Iowa TDI Unite?

[bayshorecs]

Actually, a lift will be the first thing I do after I move in!

My family recently traded farms and we acquired a couple of houses in the deal. The house I'll be moving to is on a new-to-us farm and it has a 2 car garage, (L-shaped, big enough for 3 actually). I would be totally stoked to hold GTGs there! It's probably about 50 minutes East from the quad cities, but there is a whole lot of space to work...

Where at? Sounds like about where I am, but maybe a little north of me.

 

[manual_tranny]

It's a few miles away from Prophetstown, IL. It's pretty much in the middle of nowhere!

I am currently available to do timing belts and other work for free (or for cheap if it is a lot of work). I am just trying to get more experience, as it seems each job provides its own unique challenges and I end up learning something new each time. In the future when everything goes smoothly, I'll charging for my time and carry insurance etc.

I'll post up a GTG thread when I get my tools/garage moved... probably mid-October. I hope it stays warm!

Mike

 

[bayshorecs]

60 miles due north from me. Straight up 78.

Let me know if you need help although I will be busy and traveling alot the next year. I have ALH/AHU timing tools, VCDS, strut compressors, bentley's, etc.

 

[powerram250]

ebrobb, I'll be honest, even with the minor glitch I had, I still love my TDI. And 2000 dollars to have the intake manifold cleaned? Seriously? Even Lithia was going to do mine for 1100, which was obviously a solid rip off, but we have our good buddy Ben who's going to do mine tomorrow for a much, much better price.

And getting the maintenance down is worth it I think. My fuelly badge pretty clearly shows my point. I don't think there's another car out there with the sheer beauty of everything the TDI has. Fuel efficiency, power, speed. And not to mention the fact that it doesn't look alien like many of the hybrid alternative.

And powerram, have never heard of Lockridge. What's it near? It seems maybe the TDI thing is catching on in Iowa. 3 in the past couple months isn't bad.

Man I need to keep up to date on these. Lockridge is located in between Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield.

 

[Joe Golf]

Thoughts on Dealership north of Des Moines?

I am working in Des Moines and would like to take my TDI in for an oil change. Any recommendations on a VW dealership?

 

[TornadoRed]

I am working in Des Moines and would like to take my TDI in for an oil change. Any recommendations on a VW dealership?

There is only one dealership in DM and you should stay away from it. You would be advised to flatbed it back to Minneapolis rather than take your Golf to Lithia VW. They ripped off a friend of mine for about $3000, and this was after I warned her over and over never to go there, but she screwed up bad. They messed up her car so badly that they were ready to offer her $500 trade-in value (for a 2004 Jetta TDI wagon in near-perfect condition). I am not sure what happened, but I made a few calls to some DM-area attorneys and two days later they called for her to come pick up her car. It's been running very smoothly ever since. But she still paid them $3000 more than she should have for the work they did earlier, that left the car running so badly that she took it back to them.

Anyway, you need about 5 quarts of Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck, a MANN or Wix oil filter, and a place to do the work. I might be able to invite you to Grinnell this weekend, if you don't mind driving 100 miles round-trip. And I already have some extra oil filters if you want to head this way. You can even pick up the M1 TDT at the O'Reilly's here in town.

 

[Joe Golf]

There is only one dealership in DM and you should stay away from it. You would be advised to flatbed it back to Minneapolis rather than take your Golf to Lithia VW. They ripped off a friend of mine for about $3000, and this was after I warned her over and over never to go there, but she screwed up bad. They messed up her car so badly that they were ready to offer her $500 trade-in value (for a 2004 Jetta TDI wagon in near-perfect condition). I am not sure what happened, but I made a few calls to some DM-area attorneys and two days later they called for her to come pick up her car. It's been running very smoothly ever since. But she still paid them $3000 more than she should have for the work they did earlier, that left the car running so badly that she took it back to them.

Anyway, you need about 5 quarts of Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck, a MANN or Wix oil filter, and a place to do the work. I might be able to invite you to Grinnell this weekend, if you don't mind driving 100 miles round-trip. And I already have some extra oil filters if you want to head this way. You can even pick up the M1 TDT at the O'Reilly's here in town.

Thank you for the warning. I'll head back to the Twin Cities to get the oil changed. Luther VW in St Louis Park MN has been reasonably good, if you keep your eyes open I always supply my own oil and filter. This change will be the last of the Mobil 1 5W30 ESP. Next change I'll try Mobil 1 0W40. This way I'll only stock one oil for the VW fleet .

Thank you for the offer.

 

[jasonTDI]

change it yourself......easy.

 

[Sooch]

I'm in Des Moines, and would be down for an IA GTG. Don't have the space to host though, unfortunately.

 

[tlak77]

Hi all, sorry for off topic.... I'm moving to Cedar Rapids area soon, can someone comment on "good" diesel station with up to B5 in the area...thanks

 

[djali79]

Quad CiTies here

Just became a first time TDI and VW owner. Loving my car. 2011 golf tdi 6 spd man. Looking forward to learning more about this fabulous engine and vehicle.

 

[bgsnyder]

Hi all, sorry for off topic.... I'm moving to Cedar Rapids area soon, can someone comment on "good" diesel station with up to B5 in the area...thanks

I usually go to the Shell station on 16th ave, the SW side of town. What side of town are you on?

 

[tlak77]

I usually go to the Shell station on 16th ave, the SW side of town. What side of town are you on?

Thanks for response. I'm actually moving to Marion, but will work at RC - I think it qualifies as North East(?).
Thanks
Tom

 

[bgsnyder]

I know there is a QuikStop on the corner of Blairs Ferry and Center Point with diesel. I got it from there every once in a while when I worked by Rockwell. I'd see a lot of bigger trucks there so I assumed there was pretty good turnaround on the fuel. Haven't really had to fill up in Marion though. Not when I can get all the way across town on a quarter of a gallon or less.

