Best inexpensive mods

What are the top 5 "inexpensive" mods for an '03 Jetta TDI? Xenon headlamps, R32 Recaros, PD150 engine swaps are a little too expensive. Lets say a budget of $300, what genuinely useful mods/upgrades can you do? Chip/Injectors don't count (already have those).

It looks like you already have a ton...

Anyway for non-performance I would say my hitch was the best modification, then my gauges.



Jason

At $300 you are on the border of a good GPS navigation system if you drive in areas you are not really familiar with.

A Panzer pan might be well worth it. While it is not part of the car, my Pella oil extractor was a very good investment.

dabear95 said:

It looks like you already have a ton...

Click to expand...

That's on my B4. My question is about an A4.

I know B4's quite well but next to nothing about A4's and what kinds of cool and nifty parts and upgrades are available. More interested in interior/exterior/lighting/accessories/upgrades than in performance mods.

5 Brake light mod. ASR. (though that one is kinda time consuming and takes a helper to bleed the brakes). Boost valve + boost gauge.

-Jason

bosio PP520's injector nozzles

My top
1. Blue tint aspherical mirrors
2. Side markers/bumper markers (clear or smoked)
3. 5 light brake mod/Rear fog
4. Keyfob-Mod (CCM Mod)
5. Ecodes
6. Skid plate
7. Ventectomy
8. Phatnoise
9. Boost/EGT gauge and boostvalve
10. TDIHeater
11. Monster Mats
12. .681 5th gear

Is that enough options? And I believe they are all under $300

R32 seats aren't Recaro, they're Konig. And they're worth every stinking penny.

My top 5, under $300:
Phatnoise
ASR retrofit
Golf front end swap
5.5L washer tank
Front & rear fogs/5 brake light mod

Guys, he means $300 total not each.

in no particular order:
1. Blue tint aspherical mirrors ($60)
2. Side markers/bumper markers (clear or smoked) ($15)
3. 5 light brake mod ($3)
4. Keyfob-Mod (CCM Mod) (?)
5. Ventectomy ($.35 - bandaid when you put that scredriver into your knuckle.)
6. Boost/EGT gauge and boostvalve ($150)
7. TDIHeater depending on location ($100)
8. Monster Mats ($40)
9. Cupholder console ($80)
10. 6 CD deck ($100)
11. Neuspeed upper strut bar ($75)
12. Shine rear stabilizer bar ($200)

Many of these prices are used prices from the parts vortex.

i'll add/mod the list

-ventectomy, of course ($0)
-disable press-clutch-to-start ($0)
-chop 1" off shift lever ($0)
-5-brake light mod (<$10)
-zerostart heater ($55 if you do it yourself)
-mufflerectomy - straight pipe ($50 at your local exhaust shop)
-monster matts (not sure where you can get a set for $40, maybe more like $80-$100)
-blue-tint heated aspherical side mirrors (~$100)
-rear seat cover using your choice of bulk fleece fabric ($20) - will have pics of mine soon
-clear fuel lines and clear mann inline pre-filter (~$50 for all the hose and 10 filters to last a lifetime, can sell the extra filters/hose if you don't want it all)
-stanadyne fm100 5micron fuel filter setup (basic: ~$65 including filter, +$40 heater)
-in-tank lift pump (iirc, $225)
-leather illuminated rieger shift knob/boot ($85)
-panzer skid plate ($290)
-ecodes/euroswitch (~$400)

etc etc...
edits...

burpod said:

-monster matts (not sure where you can get a set for $40

Click to expand...

vortex is your friend...

I didn't mean all under $300, just some under $300 options. My prices are included below. The vortex can be nice for used parts.

schwechel said:

My top
1. Blue tint heated aspherical mirrors $45
2. Side markers/bumper markers (clear or smoked) $10 each for a total of $20
3. 5 light brake mod/Rear fog $10
4. Keyfob-Mod (CCM Mod) $Free (Enables you to roll up/down your windows with your key-fob)
5. Ecodes $125 (Euroswitch $25)
6. Skid plate ~$275 (Have not done)
7. Ventectomy $Free
8. Phatnoise $50
9. Boost/EGT gauge and boostvalve Will be around $300 for the one I want but others are less expensive
10. TDIHeater $55
11. Monster Mats $40
12. .681 5th gear ~$250 (Have not done)

Is that enough options? And I believe they are all under $300

Click to expand...

rear fogs is at the top of the list
cheapest and most useful!!!
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=161204&highlight=rear+fog

CCV mod, headlights, euro headlight switch. One thing I am surprised no one mentioned, Vag-COM. Lots of fun stuff you can do with that.

Debadge the Jetta, maybe the TDI?

Free.

Perfect, just what I was looking for! Thx guys!

Alienware or like window control chip. If you drive with your windows and/or sunroof open often it is very handy to just jump out of the car and use the key fob to close everything up.

I'd have to say that you'd be better off spending $45 from Impex and getting the KVW100 module and enabling key-fob window control through your CCM instead of spending nearly triple that for an Alien-tech or Autowindow. I have an Autowindow in one car and the KVW100 in the other and I can say that the ease-of-use factor and the extremely inexpensive price in comparison to aftermarket systems, not to mention the 2-minute installation, makes the KVW100 module a great bargain!

Other "cheap" mods that I've done:

- paint OEM centre grille black (about $7 for a can of flat black bumper spray paint)
- colour-matched front and rear lower valances (smoothed and painted for $100 each piece by a small body shop)
- 65% window tint on all windws except windshield (keeps the interior cool and looks very Euro without attracting undue attention from police due to local laws regarding tint - about $300)
-Weathertech side window deflectors front and rear (these are pressure-fitted not glue like some - $175)

*note - prices listed are in Canadian $. YPMV!*

I dunno... I like my free VDS-PRO solution to the windows

-Jason

schwechel said:

My top
1. Blue tint aspherical mirrors
2. Side markers/bumper markers (clear or smoked)
3. 5 light brake mod/Rear fog
4. Keyfob-Mod (CCM Mod)
5. Ecodes
6. Skid plate
7. Ventectomy
8. Phatnoise
9. Boost/EGT gauge and boostvalve
10. TDIHeater
11. Monster Mats
12. .681 5th gear

Is that enough options? And I believe they are all under $300

Click to expand...

I was going to volunteer to drive down and do his ventectomy for $295, ...

.............

autoclose is also cool and useful

compu_85 said:

I dunno... I like my free VDS-PRO solution to the windows

-Jason

Click to expand...

BUT IF your car is these type then kvw100 is a much better choice

VOLKSWAGEN:
GOLF 2002-2005 1C0 959 799 B/C
BORA 2002-2005 1C0 959 799 B/C
PASSAT 2003-2005 1C0 959 799 B/C
POLO (9N) 2003-2007 6Q0 959 433 E/F/H
NEW BEETLE 2002-2007 1C0 959 799 B/C

this is really autoclose function. when you lock the door , windows roll up automatically . and when you press "lock"+"trunk" realese windows keep the original states. and hold on "unlock" to open the windows .
even you updated by vds pro you can still updated by kvw100 to autoclose function.
but if you are a guy never forget to close windows when you leave the car then you do not need to use kvw100.

Just a disclaimer, szkvw is the creater/owner the KVW100, so his opinion is bias.

I am a litlte jealous of people who did the KVW because it has the auto-up functionality that my VDS-PRO solution(not that I discovered this, I just followed what other found out) does not have. But it was pretty much free.

Ya, that auto up function is pretty nice.

-Jason