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Author Topic: My Laser blue GTI  (Read 5418 times)

Offline mabbo

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My Laser blue GTI
« on: November 14, 2021, 04:10:51 pm »
Hi guys,

Thought Id start a thread about my GTI. Its my sensible family daily driver so wont go mad with it.

I spent a while looking for a low mileage, low owner, well looked after GTI. Narrowed it down to a 54 plate laser blue and 56 plate black DSG. I prob should have gone for the black DSG - it was cheaper, had Xenon's with a heated cloth interior which I prefer to the leather and all the services and maintenance was done at VW other than the last service. Pretty sure it was owned by a doctor for most its life, then an old boy for the last couple of years. Only thing that put me off was it was black and the front wings had been replaced and the paintwork wasnt perfect on them... and Im pretty fussy with paintwork... and it had slighly more miles, around 80k.

So I went with my laser blue because I liked the fact its got the OG front wings that are rust free and I like the colour. It had 64k miles when I bought it, full VW service history. I bought it off a lad who bought it from his uncle who bought it from VW - I think it was the demonstrator car as it had 5000 miles on it when he bought it. Its pretty low spec, other than the heated leathers - 17" monzas, no cruise or parking sensors etc, no MFSW etc.

Few photos of how it was advertised:










I bought a pair of proper GTI headlights, fitted those and it looks a million times better IMO:


The windscreen cracked so had a new one fitted. What a cock around with Autoglass trying to get a proper blue tinted screen. Ended up getting it sorted elsewhere though.

Fitted a cheapish Sony headunit and facia and got that fitted so I can use Apple Carplay.

Had a PDR guy out who got a few dents out for me. Its nice and straight and as far as I can tell, all OG paint and rust free.

Just had it serviced, the cam follower and thermostat replaced. Fitted a pair of Avon ZV7 tyres as the back ones were well overdue. The fronts could do with being replaced but Im holding off as I want a set of 18" Monzas.

Havent done much else yet other than that... I have bought a Bilstein B12 kit with the B8 shocks and Eibach sportline springs and planning on replacing all the suspension components with top quality parts as the previous owner spent over £2k having the cam belt and water pump replaced along with all loads of suspension work but Iv now got an issue with the traction light / ABS pump coming on when it shouldnt (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,132178.0.html) and it looks like they used cheap parts and done a poor job of fitted them.

Im going to fit a full polybush kit at the same time then have it 4 wheel aligned.

Once all thats done, Im planning on having it detailed properly... Might even flat and polish the whole car... Either that or just get it machine polished. I might do it myself at work if I get chance but doubt Ill get time. We will see.

I'll keep this updated as things progress anyway :happy2: :happy2:


Offline terrier

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Re: My Laser blue GTI
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2021, 05:39:56 pm »
Always nice to get a bundle of paperwork :happy2: Not a fan of the polybushes :sick:
 There is a repair instead of replace for the ABS.  I had mine replaced under warranty around 10 years ago Dealers price then would have been over £1000 :grin: :grin: :grin:

Offline Mekaniko

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Re: My Laser blue GTI
« Reply #2 on: November 15, 2021, 04:44:05 pm »
Nice color and looks very good!

Check the DV as it could be in bad condition if never changed.

I would not recomend poly bushes if it's a family car...

Offline bobby_fodge

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Re: My Laser blue GTI
« Reply #3 on: November 15, 2021, 05:35:03 pm »
I have the front end and my engine and gearbox mounts polybushed and I think it's fine for a family car, none of mine moan but my cars are usually polybused.

You do notice really bad road surfaces but I think it's worth that NVH for the tightness when pushing on.

I'll be getting the rear of the car polybushed in the spring/summer.

Offline mabbo

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Re: My Laser blue GTI
« Reply #4 on: November 15, 2021, 06:27:41 pm »
Nice color and looks very good!

Check the DV as it could be in bad condition if never changed.

I would not recomend poly bushes if it's a family car...

Thanks mate,

I ordered the full poly bush kit today. With the Eibach sportline springs and B8 shocks Im expecting it to be firm, didnt think the bushes would make that much difference but Iv never drove a car thats got polybushes.

Hope its not too bad  :scared:

Offline LC5F

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Re: My Laser blue GTI
« Reply #5 on: November 15, 2021, 07:02:40 pm »
Good looking Golf - laser blue is a cracking colour

Offline Mekaniko

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Re: My Laser blue GTI
« Reply #6 on: November 16, 2021, 11:34:55 am »
Nice color and looks very good!

