Filx

Hi team, I'm afraid I've onbly had time for the odd drop in at Club Lupo but great to see all the peoples Loops from around the world. Anyway I thought a short update on my ladies GTI was in order so here we are. Aside from putting a few kms (and loving every one of them btw - this car is so much fun) on it over winter we finally got the other set of wheels refurbed. They are NKB Power, 15x7 and 15x8 +35. A pretty hard size to find in one piece wheels down here in NZ. Anyway they started out as this....... And ended up like this................ We love them as the "look" is a bit different and sort of suits the unusual nature of the car - but they have had a mixed reaction! Those are 195/50s as well and yes they rub a fraction (even though the car isn't all that low) as a few wise people here warned me they would. The challenge is 195/45s are really hard to source in NZ and are about twice the price as the 50s. So I'm considering my options currently (rolled lips, 45s, or maybe some 185s for the front, hmmmm?). I don't have any great pics of them on the car but here's a few for anyone interested. Regards from NZ, Phil P.S. Here's what's really been keeping me busy over winter. 2.8 24v and 6spd into Mk3 Golf Variant - still a long way to go and summers coming!

Well spotted Linz - the wheels are Schmidt Revolutions with 195/40/16 P Zeros. They came on the car when I got it and to be honest I'm not sure if I'll leave them on or not. Mainly as they remind me too much of TSW "Venoms" (branded TSW "VX1" down here) which I really disliked as they were/are absolute rice! Thankfully you hardly ever see them anymore. I've got another set of wheels for it that are 15x7 / 15x8 +35 and a left over set of 195/50/15 Dunlops that I'd like to use. The rims need a refurb so that will come in time. The car also has KW coilovers already - I haven't played around with them as yet but fear I wont be able to take much more out of the ride height as our driveway has a mean curb on it and it already scrapes badly at some angles style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad.gif" /> Plus the roads down here are pretty poor so a bit of suspension travel is a must! Good spotting also Joe - We shaved the boot and debadged the car - just to simplify the look a bit. Left the VW badge on to keep people guessing though! style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":lol:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> Aside from that it's a pretty standard '04 6spd GTI with 30,000kms on the clock. Future plans just the normal stuff, tinting the windows, CAI of some sort and exhaust - and I'd love to get my hands on some Caimbridge lights - though ordering a set "new" will probably be my only option. It is also missing various bits of the standard tool kit - does anyone have a list of what it should come with?

A couple more random pics border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" class="linked-image" />

Thanks everyone - I'm super happy with it. And my lady is over the moon to finally drive it which is the main thing! Lupos in general are so rare down here that most people don't even know what it is, or just think it's a Polo or something. So it's actually pretty incognito (so far) as it takes a bit of a trainspotter to pick it. But it has had a few odd glances. All standard bodywork - I think it's just my crappy camera that has accentuated the arches as it hasn't dealt with the reflection very well.

After almost 6 months of effort we finally got the car on the road last week. To say I'm rapt with it is a massive understatement - it's every bit as good as I thought it would be! Just fantastic fun border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" class="linked-image" />

Sourcing parts wasn't too bad - helped by some having contacts in the trade and extensive use of the internet. I tried to get everything I could brand new with the exception of a few things like the dash, airbags, etc which came from Andy at Auto Spares & Salvage in Northampton, UK (very helpful guys - big thanks to Andy and the team!). The suprisingly expensive parts were to do with the lights. I couldn't believe it - I was quoted NZ$700 for the light unit (the platic bit), NZ$600 for the relay and NZ$900 for the bulb. $900 for a bulb - I mean WTF?!?!?!!! I ended up having to buy the light unit, we used a none OEM Xenon bulb for NZ$100, and an used A4 relay (slightly modified to fit) from Ebay USA for about NZ$200. dxg - I'm in Auckland. You will have no problem bringing your Lupo here (aside from all the organising and running around) and getting it road reg'd. Have a look here if you haven't already http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/importing/index.html

Almost there, i.e. within spitting distance now ............ will post some pics in a Readers Rides thread hopefully in the next week or so!

I'm hoping it will fit! My friend that has done the bulk of the work has a few pics but there isn't actually much to see as it is really only bolting on a bunch of stock parts and a bit of panel and paint work. Pretty boring stuff. I'm going to post some pics when it is fully done (in about two weeks hopefully) but in the mean time I DROVE IT TODAY for the first time! style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> It's not road legal yet so I was a bit cautious but it seems to go well and certainly handles very nicely! Nice tight feel, no rattles and no obvious issues. Fact is - I love it - it's fantastic and every bit as good as I thought it would be. style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":wub:" border="0" alt="wub.gif" /> I think it is going to be very hard to hand the keys over to my girlfriend in a few weeks!

