V6 Bora Mods - where to start? Bang for Buck

[beale187]

Hello all,
So I recently picked up this beauty and would like to start doing some small mods. But being a new VW owner (and new to forums of any sort) I'm just finding it's hard to absorb all the info that's out there. Not looking at doing anything insane at the moment but would definitely like to get a little more torque lower in the rev range. Any suggestions? Either performance wise or cosmetic?

[leighaus]

Turbo it

[beale187]

Thought about it but at that cost I'm better off selling it and buying an R32 or GTi

[MelbMk4]

Cat back, air intake, coilovers ....a lot of thinks bro .. A good cat back and air intake will give you more torque.
(Also if you wanna dell the steering wheel I can buy for you hehehe.)

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[beale187]

Thanks Melb, any thoughts where I can pick up a CAI? As for the Catback I wouldn't mind doing the MKIV R32 system but I'm going to see how one of the other members finishes up with his conversion first before I start that journey.

Bro the steering wheel? I thought they would have been cheap enough from the wreckers these days? I've seen damaged mk4 Golf's sell for $500 - $600 through the auctions

[MelbMk4]

Thanks Melb, any thoughts where I can pick up a CAI? As for the Catback I wouldn't mind doing the MKIV R32 system but I'm going to see how one of the other members finishes up with his conversion first before I start that journey.

Bro the steering wheel? I thought they would have been cheap enough from the wreckers these days? I've seen damaged mk4 Golf's sell for $500 - $600 through the auctions

I just fit a magnaflow in my mk4 and sounds like hell!! Just amazing and also got more torque is a good system, steering wheel are cheap however no the airbag .. So is weird find with the bag and with a good leather ..


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[RubAVeeDubDub]

I think you'll find that the 4mos are pretty tricked out as it is so there isn't a huge amount that can be done to improve it that is "bang for buck". Also due to its rarity, there isn't a huge amount of aftermarket parts around for cheap.

The whole idea of 'bang for buck' mods is highly debatable and an incredibly vague question.

You need to decide what you want in terms of performance. For some performance upgrade is a low profile set of tyres and wider rims, for other's it's a full suspension change, chassis bracing and replacing all bushes with poly ones plus a massive supercharger/turbo slapped onto the engine. Matter of perspective.

I'd say you'll notice the biggest performance difference with a set of good suspension. Doesn't have to be coils but make sure it's a quality branded strut, strut top and spring. Then fit some low profile tyres and wider wheels and upgrade the swaybars and the car's handling will improve significantly. Performance isn't all about power and a well planted car with ample power is a great drive.

The engine's can not be improved for power cheaply.
Don't bother with adjusting the air intake like CAI's etc. 99% of the time, the factory air intake is usually optimum. Differences from aftermarket ones are usually negligible, especially for the cost. Good for noise, not much else. They can make a difference for turbocharged cars where pressure is everything.

Turbo's are into the 1000s for these engines. You'd probably have better luck with a 1.8T from a GTI however that engine would need to be tuned and built well to lug around the extra weight of a Bora + 4wd system.



P.S - I've never seen a 4mo with a grey interior. Is that original?! I was under the impression they only came with Black and Beige interiors.

[beale187]

MelbMK4 how do you find the Magnaflow? Is it drony? How's it sound in low revs? Say under 2,500rpm?

First thing I was looking at was bringing a little noise to it with a MKIV R32 catback which is why I've been following your thread Rub. Didn't realise it was that complicated though to mod the catback to fit to the 4mo, mainly because I didn't take the flapper into consideration. Ideally whatever system I fit I'd like it to look factory and have low noise at low revs and a nice growl when I open it up.

You're spot on with the CAI Rub, I fitted one to my previous Bora and it did #*&^ all. Definitely looking at fitting some a/m sway bars the body roll in my 4mo is pretty ordinary. Don't think I'll be lowering it anymore than it is now, the Oettinger front skirt is a bitch at factory height.

Interior is original from factory. I like it, I've had black leather and beige and even the though the black was sexy it showed the wear the most and the beige shows the dirt a lot more.

Rub have you fitted your catback yet? Any pics?

[MelbMk4]

MelbMK4 how do you find the Magnaflow? Is it drony? How's it sound in low revs? Say under 2,500rpm?

First thing I was looking at was bringing a little noise to it with a MKIV R32 catback which is why I've been following your thread Rub. Didn't realise it was that complicated though to mod the catback to fit to the 4mo, mainly because I didn't take the flapper into consideration. Ideally whatever system I fit I'd like it to look factory and have low noise at low revs and a nice growl when I open it up.

You're spot on with the CAI Rub, I fitted one to my previous Bora and it did #*&^ all. Definitely looking at fitting some a/m sway bars the body roll in my 4mo is pretty ordinary. Don't think I'll be lowering it anymore than it is now, the Oettinger front skirt is a bitch at factory height.

Interior is original from factory. I like it, I've had black leather and beige and even the though the black was sexy it showed the wear the most and the beige shows the dirt a lot more.

Rub have you fitted your catback yet? Any pics?

hey mate here is a link or my build so you can get some ideas and details and one video of the magnaflow sound in a mk4 2.0
for me sound very loud (I DAMN LIKE IT!!) HEHE also gave me a little more torque and the sound is quality i have to said .. not just noise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pXh3yQR3SE
MK4 GOLF BUILD THREAD

cheers

[RubAVeeDubDub]

First thing I was looking at was bringing a little noise to it with a MKIV R32 catback which is why I've been following your thread Rub. Didn't realise it was that complicated though to mod the catback to fit to the 4mo, mainly because I didn't take the flapper into consideration. Ideally whatever system I fit I'd like it to look factory and have low noise at low revs and a nice growl when I open it up.

You're spot on with the CAI Rub, I fitted one to my previous Bora and it did #*&^ all. Definitely looking at fitting some a/m sway bars the body roll in my 4mo is pretty ordinary. Don't think I'll be lowering it anymore than it is now, the Oettinger front skirt is a bitch at factory height.

Interior is original from factory. I like it, I've had black leather and beige and even the though the black was sexy it showed the wear the most and the beige shows the dirt a lot more.

Rub have you fitted your catback yet? Any pics?

Yep, have fitted it but no pics yet Always forget >.>
The R32 exhaust does take a bit of work to fit to a bora 4mo. The Mk4 R32 zhorst has a single pipe from the cat and the 4mo's have twin cats so you need to have a Y-piece made up. Furthermore, the rear right hanger on the exhaust is too long and will not line up on the Bora 4mo's exhaust mount point. Can be chopped up and made to fit using a welder. Then if you want to use the factory silencer, then you will need to connect up the flapper valve. I haven't done this yet as I have heaps of other things on the car I'm focusing on first. I plan to connect the valve to a engine hose and fit an electronically controlled solenoid that would open and close the valve.

CAI's are rubbish in most cars anyway. I don't believe in them unless it's an inducted car AND proven to make a difference. Some make things worse when they suck in hot engine air, and if they don't, then they're usually so close to the ground that they suck in water instead

To reduce body roll - I would definitely recommend some more bracing and better suspension. The stock sway bar is puny and the stock suspension can whail about a bit. Don't have to lower the car but get stiffer and better suspension. My car is on coils but it's now raised up as high as the factory height. Once you get wider wheels, I'd get a bigger rear sway bar (e.g. R32 MK4 23mm with poly bushes), a better front engine dogbone mount, solid front subframe bushes, and if you're really serious then an upgraded Blue haldex controller. (All in that order). I'm happy enough with my suspension for now, so I'll be soon going down the path of upgrading the rear brace and replacing all the bushes with new ones.