Best products from r/Volkswagen

Sure thing! It wasn't too difficult, just took some learning. I did a lot of watching tutorials on YouTube and mistakes were made. So first, the items I bought were viynl wrap and chrome edge trim. You don't have to do glossy black and silver chrome, but that's what I chose. A wood grain would look nice if you have a tan interior.

Vinyl: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007EEU58W/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Chrome trim: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0194BMZEY/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Also helpful! Trim pry tools: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00D7XNQHG/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1



First, take a look on YouTube for videos on removing the radio, because that will tell you how to remove all the trim pieces. Make sure to be VERY careful, the plastic clips can break easily. For the side trim pieces, also look on YouTube or the internet on how to remove those. They'll do a much better job at explaining than I will!

Applying a wrap is fairly easy, it just takes patience and a little bit of skill. I recommend doing easy pieces first before more complex pieces like the vents and top center console panel (which was super hard!). Look on YouTube for tutorials on how to wrap, there are some great videos out there explaining the process. You'll need a heat gun or hair dryer if you want to really do a solid job, as well as a razor. For the vents, I trimmed around the small indent by the opening and carefully cut around the indentation by the wheel that opens and closes them. It's very tricky to do but if you're careful it will look pretty nice.

The Chrome edge trim is pretty easy to do, just shove it into any gaps that you want to line with trim. If you're careful with how much you use, that one pack should cover most of the car. Try not to go too excessive or it will look silly. Some panels will be really hard to force the trim into, so I recommend some sort of smooth tool like the butt of a screwdriver to press it into place.

All in all it took me about 2 days to do all the work, and I had to purchase a new piece of trim from a junkyard because I was careless. Don't rush it, take your time, and make sure you educate yourself as much as you can (YouTube videos/guides)

If you have any questions, let me know! Also, send me a picture of your car if you end up doing it, I'd love to see how it turns out!

I used the 3M headlight restoration kit on my MKIV, but this one is better rated AND comes with a sealant to keep the results. One of the biggest issues with restoring is that sometimes they become cloudy if you don't use sealant. (http://www.amazon.com/Sylvania-38771-Headlight-Restoration-Kit/dp/B00429NKWK).

Depending on how deep the scratches are you may be able to lightly sand down down the clear coat and buff it, unless its completely through the clear coat and through the paint and/or metal. Looking at those, they look pretty deep. I would suggest using OEM paint pens, blobbing paint on the scratches, and letting them set for a week. Then you sand down with 2000 or 3000 grit sand paper, buff, and repeat until satisfied. Then apply a clear coat, lightly sand down, and buff to a shine. Letting the paint set is pretty important. You could also look into Dr. Colorship, but thats really not for scratches and more for chips on the front hood, which I'm pretty certain you have (the hood pretty much asks for it on these cars).

As far as the mirror, I'd see if any junk yards around you have a mirror on a junked car. If a different color, plasti-dip both mirrors black.

>every single pair of lights i look at that have what im looking for.. always say "Will NOT fit any models with OEM Xenon/HID headlights"

You don't want to put an aftermarket LED bulb in place of an OEM xenon/HID bulb. That's a complete downgrade, seeing how an OEM xenon can put out nearly 3600 lumens, while an aftermarket LED bulb is capped at pretty much 800 lumens.

>I have looked at Spyder Spec D HID projector headlights and many more... my question is, is there a headlight out there that is good that you recommend.

Most people are going to agree with me when I say that Spyder and Spec-D are complete doo-doo. If you want to deal with melted headlamps, cracked lenses, and leaking headlamps, go ahead, get a Spyder.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ft86/comments/8hr7ux/spyder_headlights/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Trucks/comments/aovimj/thinking_about_getting_some_black_spyder/

https://www.reddit.com/r/fordranger/comments/2u3eu2/im_getting_some_mixed_review_on_the_spyder_halo/

>I wanna make my car a bit more unique and not use the original headlights.
>
>I am open to suggestions but my car is factory/OEM HID Xenon headlights.. and must be a plug and play option.. thank you for the help!!

Very, very few plug-and-play options for factory xenons unlike you like downgrades. Like I said, there are certainly LED bulbs you can slap in place of the xenons, but they'll be dimmer.

If you want lights that are "whiter" like LEDs, you can look into Osram Cool Blue Intense HID bulbs. These are designed to have a cooler, "whiter" color, like LEDs.

https://www.amazon.com/Osram-66240CBI-Xenarc-Light-Pair/dp/B0068M1DRS/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=cool+blue+intense+d2s&qid=1563007927&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Might be a silly suggestion, but have you tried a different dealer yet? I have found the the quality of customer service is only as good as the quality of the people that work there, and some dealerships tend to attract certain types of people (some cocky/arrogant, while others are friendly/helpful). It might be worth calling ahead to discuss the issue and then making a trip to the next closest, as they may actually care to help you out.

As an even sillier suggestion, you could just get one of these external Bluetooth adapters and forget about the issue completely (they are easy to jnstall and work wonderfully, but I know that I personally I would not be happy with non-OEM Bluetooth in my MK6)... http://www.amazon.com/Kinivo-BTC450-Bluetooth-Hands-Free-Input/dp/B009NLTW60.

