[Edition 35] • 3 min read

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

A Rough Start with Endless Potential
(Yes, the image is AI generated to extend the original photo)

On September 4, 2024, I bought my first Golf GTI—a 2012 Edition 35. Initially, I had been looking for a standard GTI and was even considering an eight-hour drive to check out a 2010 model. But on my way home from a work trip, I stumbled upon an ad for this Edition 35 with 180,000 km on the clock, a “new” engine (130,000 km), and a “new” gearbox (90,000 km). The price? 125,000 NOK (~$11,660). The moment I realized it came with the Golf R’s EA113 engine, I was sold.

Screenshot of the car's online ad

The Edition 35 stands out with subtle yet unique features: red stitching on the seatbelts, anniversary badges (sadly removed by a previous owner), and slightly lower suspension. Stock, it packs 235 hp, and with a Stage 1 tune, it can hit 300 hp—on par with the Golf R.

Photograph of a blue 2012 Golf R. CC: https://www.fcpeuro.com/blog/mk6-golf-r-vs-mk7-golf-r

The car’s history raised some red flags. With seven previous owners—most of them teenagers—it had an average ownership duration of less than two years. This car was likely treated more like a toy than a treasure. Mods were cheap, poorly installed, and caused more harm than good.

A screenshot of the cars ownership.history
This screenshots shows the history of the owners, with their age. The previous owner bought the car for his daughter of 19.

For instance, the door panels were pried off with a screwdriver during a speaker replacement, leaving scratches that have begun to rust. Paddle shifter extensions were glued on, leaving a sticky mess. The original rims were swapped for some questionable replacements, and the Milltek exhaust system suffers from leaks.

Cheap paddle shifter-extensions that were glued onto the original paddle shifters. I'm not sure what glue has been used, but this definitely has caused a mess on the back of the original ones.

Mechanically, the car still feels solid. It handles well, and accelerating is a joy. But the ECU has been poorly tuned, running rich and causing rev-hang. Fixing this requires reprogramming to stock or applying a proper tune.

The exhaust is another issue, combining a Milltek system and original parts. The leak is obvious, and while loud cold starts might seem fun, they’re not ideal. Thankfully, the original exhaust came with the car, so fixing or replacing the current system should be straightforward.

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Despite its issues, I see incredible potential in this Edition 35. It’s a rare model with the foundation for greatness, and I’m excited to restore it. Stay tuned for updates as I bring this GTI back to life!