Mk7 Golf GTI Discussion Thread

[mattaus]

Got my JB1 today...won't have time to install until the weekend The engine in this car takes forever to cool down enough to work on it!

[LibraR]

Got my JB1 today...won't have time to install until the weekend The engine in this car takes forever to cool down enough to work on it!

Exciting!! Mine hopefully arrives tomorrow. Opticoat going on too... Big day I hope... 😄

[mattaus]

I should have opticoated my car when I got it. I was too much of a tight-arse. Probably still worth it I guess.

[roarner]

Exciting!! Mine hopefully arrives tomorrow. Opticoat going on too... Big day I hope... 

I was thinking to get the Opticoat done too.. How much did they charge you for if you dont mind me asking?

[LibraR]

I was thinking to get the Opticoat done too.. How much did they charge you for if you dont mind me asking?

Up here the local provider is Superfresh Detailing - great guy to deal with, very OCD, (which is what you want on these matters). Price was $1200 for everything - Opticoat Pro Plus (top spec system they have), all interior surfaces including leather setas etc - there are lots of bottles of different stuff for different materials down there - plus all exterior surfaces including glass, lights etc... Extra $66 per wheel to have the wheels removed and full inside and out treatment, plus the calipers done. Worth doing to make the dreaded brake dust much easier to clean off.

As a clear coat instead of just a sealant, the Opticoat is a great solution in my opinion - I get all cars done with it now - and has a very long warranty. Ten years I think from memory. A permanent solution to the paint protection, and does not repeated top up re-application. Goes rock hard, and makes a huge difference to the surface. My other vehicle is nearing two years old - looks like new.

[fontana302]

Anyone's ally trim pieces around the gear selector or anywhere peeling? Mine is on the section just in front of the usb/aux/storage compartment �� ....and my other ongoing problem of the very loud ticking/clicking noise under acceleration, usually in 3rd gear it seems is still there (sounds like a car with shagged cv joints turning a corner) it never use to effect the car from what I could tell but now when it happens power seems to cut momentarily much like when traction control kicks in... Anyone else had this at all?


I've had mine replaced twice in 18 months. The edges can be very sharp, so watch cutting your fingers on them.....

[mattaus]

Anyone's ally trim pieces around the gear selector or anywhere peeling? Mine is on the section just in front of the usb/aux/storage compartment �� ....and my other ongoing problem of the very loud ticking/clicking noise under acceleration, usually in 3rd gear it seems is still there (sounds like a car with shagged cv joints turning a corner) it never use to effect the car from what I could tell but now when it happens power seems to cut momentarily much like when traction control kicks in... Anyone else had this at all?

I've had mine replaced twice in 18 months. The edges can be very sharp, so watch cutting your fingers on them.....

My trim piece is fine and I've taken it off to get to the inner workings of the shift selector multiple times. Maybe I've been lucky? No issues with my car making funny noises yet. I do listen to music quite loud and often though, and very rarely drive around with the music or radio off. That said I was listening to the car this morning because I put my JB1 in (awesome segue!)...

...firstly it's 100% worth the cash. I'm a little scared to really run the engine out now but I'm sure I'll get used to it soon enough.

I have a Rev1 unit (brand new but I got a good deal). Plug A wasn't straight forward so I see why they got rid of it on Rev2. That said it wasn't hard to get in, just a bit finicky to get the two plugs orientated because the harness was a touch too short for my liking.

Plug B was a piece of cake. Plug C was easy once I realised how the plug was fitted into it's holder (it's the only plug with a holder). Once I removed the plug from the holder it was an easy swap.

Now plug D. Oh plug D. "50% of our customers can reach plug D from the top of the engine".

Horse. Sh*t.

I have thin, long arms and fingers. No freaking way was I ever going to reach that plug let alone have the dexterity to actually unplug it and connect the JB1. So under the car I went. Unfortunately it was still finicky to get to and I managed to snap the clip on the stock plug. I still don't know how. Not a big deal other than it appearing as if someone has been mucking around in the engine bay. I put some electrical tape around the connection to stop it shaking loose just in case. I've removed the broken tab altogether.

I placed the JB1 box in the cloth wrap the battery sits in. I've seen some people using velcro tape to stick it to the outside of the cloth but that makes zero sense to me. It ain't going anywhere inside that bag.

All in all it took me about 50 minutes. Now that I know what I'm doing I think it's an easy 30 minute job. No problems removing/reinstalling it before/after services.

In my excitement I probably drove the car a bit too hard before letting it truly warm up, but the drive to work was fine. No funny noises and lots of power.

[LibraR]

Great write up Matt. Mine arrived yesterday, as did the OBD11 and cable for the JB1 (stupidly purchased separately, but arriving the same day). As it happens, the Opticoat was applied yesterday, which is an all-day task that finished just before sun down. No chance to mess about with ramps and Torx wrenches yesterday... I'm also not sure if the low chin on the R will scrape on my ramps to lift the front up for JB1 installation as I drive up, so may need to develop a solution for that too before having a crack at that.

My plan of attack is to rapidly get a few more kms on the car - only 100kms as yet - before wicking up the boost, fuel pressure and all the other goodies associated with the JB1. I think I will attach the JB1 and run it standard initially and see how that goes before messing with the map (all 5 seconds of time there is to change +4.8 to +5). I have also ordered one of the BFI dogbone inserts from Dub Addiction (thanks for that tip) so will install that at the same time as the car is on the ramps.

In the interim, I suspect the lure of the OBD11 will be too great, to see what sort of niceties I can conjure up with that - hopefully without causing the car to shut down completely.

At the moment I am reading about the OBD11 and looking at various YouTube vids to get some tips on what and how with the OBD11 - especially the "and if you really f#@k it up, here's what to do..." vids... I'll keep you posted as I go, but it seems there is an incredible variety of settings that are turned off for the Aussie market, so I'll have a play with a few of them.

[mattaus]

A jack plus stands is probably a better bet for the R is the approach angle is too much for ramps?

Interested to see what you unlock with the OBD11. I see and hear a lot of tweaks people make but nothing really interests me enough to make the change. I should look into it more.

[LibraR]

A jack plus stands is probably a better bet for the R is the approach angle is too much for ramps?

Interested to see what you unlock with the OBD11. I see and hear a lot of tweaks people make but nothing really interests me enough to make the change. I should look into it more.

The ramps are pretty long, but looking at the profile view yesterday, could be touch and go as they are longer overhangs at the front than you first realise. I have jack and stands as well, so either way that bad girl's nose will be in the air when it needs to be.

The OBD11 was more curiosity value if I'm honest, but for $75 I thought "why not". It seems to be more about Aesthetic settings and minor functionality, but it might be able to log data and other more useful things as well. If nothing else, it might unlock traffic updates from what I read, and interface some cool gauges into the centre screen aside from those already therefor MY17.

Nothing in there a "must have" I agree. Just a little fun, hopefully, and some useful functionality from time to time is a bonus.