I put a set of these in my b6 Passat about a month ago. They did require some slight modification to the piece that secures them to the headlamp assembly, but it was a very easy install. I am very happy with the results, they look great and are way brighter. Keep in mind that my Passat came with projector style lights, so the bright white might look more natural in mine than it would in the reflector style ones on your Tiguan.

Who cares? You're 17! Whatever happens, you'll have a great story to tell for the rest of your life. I would have LOVED to go on an adventure like this at your age. Remember, "Adventure is misery recounted at leisure."

The car may be able to go about 65-70mph on the freeway but I wouldn't recommend running it at that speed for long. This car was made before the national 55mph speed limit but 60-65 is probably about as fast as you want to go on a sustained basis if the car's top speed is 73. Running ANY car at or near its maximum speed for any length of time stresses it pretty badly.

I *would* recommend that you carry a spare alternator belt, ignition points, spark plugs, and condenser. Know how to change those out at the side of the road, and how to set dwell and timing. Get a copy of How To Keep Your Volkswagen Alive by John Muir. Carry a rudimentary set of tools: assorted screwdrivers, assorted pliers, a set of metric combination wrenches, a metric socket set, a dwell meter and timing light.

It's not unlikely, if you get towed to a shop, that yours will be the first Bug the mechanic has seen outside of a museum or a car show. Mechanics who know how to work on those cars aren't that common, any more.

If this is a *literal* cross-country drive, like, you're starting out on or near the West Coast...be aware that we're heading into the time of year when roads and passes through the Rockies can get shut down because of snow conditions. If you're traveling through desolate areas, don't count on cellphones to work. If you'll be traveling through the desert, read this.

ETA: Hopefully you can get your parents to agree to all of this. Also, if this is a multi-day trip, at 17, you may have problems doing things like getting a motel room, because you're a minor. I'm not sure how that would work even if your parents were to authorize you to use one of their credit cards.

I've never bought a set of wheels for a car. I've only had to replace one rim in a set when my sister drove the family minivan into a curb and broke a chunk out of one of the alloy wheels.
I still have the OEM Alloys on my Passat. If you are looking for a set of OEM Alloys you could check eBay, Craigslist, or a local junkyard and you may be able to get a decent set of used wheels without setting you back too much money. If you'd rather go aftermarket, I don't really know the best places to shop for rims but I'm sure many other people on this sub can help with that.

As far as the headlights go, i have used the Turtle Wax Headlight Restoration Kit and it works pretty decently. Just a little elbow grease and about an hour of your time and your headlights will look much much better.
You can also choose to just replace the headlight. A quick google search should give you plenty of options whether you want to keep the OEM look or go for something a little different.

Hope this helps!

The key to any leather or leather like product is cleaning it and adding UV protection and conditioner so it doesn't dry out.

I live in Florida. Our previous cars were an 06 Jetta TDI with leather and 13 Passat TDI leather, and now. 17 Passat Leather.

All of them the leather was great and never cracked or opened because when I washed and detailed the car every few months I would do the leather and let it soak in over night.

Our 06 we sold to my wife's brother who doesn't understand taking care of anything. And within 2 years of sale to him. The driver's seat has cracked. All of it was perfect when we sold it to him.

Just goes to show you how doing a little work will not only make it smell great, feel soft and nice to the touch, but also makes it last.


Products I use are:
https://www.amazon.com/16-oz-Poorboys-Leather-Stuff/dp/B000E300C6?crid=1TQKXVBDBIS82&keywords=poorboys+leather+stuff&qid=1535984233&sprefix=poorboys+lea&sr=8-1-fkmrnull&ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmrnull_1

And for cleaning them I use an all purpose cleaner diluted 50/50 with water and use clean microfiber towels to spray on the cleaner and rub them clean and dry to get the dirt out.
https://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys-SPI_993_64-Nonsense-Colorless/dp/B07114LZKB?crid=3KVB3H4TB3EEV&keywords=all+purpose+cleaner+automotive&qid=1535984493&sprefix=all+purpose+cleaner+auto&sr=8-31-spons&ref=mp_s_a_1_31_sspa&psc=1

You can use any cleaner you like. Be it citrus based which I also have and use.

Oh yeah the sound system is great in these cars Fender did a good job. Yep just like the GTI badge. I was really glad to see they added that and the red lipstick to the new models. Finally showing the GLI a little love, now if we could just get a sport model like the GTI. If you were interested in adding the lipstick I did it myself on my 13 with just some red vinyl racing stripe tape like this. Here's a pic of how it came out sorry it's a little dark but the best I could find.

If I could give you one piece of advice and no other it would be this....

Make absolutely CERTAIN all your engine tin is in place and that your engine seal is in fantastic condition. You really want to keep all of that heat out of your engine compartment. Here's a pic of a beetle seal http://beingwolfy.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/dscf3758.jpg. but that's the idea

I chased so many other things to attain good cooling on my last motor, got everything fixed with my new hot rod engine though. The air cooled design only works well when every piece of the system is there. Probably any parts shop could show you anything that is missing and they'd be happy to sell it to you.

