[KrashTest]

Hi all,

Thought I'd start a buildthread to document the various things I do to my R32.... Please excuse the missing pictures in places, will update when I get them ready!

To start the story, I found and picked her up last September - saw the ad on Pistonheads and arranged to see the car in person.

After seeing the condition and full service history, as well as the rare colour gleaming in the sun I'd pretty much made up my mind - by the time I'd got home in my old Mk4 130TDI I knew I had to have her

Picked her up a few weeks later, 53k on the clock - here are some photos (taken with my tablet, photography really isn't my thing so....sorry....):

The eagle eyed among you may have noticed something in that second picture, for those that didn't:

One of the alloy caps was missing, and the other 3 were looking a bit tired, so fitted some R line replacements from USA:

Next little mod, replaced interior lights with LED lights from Ultra LED - bright even in the sunlight! :

Will upload picture of lights at nighttime later this evening.

Also sourced a very well priced used Kenwood SatNav double din head unit from UsualSuspect to replace the stock Gamma unit - a tape deck in 2015?? Come on!!

Fitted the unit in about 5 minutes - the only slight issue is that it does sometimes try and stop the cup holder from coming out, but it's not every time, and it is being difficult a little finger poke sorts it out:

 

[H5R]

Looks like a nice example! Have you got many other plans?

 

[Dodders]

Looks good,picked the best colour!

 

[KrashTest]

Looks like a nice example! Have you got many other plans?

I'm not sure yet, I've just had some expensive, but in my eyes necessary, work done - had timing chains + fittings done, as well as Nime Radiator Resistor fitted.

I wanted to get these bits and pieces done before committing to do anything else to her!

I'm thinking of getting alloy wheels refurbished as they have a couple of marks on them at the moment - thinking about getting them done in Anthracite / a dark colour, but not sure.

Hardly see any other Moonlight blue examples so don't have much to go by.

I like the Anthracite look on the black Mk4's, I'm thinking that a real black would look a bit too dark on it.

 

[KrashTest]

Looks good,picked the best colour!

I sure did

Although when it's dirty it looks black, haha

 

[KrashTest]

Sunday Update! I've been poorly past few weeks, bacterial tonsillitis and bad case of man-flu, so it's taken a while but here's the next set of updates.

A few weeks ago I noticed the engine sounded a lot noisier than it should, especially around the chains area. I bought a cheap copy of VCDS Light (~£60) and saw my block readings were -7 and -9 - I know this has been done to death, chain paranoia, blah blah, but decided since it's my daily and I want to keep it for as long as possible that I'd get the chains done to ease my mind!

Whilst suffering from tonsillitis I made the long trip up to VAG AutoCare in Lincoln (6 hour round trip) to see Gaz and have a nice collection of things done. Had the pleasure of renting a beastly 1.4 Corsa for the week too, which made me regret buying my R32

Before I'd arrived back home I'd received the following picture from Gaz:

I then dosed myself up with painkillers and cried myself to sleep.

After a rip-roaring week in my 1.4 Corsa, I then headed back up to Lincoln to sadly swap the new Corsa for my dirty old golf

.

VCDS after Chains:

Gaz also remarked that the inside of my engine was one of the cleanest MK4 R32's he'd seen - which maybe is something he tells all the gir....uhh, R32 guys - but assuming it's true, I imagine it's because it's been used as a daily driver for most of it's life, and serviced regularly

Now, maybe the car would've ran fine without any issues for years and years to come without doing the chains, but having them done certainly seems to have tightened everything up. Doesn't exactly feel faster, but feels more responsive and smoother, and it's one less thing that I have to worry about

Also, whilst Gaz was at it I had him fit the Nime fan resistor fix (again, for peace of mind):
http://www.nime.co.u...ent.php?mk4fans, new sparkplugs, coilpacks, LED side lights (pics to come), and Forge Quickshifter with bushes (epic picture to come):

Also picked up a stubby aerial earlier in the week:

...Please note my incompetence at hand polishing from a few months ago, in particular how I've made the aerial base look like a plasterers radio / porn studio's rug. I've tried putting AutoGlym interior shampoo onto it (and various other bits of trim that I gave this unique design to), but cannot shift it - so any hints would be appreciated

Finally, after several weeks of being unable to clean my car due to poor health / weather / car being 120 miles away with engine removed, I gave her a long needed clean. Even took some before pictures!!! She was last waxed almost a month ago, with 2 coats of AutoGlym HD, and on the areas that hadn't been ruined by our lovely winter roads there was still nice visible beading this morning:

This was even present on the bonnet!:

Now, the OCD sufferers among you may want to skip past these next pictures as you may find them a bit upsetting - to give you a taste of how dirty she was, I give you a wheel:

Which then brings me to a dirty side shot:

And last but not least (AVERT YOUR EYES NOW OCD'ERS), the dirty bum:

Despite appearances, a quick one over with DoDo Juice Born to Be Mild and my lovely lambs wool mitt did the trick, and the dirt still came off the wax quite easily.

Took some pictures in the shade:

Even managed to catch a nice reflection picture of me looking glorious in my stylish green hoodie

:

Then moved the car into the sun to see if I could get the Moonlight Blue colours to stand out:

That's it for now - I've got a few ideas that I'm mulling over for the next things to do. I do want to get the alloys refurb'd, and possibly painted in Shadow Chrome. Also thinking of investing in a machine polisher to try and get rid of the swirl marks and a few light scratches that she's picked up over the years.....and maybe if I'm feeling particularly brave, might try and correct a few stone chips / girlfriends car door being opened into my car ON THE FIRST DAY I OWNED IT

Long term I'm not sure, part of me wants to start saving for something naughty like a turbo/supercharger

.....most likely turbo if the rumours I've been hearing about Gaz putting together a drive-in drive-out kit are true.....but if I decide against that, then maybe full exhaust system (possibly Lucifer), non-resonated w/ sports cats, and manifolds.

 

[Gti Fly]

Epic post, how much does it cost to have the chains done if u dont mind me asking?

 

[KrashTest]

Epic post, how much does it cost to have the chains done if u dont mind me asking?

I paid around £1,500, which included new clutch, and time taken to fit the misc. bits and pieces I brought along

 

[JohnR32DUB]

I also have Moonlight Pearl Blue Mk4,four door with grey interior.It often gets mistaken for black in low light.Only 57 were built in this colour.

 

[KrashTest]

Update - couple of weeks ago some pressed plates arrived, much prefer how they look!

Last weekend I also had a chance to give her a full clean in preparation for the summer (clayed, hand polished, glossed, waxed) - happy with the results:

 

[KrashTest]

Update - no pictures, but had some things done:

- Replaced rear brakes (pads and discs)
- Front wheel bearing
- Front tracking rod

And I've got something special arriving, hopefully next Tuesday

 

[KrashTest]

Update:

Got Lucifer Non-Resonated Exhaust fitted a few weeks ago at TRD in Stroud. I love the new look and especially love the new raspy sound

Also, car failed MOT due to snapped rear spring, so replaced all springs with H&R lowering springs - it's slightly improved the stance, and was only just more expensive replacing all 4 springs than replacing just the single snapped rear with an OEM.

And saved the best till last - fitted new Bosch windscreen wiper blades, front and rear. Epic.