Thanks Blackrat - took a punt on an Audi ignitor from Ebay USA. Looks like the right part and at US$90 was a fair chunk cheaper than a new one (NZ$600 at our local importers "special price"! Ouch). Will find out if it works when it arrives next week. The car is all going and is painted so is 98% there! I am super excited now! Just got this light thing to sort out and the final hurdle will be the compliance and registration. Managed to save a few dollars along the way also which will hopefully offset some of the unforseen and costly challenges. Used a Mk3 Golf radiator core (from 1.8 Cli I think) with the Lupo end tanks instead of buying a new radiator. Seems to be working OK so far. Got a new windscreen from Singapore for $200. Managed to get the lower bumper plastic welded and repaired rather than replaced, etc.

Thanks guys - we ended up using a resistor for the "switch" (2ohm I think) and airbag light is now off. This is just a temporary solution to get me through the compliance and certification and I will replace the unit after that. Apparently it is the same as used on an Audi A8 so I will look for a second hand item here as they are relatively common. In regards to the airbag module my guy sent it to Germany and they returned it about 3 weeks later with all codes removed and good as new. I think the whole thing including shipping was around NZ$100. I figure he just reflashed it but it might not be the correct terminology? So I just have a headlight ignitor switch thing to track down and I think *fingers crossed* we're basically in business :-)

Hi all, Just a quick query and I hope I can explain this accurately. We've bascailly got most of the Lupo (04 GTI) back together now - so anyway when the airbags deploy there is also a "switch" thing that pops off to isolate the battery. Anyway when my guy installed the reflashed airbag module the airbag light is still on and it seems to be linked to this "switch". I had originally thought it would just be something you reset manually and all is well - but oh no, it appears not. You can buy a new part but it's pretty expensive and I'm trying to get over these last few hurdles in a cost effective manner. So my questions are - is this item a generic part from any Lupo (or any other VWs) or specific to a GTI? Is there any way we can "trick" the airbag module with a resistor or something? Any other thoughts or suggestions before I bite the bullet and buy a new one? Many thanks Phil - NZ

All right team. Another small update............ and she's getting pretty close to getting some pics taken of her!!! All the chassis work has been done. All the panels were test hung to check the fit, panel gaps, etc and then disassembled again - everything was spot on. Just waiting for the new bumper to arrive as it was delayed. New windscreen also ordered at the same time as the old one had a tiny crack in it. And I've comissioned a little extra "work" to be done on the boot lid which should be nice ;-) So then she's in for paint as soon as the bumper arrives - hopefully this week!

Another quick update. Dash and airbags are all in and appear to fit well. All the rest of the interior is back in also. All work done by a friend of mine (I was too busy at work to help). Car goes to the panelbeater on Monday for the chassis work. Essentially then we fit all the new parts on to test fit them, then take apart again to paint and re-assemble. Then there's just the engineers inspection, government paper work and then........... wath out! :-)

Yeah it wasn't quite as strict in the old days to get a damaged car on the road down here. But we have a lot of used cars that are imported to NZ (mainly from Japan like mine) and there was quite a lot of damaged cars getting brought in damaged, then cheaply and poorly repaired, and flicked on as good condition cars to unsuspecting owners. So the government tightened up a lot. Not really an issue for us as I'm building the car for my lady so no shortcuts will be taken. Still I suspect that with the air bag thing, air frieght etc, it might only end up a wee bit under what a non damaged car would have cost. Especially as our dollar has strengthened considerably against the Yen in the last 3 months. But I can't complain - it's been a tonne of fun so far! Hell it's worth it just imagining the day I screw the license plates on for the first time and go for a cruise around the waterfront! The look on people faces when we roll by and they're like, "WTF is that?!?!?!" Hahhaahaaaaa

Unfortunately the carbon patch is not an option for me. If you want to get a damaged car registered here you need to get it inspected by our local transport agency. They check it before and after repair to determine that it is safe to return to the road. The dashboard and airbags is all a part of that process as they take extra pains to make sure all factory safety features have not been compromised. The good news is that all the parts arrived from the UK last week in what appears to be good order. And we will be cracking on with getting the car repaired and going. I can't wait!!!!!!!