On hand during the ceremony, I caught the name of a particular class; that of OEMplus. “No kidding,” I thought to myself. “That’s a class?”
Full Story

I agree with you. Completely aftermarket parts, save for suspension and such, aren't really OEM+, IMO. However, replica parts fit okay. I'm not into the replica stuff myself, but I can appreciate that most of those parts carry on the VAG influence.

2006 GLI .:. 2008 Rabbit S

MkV Forum New User Information :: MkV FAQ & DIY Guide

-greengti81

If you conisder OEM+ as a mostly stock car with a few small aftermarket add-ons, you will be describing 90% of the VW's on vortex. There is nothing unique about them.

i for one have been a fan of this type of look since i first got into VW's 20 years ago... keeping air-cooled's all original, slammed and maybe with a set of empi 5 spokes.

with my new beetle now, aside from the O.Z SL's, stance and red painted calipers it looks OEM. After 3 years i just added color to the engine. I was keeping it all OEM say with my black Bailey DV and mod'd OEM airbox.

on the other hand i do love the dub's weve seen at the Treffen's

twitter | facebook

I just tell people that "this is the way that it should have left the factory". Completely opinionated of course.

My Golf is close. Aside from the APR Stage I chip and the H&R Springs, it's all VAG parts. Still, I think there's room for factory-looking parts, such as the aforementioned MkV style Mk IV headlights and replica wheels or R32 body kit.

Besides, a Passat with 19-inch Phaeton wheels isn't exactly subtle or a sleeper... or if it is, it's one of the edgiest sleepers around.

Aside from the badgeless grille, this is a great example of OEM plus.

People have said it lacks the flare of individualism that a radical spread of aftermarket parts can give you, but I disagree. Call me a type A personality or even a little bit OCD, but to me, nothing looks cleaner or performs as well (within design) as OEM mods.

BTW, lets give credit where credit is due. Here is a little history lesson for you. The ENTIRE VW 'scene' that has exploded over the last 5 years should be credited to 2 things: 1) The 1.8T; and 2) Roger Moore.

Roger Moore was the first person to bring the OEM+ philisophy to the forefront which sparked massive interest and countless copycats of his now legendary silver GTI VR6. He was winning carshow awards IN GERMANY, before most of us knew we could swap out our lightswitches. In essence, his car and philosophy can be directly linked (if not credited) for the U.S. eventually getting the 337 and the 20th AE GTI's.

The MKIV platform as a whole would have had to fall on the laurels of the 1.8T alone if it wasn't for Roger Moore. The following 'scene' would have been big, but not nearly as big as it is right now.

Never pass up a good opportunity to keep your mouth shut.

http://mason-tech.com/

OH MAN! How could I have forgotten Roger. He was the man in making the Euro parts market happen. Heck the aluminum trim, shift knob and Euro headlight switch in my Golf are all from Roger. I hope he can forgive me.

Quote, originally posted by VolksenBoy »

nice article. for the best tuning style evar.

I agree.

Gary H (black UK 1.8t)

that and Roger Moore (silber US VR6 in germany)

If I go to church on Sunday and cabaret all day Monday, nobody's business if I do.

He came to mind right away when I clicked this article:
Four Motion shift knobs, Alu' trim, lighting stuff...
Of course he went with Bilstein coilovers , deep dish wheels, and swaybars.. So I guess he strayed a bit from the theme

I don't think having a "unique" VW is necessary to be considered an enthusiast....

I'm currently driving my 14th VW....and i don't think any of them over the yrs would have been referred to as unique...but they were all fun to drive

I believe OEM Plus is something many enthusiasts will evolve into - almost like a veteran class. It's hard for me to see people just getting into the scene and begin at this category of modifying and tuning.

Regarding OEM Plus being featured in magazines, I believe that will change. The trend is definately moving towards more use of OEM parts, especially OE European parts. Magazines will begin to see this, as well as even beginning enthusiasts (just my predication though).

Once again, great article, and long live OEM PLUS!

Quote, originally posted by George@VWvortex »

Aside from the badgeless grille, this is a great example of OEM plus.

Doesn't Volkswagen offer de-badging on the Phaeton in Europe? That makes the Passat even closer to an OEM+

I'm another member of the OEM+ group, and, yes, no attention whatever. I think the idea is, if you can't find the part from Volkswagen's own partsbin, then you have to restrict yourself to Volkswagen's OEM vendors' partsbins. For example, my Beetle has the TT's aluminum pedal set, Billstein shocks, higher-trim Beetle wheels, and a Rieger shift knob. And when the clutch dies? A GTI VR6 clutch. I'm also looking forward to a new set of rims when the whole new MkV era batch hits the States.

