Mk7 Golf GTI Discussion Thread

[Dutch77]

Pretty much. It's only under load and it could very well be just a normal engine sound. The car has only done 250km (I haven't been thrashing it) so I'll see how it evolves.

I get the impression we might be describing the same thing, although I've barely heard it / it was with windows open / and it isn't there mostly. The only reason I noticed anything was I specifically wanted to here the external sound via an open window and to see if there were any major variances in sound compared to Mk6. I suspect it's a non-issue/non-event and I have not replicated it since, albeit I've only travelled about 6km since.

[Jimi]

I can hear it with the windows closed and I don't think it's the soundaktor either. I'm reasonably confident that Brendan A is describing the same noise. Hopefully like him (and yours), mine disappears soon. The car is only a week old.

I'm loving it by the way. The biggest adjustment was back to manual after 10 years with an auto (my rationale was that at 28, this is the last manual I may ever own!).

[Dutch77]

I'm a DSG guy for a number of reasons, including a dodgy left ankle, but I'd read the manual was particularly sweet on the Mk7s.

I'm trying to think whether I've heard the noise with the windows up - perhaps I have - but I like the fade away and forget option.

[Dutch77]

They were definitely firmer than stock (so don't buy the blurb that it rides like stock). They were more than acceptable on smooth roads, but they did relay any imperfections more (as you'd expect) and on rougher roads you definitely felt it wasn't stock.

For anyone interested Guy has posted a pic of his Mk7 GTI running VWR springs with VWR Racing wheels:

The Official Mk7 Wheel Thread

[wasabiz]

They were definitely firmer than stock (so don't buy the blurb that it rides like stock). They were more than acceptable on smooth roads, but they did relay any imperfections more (as you'd expect) and on rougher roads you definitely felt it wasn't stock.

Unfortunately I think everyone is going to judge the feel a little differently depending on their personal definitions. Coming from a background of cheap Commodore modifications growing up with Pedders springs it was definitely more comfortable than that!

The only scrub I ever got running the springs in combination with the OZ ST LMs which gave 9mm more poke than the stock Detroits was on sharp left cambered corners (I'm assuming the wider apex on a right hand turn was enough to avoid the issue) driving aggressively. I believe this was the fender screw, which on the Mk6 was subject to removal to eliminate this issue (in fact the Rs didn't have the screw in the first place for this reason). I never got around to doing the mod before I moved the car on so cannot 100% confirm this was the issue, but would be very surprised if it wasn't. Ergo VWR + stock or close to stock wheels = fine.

I'm not sure what the go is on the Mk7s yet spring wise, but your other choices are SPM (read Lucas Rs threads), Eibach and probably H&R, subject to availability (although per my wheel thread there are H&R Mk7s running suspension mods so assume yes). FWIW I spend a long time reading threads on Mk6 springs and H&R were always considered quite hard, the Eibachs were mixed and the Yanks loved the VWRs. The SPMs are a relatively newer product.

One last alternative on the Mk6 was the Driver Gear springs which were apparently more compliant again over VWR but with less of a drop - however they came in manual and DSG versions, and people were using manual springs on DSG cars to gain a bigger drop (more equivalent to VWR). No idea if VW are making something similar on the Mk7 though.

I've been told today by colleagues and people around me that if I change the spring on a magnetic damper, it could lead to detrimental outcomes to the damper itself in the long run as the damper was designed for a certain spring rate and certain size and changing it would just destroy it. After a long and hard discussion they've finally convinced me to stay stock with the springs or change it out fully with KW. (Go hard or go home)

Now the question is, can I live with the gap between the body and the tyres

*segway*

I've just recently contacted my local dealer for Milltek and asked for a quote price on their catback+muffler and turboback, if the price is within reasonable I think I might go for the catback+muffler as my dealer said it doesn't void my warranty if those are the only thing that's changed. Can anyone back me up on this? or is he just saying crap.

[Dutch77]

I've been told today by colleagues and people around me that if I change the spring on a magnetic damper, it could lead to detrimental outcomes to the damper itself in the long run as the damper was designed for a certain spring rate and certain size and changing it would just destroy it. After a long and hard discussion they've finally convinced me to stay stock with the springs or change it out fully with KW. (Go hard or go home)

Now the question is, can I live with the gap between the body and the tyres

In theory you're going to potentially damage things with any spring change, I must admit all my research was based on a non-DCC Mk6 so didn't spend much time on the DCC impact.

However it was my understanding that VWR springs were DCC compliant on the Mk6 and no reason why not on the Mk7. I am sure Guy would be more than happy to discuss his findings on his Mk7 GTI. So with zero guarantees I'd suggest you can still be very open on the idea of just a spring change, particularly if your main goal is the wheel gap.

I've just recently contacted my local dealer for Milltek and asked for a quote price on their catback+muffler and turboback, if the price is within reasonable I think I might go for the catback+muffler as my dealer said it doesn't void my warranty if those are the only thing that's changed. Can anyone back me up on this? or is he just saying crap.

In theory any change can void warranty, although as per every other thread about this on here it needs to be proven that the change caused the fault. Changing the catback only on these cars is a noise/sound thing only, so it would be hard to void any warranty for just that change, but no 100% guarantees. Going turbo back obviously changes things and certainly increases the warranty risk, and if the Mk6 is anything to go by will usually require a tune change to clear any CEL from the free flow cat etc. sometimes an O2 spacer can work, but I guess that's a separate thread.

The millteks have a nice finish and good rep - although they seem to be considered to quiet resonated, and too loud unresonated. Like ride quality though, this is a subjective thing (yes I spent too much time researching this on the Mk6 as well before settling for my 42dd dump).

[Dutch77]

However it was my understanding that VWR springs were DCC compliant on the Mk6 and no reason why not on the Mk7. I am sure Guy would be more than happy to discuss his findings on his Mk7 GTI. So with zero guarantees I'd suggest you can still be very open on the idea of just a spring change, particularly if your main goal is the wheel gap.

From the wheel thread, further confirmation from VWR that the springs are ok with DDC:

The Official Mk7 Wheel Thread

Although again a quick PM or email to Guy would support this.

[wasabiz]

Just received a quote for the milltek turbo back, $3600 ( AUD is on the weaker side as of this moment) with free installation if he gets to take picture of my car and use it as promo for his website. Hnggggg that price is abit steep for exhaust system which can't be tuned yet. Maybe I should wait for APR tune to be released and go straight to stage 2 instead of doing it incrementally

[Jimi]

Will the diff on the PP be able to handle a stage 2?

[Dutch77]

Just received a quote for the milltek turbo back, $3600 ( AUD is on the weaker side as of this moment) with free installation if he gets to take picture of my car and use it as promo for his website. Hnggggg that price is abit steep for exhaust system which can't be tuned yet. Maybe I should wait for APR tune to be released and go straight to stage 2 instead of doing it incrementally

Ouch, what's the reasoning for choosing Milltek (besides it being a quality product)?

If you're contemplating paying that kind of coin for a full exhaust I have to assume you want some noise - in which case I'd be inclined, particularly if you're thinking APR for the tune, to go for the Mk7 APR TBE when it is released. I'd assume it will come with the usual RSC stuff so while loud, it shouldn't drone, and probably would be back around the $3k mark per Mk6.