 

[30Bones]

Cedar Rapids/Marion checking in here. Live on the SE side, but moving to Marion later this year once married to Mrs. Bones.

New to the TDI, but always game for meeting more people with similar interests.

 

[arinpeters]

Hey all,

I'm pretty new to the thread but thought I'd post a quick hello. I'm in Nevada (9 miles east of Ames) but would be willing to travel a ways for a GTG...sounds like fun. The wife and I road trip every other weekend or so usually around 600 miles so distance wouldn't be much of an issue.

 

[grant.bickell]

New here as well!!! I am from Yarmouth about 20 mi NW of Burlington and am buying my first TDI this week its an 03 with 200k on it and I persoanlly know of 5 tdi drivers in our area!

 

[wmgeorge]

Live in Ankeny. Just purchased a 2000 New Beetle. Got the Bentley book and in the process of getting the TDI back to a condition in which I would drive. Previous owner was just dumb. Owner had 5 vehicles and paid to have the oil changed!!!
Lived in NE Iowa and was clue less as to what a VW needs. Saving the car was when it broke down and the local farm town people could not figure it out, it had to go to a dealership in Cedar Falls.

The car does run fine so no complaints, just a lack of preventive maintenance that I would usually do to any of my cars.

Today its replace both cooling fans on radiator and then later on the PS line.

 

[arinpeters]

We just traded our 2010 Jetta tdi in for a 2012 Passat tdi SE w/sunroof....and looking to break her in. Looks like a road trip is order.

 

[wendell]

Don't you just love when you start reading a thread and then half way through, you realized you are reading 2 year old posts?

FWIW, I'll be in Grundy Center this weekend.

 

[TornadoRed]

Don't you just love when you start reading a thread and then half way through, you realized you are reading 2 year old posts?
FWIW, I'll be in Grundy Center this weekend.

I drove through Grundy Center last weekend. There are some road closures and detours north of there, around Parkersburg I think but it may have been further north.

 

[MJE32]

I just purchased a 2003 Jetta TDI last month and started visiting the site again after being gone several years. What a great resource we have! I live in West Des Moines and would happily travel to a GTG or just to visit with other TDI owners in the Des Moines area.

 

[Lloydw]

2005 Passat TDI 2.0L 110,000 Packwood,IA. SE Iowa. only on my 5 tank of fuel. about 40 MPG. I'v done the BSM TB Water pump, serp belts. Glow Plug recall. I like the car a lot. keep in touch if planning a get to gather. i see several around Iowa City, Cedar Rapids. Waterloo, some in Fairfield. Iowa needs it's own forum page.
this site has a lot of very good info for helping owners. I'm very thankfull.
LLoyd

 

[TornadoRed]

There is only one dealership in DM and you should stay away from it. You would be advised to flatbed it back to Minneapolis rather than take your Golf to Lithia VW. They ripped off a friend of mine for about $3000, and this was after I warned her over and over never to go there, but she screwed up. They messed up her car so badly that they were ready to offer her $500 trade-in value (for a 2004 Jetta TDI wagon in near-perfect condition). I am not sure what happened, but I made a few calls to some DM-area attorneys and two days later they called for her to come pick up her car. It's been running very smoothly ever since. But she still paid them $3000 more than she should have for the work they did earlier.

I wasn't sure if I'd ever given a warning about this dealership. As it turns out, I did, but that was a while back so let me refresh this warning:

If you are tempted to take your Volkswagen to Lithia VW of Des Moines, make sure you are accompanied by an attorney when you set foot on their premises.

Or, if your TDI breaks down in front of Lithia VW of Des Moines, you could call a towing company and have the TDI towed or flatbedded to another city or even another state.

 

[erics]

anyone in Des Moines?

I just bought an 05 Passat TDI and am interested in connecting with hands-on folks in the area to help me come up to speed on these. I've been messing with Landcruisers for almost 20 years and have accumulated parts/tools/knowledge that I love to share with others as they jump in.

Would love to connect with any TDi guru/junkies around DSM or surrounding area...

 

[TDI Convert]

Another Des Moines TDI owner here. I just bought a 2000 Bora with a .658 5th gear. 51.5 mpg on first tank. Anyone have a Vcds cable? I sold mine after I sold my first Tdi. As you can see Im back. Im willing to lend a hand if someone needs some help with their TDI sometime.

 

[TDI Convert]

I just bought an 05 Passat TDI and am interested in connecting with hands-on folks in the area to help me come up to speed on these. I've been messing with Landcruisers for almost 20 years and have accumulated parts/tools/knowledge that I love to share with others as they jump in.
Would love to connect with any TDi guru/junkies around DSM or surrounding area...

Have you read up on the balance shaft issues with your BHW engine ? I just did this week. Lots of good information in the B5 forum.

 

[MacGyver101]

Hey guys, we should have a monthly meet up in Des Moines at Buffalo Wild Wings or another restaurant.

 

[mishkaya]

Another Des Moines TDI owner here. I just bought a 2000 Bora with a .658 5th gear. 51.5 mpg on first tank. Anyone have a Vcds cable? I sold mine after I sold my first Tdi. As you can see Im back. Im willing to lend a hand if someone needs some help with their TDI sometime.

Never had noticed this thread until now. I do have a VCDS if anyone needs it, in the Des Moines area. Although I have to admit I am not too proficient with it yet...

 

[erics]

I'm in... though my passat got rear ended a coupe weeks ago so it might end up being a farewell (for now) as the insurance company may total it out.