Also get the Idiot Guide, it helped me survive driving a $0 beetle to college and making it run right.
http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step---Step/dp/1566913101/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1371515944&sr=1-1

Oh I have so much else to say...

Have fun, keep an open mind and get ready to read and get greasy!

Here you go! If you need any help installing it feel free to shoot me a DM. This being said it's super easy. Just make sure your surface is very clean first. iJDMTOY 10-Inch Germany Flag Color Stripe Decal Sticker for Euro Car Audi BMW Mini Mercedes Porsche Volkswagen Exterior or Interior Decoration https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OU8V5IO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_5WYBDbB5C1MMT

The intercooler is actually just sitting on the rad support. I think I put rubber under the feet. You can see in one of the pics the bar that spans the 2 verticals. The bolts through that have hooks on the end and hook to the bar of steel bolted to the top of the IC to kind of clamp it in place. It's not perfect but it works. It's simple and makes it relatively easy if I have to pull it for some reason.

This is the actual kit I used to plumb mine. Had to order a few other adapters to make it hook up to the turbo and intake manifold, but that's about it.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EW9D796/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_SlwUBbTXJPTBB

Edit: Sorry if I like to ramble. I'm weirdly passionate about two things.

1. Mk1 Volkswagens
   
2. Old VW diesels.
   
   Oh, and turbochargers. Everything should be diesel and turbocharged in my world. Haha

Well, the vehicle platform would be the Type 2, but the engine would likely be the Type 4 if it is a U.S. Westfalia Model. The parts for that engine are generally a bit more expensive and less readily available, but I don't think it should rule the selection out by any means. The wikipedia article on the bus has some more details on the specifics.

If you do wind up getting an aircooled VW of any kind, I cannot recommend John Muir's How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive enough. Illustrations and step-by step guides for pretty much anything you can think of, troubleshooting guides, and maintenance tips that are valuable for anyone from beginners to pros.

Edit: You might consider crossposting to r/Fahrvergnugen, they've got a bit more classic VW content.

Upvoted for truth. Prepare to live on the Samba and look into this book https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101

IT will help you with everything you need to know about Aircooled.
Investing in a Bentley Manual is wise as well.

Good luck! Here's some crucial literature as well!

http://www.amazon.com/Volkswagen-Station-Official-Service-Manual/dp/0837616352/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1416243503&sr=8-3&keywords=vw+bentley+manual

http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step---Step/dp/1566913101/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416243535&sr=8-1&keywords=how+to+keep+your+volkswagen+alive

How long have you had it?

The Rola is one of the ones I have been looking at.

Looks like a nice low profile. Easy attachment to the crossbars?

Amazon But search around. Some are better quality than others. Idk about this, I just searched for an example to show you. Mine came w/all 3 colors like the image shows, but for some reason they weren’t “connected”. I had to place each color stripe one at a time.


edit: btw, check out my past posts, I have other photos showing it better

i bought this thing below (there are others as well). combined with a free android app. you can check codes as well as all sorts of engine info. coolant temp, timing advance, voltage, intake temp, intake flow rate, and alot more. ive found it very handy.

http://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-PIC18F2480-diagnostics-compatible/dp/B005NLQAHS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377318285&sr=8-1&keywords=bluetooth+obd2

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.prowl.torquescan&hl=en

Sorry I forgot to respond. What worked well far me was the following:

• BAFX Bluetooth OBD Scan Tool - $23.99 (I've seen them price it as low as $19.99 though depending on the day, may be worth watching the amazon page for a couple days)
  
  
• Carista Android app - free download but it costs $20 to unlock the feature that actually lets you apply new settings.
  
  I can vouch for this combination as I was able to successfully use it to configure options (such as windows and fog lights) in my CC. No problems. The only catch is that they claim the BAFX tool only works with Android. I have an Android phone so it's not an issue for me. If you have an iPhone you may have to look for a different tool. Carista actually sells one on Amazon but it's pricier ($40 last time I checked).
  
  This won't get you the full array of features of a real VAG-COM but it's also $200 cheaper.

Confirmed, free Torque app + dongle does oil temps and a whole host of other readings.

I have used the BAFX Products 34t5 Bluetooth OBDII Scan Tool for Android Devices (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005NLQAHS) for about three years on two different cars with no issues.

I'm looking into getting this one. Well rated, cheap, and it works with the Torque app.

But I haven't tried it

Rola. It's very sturdy too. Here's the Amazon link :

Rola 59504 Vortex Roof Mounted Cargo Basket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004R34HDC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_CAf4wb8VBQAWY

How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot https://www.amazon.com/dp/1566913101/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_.7Zfvb1QXATZJ
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1566913101/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_.7Zfvb1QXATZJ

Buy this and you will have no questions. :)

This stuff works wonders, and it's less than $10.
http://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Wax-T-240KT-Headlight-Restorer/dp/B001TI5IIQ