The story of MDAce15's B6 Passat 3.6 4Motion Wagon

[MDAce15]

Hey guys, My name is Matt. I've been a Vortex member for just under a year and a half and have loved every minute of it. I have owned my 2007 Passat 3.6 4Motion Wagon since late July 2010. I fell in love with the CC interior when I first saw it, but the CC wasn't practical for my active and hard-working lifestyle (I'm an electrician, so I consistently haul ladders and oversized tools) so I started to look into the Passat Wagon. Classic lines, superb build quality, and a rare car here in NYC.

As everyone knows, NY winters (except for this year apparently) suck! I automatically wanted the glorious 3.6 engine and I've always wanted all wheel drive so the 4Mo was a no-brainer. My search began on AutoTrader.com and Cars.com, 3 months before I was ready to buy. I was blindsided by the fact there were only 49 3.6 4Mo Wagons in the entire COUNTRY None at the time were east of Ohio!

But 1 week before I was ready to buy, while searching the usual sites, I happened upon a United Gray 3.6 4Motion Wagon with 52,000 miles on it in Greenwich, CT (about 40 minutes away). That same weekend my wife and I drove up to see it. It wasn't impressive at first glance. It was kept in the back of the building because no one showed any interest, so it was covered in at least 2 months worth of dust. They knew we were coming to see it so they freshened up the interior a little but that was it. It had been owned by someone who had a German Shepherd and there was dog-hair in every nook and cranny. Again... Not impressive.

The salesman, an older and respectful retired firefighter, handed me the key to start the engine. Pushing the fob into the dash felt comfortable and familiar, like shaking hands with an old buddy.
The car started in a way that it never has since... It revved for a split-second after it started, allowing to hear that uncanny exhaust note for the very first time. I looked at my wife and gave her a sinister smirk... you know... the one you give when you mash the pedal while merging onto an occupied yet open highway, where the cars in front of you instantly become the cars behind you... that smirk. And when she saw it she knew.

We took the car for a test drive through some twisty back roads not far from the dealership. It handled well and rode very comfortably over the (I'm sure, deliberately chosen) smooth back roads of CT. There was no singular aspect of the drive that I enjoyed. Not just the power. Not just the comfortable ride. Not just the interior ergonomics. Not just the secure handling. Not just the exhaust note echoing into the woods. It was all of it... equally. And as we pulled back into the dealership, the respectful salesman uttered those infamous words that break the silence and restore the reality that this wasn't my car just yet. He said "So... What do ya think?" and as much as I wanted to tell him, I downplayed it. Simply for the sake of business. But, after all the paperwork was completed, I sat with the gentleman and told him how I enjoyed the test drive. And as one of the few car-guys-turned-salesmen, he understood.

He told me they would have all the DMV documents ready when we returned and that the car would be thoroughly detailed and ready to go.

And this is what awaited us when we returned...

[3.6awdwagon]

I feel like I'm looking at my car when i got it back in Aug, 2010. Exactly.... Looks alot different now with all the mods but none the less....Great looking 3.6!

[MDAce15]

My direction with this car is maybe slightly unique. I love VWs and Audi's, so I aim to create a subtle mix of both. I like the Golf R and I guess my aim it to create (my version of) a Passat .:R with a few Audi touches. So far I have made a few pretty substantial and costly mods, but also some easy and inexpensive ones. Such as:

Vag-Com Adjustments:
Deactivate DRLs
Activate Remote Window Opening
Activate Remote Window/Sunroof Closing
Activate Rain Sensor Window/Sunroof Closing
Adjust Settings to allow HIDs
Disable Center of Tail Light (except for braking)
Enable Navigation
Enable Internal Bluetooth (RNS-315)
Enable Rear-View Camera (shows black screen in reverse until camera is installed)

Exterior Mods:
S5 LED Headlight Install
Smoked Front Turn Signal Install
Euro Projector Fog Install (replaced existing fogs)
Euro Outer Tail Light (w/ Amber Turns) Install
Smoked (Tinted) Tails (removed, I want to install a lighter tint to maintain "the sleeper factor"
Painted Calipers Blue
Rotor Hub Black
DIY'ed Blue VW Center Caps

