Herro :D

[lpjz50]

Hello everyone, I've been reviewing these forums for a little over 2 weeks now and browsing the collection of VDubs everyone has here, as well as learning about my car/cars in general. I recently purchased a 2003 MK4 Jetta with ~100k miles (with the mindset of making it as close to GLI while remaining some what personal) and I'm thinking of doing the following to my car and maybe you guys can help me out with some things to do to it since it will be my first car I actually do something to. Also, bear in mind I am a noob. I understand something about a car (Dad is a mechanic) but I am way more literate in computers than the mechanics of a car.

So for starters, here's my car



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

This is all based on budget at the moment.
-1 I plan to do (since my wheels ain't too bad) is of course drop it. Looking at about 2 inches.
-2 thing will be to replace tail lights with some smoked out GLI-esque tail lights.
-3 shall be new head lights. My left headlight is a different color bulb (both are same when lit up though) and it looks gay. I'd also like them brighter.
-4, I hope I can afford by this time, would be wheels. I have been searching for around 3-4 days and I'm seeing that BBS look the best but I'm open to anything that is remotely an 8 star of resemblance to the BBS RCs. Maybe LMs, not sure yet. Oh and probably looking at around 18".
-5, if I'm still up for it, would be removing the badges on the rear. If anything I'll completely remove them or add a BORA badge on the back. I think it looks really nice on other Jetta's I've seen.
-6 would be, if possible, a chrome trim around my molding like the GLI has. (If you can't tell, I like the MK4 GLI's.)
-7 could be tinting. Never really thought about it much but if I'm tinted on tail lights I may do it depending on the look.
-8 would be intake and air filters.
-9 would be new exhaust tips or a new exhaust as a whole. Nothing super overboard, just want a rumble. Those tiny tips on my muffler look too old :\

So any suggestions you guys can give on any of these topics would be fine, as well as any other mods to do to the car. Nothing mechanical though, I plan to leave the engine stock and everything else stock that affects performance. If the car was a bit younger I might but he runs great as he is.

Thanks

(Also this is like...my 3rd post? I'm new so hello

[rbuicki]

This is all based on budget at the moment.
-1 I plan to do (since my wheels ain't too bad) is of course drop it. Looking at about 2 inches.
-2 thing will be to replace tail lights with some smoked out GLI-esque tail lights.
-3 shall be new head lights. My left headlight is a different color bulb (both are same when lit up though) and it looks gay. I'd also like them brighter.
-4, I hope I can afford by this time, would be wheels. I have been searching for around 3-4 days and I'm seeing that BBS look the best but I'm open to anything that is remotely an 8 star of resemblance to the BBS RCs. Maybe LMs, not sure yet. Oh and probably looking at around 18".
-5, if I'm still up for it, would be removing the badges on the rear. If anything I'll completely remove them or add a BORA badge on the back. I think it looks really nice on other Jetta's I've seen.
-6 would be, if possible, a chrome trim around my molding like the GLI has. (If you can't tell, I like the MK4 GLI's.)
-7 could be tinting. Never really thought about it much but if I'm tinted on tail lights I may do it depending on the look.
-8 would be intake and air filters.
-9 would be new exhaust tips or a new exhaust as a whole. Nothing super overboard, just want a rumble. Those tiny tips on my muffler look too old :\

So any suggestions you guys can give on any of these topics would be fine, as well as any other mods to do to the car. Nothing mechanical though, I plan to leave the engine stock and everything else stock that affects performance. If the car was a bit younger I might but he runs great as he is.

Thanks

(Also this is like...my 3rd post? I'm new so hello

Please explain to my why it looks "gay". Is it happy? Or is it homosexual?

[1999.5GTIVR6]

I'm pretty sure he's just using the word as a synonym for dumb

Eitherway, welcome to the forums, prepare to learn a lot,
Do not buy anything unless it has been approved or the people on here try to make you cry

[GTomI]

Don't look like no hero to me...

Hi!!!

[Zach!]

Please explain to my why it looks "gay". Is it happy? Or is it homosexual?

[1.8tCrayon]

Welcome.

You will know soon enough that that list isn't going to be staying that way nor will it get done in that order.

Keep searching around and find some cars you like. Always search before you ask questions. There is plenty of information running around this website.

[dubluv2003]

Always buy OEM for your replacement parts. Or OEM+ for your upgrades.

[lpjz50]

@rbuicki - Well each bulb looks different. As another poster said, yes I meant dumb.

@1999.5GTIVR6 - Alrighty, I totally understand. My dad usually won't let me buy anything that isn't approved or good in the first place. He's very picky.

@GTomI - Hello

@1.8tCrayon - Nope, I don't plan on the list staying the same either. When I said based on budget, it's based on whether I job a job soon or not and what I want then. I've seen a lot of cars I like, but some are too much, like tires stuffed in the fender well. I'm more of a...well...picture a GLI with a .5-.7" drop more. I've done my research and found some FAQ on 1.8T in the DIY section, very informative

@dubluv2003 - Totally plan to.

