So yesterday I gave the car a service oil and filter plus air filter in general its was fairly easy as said only thing I would say was getting the oil filter out and releasing the pressure without any thing designed for the job was a little messy especially when everything is only a foot or less away from your face! It was alsot he first time taking the engine cover off and I was suprised how easy it was think I had built it up in my mind to be a nightmare that always ends in a broken cover!
It was interesting to see all the gubbings in the engine in more detail once all the plastic was gone and I was thinking the under-side of the air box was screaming out for some heat reflective tape to at least slow the ingress of heat.
and after/during I also fitted the aero parts, it was all relatively easy only issue I had was not being able to get the car too far off the ground, I also found the rear grit guards very tight to get on.
comparison shot between old and new.
front cover fitted, I didnt bend it out and left it with the inward bump where there is no golf ball texture and from pushing upwards as snoopy said I think there is a good 10-15mm of clearance, although I imagine at speed this could be forced up on to the sump but assuming VW used thermo set plastic I dont think this would cause an issue as the under-side would be readily cooled.
I also bought the 1a and 1b larger deflectors, although based on ETKA I didnt get enough screws to fit both as at the moment I only have the one installed but as the profile picture shows it almost has a significant increase in air deflection.
The rear grit guards were interesting to fit the trailing arm on my rear suspension (if that is the right term for it) had an extra downward nodule on it which meant I had to get under the car and really tugg on the plastic to force it along to locate the plastic rivets, I also didnt need to relocate the brake cables as they sat along the top side of the arm and I couldnt see that these additions would cause them to foul at all.
So far I have only been for a short drive but will be going on a hour 45 drive from glos to woking tonight so should get an idea if it has affected mpg at all, one of my initial thoughts while pootling along was that road noise was reduced but again this should be more evident at faster speeds, I will also be monitoring the oil and coolant temps with the polar display, I could do with DSG temp as well but it might be all the excuse I need for some open front fog vents
I have the rear axle cover on back order so will update once it arrives.
