rocketeer928 - My 2003 VW Jetta TDI

[rocketeer928]

Merry Christmas

My Jetta TDI got an early Christmas gift from Deutschland today. This gift wasn't expected until next week. Aren't the boxes pretty!

 

[squire89]

i'm going to go out on a limb and guess new euro spec headlights? based on a pair of larger matching boxes.

 

[sqhschief]

Vielen Dank für das Kompliment über mein Jetta TDI, sqhschief.

Es ist ein Gitter Oettinger, dass ich aus North American Autosports gekauft. Hier ist die Website: http://www.namotorsports.net/detail.cfm/part_cd/OTOE80422600

Das Gitter kommt weiß grundiert, aber nicht lackiert.

Copy-and-paste into Google Translate if needed. Ha, ha!

So haben Sie Ihren Grill malen sich selbst oder jemand anderes für Sie tun? Danke.

So did you paint your grill yourself or have someone else do it for you? Thank you.

 

[rocketeer928]

So haben Sie Ihren Grill malen sich selbst oder jemand anderes für Sie tun? Danke.

I can read conversational Deutsch; I just can't hold a verbal conversation very well.

I think Post Nr. 326 will answer your question.

 

[rocketeer928]

Why I am rocketeer928

Totally off topic...

My first new car was a 1989 Ford Escort LX; black 4-door, 5-speed with red interior and thin, white-walled tires. I tell people that my father forced me to buy it because he's a Ford die-hard. I was actually looking at a new 1989 VW Golf gasser at the time, but it was out of my priceline as a student and my dad just wrinkled his nose at the idea of my owning anything but a Ford. Not sure why, since one of my first used cars was a 1973 VW Super Beetle, which I loved driving (just after I had owned a 1979 Ford Blow-up; I mean Pinto; evenly swapped it with dear-ole-dad for the '73 VW).

The Escort went 0-60 in two weeks, was the original "Rocket", and the inspiration behind my being "rocketeer928". I actually called this car "The Rocket", and all my friends and family knew my car by this name. The "928" is just my birth date.

In 1997, I sold "The Rocket" to my in-laws for 500 bucks at 104,000 miles. I actually tried to just give it to them, but they insisted on my taking some money. It lasted as an around-the-town beater for the in-laws for a few years before it finally, rusted, died, and wasn't worth fixing.

There will only be one Rocket in my life, so I've resisted calling my Jetta TDI "The Rocket", even though it's quick. When I see an Escort of this generation, it brings back memories. Some good and some not-so-good.

Just felt like sharing...

 

[sqhschief]

I was one year old when you bought that car

 

[n8ronJ]

As a teenager I owned an 83 Escort for a while - fell asleep at the wheel on my way home from school one day on a nice sunny spring afternoon and woke up as I hit the ditch. The telephone pole stopped me pretty good. I do believe in Divine Intervention and Providence - I walked away without a scratch and for the third time had to call my dad to come and pick me and my wrecked car up. (that stunk!) Btw, first two wrecks were in my 71 SuperBeetle... I miss that car. Really didn't care much for the Escort - as I recall it didn't ever like to go into reverse for me.

Just figured I'd chime in. How's the new lighting adjustment coming along? Them boxes are pretty.

 

[rocketeer928]

e-Code Headlights

The e-Code European headlights are now installed. Though I probably didn't need it, I chose to have the rheostat leveling motors. I found the wiring setup from oldpoopie on another thread.

I had to flatten the bottom portion of the upper intercooler pipe a little because the headlight connector and its wires was resting against it. I was concerned that the vibration from the engine would translate a lot vibration to the passenger side headlight.

I tried installing Lamin-X film to protect the new lights, but it wasn't easy to install and looked awful. So, I peeled the Lamin-X off and instead sprayed and buffed the lights with Lamin-X UV spray protectorate. I'll use the UV spray after each washing of the car.

I'm using JOM Xenon White H4 lamps, Osram Cool Blue H3 fog lamps, and Philips Blue Vision city light bulbs. Using my garage door (outside in the freezing cold), I aligned the headlights using this procedure that I found online: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html

Here's my clean Jetta TDI after the big blizzard of 2010 with the new e-codes. You can see that the front valance has now been painted platinum gray. I had the rear valance painted to match too. I'm a little reluctant to drive the car during any snowstorms because the front lip is so low that an ice chunk could do some serious damage. The front valance is already scraped a bit from steep driveways and such. Oh, well...

Here they are with the city lights on, which act as parking lights.

Here they are with all the lights on except for the turn signals. I decided to not install the resistors and LED turn signal bulbs. Instead, I'm using the mercury amber bulbs.

Now I need to go for a nighttime drive to check out the light pattern. I really haven't driven the car since I posted the picture with the fuel needle at the ½-mark at 500 miles. I've been off from work for over a week now, and don't go back until Jan 4.

 

[Nash_TDI]

Looking good. Love the new lights.

 

[agxster]

The lights look really good I like them. Along with the painted valence they make the car look more sophisticated.

 

[rocketeer928]

Looking good. Love the new lights.

The lights look really good I like them. Along with the painted valence they make the car look more sophisticated.

Thanks guys. I'm liking the look too. It's a shame that it's winter and the car will eventually get all salty and dirty.

 

[sqhschief]

Thanks guys. I'm liking the look too. It's a shame that it's winter and the car will eventually get all salty and dirty.

I'm sure you stated this somewhere, but why did you get rid of the projectors/HIDs? I did a retrofit using bixenon projectors and 35W HIDs from TRS and I can honestly say that I will NEVER go back to halogen. The light output is so efficient and clear. the beam pattern has absolutely NO hotspots and light is evenly distributed over a greater part of the road.

Nice to see such a clean car in filthy conditions. I wish I could keep mine that clean in the winter.

