oops! I did it again - back in the TDI game

[IndigoBlueWagon]

e-code lights with glass lenses installed - WAY better lighting than original!
Found an unbroken ashtray at the yard, and the trunk now works with the fob again.
The punchlist gets shorter!

Where did you get those?

 

[ducatipaso]

Where did you get those?

I got REALLY lucky and scored 'em on VW Vortex classifieds. they are NOS housings with Helix glass lenses installed. Glass lenses for Jettas are REALLY HARD TO FIND vs Golf lenses which are readily available out of China.

They take H4 bulbs and the beam pattern is superior to stock. They also have city lights and foglights which I need now to get a euroswitch and a foglight harness and hook it all up.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

I had e-codes for a long time, couldn't find ones I liked when my last set literally fell apart. I have DOT lights now, which aren't great. But I'm not that demanding when it comes to lighting.

 

[ducatipaso]

today is a great day! the tire went down so hard and fast I didn't even have time to get to a safe place. guess it's time for some Contis on those Speedlines. I have an appointment tomorrow at 10 for new tires.

 

[ducatipaso]

so the speedlines and the Avus are nearly the same weight. The speedlines are .5" wider, but that's lost to offset so the poke and fitment are identical to stock.

the sumitomos that were on the car, that right rear that failed suffered a carcass failure on the inside sidewall. I'm now on Continentals which are my preferred brand. Overall, I'm very happy with how the car is turning out.

the avus are going to a friend to replace the beat up montereys that came on his tdi golf.

 

[burpod]

it's all very tantalizing. wonder what injectors you're picking out

 

[ducatipaso]

it's all very tantalizing. wonder what injectors you're picking out

didn't we already have this conversation?

 

[ducatipaso]

here's the cheap chinese shift knob/boot that arrived today. went in as I would expect. came with a chrome bezel like later cars do so it spruced up the interior a bit. doesn't look or feel too bad but I don't think the "leather" is going to last that long. I'm gonna see if I can preserve the oem leather boot off my ruined knob and retrofit it. overall a well spent less than $20 vs what was on there.

next project is to rip out the console and fix all the broken bits. this includes pulling the radio cage and taping up the blend flaps. it'll be a bloody fun weekend, that's for sure.

 

[ducatipaso]

a friend of mine got this exact unit and it didn't seem too crappy. for the price, who cares?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088K3YQGW

for reference, this is the shift knob

 

[ekincaid]

I don't think the "leather" is going to last that long

For what it's worth... I got one from ebay 2 years ago like that. Still looks great.

 

[dieseldonato]

here's the cheap chinese shift knob/boot that arrived today. went in as I would expect. came with a chrome bezel like later cars do so it spruced up the interior a bit. doesn't look or feel too bad but I don't think the "leather" is going to last that long. I'm gonna see if I can preserve the oem leather boot off my ruined knob and retrofit it. overall a well spent less than $20 vs what was on there.

next project is to rip out the console and fix all the broken bits. this includes pulling the radio cage and taping up the blend flaps. it'll be a bloody fun weekend, that's for sure.

I just received one from your Amazon link, the boot is of questionable quality... but looks better then the stupid dragon shift boot, lol. Mine came with a black trim ring not chrome. Blends right in with the black interior.

 

[J_dude]

it'll be a bloody fun weekend, that's for sure.

Let’s hope that isn't literal...

 

[Zak99b5]

The OEM boot is not real leather, either.

 

[ducatipaso]

Let’s hope that isn't literal...

it's a tight fit even for small hands to tape up the flaps without removing the heater box. I expect it to be a bloodbath.

 

[ducatipaso]

The OEM boot is not real leather, either.

My car is a GLS with leather on a lot of surfaces, the knob and steering wheel included. Are you sure? I can take a pic of the underside... it's not the typical fabric backing for the vinyl stuff.

 

[Zak99b5]

My son's 01 is a GLS and we just swapped out his leather-look fabric shift boot, but he doesn't have leather seats or steering wheel.

LOL no pic needed, I'll believe you. I've only seen three MkIV shift boots (my current 03 GL, past 02 GTi, and son's 01) and all were imitation leather, so I kinda assumed that's how all shift boots were.

 

[ducatipaso]

front clip paint has been cut. I don't think this car's paint has EVER been loved in 21y. also shot the lower grilles with SEM trim black as they were getting really chalky. I'll work my way to the rear of the car over the next few evenings.

 

[csstevej]

That looks real nice.!

 

[ducatipaso]

car is at TST for an oil change and replacement pan, along with a serpentine belt. I keep telling myself cheaper than a new car!

 

[ducatipaso]

ordered a replacement front lip to swap out the zip-tied destroyed original unit.

I really need to locally find a proper full TDI belly pan (the one with all the sound deadening stuff on it) as I believe these are no longer available.

 

[ducatipaso]

ecstuning has the oem pan for $260 - guess what's next?

 

[J_dude]

ecstuning has the oem pan for $260 - guess what's next?

How come no skid plate?

 

[ducatipaso]

How come no skid plate?

california? nah. not needed.

I do need one for the GTI though because the VR oil pan is huge and the car is lowered.

 

[ducatipaso]

I ordered these MONTHS ago (January, February?)

I've been biting my lip to not kill the joy...

I'm really surprised they got approved!

 

[benIV]

i'm surprised they didn't say no thinking you were trying to say "I love t-dis (ta tas)"

 

[ducatipaso]

that's the joke/intent! my prior owner who is a friend of mine used to call her "the tiddie"

 

[jetdiknight]

Nice looking . Keep up the good work.

I need to change the shifter and shift boot on my TDI. Can you tell me how ? I dont seem to be able to unscrew or get off the old shift knob off the stiick.

 

[dieseldonato]

There's a metal crimp ring around the base of the shift knob right under where the shift boot fastens. It needs cut off. Just use a hose clamp as a replacement. Easier to get off and on in the future

 

[ducatipaso]

There's a metal crimp ring around the base of the shift knob right under where the shift boot fastens. It needs cut off. Just use a hose clamp as a replacement. Easier to get off and on in the future

this is exactly what I did/do. same procedure on my GTI when I got the 20th knob.

 

[ducatipaso]

replaced the zip-tied and taped front valence with a cheapo repop purchased on Amazon - the fit isn't perfect but it's pretty darned good and not beat up.