Potential Farewell, But Might Stick Around...

[KrashDH]

Hey All;

It's been a wild ride over the last 11 years. I've learned so much from this forum. But my activity here is likely going to plummet. I've put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into my own 2002 Golf 1.9 ALH Mk4, and hopefully provided some quality DIY and tech writeups for those to follow and current members.

It's an interesting point in life when you decide to pivot, especially after thinking you're going to run a car forever.
I just picked up a newer car, diesel, but an AUTOMATIC, which I've never owned in my life. That being said, the ONLY reason I chose this new rig was because it's one of the only ones that can be manual swapped at this point. So likely that will be in it's future. I can scratch the manual itch with the truck until then.

I don't know how I feel about parting with my Mk4. Sad actually. It's a part of me now, a lot of my personality is in it. There's really no value that can be put on that. In normal circumstances (if I had a house, kids, significant other, etc) I'd probably have no issue keeping it. It's not a financial thing. It's more of a "I'm a single guy who's renting and can't maintain 3 vehicles and 2 motorcycles on his own. And the new rig is going to demand a bit of attention from the get go.

Anyway, I compiled a small list of what I've done to the car, that started out bone stock since my possession:

• GT 1756 Turbo (Xman)
• .230 Nozzles (Xman)
• Installed a BEW lift Pump
• Nicktane Spin on Fuel Filter
• 11mm pump (not 10 that come on the manuals)
• Full turbo back exhaust
• Taco Taco Intercooler
• Kerma lower pipe intercooler Kit
• Kerma Billet CCV
• PD150 Intake
• PD150 TIP coming from Cascade
• Franko Stage II cam and valve seals coming from Cascade
• Boost, EGT, Oil Pressure gauges (no dummy lights)
• Steering wheel 2 place POD
• Oil pressure gauge in vent pod that I 3D printed
• Bilstein TC's all around
• Audi TT bushings everywhere
• Rear beam R32 solid bushings
• MK6 GTI flat bottom steering wheel installed
• Android Head Unit
• Sport seats and I added the wiring and knobs for heating
• Front door card re-upholster with leather
• Front and rear cameras (back up in the lecense plate light one)
• 3d Printed relay cover to allow the OEM installation of the lift pump relay
• Additional fuse box so I don't have everything dangling off the battery
• Custom underhood lighting
• Upgraded (bigger) battery
• 3D printed fuse box tray for battery top
• Mesh ECU door for easy removal
• Projector retrofit with Morimoto D2S projectors. Fog lights in headlights on a euro switch, fog lights in bumper also controlled by euro switch
• OEM Hella Ballasts and Philips Bulbs
• GTI Tail lights
• 5th brake light mod
• Rear hatch wiring has been fixed the RIGHT way permanently
• Drivers side front and rear door microswitches have been upgraded with the revised and permanent switch that shouldn't fail
• 20% tint all around

There's probably a lot more that I'm missing.

I'm having a really hard time with this potentially letting go. I know it sounds like a sob story, but I don't go through vehicles like a lot of people. I get attached, put a lot of work in to making them my own, and want to upkeep and run them forever. This thread I really made for myself so I can come back and see what I've done later down the road. Maybe that's not the best though if I'm in a spot in the future to pick another one up (homeowner) I might regret if I end up giving this one up.

My time will now be spent on the new rig taking care of a few things that need to be addressed, then I will be trying to find parts from europe for the manual swap.

Until then, it's been a pleasure interacting with you all. I'll still check in so feel free to DM me

 

[hskrdu]

Krash! I rely on your posts for great info and mods and how-tos! Don't sell it!

 

[JDSwan87]

I speak from experience, don't sell it. You will regret it. I never should have sold my blue lagoon Jetta.

 

[J_dude]

I've... hopefully provided some quality DIY and tech writeups for those to follow and current members.

Without a doubt man, some of best!

