20 Dec 2024 • 2 min read

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.

With the new ECU installed, the GTI is finally back on the road—and the difference is night and day. Gone is the overly sensitive throttle, and the shifts now feel buttery smooth. It’s starting to feel like the car is back to its factory standards, both in how it drives and how it looks. It’s been a long journey, but moments like this make it all worth it.

With the engine behaving itself, the next step was to address the winter tires. The old ones were hardened with age, and since we live further north than the previous owner, our winters are far more challenging. We deal with unpredictable weather where snow often melts and refreezes into ice, and the city’s attempts to add gravel only end with it sinking under the ice. Proper winter tires aren’t a luxury here—they’re a necessity.

The old winter tires. It is a studless tire, which you probably could guess sucks on ice.

I originally wanted Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10s for the GTI, but due to the unusual 18" rim size, no local tire shop could get them in stock. Ordering them online would have meant extra costs for shipping and handling, so I settled on Continental IceContact 3s. They might not be as renowned as the Nokians, but with careful driving, they’ll do just fine. Driving in winter here means taking it easy on icy corners and staying alert regardless of tire brand.

Now that the car is stable and equipped for winter, we’re down to a few last tasks. The injectors we got back from BAR-TEK in Germany came back with issues—three of them are leaking. Since the original Bosch injectors are discontinued, finding authentic replacements has been a challenge. After a lot of searching, I managed to locate a French automotive supplier who claimed to have four brand-new, genuine Bosch injectors in stock. According to them, these are “BOSCH NEW.” I’m taking them at their word and hoping they’re telling the truth.

The first photo of the car after fitting the new ECU. She runs smoother than ever with the stock firmware and tune.

With each resolved issue, the GTI gets closer to the vision I had when I first set out on this project. Let’s see what these new injectors bring to the table, and if they live up to their promise, the car will be one step closer to perfection. I'm also looking to shoot videos of the car, to give you a better visual of its current state. Stay tuned!