My car is faster than average, handles better than average, looks better than average, but it doesn't get the stares over-the-top cars do. It's what I believe a New Beetle TDI Sport model might have looked like if Volkswagen made one.

And I think that's part of the aim of OEM+, playing Volkswagen marketing manager and creating your own customized model trim.

Not of the VW Roundel, just the modle name and engien designation. It's subtle though, so in my slightly hybrid OEM+ mind, I'm cool with it.

Quote »

I'm also looking forward to a new set of rims when the whole new MkV era batch hits the States.

You know the Mk V is 5x112 right? FYI.

Quote, originally posted by OrlandoR »

I wanna know more about those replica B7 RS4 wheels I have wanted a set for my R ever since I first saw pics of the new RS4 God I love those wheels!!!

Call Josh at Achtuning. The ones on that car were prototypes, but the production ones should be getting to him any day. They're coming in 18-inch and 19-inch. They're forged, and I think he's getting them in 5x112 adn 5x100 with et35 offset. Check with him though for final details.

Thank you for the kind words.

OEMplus is most definitely my preferred styling method. VAG is a great company, but gold old USA really gets the shaft sometimes. It is unfortunate that we are not given as many options from the factory as other countries get, but, without VAG's slim amount of US factory options, we may have never started an OEMPlus style here.

From early MK1's to MKV's, there will always be OEM parts that never make it to the US, for this reason, OEMplus will live a very good life.

Thanks for your support... *Dad*

DUBS ON THE DELAWARE - Sunday, August 2nd 2009 Pocono's PA
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4386330

Yes indeed, but they're also very high offsets, so a set of 5x112 to 5x100 adapters and you're all set

I should have pointed that out.

A number of people asked about bolt pattern at Waterwagens when I was working by our Mk V GLI and GTI. I think many people still assume that the new cars will also be 5x100. Therein is the FYI.

Haha. Good to see you and your car up at Deutsche Werks Bill. As always, I'm enamored with it.

If I recall correctly, the point of OEMplus wasn't robbing the corporate partsbin for goodies, it was to modify your car such that it still looked like something the company may produce...and 19" Phateon rims on a Golf IV with Golf V-look headlights is not something VW is about to produce.

How quickly we lose our way here at the 'tex...

Roger was the definitive OEM+ guy on the 'tex. First one who opened my eyes to what my Golf could become. I remember talking to Swedish friends who thought owning a Golf was like buying an Accord and couldn't believe I had done it. "Du ar inte kool, Dan," is what they'd say. But they had no idea about the magic Roger and the others following his lead and growing his ideas could do with their little MKIVs.

www.operator101.com

Stuff evolves man. That said, there is that more pure side where the car looks like the factory could have produced it, which I mentioned.... and like my Golf, pictured in the article. And there is slightly more wild, which I personally feel is okay.

That's the thing though with modding. If you wanna give points for traditionality, then okay. BUT, foks are gonna do what folks are gonna do and what's right for you doesn't mean it has to be right for everyone.I personally really like the Passat on 19s. That's only one inch up on the new production Passat, and those wheels on our Mk V GTI are only one inch up from production as well. That's not that aggressive IMO.

The project is to make the car as close as possible to the 337, I installed the side skirts a few weeks ago, and will be picking up the votex wagon rear valence in a week or so. the car already has Euro- OEM recaros, and a few other OEM interior enhancements.

OEM Plus is by far my favorite tuning style, and it seems to be prefered by other wagon owners/enthusiasts as well.

I'm a huge fan of OEM+, and I must also note that Roger Moore's creation first turned me on to it. He gave the "movement" still greater inertia by generously sourcing German-only OEM parts for dubbers in the US - at no profit to himself. I've still got his bambergVR6 site in my favorites list.

I love OEM+ because 99.9% of people out there will not notice anything different about the car. But that .1% will find enough miniscule differences and unique additions to talk about for hours. There is poetry in subtlety.

Modified by Sunil at 12:05 AM 8-18-2005

Quote, originally posted by Elbows »

Oh, welcome to the Lounge. You'll probably spend a couple months in the MkIV forum - realize its garbage...then spend literally the next 8-10 years of your life here in the Car Lounge.

.._______
/___ _ \
O==w==O
\|______|/

OEM+ is wonderful, if in part because it is such an inside thing. When someone comments on my Passat, I know that they are probably a broad VW enthusiast because for the most part it looks stock. If you get closer and know the partsbin, you can quickly see that it is most definitely not.

Great piece!

Passatworld Mrs 1.8T
CarDomain Blog
Bolt. Recaro recovery, bow headliners, Cabriolet fixin's and other misc hard and soft goods for VWs