I know what you mean about keeping vehicles, I get attached to them the same way. My only question would be why (or maybe how) did you end up getting a newer one??
Whatever you decide to do with the Golf (and we'll be mighty sad to see it go if you do sell) I hope you can continue to stick around here, you've a lot of experience with these cars and we value your input here.

 

[KrashDH]

Without a doubt man, some of best!

I know what you mean about keeping vehicles, I get attached to them the same way. My only question would be why (or maybe how) did you end up getting a newer one??
Whatever you decide to do with the Golf (and we'll be mighty sad to see it go if you do sell) I hope you can continue to stick around here, you've a lot of experience with these cars and we value your input here.

I'll likely poke my head in once in a while and contribute where I can if I sell it.
For the new car, it's not a VW. I have really been interested in the BMW diesel's for a long time. But it was always out of my price range and they don't make them in manuals in the US. A very, clean low miles car was close to me. For a really good deal. That's almost impossible to find in WA. It came from a family where Grandpa, dad, son, and sister all drive this same car. So they know a lot of things about them and really have taken care of it and done all the right things to it.

After researching and going back and forth I found that you can manual swap them from components over in europe. I have a few yards keeping an eye out for what I need. Once I take care of the couple of remaining things I need to do to it, then I'll start collecting swap components. It's a 2011 335d, with only 107k on the clock.

Krash! I rely on your posts for great info and mods and how-tos! Don't sell it!

Thank you for the kind words, I'm glad what I did over the years was helpful to people

I speak from experience, don't sell it. You will regret it. I never should have sold my blue lagoon Jetta.

I understand, but it's really not feasible to own 3 vehicles...at least on my own, wrenching on everything, and still have time for my hobbies. I really do NOT want to sell this and I really am battling myself right now.

 

[Mozambiquer]

I'll likely poke my head in once in a while and contribute where I can if I sell it.
For the new car, it's not a VW. I have really been interested in the BMW diesel's for a long time. But it was always out of my price range and they don't make them in manuals in the US. A very, clean low miles car was close to me. For a really good deal. That's almost impossible to find in WA. It came from a family where Grandpa, dad, son, and sister all drive this same car. So they know a lot of things about them and really have taken care of it and done all the right things to it.

After researching and going back and forth I found that you can manual swap them from components over in europe. I have a few yards keeping an eye out for what I need. Once I take care of the couple of remaining things I need to do to it, then I'll start collecting swap components. It's a 2011 335d, with only 107k on the clock.

Thank you for the kind words, I'm glad what I did over the years was helpful to people



I understand, but it's really not feasible to own 3 vehicles...at least on my own, wrenching on everything, and still have time for my hobbies. I really do NOT want to sell this and I really am battling myself right now.

I would LOVE a 335D with a manual. I've worked on some 335d cars and they were awesome even with the auto (cough, cough, sorry...) but a manual would be sweet!
I have a q7 and v10 tdi touareg, but mk4's still hold a soft spot for me.

 

[burpod]

such a clean car, i would not sell. will regret.... find a way to just store it for a while, unregister it. no need to wrench on it

 

[KrashDH]

I would LOVE a 335D with a manual. I've worked on some 335d cars and they were awesome even with the auto (cough, cough, sorry...) but a manual would be sweet!
I have a q7 and v10 tdi touareg, but mk4's still hold a soft spot for me.

Yeah that's the plan if it works! Won't be cheap but it can be done. No, the auto in these in stock form is actually really good...

I already know it's gonna be kinda a pain to work on. I addressed the first oil leak (aka rust prevention) today which was easy (vac pump internal and external seals) but I think that'll be the last easy repair I see.

 

[KrashDH]

such a clean car, i would not sell. will regret.... find a way to just store it for a while, unregister it. no need to wrench on it

I know I know...
But sitting is almost worse for these cars. They are meant to be used. I'd rather it go to an enthusiast who will drive the hell out of it and smile the same amount I have over the years when I get in this thing.

Logistics make it difficult if I ever move as well...

 

[burpod]

I know I know...
But sitting is almost worse for these cars. They are meant to be used. I'd rather it go to an enthusiast who will drive the hell out of it and smile the same amount I have over the years when I get in this thing.

