simonineaston

Am still loving my TDi Lupo - even after a windfall made me think about buying an Audi TT! I did the sums and came to the conclusion that all the extra running costs weren't going to get me car I like as much as my loverly little Lupo!! Anyway, back to the Q. I'd like to fit a more modern stereo and I see that VW make some nice double din units that have the features I want - Bluetooth / satnav is what I'm after. The RCD510 seems to crop up on eBay at good prices - how can I find out which of these more modern units will retro-fit into my '04 Lupo?

Just a quick comment... I had a puncture in one of my fairly new Dunlop Sports :-( and had a couple of Dunlop BluResponse fitted, which I put on the front of my trusty Tdi. On Sunday I went off for me usual wiz up the M4 and immediately noticed how quiet the car had become. I googled the tyres when I got back and lo and behold the BluResponse is claimed to be a super-quiet tyre. Well all I can say is for once the manufacturer's claims are true! :-)

Hi folks, I have a busted Open Air on my '04 Lupo. The most common problem I know about with Open Airs is the motors struggling with increasingly gacked up roof runners and eventually stripping the plastic cogs that connect the motor to the cable drive gear. I've dissembled a couple of roofs and motors recently and at the week-end I noticed that the plastic cogs are assembled as a pair, one on top of the other, connected by a simple shock-absorber. As commented above, the plastic cogs simply give up the ghost when the effort of moving the roof becomes too much. The most obvious solution would be to buy a replacement plastic cog, pop it in the otherwise healthy motor assemble and screw it back on to the roof, however as far as I know, the plastic cog is not available as a spare from VW. so, what next?? Most people (me included) simply wait for a decent second-hand motor to appear on eBay, and hope it's not too worn. However, at the week-end, I had a closer look at the plastic cog pair and I noticed that they are symmetrical which means you can pop the 2 cogs out together, give them a clean and re-grease them and then pop them back in the other way up, which means the worn section, which is usually formed by the worm gear, is now the other way up and the worm gear is now acting on an unworn set of teeth, so providing you have cleaned up your roof cables and runners so that the roof slides to and fro' as smoothly as poss. you might, just might, get another few years out of your motor assembly... NOTE: I haven't tried this yet, it's just an idea!!

I recently switched from SwiftCover when the premium they wanted for renewal was over 30% up on last year... When I got quotes on-line, I entered my reg mark to identify my particular Lupo - a 1.4 TDi sport, registered in 2004 - and found to my surprise that it is listed as having Thatcham-approved security device. Can anyone confirm whether this is the case and if so what sort of device it is!!

Cheers, Dan

http://www.pioneer.eu/eur/products/25/299/35829/SPH-DA120/page.html Check it out!!

I so love my TDi - its already great on motorways, but I was thinking of making it even better by adding cruise control - I would have to tell my insurers to stay legal. Does anyone know if that will increase my premium? Edit: I suppose I ought to ask the insurers that question!

I think I'm a bit behind the times with my understanding of this technology! Doing a bit of reading around, I see I should be looking for a well-received unit, with the key-words, "double DIN" and "MirrorLink" - what I want to end up with is my iPhone, presented on a touchscreen where my CD player/radio used to be! Sony XAV601BT looks Good!

...or should I buy a proper one, e.g. JVC Kenwood tec. Anyone link me to some good review pages?

Does anyone know about these tempting looking units??? http://tinyurl.com/k5sruk4

Hooray - Lupo all done. For 400 sov.s I got timing belt / tensioners / guide, axillary belt, water pump and anti-freeze/inhibitor. Not that I like giving away that amount of money, but Hey. I got chatting to the mechanic about mileages and belts and he told me that he has a regular customer, who owns a 1.4 TDi Polo that has got 225K on the clock and is still going strong :-))) He also said he'd only seen about 6 belt failures in many years of working, but folks - that doesn't mean it won't happen...

The car's "under the spanner" as we speak! Decided to get the belts and the pump done, as I'm planning to keep the car for a while (haven't fixed the Open Air yet...!!)

The guys at Graham Batt's tell me that the early Lupo water pumps ought to be replaced as they an issue with disintegrating impellers, but that the later pumps are good to last.. what do folk think?

Hmm, got me thinking now - I suppose I ought to have those other items replaced, while they're doing the cam belt - would other folks agree??

there's a Tdi on autotrader, with 193,000 on the clock...