The Lieutenant-mobile

[Blaylock1988]

Hey everyone! I finally joined the club, and bought a new 2012 GTI manual sunroof w/ navi from Carolina VW. MSRP was $29,100 and they gave me $2300 off, and got $5600 for my 03 Explorer trade in with 0.9% financing. They even gave me free rubber mats and velcro storage blocks!

You may have read my "prospective" thread here.

I am Mechanical Engineer and graduated from UNCC. I have taken a full year of advanced engine design classes for fun while there so I have a bit of knowledge about engines and how they create horsepower and torque.

I am also newly commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and just moved to LA. 2600 miles from Charlotte, NC to LA, CA over 8 days. I currently live in North Redondo Beach. I have a huge list of mods that I want to do, but those will have to wait until after I am settled in LA, so I get to enjoy some stock time with the car. I will keep this post updated with the latest pictures and mod list.


That is my brother in the back seat You can also see my old Explorer behind me in the left.







Eurojet TBE:


My other ride:


Mods Completed:

• Euro cup holder
• Euro Auto headlight switch with light sensor
• VMR 708 18x8.5 Gunmetal wheels
• Eurojet TBE Exhaust
• Llumar CTX30 Tint all around
• Euro LED Golf R tail lights
• GTI seat lever inserts
• Red LED interior lights
• Color matched fog lights
• Red foot lighting
• Pioneer AVIC-X930BT head unit
• Alpine 10" Type-R subwoofer + M500 amp
• Disabled Soundaktor

Vag-Com stuff:

• Gauge sweep
• Cornering lights
• Remote window and sunroof up/down
• XDS setting to 2
• Tear drop mode
• Courtesy blinker to 4
• Disable seat belt alarm
• DRL control via MFI
• Fog light with high beam
• Coming home enabled
  

Mods Planned:

• Smoked side markers
• Mirror puddle lights
• Stage 1 Tune
• Mk5 sunroof switch swap
• Driver dash cubby
• Underseat storage drawers
• RLS retrofit
• Intake Stage 1 + 2
• Rear Sway Bar
• Lower suspension (maybe)
• 35th Edition Front Bumper

[wasim12]

Nice Hope it goes well.

Just some advice: be careful not to follow closely behind a truck or anything, the last thing you want is a brand new car to be chipped.

Also, get ready for some LA traffic nightmares, what part are you moving to?

[Blaylock1988]

Nice Hope it goes well.

Just some advice: be careful not to follow closely behind a truck or anything, the last thing you want is a brand new car to be chipped.

Also, get ready for some LA traffic nightmares, what part are you moving to?

Thanks for the advice!

Right now I am looking at North Redondo Beach. I want to stay close to the airport and its cheaper there than a lot of other places.

[shankys_14]

[Smoky_Llama]

Looks like a good start man!

Just an observation, the coming home feature requires an oem RLS sensor if you want to do it the right way.

[Numbersix]

Coming home will work manually with the auto euro switch.

Congrats! I own a '12 S+N in carbon steel gray. I thought I'd be able to resist modding it--and I did. For, uh, 2 weeks. So I wish you good luck with that.

Word of advice: If you don't get star shield/clear bra for the front end/mirrors/etc, painters tape liberally applied for the road trip is a smart idea. You could also do plastidip in black for a less obvious layer of protection, then have fun peeling it all off.

[Blaylock1988]

Coming home will work manually with the auto euro switch.

Congrats! I own a '12 S+N in carbon steel gray. I thought I'd be able to resist modding it--and I did. For, uh, 2 weeks. So I wish you good luck with that.

Word of advice: If you don't get star shield/clear bra for the front end/mirrors/etc, painters tape liberally applied for the road trip is a smart idea. You could also do plastidip in black for a less obvious layer of protection, then have fun peeling it all off.

Thanks. I am considering getting that clear plastic stuff for my bumper, maybe hood too (dunno about high temps though). I definitely don't want rocks and chips on my brand new car.

[hussdog426]

[2.:Rollin]

Nice car..I was stationed out in LA from '03-'07 right before I went to Osan...I love it out there..I miss it so bad..Beach is right there in El Segundo...We did our squadron PT out there along the boardwalk...If you drive through Vegas you should swap me wheels I want 18s..

I just got my 2010 GTI couple weeks ago...Starting to get the mod bug but I need to save up

Well I will def. keep up on progress....And if you need to know some good eats around LA let me know

[Blaylock1988]

Nice car..I was stationed out in LA from '03-'07 right before I went to Osan...I love it out there..I miss it so bad..Beach is right there in El Segundo...We did our squadron PT out there along the boardwalk...If you drive through Vegas you should swap me wheels I want 18s..

