stephen8512's Candy White Golf R

[stephen8512]

So small update. Haven't had time to do much to the car mod wise, so I've been collecting parts again...

1) Major 60K service completed at 53K kms as the car was approaching 1 year since last major 45K service (which was subsequently done around 38K kms). Thanks to Jack at BLA for getting all this done. Will need to drop car back off there to tend to a knocking noise which Jack believes is the subframe and the rigid collars but all in all, car feels good.

2) Car got into a little accident a few weeks back. Three lane road (Pennant Hills Rd), I was on the right most lane. 4WD towing a caravan was in the middle lane. My car was situated between the 4WD and the caravan when suddenly, the guy starts merging into my lane without any indication. I honk my horn thinking he will stop but he kept coming. Slam the brakes and luckily, the rear driver side of his caravan scraped the passenger side quarter panel of my car only. It also damaged my OSIR mirror covers and the actual mirror unit, but aside from that, it was all cosmetic as it just scraped it. Suspension and the integrity of everything was intact, which was a relief. Immediately took it to Axel at VCDC and within a week, it was all fixed. Covered through the other guys insurance. New panel, new mirror unit and new OSIR CF covers. Wheels were also scraped and this was also fixed.

It sounds worse than what it really was. Guy was an older bloke, apologised, swapped details, went through insurance, hassle free. Now, the car is back in my garage and booked in with Dave at Reflect Effect to get the quarter panel and mirror covers re-opticoated. Axel did a fantastic job as always. The panel has been properly colour matched, wheels have been repaired and freshened up and the end result is flawless. Cannot thank him enough.



3) Colour MFD sale fell through from the guy in the UK. Won't be getting my hands on it unfortunately. Still on the lookout for one though...

4) Bought some new replacement wipers. Bosch Aerotwin A980S. Very good wipers with streak free finish. Feels brand new again.

Purchased them from here : Details - Bosch Auto Shop

For those that want the VW OEM wipers (which I believe is the same brand but more expensive due to it being labelled a VW OEM Part), then the VW Part code is 1Q2998002. Should fit MK5 Golfs as well as MK6.



5) SSR SP1 centre caps purchased. These are the "B-Type Low" caps. There are also the "B-Type Super Low" and "B-Type High". Difference between the caps is basically the "thickness", or how much the cap protrudes out from the centre. The ones I got are 22.71mm thick and should tie in nicely with the wheels (when I finally put them on).

Also, I'm thinking of getting a custom "R" logo made up in place of the SSR logo...but we'll see how that goes.





79.5 to 57.1 aluminium hubrings also ordered from SSR Japan.

6) Decided to remove "R" logo badge from the front grille and instead, fit the white insert for the front VW badge. I previously had this badge when I purchased it from Bold-Sport (as can be seen by my previous post here), but at the time I didn't like it for two reasons. One, I felt it didn't look good with the white housing and chrome "R" logo and two, the actual housing from Bold Sport was a chinese copy, not a VW OEM item so it wouldn't "click" into the grille as nicely as the OEM one did.

I had a spare housing lying around (VW Part code : 5K0 853 601 F) so I got Axel to spray the housing in candy white while he was repairing my car and have now removed the "R" logo from the grille. Only thing is, by removing the R logo, it has left these two holes where the logo used to be, but they are barely noticeable. I might do a DIY later on and dremel it off, or just substitute my grille for a TSI grille which is essentially the same thing without the holes.

Now that the R logo is no longer there, it looks better with the white housing. Still a bit iffy with the look of it to be honest, but thats what I said initially about having a black VW badge instead of a chrome one, and I came around to it in the end. We shall see what happens...

(old photo but looks like this without the R logo now)





7) 3D Design carbon vents ordered through Budi at Autotechnik. These are the same as the vents on Justin's MK5 R32. Originally designed for the 1 series BMW, the bonnet will be cut and made to fit these vents. Also, it will be a new VW OEM bonnet that the vents will be used on.



Only dilemma I have at the moment is whether to keep the vents carbon, or to get them painted in Gloss black? I had thought of wrapping them in gloss black vinyl but not sure how the vinyl will hold up overtime with heat emanating from the bonnet. Once I get these in my hands, then will make a decision. For now though, I'll most likely keep them CF as it will tie in with the CF Garage Vary front lip and the CF OSIR mirror covers.

Focal IFVW Speaker kit purchased. Will be looking at upgrading the rear door speakers too as well as Dynamat. Most likely be going to Marty @ FHRX to do the install.

Not my photo but you get the idea...




Last few things to purchase :

- OEM VW Bonnet (Aug-Sep)
- 355x32 Brembo 6 pot calipers with slotted front and rear rotors (Oct-Nov)
- Custom mould interior CF trim (Nov-Dec)
- Kerscher wider front guards (Nov-Dec)

Then, finally, I'll be done.... maybe bigger turbo or something later on but not for a very long while...a maxed out K04 making some 220kw at all 4 wheels I believe is plenty enough for a daily driver.

