I would suggest the Toyota software was A problem, but not actually the cause of the problem.

On 05/05/2025 at 11:40, Supermikey said:

Hi everyone,

So i'm wondering if it is possible to swap out the 2 litre petrol engine to the one used in the golf R or even possibly Audi's 2.5 five cylinder.

Good idea or no?

Thanks

Back on topic ,yes it is possible you just may need deep pockets and a clever person 👍

What happened in the UK was that The Tories called General Elections and kept holding up bills and legislation.

It will no doubt all be back on track. After all the Labour Party & the Secretary of State for Transport, and all the others are fully clued up.

Full Steam ahead on the EV Truck Convoys and the Self Driving Ubers.

Maybe they can even get Digital Radio reception throughout the UK, ANPR everyplace, GPS received everyplace.

Maybe they can get all vehicles off UK roads that are un-taxed, uninsured, no MOT and drivers without licences caught.

PS

It will be something when the UK Government / Legislation starts catching up on vehicles with Air Bags that are under recalls and have not been in with some being over a decade since they were known as 'Safety Critical.

Then there are the Out of Date Air bags.

A big change will be when Insurance Companies that sell 'Write offs' of what ever class are responsible for ensuring the sold on & 'Repaired Vehicles' have New Airbags, Seat belts fitted.

Actually that cars are not just back on the road with a MOT carried out at a Non Council / Government facility.

Edited 26 May26 May by Ootohere

Okay well, thanks for every ones input.

It was just a mad thought, if i do attempt any serious mods i'll post them here.

Mike

On 05/05/2025 at 11:40, Supermikey said:

Hi everyone,

So i'm wondering if it is possible to swap out the 2 litre petrol engine to the one used in the golf R or even possibly Audi's 2.5 five cylinder.

Good idea or no?

Thanks

In another thread, today about adding soundproofing to a Škoda....

1 hour ago, Choclab said:

Insurers are getting really tight with specifications, these days. My policy, deep in the small print, says I have to tell them if I change my exhaust system, or part system. In conversation, at renewal, I mentioned that I wasn’t intending to fit a sports exhaust, and was told I could not even fit a Kwik Fit exhaust - it has to be a Skoda part. supplied, fitted and warranted, by a Skoda dealer! Any other exhaust is permitted, but they have to be informed, and will be listed on my policy record as a modification over original spec, (and would have to pay higher premiums for the pleasure). Another insurer rip off.

If Insurers are getting like that, imagine what they will do with an Engine swap.

Quite apart from the problems with the software which is as important, actually more so, than the mechanical parts. .