Logistics make it difficult if I ever move as well...

yeah. unless you have a nice place to store it and make 100% sure mice can't get in... my poor old 2005 is ruined from sitting.. but its been almost 13 yrs now lol ugh been in my driveway where its right in front of my face.. every single day. full of dead ants, mouse poops, mold, random crappy car parts, and the car is half apart,

 

[KrashDH]

yeah. unless you have a nice place to store it and make 100% sure mice can't get in... my poor old 2005 is ruined from sitting.. but its been almost 13 yrs now lol ugh been in my driveway where its right in front of my face.. every single day. full of dead ants, mouse poops, mold, random crappy car parts, and the car is half apart,

I don't want to see that for this car. Would rather see it with a happy owner driving it

 

[irvingj]

I bought a 1972 Blazer in November of '72, had it all over this country for over 30 years and about 300K miles... I STILL miss it and sometimes even dream about it.

Don't miss the gas-guzzler part of it, however - the main reason I got my Jetta TDI Wagon, which I'll keep "forever".... a tough decision to sell a beloved auto.

 

[oilhammer]

I cringe when I hear people renting, and then pissing a bunch of money away on a depreciating asset (a car).

But I realize things don't always work the same for everyone, especially in your area... I can only imagine what real estate is like there in 2024.

There's always a time when a money fire like a diesel BMW can be lit, I'd want a place of my own first. But good luck to you whatever you decide.

 

[jmodge]

4 vehicles still haunt my thoughts. One was T-boned, two I sold, and one I declined to purchase.
IF I had proper storage there would be a fleet of motorcycles and vehicles I would still own.
You’d have regret wether you get rid of it or it went to crap storing it.

There’s actually a’72 Blazer I was extremely fond of that I traded to a friend who restored it. He did an awesome job, and strangely I don’t regret getting rid of it. I just realized that as I was typing this response out.
Best wishes for the consequences of your decision

 

[KrashDH]

I cringe when I hear people renting, and then pissing a bunch of money away on a depreciating asset (a car).

But I realize things don't always work the same for everyone, especially in your area... I can only imagine what real estate is like there in 2024.

There's always a time when a money fire like a diesel BMW can be lit, I'd want a place of my own first. But good luck to you whatever you decide.

You sure do let your inner flag fly on almost every reply you make don't you?

@oilhammer, I have been through the ringer with the housing market out here. This isn't the "good ole days". If you want to make those comments, maybe get up to speed with the last decade.

Before you judge, in the 3 years we were looking (yes, it took me until that time in a professional career to have with liquidity for a down payment out here) together, the ex and I, we have been through EVERY housing market scenario. All I'm going to say is this and you can make whatever judgement you want. We had the highest offer on the house, an extremely high escrow and guess what, we still didn't get the house.

So please, save your degrading, condescending, worthless, aged "advice" for some other poor sap. Think before you type. You have absolutely zero clue about people's situation. Instead of plastering this dribble in a public thread, feel free to DM, we can go a few rounds if you'd like.

FWIW, I make plenty of money as a senior design engineer. But with interest rates where they are and the area I'm in guess what? $4500/mo for a chitbox house mortgage is NOT a good investment on a single income

 

[KrashDH]

4 vehicles still haunt my thoughts. One was T-boned, two I sold, and one I declined to purchase.
IF I had proper storage there would be a fleet of motorcycles and vehicles I would still own.
You’d have regret wether you get rid of it or it went to crap storing it.

There’s actually a’72 Blazer I was extremely fond of that I traded to a friend who restored it. He did an awesome job, and strangely I don’t regret getting rid of it. I just realized that as I was typing this response out.
Best wishes for the consequences of your decision

Thank you. I have time to mull this over for a while but I'm trying to look at the reality of it.
I'm not sure it will be regret. I'm trying to look at it as I will have very fond memories. Helps a bit

 

[oilhammer]

Sorry about your feels, dude.

