2003 Mk4 Golf 1.8t GTI - Hey all!

[Fatty]

Hi Guys,

total newb here.
A little about myself:
Im 25, studied science, working in fire investigation.
I learned to drive in a manual Nissan Pulsar or "the paddock basher" so tactfully named by my dad. it was my brothers old car.
I then inherited (again off my brother) a mk4 2.0 golf. Now I wont call it the 2.slow because I loved that car. so beautiful.
fat and slow. but reliable, torquey enough, and beautiful. I learned to do all the servicing myself because often when I got it back from the VW service centre, after a over priced service, she was a little worse for wear. she ran like a dream though.
no after market mods.
It was navy blue, the apple of my eye. I drove that for 6.5 years until...

3 months ago I bumped into the back of a truck while I was driving home from one of the more exhausting days of work. a gentle bang. The truck didn't even lose any paint.

My bonnet was a little out of shape and no doubt I was going to have issues with the radiator... that was until I got the insurance involved. my dad insisted on comprehensive insurance. to my dismay, they wrote my car off. like it was nothing.

ANYWAY long story short. I have picked up a 2003 mk4 1.8t in reflex silver.
I have been a browser on these forums but I have never posted, more or less everything is here. but as I get into this 1.8t I'm also seeing a great potential. I'm not a hot head but I do like a well running, comfortable, and gutsy car.
Im pretty lo key though and am trying to maintain that low profile.

Let me know if you would like picks, all I have done is removed the engine bay covers and wiped it down with cleaning cloths.

There are 2 issues I face now (after ironing out a few other quirks (such as leaking sunroof))
these are: the clutch slips if I give it too much gas, but only sometimes. I rate this as an urgent fix though and no doubt Ill find a nice professional to do that work.

the other issue is, somewhere along the line, its ignition coils have been replaced with those of an Audi A6. Im aware of ignition coil upgrades on the 1.8t but these seem to be an odd choice, and i would like to replace them with the R8 coils which are so popular. however VW's own plastic adaptor plates do not even fit. not to mention that there seems to be oil coming out past the spark plugs. has something been changed that I should be aware of?



Thanks all!

I look forward to meeting you

Regards,
Michael.

[h100vw]

See my other post about the coilpacks. They are standard for Aussie delivered GTIs. The clutch won't fix itself unfortunately. A conversion to a solid flywheel and VR6 clutch kit is the usual fix.

Welcome to the forum

PS hit me up for a tune when you get the clutch done

[Fatty]

thanks h100vw you've already been a great help!

I want to sort of keep that balance between the luxurious feel and the performance aspects of the engine. so I was thinking of keeping the dual mass flywheel but potentially shaving a little off the first wheel? is that a bad idea?

[h100vw]

I don't know anyone thats done that. So can't comment.

You'll struggle to find someone to skim the flywheel. Plus you risk the dual mass failing anyway. I'd not bother with that, I'd just go solid.

gavin

[Fatty]

sound advice, I will follow it.
I just got to find a mechanic who can be on my team on this one.

my parents where always a bit snobby toward people who liked sport or mechanics or whatever. I can see the error of their ways, however it means that coming into this I have NO background. other than rebuilding a few 2 stroke engines and helping a friend build a nissan 180 and another friend who has a love of vw and owns a mk1 and a mk3 golf.