Front with Projector Fogs, Smoked Turns and S5 Headlights


New "VW Blue" Calipers


Rear with New 4" Magnaflow Double Wall Angle-Cut Tips





Interior Mods:
Euro Headlight Switch Install (Brushed)
MK6 R-Line MFSW with DSG Paddles Install
RCD-510 Install (upgraded to RNS-315)
MDI Retrofit Kit Install
Euro Cupholder Install
Complete Dash Wrap (Brushed Titanium and Cherry Teak Wood)
Door Panel Trim Wrap
Brushed Aluminum Climatronic Ring Install

From this:






To This:









And currently To This:

[MDAce15]

I feel like I'm looking at my car when i got it back in Aug, 2010. Exactly.... Looks alot different now with all the mods but none the less....Great looking 3.6!

Thanks man! Looking forward to seeing it (and hearing it ) very soon.

[kalobg]

What NAV unit is that?

[MDAce15]

Here's a list of what I plan to do next:

Interior:
Premium Cluster with Color MFA (DONE)
Custom Installed Screen for Night Vision Display (Top Secret... Currently in R&D )
R Door Sills (DONE)

Exterior:
Volkswagen Blue Painted Calipers (DONE)
Blue VW Center Caps (DONE)
18" Audi RS3 Wheels on Continental DWS tires
Suitcase Muffler (and/or) Resonator Delete
4" Magnaflow Tips (DONE)
Power Folding Mirrors
Front and Rear H&R Sway Bars (for reduced Body roll)
OEM Rear-View Camera
OEM Sport Suspension

[MDAce15]

What NAV unit is that?

That is the RNS-315. It's slotted in-between the RCD-510 and the RNS-510. Basically a less expensive OEM Nav alternative. I personally prefer it to the RNS-510 because of the interface , the built in bluetooth and how it looks with the older climatronic (which I also prefer).

[MDAce15]

These are a couple of the wheels I'm heavily considering. Right now my mind is pretty well set on the Gunmetal Audi RS3 reps (the bottom ones), most likely in 18". I personally like the "color-matched" look. The other wheels are from the 2012 A6. They look amazing by themselves, just not sure how they blend with the car... Any thoughts?

2012 Audi A6 Reps...


2012 Audi A6 Reps Photoshopped onto (someone else's) car...


Audi RS3 Reps... My personal favorite wheel...


Audi RS3 Reps Photoshopped (This just does it for me, especially when I envision the VW Blue Calipers behind them and with the Blue/White VW Center Caps... Mmmm.)


Let me know what you guys think.

[Black Demon B6]

I like me some RS3 reps!

[phatredhead]

Ditto to the RS3s

[ckpepper02]

YAY New Country!! I used to work there years ago.

[OGnh9095]

A6 reps in 19 FTW.

They would look very oem+.

[Incrementalg]

Welcome to the club! I'm a fan of 7 spoke RS4reps on the wagons.
#9 on the Hartmann list of Audi wheels is my favorite.

http://hartmannwheels.com/audi-wheels

[Incrementalg]

Welcome to the club! I'm a fan of 7 spoke RS4reps on the wagons.
#9 on the Hartmann list of Audi wheels is my favorite.

http://hartmannwheels.com/audi-wheels

Oops...shoulda posted the link to VW fitment. In any case, their my favorite.

[Berta06]

RS3 wheels for sure! I currently have a set in the garage and i cant wait to put them back on my Passat. Anyways the point is the look is so much better in person then any pictures. You wont regret it for sure.

P.S. Love the build so far and im intrigued about the Custom Installed Screen for Night Vision Display

[MDAce15]

RS3 wheels for sure! I currently have a set in the garage and i cant wait to put them back on my Passat. Anyways the point is the look is so much better in person then any pictures. You wont regret it for sure.

P.S. Love the build so far and im intrigued about the Custom Installed Screen for Night Vision Display

Thanks man. The R&D is going well. I'll be ordering parts in about a month.

[MDAce15]

Completed tinting my tails today with Matte Finish tail light tint. I personally prefer the Matte finish over the gloss because I feel it gives a slightly more subtle look. Wrapping the inners is easy, but wrapping the outers...?! What a... Anyway, here's the results. I still have to do the third brake light, but I'm pretty happy with the outcome. Let me know what you guys think.


Before:





After:



I like this look... Now just to get rid of that HORRIBLE yellow plate! Thanks Bloomberg!



Thanks for looking...

[Born²VW]

That tail light tinting looks awesome on the United Gray.

As far as your loud yellow license plate goes, maybe you can try what I did with a tinted cover over CT's loud plate.

[MDAce15]

Recieved these in the mail from Amazon yesterday

MagnaFlow 35121 Stainless Angled Double-Wall Tips






I took them with me to the muffler shop just to see if everything would work out and they quoted me $90 to install both if they had to cut off my old (cheap PoC Auto Zone) tips which fit so tightly the had to be tapped on with a rubber mallet. He said if I could get them off myself he'd only charge me $45 to install both! Soooooo...

These were listed as Stainless Steel on Auto Zones site... Yeah, Ok!




I figured while I was at it since I have the necessary tools I might as well do as much as possible maybe that'll knock the price down even more.



And just for anyone who might need this info for future reference the exhaust pipe section (before it flares out) is just UNDER 2.25" as you can see here...



So I quickly did a dry fit which required rags to hold on the new tips being that they are a little bigger than the exhaust pipes. But these are what they should look like when they're done (roughly).







Thanks for looking...

[Juniorfeel]

Recieved these in the mail from Amazon yesterday

MagnaFlow 35121 Stainless Angled Double-Wall Tips






I took them with me to the muffler shop just to see if everything would work out and they quoted me $90 to install both if they had to cut off my old (cheap POS Auto Zone) tips which fit so tightly the had to be tapped on with a rubber mallet. He said if I could get them off myself he'd only charge me $45 to install both! Soooooo...

These were listed as Stainless Steel on Auto Zones site... Yeah, Ok!




I figured while I was at it since I have the necessary tools I might as well do as much as possible maybe that'll knock the price down even more.



And just for anyone who might need this info for future reference the exhaust pipe section (before it flares out) is just UNDER 2.25" as you can see here...



So I quickly did a dry fit which required rags to hold on the new tips being that they are a little bigger than the exhaust pipes. But these are what they should look like when they're done (roughly).







Thanks for looking...

I love those tips! Do you have a link? Wondering if they'd fit on the 2.0T side by sidee...

[Robman]

What a beautiful build. Love everything you've done.

[MDAce15]

I love those tips! Do you have a link? Wondering if they'd fit on the 2.0T side by sidee...

I purchased them from Amazon.com. If you punch in "Magnaflow 35121" they will come up, but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't fit side by side... They are pretty big.

What a beautiful build. Love everything you've done.

Thank you man, I appreciate that.

[MDAce15]

Installed Blue VW center caps today. I "built" them myself. Here's the finished product. Personally I love this look.



Here's a link to the DIY...
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...(with-pictures)
VERY easy to do and very cheap...

[passat3.6]

Very interesting build up, I didn't realize these wagons were quite so rare in the 3.6 4MO. I bought mine a couple of weeks ago at a local Ford dealership where it had been sitting for a couple of months and getting marked down the whole time.

Last week I took it to Florida and the alternator died (70K miles). Got around 25-26 mpg for the trip.

I probably won't mod mine very much but it's fun to see what others are doing!

[zackiedawg]

Nice work you've been doing on your wagon...nice to see other 4mo VR6 wagons getting the mods, as they are quite rare.

I just traded my 2007 VR6 4mo wagon last week, and picked up a new '13 CC VR6 4motion Exec...I'll miss the wagon utility, but keep the VR6 4mo drivetrain which I love.

