Stripping the Engine Down

With the engine safely out of the car, today’s job was all about stripping away the extras and getting down to the important parts. By the end of the day, the engine was pretty much down to just the cylinder head, the block, and the oil pan. Everything else

Maintenance

Engine Out: Finally Starting the Overhaul

The GTI is finally in the workshop and the engine is out — but not without a few snapped bolts, broken AC lines, and a reminder that rust never makes anything easy

Long time, no see?

It’s been a while. The last post went up in August. It’s now January. Not because I’ve lost interest in the golf — quite the opposite — but because life has been busy in ways that don’t leave much room for writing. The past months have been filled

Photo Dump

Small photo shoot

Here are a few photos I shot of the golf after giving it a thorough clean

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Photos

Scorpion Resonator Delete

VACN Featured

VACN 2025

Photo dump and a few clips from the VW Audi Club Norwegen's car meet

Maintenance

Installing Floor Mats, Emblems, Logos, and DSG Service

It was finally time to install all the new parts that had been piling up since the last post. The car’s been gradually improving, and this round of changes made a big difference—both visually and mechanically. I started with the floor mats. The original ones were in terrible

Car Meets Featured

Two Very Different Car Meets

From a tight-knit VAG meetup to a wild supercar flex-fest, I finally got the GTI out into the world—and got a clear vision of my dream car.

Photo Dump Featured

Cruising with Friends & Interior Transformation

Took the GTI out for a scenic drive with friends and gave the interior a complete makeover—check out the results in the photos!

Maintenance Featured

Brake Fluid Leak and a Caliper Headache

Nothing like discovering a brake fluid puddle the day before your first car meet. Time to rebuild (or replace) a leaking GTI caliper—fast.

Maintenance Featured

Injector Trouble and a Real Fix

After weeks of battling misfires, a dodgy seller, and some painful re-installs, I’ve finally taken steps toward fixing the injector issue for good.

Maintenance

Injector Trials & Wiring Woes

Swapped out injectors and battled wiring mishaps while chasing a stubborn misfire

Maintenance

Genuine Bosch Injectors and Salty Roads

Found genuine Bosch 0261500037 injectors, but a stripped manifold thread and a persistent vacuum leak are keeping me busy—just another step in the journey to restore this Edition 35 to its factory glory

Back on the Road

With a new ECU, smoother shifts, and winter-ready tires, the GTI feels closer than ever to its original factory perfection.

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Photo Dump

Winter Ready Cars

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Maintenance

The Pain of Tuning My GTI

Maintenance

Replacing the Smoked Rear Lights

Fed up with the 'riced up' look of smoked rear lights, I swapped them for original GTI Mk6 lights, giving the Edition 35 a more refined and color-matching appearance

Maintenance

Fixing My GTI’s Exhaust

Restoring the original exhaust on my 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35 has made it quietly refined for commutes while delivering a satisfying growl when pushed

Maintenance Featured

Smooth Drive with "New" Injectors

After a journey of repairs and new injectors, the GTI is finally road-ready—here’s a look at what went into getting it back on track and the results from its first test drive

Maintenance

Breathing Life Into the Engine

After countless hours and parts sourced from everywhere, the GTI’s engine rebuild is almost complete—here’s what we’ve done so far and what’s next on the journey

Maintenance

What I Found Under the Hood

Replaced the cheap battery and cleaned the intake valves with soda blasting to improve performance and tackle misfires

From Dream Car to DIY Project

Restoring my Golf GTI Edition 35 to stock: tackling mods, rust, and other issues while tracking parts and progress in a detailed plan

Featured

A Rough Start with Endless Potential

Bought my first Golf GTI, a 2012 Edition 35, with a rough history but endless potential to restore and improve