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Anthracite Grey Lupo GTI


dougie1142
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Hi all, 

Well i had my Lupo up for sale briefly, but i decided against it. My other project will just have to slow down a little to accompany running both at the same time. I've already sold one Lupo GTI and i don't want to sell another - certainly not in my favourite specification. 

So a little about the car, i aquired it not too long ago - on a bit of whim. Having owned a Lupo GTI a few years previous, i noticed one of my neighbours had this car sitting down the side of his house. At this time i wasn't too familiar with Anthracite cars, and initially thought he had it painted. On researching it i realised this was a rare colour, and when i found out it had only covered 68k miles i was very interested. It turned out the owner was a friend of a friend, so i probed the question and a few months later here i am the owner.

The car has a few choice modifications;

  • KWV1 coilovers (VERY impressed with these as on my last GTI i had cheapies fitted and it was horrible)
  • KAM Racing decat manifold + KAM midpipe and backbox. Now this is super loud, its a bit too much for me in all honesty so i will either put this back to stock or have a company weld in a 200cell CAT and perhaps a middle silencer, time will tell
  • Alpine double din W502R head unit

The car initially looked like this;

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Now i loved the look, but i knew these weren't the wheels for me and the owner wanted to keep them which was fine by me. So i purchased the car on the stock Bathurst alloys, wheels i never had on my old Lupo. Now i've seen them on the anthracite car i actually really like them - i love silver wheels and they really pop against the anthracite. I will get them refurbed at some stage, but for now they will do wrapped in Toyo Proxies (not my tyre choice but again, it will do). 

So here is how i picked the car up;

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I was super happy with it, it brought back a lot of memories and being a little older i have more of a path for the car. I want to keep it clean, i want to improve it rather than go over the top. I do really like the OEM+ style, however i do want to improve the performance and driving experience. A few things on my list would be things such as Wilwood's, subframe refurbishment, new OEM bushings where possible, braided hoses etc. You see the idea.

I have recently become a lot more interested in detailing, it's really struck a chord with me and perhaps a little bit of OCD. Between this car and my other halfs Cooper S (below), i plan to share my experiences and product experiences. 

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And the other project i was talking about is my 1965 Morris Mini Minor, a car i've had for a long time now and is more recently being rebuilt. It's been painted and reassembly has begun. The engine has just been rebored to 1330 and is being rebuilt as we speak (when i get time!).

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Cheers

Edited by dougie1142
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First up with the new car was servicing - normally the first thing to do when purchasing a new car. Thankfully the owner provided me with VW oil filters and 2 sets of VW spark plugs. I purchased some 5W40 oil from TPS (£13.30/5L!!!!!!!) and off we go. I also gave the car a quick clean up, not the full wash i was hoping for as i didn't have all my gear with me, however it'll do.

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Now some of the eagle eyed will have noticed that the rear spoiler is needing attention, i'm not sure how but the paint has completely stripped off the underside and flaking off the top. Needless to say i've ordered some paint up and i'm going to try and paint it this weekend coming if the weather holds out. 

I've also been bothered by the engine bay, notably the screws and bolts along the slam panel, they are a bit orange for my liking. It's a similar story for the arch liner screws. I've ordered up some new ones and i'm hoping they'll also arrive by the weekend.

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So that's all for this time - while i save for some wheels i'm really tempted to get some 15mm spacers just to fill the arches a little bit. I can't be bothered with rolling arches again, and i really don't want any rubbing so i think i can get away with 15mm front and rear. To be continued..

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11 minutes ago, Skajme said:

Such a nice colour, almost as nice as Raven Blue 😉
Looks a tidy example! 15mm spacers will be fine without rubbing

Thank @Skajme. I saw on your black car you managed 20mm on the rear, perhaps i'll do that and go 15mm at the front. How did yours drive with spacers?

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2 minutes ago, dougie1142 said:

Thank @Skajme. I saw on your black car you managed 20mm on the rear, perhaps i'll do that and go 15mm at the front. How did yours drive with spacers?

well, the 20's did scrub very occasionally, I think around 17mm is the sweet spot! I didn't really notice any difference to driving with them, certainly nothing negative

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@dougie1142I ran 20 mm each side on the rear for a while and as said it scrubbed occasionally. However I am paying for that scrubbing now as it cut the edge of paint on the arch lip and the weather got in.

Dropped to 17mm and no rubbing.

KW v1s, Whiteline rear arb along with the wider rear and it a grippy little thing.

...great for driving on the Scottish roads 👍🏽

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12 hours ago, Silver! said:

@dougie1142I ran 20 mm each side on the rear for a while and as said it scrubbed occasionally. However I am paying for that scrubbing now as it cut the edge of paint on the arch lip and the weather got in.

Dropped to 17mm and no rubbing.

KW v1s, Whiteline rear arb along with the wider rear and it a grippy little thing.

...great for driving on the Scottish roads 👍🏽

Thanks for the comments @Silver!

Do you mind me asking where you sourced your spacers? I've heard the rears can require a little chamfer extension but if I can find some that don't require that even better. 

Now you've got me pricing up more bits 😁

Edited by dougie1142
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I'm envious Dougie! I passed on an Anthracite example last year, and whilst I love the black one I bought instead, the metallic is very classy, (and I'd guess easier to keep looking clean between washes).  Also good to see the car back on the Bathursts - some of these alternatives people are fitting really cheapen the look of the Lupo.

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On ‎5‎/‎16‎/‎2019 at 12:47 PM, davy26 said:

I'm envious Dougie! I passed on an Anthracite example last year, and whilst I love the black one I bought instead, the metallic is very classy, (and I'd guess easier to keep looking clean between washes).  Also good to see the car back on the Bathursts - some of these alternatives people are fitting really cheapen the look of the Lupo.

Cheers Davy, the colour is really nice when it's clean! I'm not envious of owning a black car for cleaning reasons, but the Lupo does suit the black a lot!

The wheels are really nice, my old Lupo never had them on when i bought it so this is my first experience, when i picked it up and it was on the Bathursts I just fell in love. They could do with being tidied up, and i REALLY need to find centre caps or centre VW logo stickers. Do you know if you can still get the cente caps new from VW?

Going to get some work done on it this weekend, i ordered up a lot of new fixings and also got the spoiler off last night so will try and repaint this weekend. Need to get the crank and pistons in the Mini engine though so time will be tight :sweating:

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4 hours ago, dougie1142 said:

Cheers Davy, the colour is really nice when it's clean! I'm not envious of owning a black car for cleaning reasons, but the Lupo does suit the black a lot!

The wheels are really nice, my old Lupo never had them on when i bought it so this is my first experience, when i picked it up and it was on the Bathursts I just fell in love. They could do with being tidied up, and i REALLY need to find centre caps or centre VW logo stickers. Do you know if you can still get the cente caps new from VW?

Going to get some work done on it this weekend, i ordered up a lot of new fixings and also got the spoiler off last night so will try and repaint this weekend. Need to get the crank and pistons in the Mini engine though so time will be tight :sweating:

This is the most recent on the centre caps: 

I'm quite surprised how many things are still available from VW itself.  That includes a new spoiler, which is due to me  on Monday/Tuesday - horribly expensive though!

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On 5/16/2019 at 11:12 AM, dougie1142 said:

Thanks for the comments @Silver!

Do you mind me asking where you sourced your spacers? I've heard the rears can require a little chamfer extension but if I can find some that don't require that even better. 

Now you've got me pricing up more bits 😁

I bought direct from H&R if I remember correctly, but  they don’t list them now.

alloy bolt on, no need for the rings as they are a perfect match.

 

 

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3 hours ago, davy26 said:

 

I'm quite surprised how many things are still available from VW itself.  That includes a new spoiler, which is due to me  on Monday/Tuesday - horribly expensive though!

How much was the spoiler out of interest?

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On 5/16/2019 at 12:47 PM, davy26 said:

I'm envious Dougie! I passed on an Anthracite example last year, and whilst I love the black one I bought instead, the metallic is very classy, (and I'd guess easier to keep looking clean between washes).  Also good to see the car back on the Bathursts - some of these alternatives people are fitting really cheapen the look of the Lupo.

The first Gti I test drove was also Anthracite when the sun hits all the different flecks it looks brilliant (also looks good on reflex silver) It was never really in the running for me due to price but I wanted to see how one with 55k felt like to drive before driving testing higher mileage cars.Black wasn't a option for me as the bloke who lives two doors up had a dubble garage built and uses small stones on the driveway,90% of the time wind blows from that direction.

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11 hours ago, Skajme said:

How much was the spoiler out of interest?

I got a new one quite a few years back. IIRC it was around £200 before spraying.

 

i have the receipt, but can’t be arsed getting it out at the moment 😔

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Nice looking Gti, was it a local car to Inverness?

On 5/14/2019 at 10:30 PM, dougie1142 said:
  • KAM Racing decat manifold + KAM midpipe and backbox. Now this is super loud, its a bit too much for me in all honesty so i will either put this back to stock or have a company weld in a 200cell CAT and perhaps a middle silencer, time will tell

Yeah - the PO of mine had fitted the same to mine, he said it was too loud and got a 100 cell cat installed. Its just about right for me - on mine with a cam over 7K the sound is nuts!

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On 5/17/2019 at 8:36 PM, Skajme said:

How much was the spoiler out of interest?

VAT inclusive = £359.96.  6E0 827 933 D GRU.  Ouch, but used are hard to find and usually need a lot of remedial work.  In the end, with my car mostly 90 - 95%, I've thought the expense justified, especially as I managed to negotiate a really good discount.

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On 5/18/2019 at 10:07 PM, LR5V said:

Nice looking Gti, was it a local car to Inverness?

Yeah - the PO of mine had fitted the same to mine, he said it was too loud and got a 100 cell cat installed. Its just about right for me - on mine with a cam over 7K the sound is nuts!

Thanks man, it was local yeah. I believe it's been here for 6 years, before that i'm not sure - may have been down south. It's had the number plate changed obviously. I have a sale receipt from 2 owners ago, i'll dig it out and see where it was. Good point! I will be pricing up having a cat fitted, and perhaps a centre silencer. #

Unless anyone wants to buy KAM racing manifold from me and i will sort out another one?

9 hours ago, davy26 said:

VAT inclusive = £359.96.  6E0 827 933 D GRU.  Ouch, but used are hard to find and usually need a lot of remedial work.  In the end, with my car mostly 90 - 95%, I've thought the expense justified, especially as I managed to negotiate a really good discount.

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OUCH that is rough!! I was thinking around the £200 mark. At least you can still get them. I think the problem is it absorbs water. I painted mine over the weekend, however it's already started to bubble and it's been 2 or 3 days since i did it. Not ideal.. Maybe if i took it off and soaked it in rice or something (long shot i know!) it would get the water out of the material, then i could seal it and paint it. Hmmmm..... 

Nice car btw, do love them in black!

I did get some photos of it recently, but i'll wait until i get a chance to tidy it up first. I replaced some fixings in the engine bay, slam panel and repainted a bracket that was going a little orange. Also chucked some new VW aeroblades on.

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 5/20/2019 at 10:29 PM, LR5V said:

I would hold onto the manifold and system. All the other manifolds are a lot smaller diameter runners - but better than the puny standard manifold, not much bigger diameter than my thumb!

Cheers, i think i'll keep it but likely have plans to have a cat welded in and perhaps a small centre silencer. It does look really well made though, can't say the same for the original one i have in the shed.

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Got a few things done to the  car recently, just small bits but still - it makes a difference. The main thing was to tidy up the small screws and bolts around the car that were rusting fairly badly. Namely the arch liner screws and the slam panel bolts.

Before:

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After:

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I picked up these from Banggood - £6 for the bag of 20, dare i say it by the weight and appearance they are actually stainless too. 

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I also removed this bracket and gave it a quick dusting of satin black paint. At some stage i'll likely get all these brackets off and powder coat them, but for now here's a before and after

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Chucked on some new VW wiper blades too - i use RainX too and forgive the phrase but it gives the best wipe ever.💩

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Final result (still need to tidy up some brackets, and actually clean) with some heavy use of silicon spray 

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Edited by dougie1142
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This was all in aid of going to Volksfling last weekend, so here's some shots of us loaded up leaving from my house in Beauly, to Edinburgh. Then some shots of the show itself, some really amazing cars there of all styles. Needless to say i'm in love with air cooled buses.

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Everything got a good solid clean at my parents in Edinburgh before the show!

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