I just got my 2010 GTI couple weeks ago...Starting to get the mod bug but I need to save up

Well I will def. keep up on progress....And if you need to know some good eats around LA let me know

I will be stopping in Vegas for a day or 2 when I drive out. My Grandparents and my girlfriend live there. What rims do you have right now?

And do you know how I am supposed to get my Sponsor? I called LAAFB and they said they hadn't assigned me one yet. I got my orders like 3 weeks ago. Also, when I arrive in LA, do I check in on base or check in at the hotel down at Ft. McAurthur?

[2.:Rollin]

I will be stopping in Vegas for a day or 2 when I drive out. My Grandparents and my girlfriend live there. What rims do you have right now?

And do you know how I am supposed to get my Sponsor? I called LAAFB and they said they hadn't assigned me one yet. I got my orders like 3 weeks ago. Also, when I arrive in LA, do I check in on base or check in at the hotel down at Ft. McAurthur?

I have the same ones you got but the 17s and no background black....hehehehe...I just want 18s

Well sponsors are always weak...You officers usually are on top of this stuff but in LA things tend to be a lot different since its a Space Command base and not a typical ACC or other.

I would say just go to the base if you make it during operating hours and head to the MPF on the first floor behind the giant statue of the General (we put that thing up) check in there and get your in-processing stuff

Are you going to be at one of the SPOs or regular Air Base jobs?

I wouldn't go to Ft. Mac..I would stay local to the base since its a lot nicer (less ghetto) El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach are all great places right there in South Bay...I loved living in Redondo..I was 2 blocks from the beach and it was sweet..

[Aonarch]

[Blaylock1988]

I have the same ones you got but the 17s and no background black....hehehehe...I just want 18s

Well sponsors are always weak...You officers usually are on top of this stuff but in LA things tend to be a lot different since its a Space Command base and not a typical ACC or other.

I would say just go to the base if you make it during operating hours and head to the MPF on the first floor behind the giant statue of the General (we put that thing up) check in there and get your in-processing stuff

Are you going to be at one of the SPOs or regular Air Base jobs?

I wouldn't go to Ft. Mac..I would stay local to the base since its a lot nicer (less ghetto) El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach are all great places right there in South Bay...I loved living in Redondo..I was 2 blocks from the beach and it was sweet..

When you say its Space Command, do you mean its more slacked, or more busy? (I am still trying to get used to the real Air Force after finishing ROTC)

I am not quite sure which job I will be doing. When I called customer service they said I would be reporting into "GP"....idk what GP is. My AFSC is 62E1G Developmental Engineering if that helps.

Yeah I am looking at housing in North Redondo, but I NEED to have a garage (I can fit my motorcycle and GTI in a single car garage). I meant when I first check in they give 10 days to go house hunting, but I supposedly can stay in the base hotel for free during then (but its on Ft. Mac).

EDIT: Is there anyone in Charlotte that has a Vag-com cable and VCDS that I could meet up with and tinker a bit?

[2.:Rollin]

When you say its Space Command, do you mean its more slacked, or more busy? (I am still trying to get used to the real Air Force after finishing ROTC)

I am not quite sure which job I will be doing. When I called customer service they said I would be reporting into "GP"....idk what GP is. My AFSC is 62E1G Developmental Engineering if that helps.

Yeah I am looking at housing in North Redondo, but I NEED to have a garage (I can fit my motorcycle and GTI in a single car garage). I meant when I first check in they give 10 days to go house hunting, but I supposedly can stay in the base hotel for free during then (but its on Ft. Mac).

EDIT: Is there anyone in Charlotte that has a Vag-com cable and VCDS that I could meet up with and tinker a bit?

Well GP is a what the call SPO (don't ask me the acronym for that) I think GP is the global positioning section of the development area

Well if it were me I would go manhattan beach or hermosa...

Well I have been to 4 bases already and I have never heard of being able to stay on-base at any facility for free while you house hunt...You might have misunderstood that you get 10 days off for free that do not count towards your leave...But you will have to pay for your stay at Fort Mac...thats why i said i would just stay off base near the base since you will be reimbursed the cost for staying at the hotel...and there is a cap for per diem each day for hotels

Space Command is the command you are working for...by different I mean when I was working there it seemed like we were all civilians...we got our job done and yet we still were able to be human when it came to enlisted & commissioned..you will see after a while

[Squirrel Nuts]

[Blaylock1988]

Yeah I didn't mean completely free, they said they reimburse me, but I didn't know you can stay other places during that time as well.