I see it with other younger folks (feel old saying that), and I didn't mean for it to be a talking down to... I think the situation sucks as much as you do. I could not afford to buy my own house today, with what I make, if it were to come on the market... which is a sobering thought. Sobering because I've been in it since 1998, and I was able to buy it then even making far less than I do now. My niece just bought a house, and it's jaw dropping what she had to pay, and yes she did have to "bid" on it. Another niece bought one a couple years ago, same deal. And this is in Missouri, where the real estate costs are I'm sure far less than where you are. I don't know how the average income balances out with that, though.

I was young once, and had similar anger towards older people who perhaps had more life experience, even if it was (at least in my mind at the time) very different. Hopefully you get past this time, and again I wish you the best in whatever endeavor you pursue.

(BTW, if I had all the money I pissed away on cars when I was in my 20s back now, my house would not only be paid for, but I'd have purchased more property... but the flip side is, I did have a lot of fun and mostly good experiences, so there's that).

 

[KrashDH]

Sorry about your feels, dude.

I see it with other younger folks (feel old saying that), and I didn't mean for it to be a talking down to... I think the situation sucks as much as you do. I could not afford to buy my own house today, with what I make, if it were to come on the market... which is a sobering thought. Sobering because I've been in it since 1998, and I was able to buy it then even making far less than I do now. My niece just bought a house, and it's jaw dropping what she had to pay, and yes she did have to "bid" on it. Another niece bought one a couple years ago, same deal. And this is in Missouri, where the real estate costs are I'm sure far less than where you are. I don't know how the average income balances out with that, though.

I was young once, and had similar anger towards older people who perhaps had more life experience, even if it was (at least in my mind at the time) very different. Hopefully you get past this time, and again I wish you the best in whatever endeavor you pursue.

(BTW, if I had all the money I pissed away on cars when I was in my 20s back now, my house would not only be paid for, but I'd have purchased more property... but the flip side is, I did have a lot of fun and mostly good experiences, so there's that).

Nothing about "feels" here. You came in and trampled a thread.

I'm not that young either. In my time on this planet, I've had plenty of experience in most aspects of life.

They say in this state, to live comfortable (ie, not paycheck to paycheck) the number is $212,000 per year. That's a LOT to "kind of" get by. Maybe 5% or less of people in this state make that. Even THEY, if single, likely would have a hard time spending 50% of their take home on a mortgage.

There is no anger or life experience jealousy. You grew up in a completely different time and faced different challenges. These are things that you don't have to deal with today. So you can't come in and say "You should do this" or the "younger generation needs to do this". The money I spend is not an issue and it's not "pissing" it away. Vehicles for me are an investment, not a consumable.

Advice for you now. You come into a lot of threads on this forum and are just negative, talking down on people. Your "advice" that you give on things is short, not detailed, not complete. If you want to contribute in a helpful way, do a few tech write up's for the forum, instead of critiquing everyone else's. Because until you actually contribute with something like that, there's no room for you to critique others. Try being helpful to new members, take a breath, and realize that not everyone starts as an expert. People learn with experience. That experience can totally be ruined by people that have your same attitude.

 

[oilhammer]

I think I've helped quite a few people here... *shrug*... We can certainly disagree on that. I had a lot of help from people here, myself, and I am committed to sticking around and giving back as best I can.

And yes, I'm sure I've experienced different challenges. I watched BOTH my children suffer with a severe disability, and then pass away. So your choice to live in an area that has a ridiculous high cost of living doesn't garner much sympathy from me, sorry. It must be nice there. I certainly hope it is.

 

[KrashDH]

I think I've helped quite a few people here... *shrug*... We can certainly disagree on that. I had a lot of help from people here, myself, and I am committed to sticking around and giving back as best I can.

And yes, I'm sure I've experienced different challenges. I watched BOTH my children suffer with a severe disability, and then pass away. So your choice to live in an area that has a ridiculous high cost of living doesn't garner much sympathy from me, sorry. It must be nice there. I certainly hope it is.