Now if anyone is interested, I just washed my car and took pictures of him! I'm kind of updating this thread for my own collage and for anyone to enjoy. But I'm really looking for advice on anything you guys can give that I mentioned I'd like to do.

Buddy:

[mark6kevin]

once you drop it 2"...drop it another 2"

[lpjz50]

once you drop it 2"...drop it another 2"

Haha! I know doesn't it seem like a donk? or a monster truck? Too high for me I plan on having 18's so H&R 2-2.3 drop should be plenty. But I do have a questions though. Compared to a GLI, are my color and the GLI's off? My color is deemed as Magnetic Grey. Not sure what the standard grey looking GLI's are but they seem a tad darker where as mine seems a little bluer. Not sure though. I may try to get a stock GLI valance for mine

[dubluv2003]

That's definitely a pg. Car is really clean, I really wouldn't do more than just a drop and some nice wheels. If you don't want to slam it, a good option is a cup kit. They still ride good, but also give you a mild drop. I installed the FK 60/40 kit on my cousins Wolfsburg and it actually looks really good. Something to consider.


Reply pulled from my arse.

[Miller7204]

[lpjz50]

Alright, taken into consideration. Now...I'm a noob. What does 'pg' mean? and what are cups? I plan to make the fender sit right above the tire on 18's, so super flush and smooth ride. As far as going anything further? Hmmmm...nothing super major, nothing bodily changing. Possible badge and tail light/ head light replacements (needed), but other than that I plan to keep body and interior stock. As for my mention of the GLI valance, that's only if I'm up for it and if it's even doable. It may look good without it, who knows?

Oh and

[Miller7204]

"PG" is Platinum Gray

[Brandon_Schulze]

Buy Coilovers... dont Buy Springs. That was my worst mistake I've made so far.

Dont tint your tailights either you will get murdered in here.

In the end, its your car . . . but dont ruin it

[lpjz50]

"PG" is Platinum Gray

Oh okay, so is that the same color as a GLI? It seems as though there is a blue hue to my color vs. a platinum gray color when comparing...but I hope it really is! I love the GLI but it was out of my budget and I think I'd learn more doing things on my own. Thanks for the information

@Brandon_Schulze - My dad recommended them as he used to work on Vdubs himself and had practically nothing stock on his vehicle. What's wrong with them, what happened to you? O: And well, I don't mean tinted, more like this - http://www.ebay.com/itm/USA-VW-MK4-J...ht_4618wt_1111 - I think it will look good with my color. Right? I'm not full on tinting.

[lpjz50]

This is almost identical to what I want it to look like...and yes it's a real GLI

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-i...Q/DSC05060.JPG

[DieselDubber]

Clay bar and then polish your car and I bet you will see a color change. I have the same color and it seems a little green until I polished it.

[lpjz50]

That's something I plan on working with this weekend. And I confirmed it is PG LD7X . This makes it easier to find parts pre painted and hopefully some age. Now I just found a trunk from a GLI with no badges on it with my color code, I think it'll look great once I replace my standard headlights with the smoked GLI ones.

[cruizer34]

Now if anyone is interested, I just washed my car and took pictures of him!]

Inanimate objects are always feminin

[Clean PG]

congrats on the car and welcome

[lleiter]

Welcome aboard

[lpjz50]

Inanimate objects are always feminin

No not for me, I named him Buddy. First thing that came to my head when I saw him in the dealer lot. Kind of stuck. But oh wells. He could be both. She could be both. I haven't looked under the car yet

[lpjz50]

And thanks to all saying Welcome to me! I really enjoy this forum, and hopefully I can get some ideas on what to do. I know there's a lot of pictures and DIY posts but I'm going to try to use this thread for a log on what in doing and for user input. It's always great to hear feedback. Hopefully I can do something soon.

[mk4rida]

Looks good I also have a PG jetta, love that color

Welcome

[lpjz50]

Looks good I also have a PG jetta, love that color

Welcome

I have always wanted one so when I saw one for sale, and I really wanted a manual..., I said screw the manual. The car was in really really clean shape and was worth it. I also photoshopped my own photo of what I plan on doing to the car, I wanted to see what you guys think.

[mk4rida]

sounds like a good plan

Lower it first, then wheels

[lpjz50]

sounds like a good plan

Lower it first, then wheels

I've got that a lot. Why wheels last? I typically get the most expensive out of the way first but, oh well I might

[lpjz50]

Ok so an update here. My car just died. I was idling in a parking lot, oncoming cars and one behind me, and I see the battery light come on and my car slowly stopped and just turned off (or so it felt). Meanwhile everything in the car was working fine (radio, lights, etc). AC was blowing air but not cold air. Hopefully I can fix it or it was intermittent. Anyone else have any idea what it was or what it could have been? D: