[PDI 130 in a Lupo]

I've been looking at various engineering drawings of the 1.7 and 1.9 SDI engines and realised that they are identical other than crankshaft, pistons and injectors. Cam's occasionally are different, but not usually from what I've found.

It got me thinking... Would a PDI 1.9 fit? The engine definitely would, but what about the gearbox? Is the gearbox for the 130 lump any bigger than the box for the 1.7 SDI? Has anyone ever seen them side by side?

I'm guessing that the half shafts could be reused, perhaps maybe changing the inner CV joints so flanges mate up correctly.

It would be possible to have a perfect stealth car with a chipped PDI 130 or even a 150 to 180HP. That would probably be too much power though for the little car to take.

In granny mode, you could drive around with the suspension up to normal ride height. Then if you wanted, you could set the car to hunker down and then enable 'boost'....

I don't think it'd be that difficult a project. The hardest bit would be the wiring to the 1.9 lump.

I'm sure someone must have done it already. I know loads of Mk4 Golf SDIs have been converted 'on the quiet' with great success to 180.

[Red Oil Light]

Ok, I've been thinking about all the basics first...

Oil level (not enough)

Oil filter (blocked?)

Sump strainer (clogged?)

Oil pump (worn out- but symptoms would go away at higher revs/cold engine)

Pressure relief valve (stuck open)

Serious seal/gasket failure (so all the oil pours back into the sump)

Sensor (weak spring behind the diaphram)

Casting web crack inside block or head (would be obvious I think)

Electrical fault (making oil light go on- check sensor with a meter)

anything else???? anyone?

[Different options for lowering]

When you lower a Lupo, how do you deal with the rear brake compensator?

Dumb question, but if it 'thinks' the back of the car is fully loaded, it'll affect the braking (a lot).

[Different options for lowering]

What was done with mine was the hydraulic rams were welded into my original shocks, and there's a fancy little monoshock assembly in the back for each corner, ill try and take some photos for you if you'd like?

Yeah would like to see a pic or two.... What sort of control gear do you have for it, and do you use a fluid splitter feed from the power steering pump? It's the same fluid which makes life easier.

Also for the front shocks, did you use the same strut bearings?

[Red Oil Light]

Join the club, been doing it on our lupo for almost 2 years!!

Usually happens after doing 70mph plus, and usually always in the same location going towards my house and over a few speed bumps.

Try changing your oil pressure sender and hopefully you'll be lucky and thats just it. Not for us though

It happens because the oil gets runny when hot, so the pump has to work harder to achieve the same pressure. Then the sensor clicks on, telling you that the pressure is low. It is because the engine is worn. If you use a thicker grade of oil, like 10-40 and semi synthetic (not pure synthetic), it'll probably stop happening.

Also check your oil level!

[Different options for lowering]

That's really simple. Gotcha. Ok, so just need a simple servo valve block (ex bobcat), switches, wiring, 4 small rams and some plumbing. Easy. So why's it cost so much? i guess the same could be done using air- like bits off a landrover or other thing with air adjustable suspension. The most difficult bit is simply making a 'thing' to join the top of each lupo shock to the base of a ram. And a ram to lupo bracket (tube?). I shall search...

Something like this but bigger:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181557039516

cheers

[Last VIN number for UK market???]

you having a clear out?

I'm interested in a late SDI for a spin in my golf...

Only adding to 'my collection' that's going in my barn. Me thinks that in about 10 years the Lupo GTi will be a classic. Get a good one now, store it and triple your money And you can drive it when the weather's nice. So why am I getting a SDI? I like basic stuff sometimes (like a mk1 polo). No turbine thank you very much.

[Word of WARNING About this Lupo Gti]

I recently helped a friend out looking at a Mk2 Golf, described as immaculate. Er, no it wasn't. He bought it on Ebay for £3700 and the thing had so much body filler on it, I can't believe that it didn't snap in two. And talking about brake lines- how it got through an MOT I'll never know. Ok, so I know some 'friendly' test places too.... Needless to say, he rejected it, but was slammed by the seller on Ebay feedback- so much so that Ebay had to get involved and told him to go away after suspending his account.

On the subject of checking cars out- If anyone is in the Leicester area and knows Lupos inside out, I need to check a SDI over sometime this/next week, with prospect of buying it... There's a beer or something in it

Also if anyone needs a VW 'expert' eye (I hate using that expression, as there's no such thing as an expert!), in the M4 & Reading area, let me know and I'll come down and help you have a look. The more Lupos I look at the better! PM me.

[Different options for lowering]

My hydro's cost £2590 including all fitting and notching of the chassis needed to get it lower. Was done at Rayvern Hydraulics, have a google!

I have access to engineering workshops for all this stuff, so that is easy... Thanks for the info on Rayvern's. I can't find any info on which shocks they use. To power the hydraulics, you can use a standard power steering pump, with a high pressure accumulator tank for the sudden change in volume- if you need it (if you want to make your car bunny hop). For air systems, you can use a vane driven ac compressor with an oil separator. But again, I just can't find small shocks anywhere. Loads of american big stuff. No diddy lupo suspension parts (or similar).

[Different options for lowering]

Have fat friends

yeah.

But seriously, if I set myself a budget of 6k for all the mods, I think 3k should cover the suspension. But what is better? Air or hydro? Isn't hyrdo a lot more hassle because of the pressures? And you need a mega pump somewhere. Air you can use a small compressor and simple tubing similar to what's used as a tyre inflator thing. Both are noisy though. The closest kit I can find is for a Mk5 Golf. But since Polo's are the big twin, I wonder if someone in germany I know knows of such a thing...?

Any UK tuning companies offering any kits?

I've also been looking at wheels. There are some really good one's out there from looking at the photos thread. Some me thinks really don't look right though, but I guess it's all a question of taste.

So far the ideas are as follows:

based on a 1.7 SDI- been thinking of electric blue or bogey green as a base car as I've just looked at that one in Wales on offer at the mo.

1.9 PDI 130 conversion or turbine. (130 is more than enough).

stainless exhaust- no cat- out to centre rear GTi back bumper- colour coded of course.

front bumper all frenched and colour coded.

add rear Gti spoiler.

adjustable lowering kit with adjustable shocks (no need to uncomfortable after all).

tints

wheels

sill 'skirts', but not sure which sort as there are 3 that I've found.

decent wifi connected ICE head unit with blue tooth and USB.

boot light (of course!)

maybe reversing sensors

AC if I can find one somewhere.

heated windscreen if it exists

not sure about the headlights yet.

add OEM mudflaps if I can find them

OEM satnav??? Has anyone ever seen it?

does a cargo tray exist?

mats.

Keep everything else stock.

There was never 4WD polo was there? I'm sure there's space for a haldex unit....

[Different options for lowering]

I was thinking that the usual way to lower is either coil overs, short coils, modding the shocks or what? Is there a kit available (small enough) that has an electrically adjustable ride height controller, like on classic hot rods. I think I'd like to have a setting that when I park, I could completely ground it.....

[Last VIN number for UK market???]

I assume by the 3 different flavours of Lupo SDI you mean the E, S and an SE. As far as I'm aware, there's absolutely no difference between the fuelling system on an E and a S. ElsaWin doesn't think so anyway. The main difference between an E and an S is creature comforts. E (l've always assumed meant 'Entry') has only the base features, manual windows, manual locking, less fancy seats. The S model has central locking, electric windows, easy access seats (the frame moves to allow people into the back).

There were some alterations made, but these were primarily to the interior. Pre-2001 models come with the original dash which has switches located underneath the radio. At the bottom of the centre console there's a small cubby which is perfectly sized for a 3-way cigarette socket (what i use it for to power my dashcam etc). Post-2001, the cubby at the bottom is replaced by switches and the original location of switches is replaced by a cup holder. There's benefits to both. I love effectively having a massive bucket underneath my radio as there's a **** tonne of wiring and it's a nice clean place to keep it. I imagine in a newer Lupo fitting my radio in would be an absolute nightmare, at least without ripping half the centre console and doing some extremely awkward routing of wires.

I think all Lupo's have sound deadening in the front in the form of a foam which isn't great to be honest. In the back, both rear panels have a square patch behind the card. Don't forget, most sound deadening products are just that. They're not sound insulation, they're simply deadening the acoustic vibrations. Clearly VW felt a small patch (about 6 inches square) was enough for that.

Only things I can think about that you want to look for, some Lupo's have speaker holes behind their rear door cards to allow you to fit speakers. My current one does, my old one didn't. There doesn't seem to be much consistency with this. Either you're lucky, and have them, or you're not, and don't. If you look through this thread of me fitting a boot light, you can see mine: http://forums.clublupo.co.uk/index.php?/topic/98357-how-to-simple-oem-boot-light/

I can't think of anything else of note really.

This is really good info that I cannot find elseware. Many thanks

[Last VIN number for UK market???]

There's a guy on the Polo forum with an SDI with over a million miles.

Very Impressive. Can't beat a cast iron lump... I'd like to see that Polo to see what wore out. When i was on holiday in Tenerife a couple of years back, we took a merc taxi that had done nearly 5 million km. And it was the same old man who had owned the car for 30 years who was driving us. The car was in excellent condition, but just about everything had been swapped. Still the same engine though (but rebuilt a few times).

I've been doing some more Lupo research.

There were 3 different flavours of 1.7 SDI Lupo over the 6 year production run. Apparently the S is the best spec car, with the latest fuelling system (out of 3 possibles for the 1.7SDI). This led me on a quest to see what alterations were made to the models over the run. You know stuff like small wiring changes, additions of brackets, sound deadening panels and small mechanical changes. That sort of stuff. Usually there is a 'facelift' after about 4 years to fix any 'issues' but with the Lupo I can't find any alterations or 'technical service bulletins' in any of the data bases.

Was the first car off the production run the exact same as the very last???? If so, then it'll make no difference to the model year I buy (other than tax and rust...).

[Last VIN number for UK market???]

After my briefest of introductions about me to this forum, I have begun my quest to find my first Lupo.

To my first official post......

It occurred to me to see if I can find the last (or one of the last one's) made. I know they didn't sell in serial number order so one of the last Lupos registered may actually be quite a bit older. but i thought I'd ask all you experts out there. What are the last few digits of your VIN???

Also following all your advice over the last few days, I 'think' I've decided to go for plain jane 1.7SDI.

Anyone know what milage these SDI engines can survive? They are different to the 1.9's found in Golfs with the double balanced 'flexible' flywheels....

I've seen a few Lupos for sale well with over 100k miles, but then I start thinking about gear train and wheel bearings... And brakes. And door hinges. And window mechs. And steering racks. The stuff that is a pain to replace as it wears out, since once you start, you think "well I've got it in pieces so i may a well do this too...", and eventually you end up restoring the whole car, down to rubber bushes and brake lines... You get the picture :-)

I spotted a 2006 registered car last week (silver).

[Time to buy my first Lupo...]

Hi all, I have had dubs for what seems like forever. Old 6V beetle, Mk1 golf, Mk1 Polo, Mk2 Golf Diesel/GTi/Driver, Mk4 Golf poverty spec, Corrado G60, Mk4 4-Motion. Now I want to buy a Lupo.

This forum I have decided is the place where I can get some proper advice (I hope!), which is why I've joined it.

I used to be one of the chaps who wrote software for Bosch ECUs, and have worked in VW cup, on various projects. I re-wrote the code for FSI engines and have built my own gearbox control unit to firstly run 096 then 010As so you can run them like they are DSGs. Paddle shifting in a Mk2 golf... I also helped do the world's first 4WD conversion on a 16V Corrado.

So It's going to be a Lupo, only because I know dubs and because they are 'relatively' economical. I was looking at the 3L but you can't get them here (uk). So then looked at the 1.7SDI, but now read that the DPFs can clog on short trips. Ugh. This car will be used for a 3 mile trip and then parked 4 times a day. It'll never get hot. That kinda rules out the GTi and 1.4, even though I would put money on the GTi becoming a cult classic in a few years. I like that diesel, but they take forever to warm up. No fun in winter, plus the battery will die rapidly during preheat with only short charge cycles. So it's going to have to be the bottle of coke or 1L jobbie.

So what is there to look out for?

Roof

Pedal box

Door straps

The rest of the problems like peely bumpers, engine and box stuff I can live with as it doesn't take me long to rebuild a little 4 pot. What else?

I hope this has been a full and interesting introduction. I suspect a few of you will guess who I am from the dub scene.... But I won't admit to anything!!!!!!!!!!