My wagon wasn't as highly modded as yours, custom-wise, but I did add Audi exhaust tips, the Euro-issue chrome roof rails, chrome mirror caps, red-painted calipers, and tint. And I had an oddball combo on mine, with the Lux interior package upper wood trim but the sport package aluminum center stack, and the lux seats but the sport springs.

My wagon's now in the used-car lot over at my local dealership (Gunther Coconut Creek, in FL), waiting for its next owner!

I love those A6 rims, BTW - for what it's worth. I always liked them from the first time I saw them, and would probably lean towards those myself on your wagon. But both choices look good.

[MDAce15]

Very interesting build up, I didn't realize these wagons were quite so rare in the 3.6 4MO. I bought mine a couple of weeks ago at a local Ford dealership where it had been sitting for a couple of months and getting marked down the whole time.

Last week I took it to Florida and the alternator died (70K miles). Got around 25-26 mpg for the trip.

I probably won't mod mine very much but it's fun to see what others are doing!

Congrats on the new VW. I love this car. You say you won't mod it but "the bug" will get to you eventually. Thanks for the post.

Nice work you've been doing on your wagon...nice to see other 4mo VR6 wagons getting the mods, as they are quite rare.

I just traded my 2007 VR6 4mo wagon last week, and picked up a new '13 CC VR6 4motion Exec...I'll miss the wagon utility, but keep the VR6 4mo drivetrain which I love.

My wagon wasn't as highly modded as yours, custom-wise, but I did add Audi exhaust tips, the Euro-issue chrome roof rails, chrome mirror caps, red-painted calipers, and tint. And I had an oddball combo on mine, with the Lux interior package upper wood trim but the sport package aluminum center stack, and the lux seats but the sport springs.

My wagon's now in the used-car lot over at my local dealership (Gunther Coconut Creek, in FL), waiting for its next owner!

I love those A6 rims, BTW - for what it's worth. I always liked them from the first time I saw them, and would probably lean towards those myself on your wagon. But both choices look good.

It sounds like you did a solid amount of work to the wagon yourself. Wish I had known you were selling it. I wouldve taken some of those parts off your hands. Ooooooh! '13 CC 4Mo... If you miss the wagon that much, we could trade. Just kidding. I think for me, every car from here on will be a wagon. I enjoy the "sleeper factor". No one expects a wagon to be this quick. Thanks for the post. Enjoy that CC!

[MDAce15]

Been waiting on the Microphone with modified harness for the RNS-315 from OEMPlus for over a month. I was so excited to install it, to be able to finally use the Voice control and Bluetooth. It finally arrived and guess what?!... I open the box and there's NO MICROPHONE! Just the harness. Waiting on them to call me back. SMH...

[passat3.6]

I modded my Allroad a bit: lowered, tinted, APR tune.... Just not too much.

A couple of things I noticed about mine so far that I don't know how picky I should be......#1. There seems to be a significant amount of wind noise around the drivers side rear window at highway speeds.
#2. The AC doesn't blow cold air until the car has warmed up to full operating temperature. Then blows very cold.

Any ideas about these "issues"?

[MDAce15]

I modded my Allroad a bit: lowered, tinted, APR tune.... Just not too much.

A couple of things I noticed about mine so far that I don't know how picky I should be......#1. There seems to be a significant amount of wind noise around the drivers side rear window at highway speeds.
#2. The AC doesn't blow cold air until the car has warmed up to full operating temperature. Then blows very cold.

Any ideas about these "issues"?

1. The only thing I can think of is perhaps the window isn't closing all the way. There have been times after I did various mods where I disconnected the battery and the window limits had to be recaliberated because the windows had just the slightest gap when they seemed closed. I think you do it by opening the window all the way and holding the switch for one or two seconds more, even after its all the way open, and then doing the same thing after its closed. May not be what you're experiencing but worth a shot.

2. As far as the AC, I have the climatronic and I keep mine at 70-72 all year long, so I only notice my AC when it's above like 80-85 outside. So I can't say for sure if that's normal or not.

Hope this helps...