Really, thank you for coming in and turning this thread now into garbage. Very useful. You should have just stayed out of it. You don't have to comment on everything you disagree with.

That being said to everyone else, sorry it turned into this. When I started this thread, it was really to thank most of you for everything over the years, from a vehicle standpoint. Like a lot of threads, now has become derailed.

I wish all of you the best, I'll be around and if there's something I can help with, or point someone to a well documented write up that I've done over the years, I'll do so. I'll update about the car, whether somehow I keep, or if it goes to another enthusiast.

 

[Nuje]

Before you judge, in the 3 years we were looking (yes, it took me until that time in a professional career to have with liquidity for a down payment out here) together, the ex and I, we have been through EVERY housing market scenario. All I'm going to say is this and you can make whatever judgement you want. We had the highest offer on the house, an extremely high escrow and guess what, we still didn't get the house.

Unless you're in those markets, you really have no idea how little, say $2.5million, buys you there.

Vancouver, Seattle, Bay area, etc. - it's just nuts. Our friends in North Vancouver (slightly more "affordable" than Vancouver proper) their property is assessed at close to $3M; the kicker is that the building (the nice, well-kept, updated 1970s house they live in) is valued at $30K on the assessment. IOW, their nice 3br,2ba with basement house is viewed as a tear-down.

(We'll pause here to allow people to do the math on what even a 10% down payment on $2.5M looks like....who has a cool quarter-mil in cash kicking around? Let alone what a 30yr mortgage looks like for the remains $2.25M at 5% (well over $12K!!)...that you'll be paying every. single. month (plus house upkeep, plus property tax) from age (pick a starting point) 30 through to age 60.)

So yeah - it's easy to say that you should put money to an (usually) appreciating asset like a home, but you gotta live and enjoy life, too.

@KrashDH - thank you! You've provided tonnes of useful and helpful information, exemplary how-tos (seriously - anyone doing a how-to write-up, look up his stuff for how it should be done), and a pleasant and personable disposition. Sorry to hear that life you'll be leaving VW land. When I got rid of my Mk4 because our two-person household didn't need three cars, I lasted barely a year before I'd picked up a Mk4 gasser to convert to a TDI.
Have fun with the Bimmer.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Maybe I can help get this back on track. I own two MKIVs and a 335d. I tend to drive the VWs before getting in the BMW. In fact, I've had to make a rule to drive the BMW at least once a week so it doesn't sit too long. That seems to work. And aklthough it's probably silly, I hang on to it in part because it's the only automatic I have and my daughter can drive it when she visits. I think about selling it (even posted it here at one point) but now, with 76K on it, it's kind of not replaceable. So I hang on to it. FWIW, in the 30K miles I've owned it it's needed zero repairs. I replaced brakes and suspension, and did a full service at 60K miles including a transmission service, but that's it.

A person once said to me "anyone who sells a MKIV TDI regrets it." I do believe that's true. I'd keep the BMW and the VW for a while and make sure you're happy with the choice before selling the Golf.

I'd be interested in what you learn and do regarding a manual swap. I've thought about that, too. But honestly, the auto box isn't bad. And once you go the expense of installing a manual I think you can be sure you'll never get the expense back in a sale.

 

[KrashDH]

Maybe I can help get this back on track. I own two MKIVs and a 335d. I tend to drive the VWs before getting in the BMW. In fact, I've had to make a rule to drive the BMW at least once a week so it doesn't sit too long. That seems to work. And aklthough it's probably silly, I hang on to it in part because it's the only automatic I have and my daughter can drive it when she visits. I think about selling it (even posted it here at one point) but now, with 76K on it, it's kind of not replaceable. So I hang on to it. FWIW, in the 30K miles I've owned it it's needed zero repairs. I replaced brakes and suspension, and did a full service at 60K miles including a transmission service, but that's it.

A person once said to me "anyone who sells a MKIV TDI regrets it." I do believe that's true. I'd keep the BMW and the VW for a while and make sure you're happy with the choice before selling the Golf.