[stephen8512]

Picked up the 3D Design twin vents for the bonnet from Autotechnik today. Many thanks to Budi for sourcing these and bringing them in.

I wish I took a photo of the box it came in. For a pair of vents, they were contained inside a box which was as big as the box my Scorpion TBE came in, with the inside of the box having a plethora of bubble wrap. No chance of the vents getting damaged with all that wrap/box.

I have to say, it really is a very nice bit of kit. I said that I would consider painting these Gloss piano black, but the CF is just so nice and I don't think I can do it. In any case, when these are installed, the front should tie in nicely with the front Garage Vary CF lip and the OSIR CF mirrors.

They come factory with this silver mesh at the opening of the vents. From memory, Jose had left his off completely on his old R32. I don't mind them to be honest, but I will ask Jack at BLA to get some black Porsche mesh to replace these (if I decide to keep them).

The 3D Design vents also come with these rain/water catchment trays. Once the vents are installed, I'm guessing the idea is you can pop the bonnet and screw these in for when there's rain pouring down so that water doesn't get into the engine bay. Only thing is, it may not have clearance in the engine bay when I try and shut the bonnet with them on...but we'll get to that hurdle when the vents are installed on the bonnet...let's get that done first...

Anyway, enough blab. Here are some photos

CF weave so nice...




Certification of authenticity




Rain catchment tray




A reminder of how these vents look when properly installed. Photo credit goes to Jose (JIG) and for these photos of his old (Justin Fox's current) MK5 Supercharged R32






...and a mock-up of how the vents will look when it will be on my Golf R.




The SSR Wheel caps I ordered for my Professor SP1's finally arrived. There were so many variations of these wheel caps. I opted for the "low" caps (i.e they don't protrude out as much when installed)




And just a few small purchases. OSIR keyfob thing as the rubber buttons were starting to get quite worn and had a few scratches and scuffs




Also bought these. OSIR aluminium carpet locks. Just a little minor detail thing which should tie nicely with the JCAPS aluminium billet wheel cover for my Recaros.



Didn't take a photo of them installed but looks like this.

[stephen8512]

Ever since taking delivery of the professors, I haven't put them on mainly because of time constraints plus other stuff I wanted to finish off on the car before I put them on. They will be the last items to be put on the car right after the BBK's.

Never took photos with the rears and a few pple had been asking about them so here they are. The rears are the SL lips (max step lip/dish setup). Still plenty of clearance and no fouling anywhere. Pays to measure a million times, cut once so to speak...

Long weekend, gorgeous day, playing around with the car before wash/wax/polish

Not many pple run the SSR centre caps but I quite like them. Yes, I know, I used the widowmaker jack...no jackstands and no trolley jack available.








45 degree angle shot




Rear caliper to spoke clearance




Have to admit, got a little excited of how it will look when I saw this...should look quite fat from the rear!

[stephen8512]

It's been a while...

Finally out of storage...shall be on the car very soon




And finally, vents to be installed in the coming week or 3 Mesh to be substituted with porsche black mesh

[stephen8512]

teaser :

[stephen8512]

So got the car back...with added vents

Took some super quick snaps of the car in its current state.

[stephen8512]

Spec Sheet:

-SSR Professor SP1
-SSR Type 2 Centre Caps
-SSR 79.5-to-57.1 centrebore hubrings
-235/35/19 Dunlop Sportmaxx GT
-19 x 9 ET37
-5x112 PCD

Many thanks to Fulvio at Spinning Wheel and Tyres, and thanks to everyone I've spoken to regarding wheels, fitment, guards, wider guards, camber, etc. Ray, Bima, Thomas, Paul (Dub), Nat (dev17a) and Alan (granturismo).

Some photos. Pre-VW Nationals impromptu meet at Rays

[rayray086]

Looks spot on Steve

[stephen8512]

Thanks ray!

[stephen8512]

So when I (finally) got the wheels put on, there was one little thing I forgot to think about and that was the lug bolts. I was told that the SSR Professors needed V-taper (conical) lug bolts whereas the OEM VW/Audi's are Ball seat. I could use them for the time being but it meant that though the OEM lug bolts were keeping the wheels on the hub, it wasn't secure as they were ball seat lug bolts.

So I decided to get some McGard Wheel bolts (Thanks again to Nat AKA dev17a). The McGard bolts are 28mm shank length, slightly longer than the OEM 26mm, and I opted for the black plated heads. They come in either Chrome or Black.

McGard Wheel bolts with Black plated heads.




M14x1.5, 17mm hex like the OEM, 28mm shank length




Out with the old...




...and in the with the new






V-Taper (conical) vs Ball seat and difference in length of the shank




In storage...