Do you have any heating issues to speak of during winter? I have my front grills blocked to increase heat to full operating temperature. If I didn't it would just barely get above the 3 score marks.

 

[rocketeer928]

The projector headlights were eBay purchased for about $270, and they were not HID. The reason my car was clean was because I had washed it about a week before, worked on it, and then took it out to the driveway to take a few pictures of the e-codes. I've been off of work for 2 weeks, so we've been driving my truck or my wife's car, which means the Jetta has stayed nice and clean. That will change this week when I go back to work.

I use the Frost heater in the winter before driving off for work, so I don't have much of a heat issue unless it's below 20°F.

 

[sqhschief]

The projector headlights were eBay purchased for about $270, and they were not HID. The reason my car was clean was because I had washed it about a week before, worked on it, and then took it out to the driveway to take a few pictures of the e-codes. I've been off of work for 2 weeks, so we've been driving my truck or my wife's car, which means the Jetta has stayed nice and clean. That will change this week when I go back to work.

I use the Frost heater in the winter before driving off for work, so I don't have much of a heat issue unless it's below 20F.

Ahh I see.

 

[dieselfuel]

Re:
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showpost.php?p=2585377&postcount=4

Stumbled across this by accident. It's a great idea and I have thought about doing this myself.

How did you get that insulation to adhear to the Panzar plate?

And, is that insulation just the bubble type you can find at big box stores such as Lowe's or Home Depo?

I really enjoy your thread. Great insight and informative.

BTW, have a great New Year.

 

[dieselfuel]

Another thought:

Would you recommend the DG Panzar plate? Or, is there a better option available?

TIA,

 

[rocketeer928]

I used Second Skin Heat Wave Pro, and their spray adhesive and tape. It has held up for almost 3 years now.

I only have experience with the DG Panzer Plate. It works great, and was not too difficult to install.

 

[rocketeer928]

I'm thinking about foregoing the engine cover. It's vibrating on something, and I'm not sure it's worth trying to figure it out and trimming. Of course, it doesn't vibrate at idle to give me a clue exactly where the vibration is occurring. My guess is that the engine cover is vibrating against the upper stress bar.

 

[noplug]

if the engine cover is vibrating against that cool looking engine cover you should definately see an area on the cover that is scratched and/or rubbing off the glossy finish!!

 

[rocketeer928]

My Jetta TDI is buried under 2 feet of snow today. All I can see is the driver's side mirror and the rear antenna sticking out. This is the most one-time snowfall we have had here in a few years. Not looking forward to clearing my driveway.

My wife and I spent hours upon hours clearing the driveway with the snow thrower and shoveling the walk. I'll have to un-bury the car tomorrow or Friday.

 

[sqhschief]

My Jetta TDI is buried under 2 feet of snow today. All I can see is the driver's side mirror and the rear antenna sticking out. This is the most one-time snowfall we have had here in a few years. Not looking forward to clearing my driveway.


My wife and I spent hours upon hours clearing the driveway with the snow thrower and shoveling the walk. I'll have to unbury the car tomorrow or Friday.

And here I thought I had it bad with 8 inches!

 

[NewTdi]

My Jetta TDI is buried under 2 feet of snow today. All I can see is the driver's side mirror and the rear antenna sticking out. This is the most one-time snowfall we have had here in a few years. Not looking forward to clearing my driveway.

My wife and I spent hours upon hours clearing the driveway with the snow thrower and shoveling the walk. I'll have to unbury the car tomorrow or Friday.

You did not have time to get into the garbage? It looks like you also has som e snow drift ...or is that snow that was blown on the car when you were clearing the driveway?

Have fun digging out!

 

[sqhschief]

You did not have time to get into the garbage? It looks like you also has som e snow drift ...or is that snow that was blown on the car when you were clearing the driveway?

Have fun digging out!

I hope he doesn't put his car in the garbage!

 

[NewTdi]

I hope he doesn't put his car in the garbage!

This iPad keyboard .... I meant GARAGE!

 

[sqhschief]

This iPad keyboard .... I meant GARAGE!

Hahaha ...

 

[squire89]

...how long did it take to clear your drive?

 

[rocketeer928]

I hope he doesn't put his car in the garbage!

Um... My garbage can isn't big enough.

My pickup and my wife's car go into our two-car garage. The only time my Jetta is in the garage is when I'm working on it. It's actually harder to clean snow off of my pickup vs. the Jetta. Poor TDI

Actually, there wasn't much drifting yesterday. We really did get 22 inches, and I was outside for about 7 hours clearing the driveway with the snow thrower and shoveling to the front door and bird feeders.

There is now extra snow on the car from clearing the driveway. The Jetta will likely be cleaned off tomorrow afternoon. I just had no energy left after 9 pm.

I accidentally bumped the front bumper cover with the snow thrower and put a mark in it. I also cracked the driver's side clear marker, so I will have to buy a new set. I was so mad at myself after that.

 

[GTLee77]

Hey Rocket,

I must congratulate you on an awesome thread. It took me a few days but I'm finally up to speed. I love what you've done with your car and I'm hoping that the next time you dyno the car, that you'll be greatly satisfied with the results.

I also want to thank you for all the great information and detail. I've learned so much from reading your posts. I feel like I need to send you a check for tuition from all the TDI stuff I have learned...

Regards.

P.S. - What are your thoughts on the FrostHeater? I get halfway to work before the Jetta warms up. Does the FrostHeater work as advertised? Thanks.

 

[rocketeer928]

Payments will gladly be accepted from anyone. Just PM me and I'll give you my PayPal account information.

The Frost Heater works great. I wish that there was an outlet at work that I could plug into for the drive home.

 

[NewTdi]

what is your paypal address?