[JBCon]

Hey great thread and great car... I am curious. As the owner of a 2008 VR6 sedan, I am curious if you car came with the HID/AFS headlights or not and if so what made you want to dump those for the cheaper lights just to have LED's, when the AFS has the HIDs.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Audi style heads with DRL's but the wonderful light dance I get everysingle time I start my car draws far more interest than I would think LED's would, but again this is personal preference and I commend you on a great car.

[MDAce15]

Hey great thread and great car... I am curious. As the owner of a 2008 VR6 sedan, I am curious if you car came with the HID/AFS headlights or not and if so what made you want to dump those for the cheaper lights just to have LED's, when the AFS has the HIDs.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Audi style heads with DRL's but the wonderful light dance I get everysingle time I start my car draws far more interest than I would think LED's would, but again this is personal preference and I commend you on a great car.

Thanks man. My car didn't come with the AFS headlights... I really like these headlights but there is no way in the world I would trade the AFS headlights for these. Actually if you had the AFS headlights these headlights weren't compatible. Everything about those AFS headlights is sexy! My car didn't come with the AFS headlights. Mine came with the regular projectors. I would have loved to swap them for the AFS heads but the cost to do that swap (so I've read) is in the range of $1200-$1500 for all the necessary modules, parts and harnesses. So while I am disappointed I don't have the AFS headlights, the look of these LEDs on, with my HID fogs as it's just starting to get dark is really nice. So these will do... For now... Thanks for the post.

[MDAce15]

Ever since I made my Center Caps blue, everytime I go out to my car, my calipers yell at me. So today I had some spare time so I decided to paint them. A while back (right when I got the car) I painted the calipers black. I used Dupli-Color Engine Enamel because I felt it would dry with a glossier finish and because it's an enamel I figured it would dry harder. The Dupli-Color engine enamel comes in 2 shades of blue, a sky blue and a darker (than royal but not quite navy) blue. I wanted a nice royal blue color as close to the VW logo as possible. I didn't want the calipers to be loud but I did want them to be noticeable. So I sprayed the calipers with the sky blue as a base coat then sprayed 2 coats of the darker blue over it. I finished it off with 2 or 3 generous coats of the clear engine enamel (great stuff) and I ended up with the exact color I wanted. I can't wait to get my RS3 reps to finish it off. These calipers deserve a nice open wheel. What do you guys think?

During:




Finished Product:

[zackiedawg]

I like it. I went with blue calipers back on my 2000 GLX - it was Satin Silver, and I had a set of PIAA blue foglights, and replaced the headlight and side marker lights with blue tinted bulbs as well, so I had a reason to match the blue calipers. I loved the way it looked. I had used Foliatec caliper paint, which was very thick and glossy - the color was pretty close to that blue you ended up with.

I've done red calipers on my last 2 cars and probably the CC I've got now, because I don't have any other blue anywhere on the outside - I get this 'ocd' type feeling like the calipers need to match something else on the exterior, so red at least matches the taillights.

For yours, you've got your other blue touches, so it works nicely.

[MDAce15]

Thanks. I feel the same way about the calipers having to match something or to at least be a color that compliments the color of the car. I think blue and grey go pretty well together. I always like seeing other cars with their calipers painted. It's one of those things true car enthusiasts can appreciate.

[MDAce15]

Oooooh! Look what came in the mail today...


It's the dash trim from an '09, that I'm going to need when I upgrade to the R-Line cluster with the Color MFD. I've seen them selling for upwards of $150 but I scored this off eBay for $35. Now I just have to wrap it with the 3M Brushed Titanium to match the other "upper" trim portion of my dash.



If you notice it has 2 blue LEDs built into it. I'm not sure what the previous owner used them for but one day I'll attempt to link them to the anti-theft system LED that blinks on the doors. I think it'll be kinda cool to have them all flash together.

About 3 months ago I also ordered this adapter harness which will make the Cluster swap MUCH easier.

So the only part left to purchase is the actual cluster. And I'll be ordering that hopefully in the next day or so. Very excited!