That DPS self counseling thing on www.move.mil is nothing but

[2.:Rollin]

well if you have any questions or need any help...just PM me with what you need help with and I can get you an answer

[Blaylock1988]

well if you have any questions or need any help...just PM me with what you need help with and I can get you an answer

Thanks, PMed


Has anyone seen or used these Dectane LED tail lights from USP motorsports? I like the look of them, they remind me of some BMW tail lights.

http://uspmotorsports.com/product_in...oducts_id=1122

[lon888]

Congrats on the new purchase. One thing you can scratch from your mod list is "delete soundaktor" - the 2012 GTI's don't have them.

[lon888]

OOPS I stand corrected. I tought the sounddakator was the same as that stupid noise pipe - it isn't. Its an electronic noisemaker versus accoustic. I''m getting rid of mine tomorrow when I install my new stainless brake lines.

[rhodri45]

glad you finally got in a mk6

good luck at your next duty station, and have fun modding the hell out of your car

[Blaylock1988]

First mod! Red footwell lighting. It is amazing what a difference red sharpie and clear tape makes, now I want to make all of the lights red

[2.:Rollin]

Thanks, PMed


Has anyone seen or used these Dectane LED tail lights from USP motorsports? I like the look of them, they remind me of some BMW tail lights.

http://uspmotorsports.com/product_in...oducts_id=1122

TMTuning has them with LED turn signals..Here is a normal and smoked set

http://www.tmtuning.com/HOME/catalog...t_product=2799

http://www.tmtuning.com/HOME/catalog...t_product=2800

[2.:Rollin]

First mod! Red footwell lighting. It is amazing what a difference red sharpie and clear tape makes, now I want to make all of the lights red

I used these since they are brighter and red



and used this DIY

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...DIY-How-To-FTW

[rhodri45]

I used these since they are brighter and red



and used this DIY

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...DIY-How-To-FTW

this. i did this all around, perfect.

[choey]

Congrats and welcome! nice color too

[Blaylock1988]

I used these since they are brighter and red



and used this DIY

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...DIY-How-To-FTW

Oh, great suggestion!

I think I will get these, at least for the feet. I don't know if I want to do them all around though because having some natural color light will be good every now and then for reading books/maps/etc.

[ATC2]

Oh, great suggestion!

I think I will get these, at least for the feet. I don't know if I want to do them all around though because having some natural color light will be good every now and then for reading books/maps/etc.

I understand what you are saying I'm thinking the same way but for the price (around$17) I ordered them for all around, considering I don't do much reading in the car and I carry small LED light in the cubby, Have not installed them all yet though. What I didn't do and regret is getting some white ones for the trunk and glove... oh well something do do down the road.

[ATC2]

Congrats on the new purchase. One thing you can scratch from your mod list is "delete soundaktor" - the 2012 GTI's don't have them.

Thanks Ion, I was wondering if I had one, halleluiah...!

[Aonarch]

Congrats on the new purchase. One thing you can scratch from your mod list is "delete soundaktor" - the 2012 GTI's don't have them.

Mine did.

[Blaylock1988]

I am sort of holding off on disconnecting my Soundaktor. This is my first manual transmission car so I am waiting until I am more familiar with the feeling and sounds the car makes when shifting before I reduce the amount of noise it makes.

I got my 10" Type-R installed today! I am going to order a nice active LOC, but for now I just tied the amp into the rear speakers. Still using the old box from my Explorer that I built, but it was never quite big enough, so I am going to buy a new box soon.

[Bizborky89]

I just commissioned in the Army.
Congrats Brother!

[Blaylock1988]

I just commissioned in the Army.
Congrats Brother!

Congrats dude! I love the wheels, what kind are they?

[Blaylock1988]

I unplugged my Soundaktor today. The car sounds so much better! It is much quieter, the main difference is that it sounds less "buzzy" in the cabin.

I am missing some noise so I am going to do a resonator delete on Tuesday
Bob's muffler shop in Raleigh quoted me $40 bucks to remove it.

My only worry is bad droning at highway speeds (mainly because I have to drive cross country next month), though I usually blast my stereo when driving. I see most people say there is no drone, but a FEW people say there is lots of drone. I think not everyone has the same definition of "drone", and maybe some shops do a bad job or use the wrong material pipe to replace the resonator. I have a Flip camera that has pretty good quality audio so I will make a video showing before and after, because I am not satisfied with the quality of videos I have seen on youtube.

Have any of you guys had any droning from a res delete?

[tstahlGTI]

Didn't just delete the res, swapped out the cat back with a EuroJet Gen 2. No drone on the highway, but sounds great when under load/accel.