Tigger73's 125TSI Tiguan Build Thread

[tigger73]

I've recently bought a full size spare (thanks Phil) for my Tig. I'm now playing around with ideas on how to fit it in the boot while maximising the space. At the moment I've just stuck the original boot floor and boot liner on top of the spare but it sits up too high and makes the smallish boot even smaller. There's a fair bit of "wasted" space under the floor now. Just wondering if anyone else has a neat solution. I'm not keen on modifying the original boot floor but would consider getting some plywood or similar and cutting a new floor - perhaps with the spare standing upright on one side? Anyone see any problems with this? (other than upsetting the weight distribution and COG )

[Transporter]

It's OK as long as you prevent the tyre from flying forward, should the car be in accident. My first car Renault12 had spare tyre standing up in the boot, quite neatly actually in the right rear guard. It was more practical than under the boot floor. Just imagine that the boot is full and you get puncture in a bad weather.

[Phil G]

Securing the wheel is easy with a longer bolt - using M8 threaded rod, nut and wing nut like the one on the left:


If you keep the original rear floor, and let it sit 70mm higher, you either need to relocate the side pins that secure the front of it, or extend the pins. I tried the latter but it's a bit cluncky - works OK but the two extensions I made up can fall off, and the tailgate just closes flush with the floor in an elevated position. I also used two velcro strips to hold down the back end but the velcro doesn't stick all that well to the Tig's carpet.




The easiest solution is to remove the floor and foam and just have the wheel there. Maybe put a wheel cover on it, or cover it with a bit of canvas or utility carpet. All depends on what you put in your boot.

[Blackdakdak]

Just bought a 16" steel VW rim from VW spares Gosford. $200! But worth it as I know it has the right offset, holes etc. I drive around 45000km a year, a lot on rough country roads, and get at least one puncture a year. The temporary spare VW inficts on us is useless - on the F3 freeway it is dangerously slow, and on country roads worse than useless. How it is even legal in an Aussie car is beyond me - we need a new Aus design rule to insist on a decent spare.

Interestingly the dealer I got the car from denied there were any steel rims and tried to sell me an extra alloy for around $900. I called VWA and asked their 'customer care' team who had less than zero idea of anything and transferred my call to a mazda dealer. I finally got onto Central Coast VW and the spares guy there was brilliant, found the part, ordered it and got it delivered withing a day! I then got a Maxxis tyre fitted. Seriously - the customer care section of VWA - should they be renamed as the 'no freakin' idea or use dept'? What do they actually do?

Fitting it in the wheelwell went OK - as others have noticed, the floor sits up higher, but I bought 2 of those cheap blue luggage straps and wrapped them around the removeable floor and thru the tie-down loops front and rear. Holds it all secure in case of accident. The wheel bolt that secures it to the chassis is too short, so I bought a Bunnings bolt.

Feels a lot more secure having a full sized spare, and can also take the crap temporary one as a 2nd backup.

I'm sure the dealer will find it all a bit strange, but since they and VWA were no help, too bad.

[MGV]

What's the difference in width between your steel rim & a stock 16" rim? You could easily get a stock 16" alloy with pretty good rubber on it for $200!

[Blackdakdak]

Hi, vw steel rim is same width as alloys. I know the 200 bucks was excessive like all vw parts, but guaranteed to fit Tig as made for it. Plus I tried a few wheel/tyre places and they had bugger all interest in finding and selling me a single steel or alloy rim with vw holes and 33 offset. Plus I had the experience of a nongenuine spare in a previous car not fitting - holes were correct in theory, but mm out when attempt made to use. Great to be stuck between broken hill & mildura for 5 hours.

I basically took the lazy option at a price that while not great was affordable to me and saved me heaps of time.

I still think vw had a crap design moment when they went with the space saver. Cheap cost cutting measure, just like removing the bag hooks. Plus the dealer made it unecessarily difficult for me to find the genuine steel rim.

[Bambazonke]

I concur with all the above and what I find strange is that VW offer the Passat a normal road vehicle with a full size spare!

[tigger73]

Has anyone replaced their lower grille with a wire mesh?

Ran over a pidgeon at 100km/hr the other day. Saw it and was hoping it was going to get out of the way but it hesitated and then was too slow.... heard a thud and then when I stopped later had a pidgeon embedded in my front grille.

Managed to get it and most of the feathers out, but now there's a nice (or not so nice) 5cm hole in my front grille.

Went to the dealer spare parts dept and they said it was a very comon part - went through 3-4 a week with front enders. Cost is $189 for the plastic insert. Hmmmm

So I was just wondering if anyone has looked at replacing their grilles with stainless steel mesh. I know it's probably not something that you'd go and do straight out, but given I need to replace mine I'm open to all options.

[noone]

eBay? Making your own wouldnt look the same

[tigger73]

The only grilles I can see on ebay/online is for the updated 2012 model Tigs.

There is a manufacturer in China on Alibaba but min order quantity is 10... would mean I have quite a few spares.