Check the DV as it could be in bad condition if never changed.

I would not recomend poly bushes if it's a family car...

Thanks mate,

I ordered the full poly bush kit today. With the Eibach sportline springs and B8 shocks Im expecting it to be firm, didnt think the bushes would make that much difference but Iv never drove a car thats got polybushes.

Hope its not too bad  :scared:

My experience on poly bushes is based on BMW track tool cars from colleagues maybe on the GTI is different.

I have the B12 with sportlines on mine and I 'm in love with that let us know your thoughts with the bushes maybe I will need to install it!

Offline Golf_is_not_a_sport

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Re: My Laser blue GTI
« Reply #7 on: November 16, 2021, 04:25:43 pm »
Love the colour, Have a very similar car and plan but in Silver, will keep checking in on this one!

Offline mabbo

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Re: My Laser blue GTI
« Reply #8 on: January 23, 2022, 10:01:55 pm »
Right then, little update.

Took my car to my mate who runs a local VW specialist to go through the suspension and get it MOTd.

Decided to fit it all - full polybush kit, Eibach sportline, Bilstein B8s, TT top mounts, new Lemforder ball joints, track rod ends, drop links etc... Needed a couple of tyres which is a bit of a pisser as I want to change the wheels to 18" Monzas... but I need the car back so just had the tyres fitted for now.

Passed the MOT and is booked in for the tracking tomorrow. He is changing the master cylinder tomorrow so Im hoping to get it back tomorrow PM. Looking forward to seeing how much different it is:









Its desperate for a proper detail. Gonna have to do it at some point. I'll prob give it a 2 stage machine polish and ceramic coat, and sort all the trims.

Went out for a walk with the Mrs and kids the other week after it had been washed and got a cheeky photo:


Just bought a set of genuine GTI mats from a scammer on Facebook and lost £20. Pisser. I thought the mats in mine were the originals but they dont have GTI on them so I assume not.

I was a bit gutted a while ago that Id bought a manual over a DSG and considered selling it before fitting all the suspension parts but thought f*ck it, its a nice original lowish miles lowish owner car and all OG paint which I like. I'll prob get a Mk6 DSG next.

Planning going stage 1 at some point soon too. Think Im gonna go with an Ecotune map.

Might also do the B6 climatronic and Android 510 style radio. Not sure yet but I like the idea of having the heating / heated seat display on the radio. Not a big deal I guess but if its an easy swap I might do it.

Cheers

Offline G-olf

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Re: My Laser blue GTI
« Reply #9 on: January 24, 2022, 08:18:43 am »
Looking good  :happy2:

What was the part numbers on the shock /spring kit?
How much did it lower by and was it even drop front/rear?

Offline mabbo

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Re: My Laser blue GTI
« Reply #10 on: January 24, 2022, 12:47:05 pm »
Looking good  :happy2:

What was the part numbers on the shock /spring kit?
How much did it lower by and was it even drop front/rear?

I got it from Autodoc while they had an offer on... Its currently over £1k, I paid about £540 - E95-85-014-02-22 is the one I bought. They do a few different ones.

Offline pudding

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Offline LC5F

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Re: My Laser blue GTI
« Reply #12 on: January 24, 2022, 08:13:13 pm »
Good to see update - how is it feeling to drive?

I dont think VW does embroidered mats - VW do 2 types of genuine mats, low/high quality - my kind TPS guys got both in to see, the low Q ones are really good and half the price.

Offline mabbo

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Re: My Laser blue GTI
« Reply #13 on: January 24, 2022, 08:26:30 pm »
Good to see update - how is it feeling to drive?

I dont think VW does embroidered mats - VW do 2 types of genuine mats, low/high quality - my kind TPS guys got both in to see, the low Q ones are really good and half the price.

Was hoping to get it back today but the place he uses to do the 4 wheel alignment cant do it till Wed, so Ill be getting it after work on Wed, hopefully.

Do both the cheap and expensive mats have GTI on them? Mine are plain but look OG to me.

Offline LC5F

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Re: My Laser blue GTI
« Reply #14 on: January 25, 2022, 06:34:22 pm »
No - they don't have embroidery, but they have the clips so work and fit well.