I'd be interested in what you learn and do regarding a manual swap. I've thought about that, too. But honestly, the auto box isn't bad. And once you go the expense of installing a manual I think you can be sure you'll never get the expense back in a sale.

I won't be selling the TDI until I'm completely sure I'm ready, and the BMW is where I wanted at.

There's a few things on the BMW I need to address... But it's mostly me just being OCD about things. I understand that these are actually very good automatic transmissions, but I'm just not an auto guy. Never have been.

As far as the resale value with a manual, I'm not super concerned about that. Believe it or not though they pull pretty high dollar. One just sold for $21,000, and there's another one over in Pennsylvania (Kassel told me about it, they do the coding for the swap) with 175,000 mi listed for 20k (75k on the swap)

I don't know yet how this is going to shake down yet, but we'll see. If anything I'd hope the TDI would land with an enthusiast

As far as the manual swap, I know everything needed for it, just gotta find the things through European sources

 

[CanadianALH]

I won't be selling the TDI until I'm completely sure I'm ready, and the BMW is where I wanted at.

There's a few things on the BMW I need to address... But it's mostly me just being OCD about things. I understand that these are actually very good automatic transmissions, but I'm just not an auto guy. Never have been.

As far as the resale value with a manual, I'm not super concerned about that. Believe it or not though they pull pretty high dollar. One just sold for $21,000, and there's another one over in Pennsylvania (Kassel told me about it, they do the coding for the swap) with 175,000 mi listed for 20k (75k on the swap)

I don't know yet how this is going to shake down yet, but we'll see. If anything I'd hope the TDI would land with an enthusiast

As far as the manual swap, I know everything needed for it, just gotta find the things through European sources

They sold the stick ones in Canada

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

They sold the stick ones in Canada

As far as I know there was never a manual 335d from BMW. They didn't have a manual strong enough to handle the torque that would fit in the e90 platform.

I actually don't think BMW has ever sold a manual transmission diesel in North America.

Krash, I'd be interested in what the manual gearing is like. I like 2K RPM at 80 MPH with the auto. I would want manual gearing at least that tall.

 

[KrashDH]

They sold the stick ones in Canada

Likely a 330d, not the 335

 

[CanadianALH]

Oh. Does that transmission work in the 335d?

 

[CanadianALH]

As far as I know there was never a manual 335d from BMW. They didn't have a manual strong enough to handle the torque that would fit in the e90 platform.

I actually don't think BMW has ever sold a manual transmission diesel in North America.

Krash, I'd be interested in what the manual gearing is like. I like 2K RPM at 80 MPH with the auto. I would want manual gearing at least that tall.

Oh maybe it was a 330D then. I knew someone with a diesel 3 series with a manual. The N54 and turn out a lot of torque but the gearing would be different I guess.

 

[KrashDH]

As far as I know there was never a manual 335d from BMW. They didn't have a manual strong enough to handle the torque that would fit in the e90 platform.

I actually don't think BMW has ever sold a manual transmission diesel in North America.

Krash, I'd be interested in what the manual gearing is like. I like 2K RPM at 80 MPH with the auto. I would want manual gearing at least that tall.

Correct, never was a manual 335d

The swap uses a 330d transmission (code GS6-53DZ, with the starter at 1:00 if you're looking into the bellhousing).

You're also right about the gearing. if you used the auto diff, it basically renders 1st and part of 2nd useless. The ratio of the auto is 2.81 or 2.83 off the top of my head. You need to pull the 2.35 ratio diff from a 330d as well (and the driveshaft). But the hardware bolts up perfectly. No fab req'd. Clutchmasters has a clutch for them. There's a handful of swaps that have been done in the states, with a few people that track the cars, so the transmission can hold the power. This, despite BMW's "reasoning" behind never offering the 335d in a manual because "too much power"

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Now you've got me thinking...Two years from now I can delete the car as well and pass MA inspection, as it's safety only after 15 years. I bet it would get into the low 40s for FE with a manual and a delete.